Lagos Portugal

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LinTeal

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Decided to take my boat to the sun with the intention of spending a lot of the summer aboard and concluded Lagos in the Algarve is the best bet.Flew down there last week to check it out and it certainly met expectations ie the marina and the town.I have read on this forum plenty of positive feedback on Lagos but in order to get a well rounded view is there any downside re. the marina/town ?
 
The only downside is that prices of everything are higher on the Algarve (than in, say, Spain). However, the marina, the town and the people more than compensate.

It is a great, lively and friendly place.
 
No! Dont go, it's an awful place, the food is too good, the wine also! Lots of places to eat!! My waistline has never been the same! Avoid the place like the plague!
 
Sadlermike must be a very, very fussy person.

If Lagos = Blackpool I can't imagine how he would categorise those hellish expat enclaves on the Spanish Costas!!
 
Its not like blackpool its a great place we were there winter 01-02 while i was recovering from knee replacments if you eat at resturant near lift out you wont pay a lot.
Hope you enjoy it we really did and we hope to return some day when we have tired of the cruising life.
 
It's a perfect place to base yourself but don't neglect the rest of Portugal. Work your way further east along the Algarve (but avoid the holidaying scum in certain towns) and, if you have a bit more time on your hands, explore the rest of Portugal, either by sea or land. The north of the country is stunning, and the train journey from the Algarve to Porto is pretty wild. The sail from Lagos to Cascais is exhilarating. Sintra is one of my favourate places in the world. The country is cheap and the locals are wonderful and Lagos is westernised enough to not feel cut-off from familiar cizilisation, if you need that. And the Algarve boasts almost year-round sun, so you'll be able to fly down any time of the year.

Definitely a great place to base yourself. Don't judge an area by the nearest holiday resort.

(Check out the log section on my website for loads of Portugal-related stories, including Lagos and the Algarve).
 
Yes I'd say its the best base for Portugal. You also have Alvor as a beautifully sheltered harbour only 2 miles away and Sagres not far.
 
>If you're looking for Port Solent in the sun a good choice.
Surely you mean Vilamoura!

>Tavira
That's nice for a visit but with no marina not really a very good base is it?

>Villa Reale far more "Portuguese" and less expensive.
Ah yes that is certainly true. I spent a month there and liked it. We were well tucked in in a quite berth. The marina has a current and there were about 2-3 "crashes" a day. I will never forget a yacht coming in and putting a nice big scratch down his topsides as well a bashing his neighbours stanchions. He looked towards us with a red face and said "they're a [--word removed--] these tides!". Turned out he was an RYA instructor!
Villa Real also has the nice Guadiana river and Spain near by.
 
Guadiana certainly a nice area, from a very brief visit I had there last year, and easy to get to this whole area. They even have a big motorbike meet in Faro... Tempting, but probably waaaaaaaay too hot for a walrus like me outside winter.
 
We've visited two years in a row and liked it each time.
Not at all like Blackpool - you can pay what you like for food.

From 5.50 euro lunch with prawns to nibble on as starters and sardines / potatoes or tuna salad plus a frosted beer within 50 metres of marina - to top class european food where you'd try real hard to break 100 euros twix two.

And NO Macdonalds in Lagos yet - although Pizza Hut does occupy a first floor setting overlooking the marina!

Great place.

JOHN
 
Thanks for all the comments v.useful.Interesting re. Blackpool - I must investigate in order to compare ambience/climate . Hope to meet some of you down in Lagos in June,assuming I dont decide to head up to Lancashire instead !
Adrian Woods Sadler 29 TEAL
 
Absit-omen states that I must be very fussy to compare Lagos with Blackpool.

There are many attractive places in Southern Portugal. There are enjoyable cliff walks from Ferragudo. From the Guadiana anchorages you can see more species of flowers, butterflies and birds than you thought could exist in an area of similar size. Alvo is unusual and attractive. Lagos is crowded, has loud bars, cheap restaurants and tatty tourist shops: so does Blackpool. If that's your idea of a fine place to spend your summer LinTeal, go for it!! It's just not what I want.
 
Apologies to Sadlermike and Charles. Lagos, or anything like it,is the last place we would spend our summer and would head for the Guadiana, Luz ports or the Azores.

However, as a place to base yourself, Lagos Marina has many advantages. In no particular order:

It is not too expensive for a winter (or even a 9 month) contract

It is secure from weather

It is secure from crime

It has friendly and helpful marina staff

The bridge will open on demand

It has good showers etc

It has an excellent launderette

It has a great community of international liveaboards with
many extramural activities (book swaps, DVD swaps, walks, talks) organised which you can participate in or not.

There is a 6 day radio net where problems of all natures are solved through mutual support

There is an excellent hospital in Lagos and an even better one in Portimao

The local International Church runs events for mothers and toddlers (if you have got 'em!)

The town, which is quiet in the winter, is just over the bridge

It is next to the railway station which is 90 mins from Faro, Faro has budget airlines to all over Europe

It is about 3 minutes from the bus station

It is 3 minutes from a supermarket which allows you to drop off the trolley anywhere in the marina

It has plenty of newsagents selling papers, mags etc (if that is your thing)

It has discount arrangements with local car hire companies

It has a selection of bars and restaurants open throughout the winter

It has an excellent (if a little expensive) yard and chandlery

It is about 5 minutes from a beautiful sandy beach

We have wintered in very quiet places (eg Gozo) where we were the only boat in the marina. It has advantages but, on balance, especially with a small child,I think we prefer the facilities here.
 
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