Hello Doreen, this is a great place to holiday far more Portugese than the Algarve, and a fair bit cheaper for meals in restaurants. There are some great sites to see around here also, and don't forget to go to Lisbon.
I have put one hotel in the hotel reviews under Estoril a very good 3* part of the sana group, take a look at these sites for a start.

http://www.caravela.co.uk

http://www.sanahotels.com

http://www.portugal.com

I have used both and they are very good.

Dave

Thanks for that Dave,

I know nothing at all about thia area or Portugal, it was my hubby that suggested it as none of us are into the noisy resorts and prefer to experience the "real" country.

Could you suggest a few resorts for want of a better word that have a nice beach,traditional places to eat etc We will have a 12yr old with us but he enjoys a fairly quiet holiday as well.

Also where is the nearest airpport and how long would a transfer be?

Thanks Doreen

Hell Doreen, I have put a few posts up before so if you take a look back down the list you my find them.
Me and the wife love going to Portugal most times it is to the Algarve but summer 2005 we went to the Lisbon Coast with Caravela Tours they are very good and not to dear for this sort of holiday.
We stayed at a place called Estoril just 10 minutes from Lisbon by train 1.5Euros each way or get the bus to Sintra with its Royal Palaces, Lisbon is a great city with so much to see, old trams to ride, a area called Balem with so mush to see its hard to list it all.
Estoril has a super beach, nice fish restaurant along the sea front at night were you can get a starter, seabase/bream a bottle of wine for two for about 30 Euros. It is also a nice walk to the next resort of Cascais with its three beaches, fortess, shops and one of the best Ckicken restaurants about.
If you do think you would like to go and you won't regret it take a look at the D K eyewitness travel guide for Portugal this is a great guide book full of all the info you will ever need.

Hi Dave,

Thanks for that but even though me and hubby would love it ,we think it might be just that too quiet for the 12yr old.

Maybe when we can go by ourselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again

Doreen