I must say if your after a quieter holiday of just reading, eating out, walks, architecture, painting, photography, wildlife, fishing, practicing your Portuguese/German/Dutch, or golf then this area is ideal, more so off the main season.

The locals are quite laid back and if you at least try some of the language youll reap the benefits. If the "booter" in you needs some air ask the locals about markets, there's usually a few markets on every week along the Algarve.

CABANAS town, is still a relatively unspoilt town compared to the rest of the Algarve. It's primarilly used by the Iberians themselves and then Dutch, German, as well as those sly Brits seeking a relaxing holiday away from the noise/pace of the other holiday resorts in the med.

If your after the Costa del Eastenders or Tenner-tastic-rife then you will most probably be dissapointed here, thers no major clubbing, no hen/stag weekends, or kiss me quick hats....and thats the way the area's repeat visitor likes it. Most people whom go once and like its charm invariably do go back up to 3 times a year, and every year.

Along the coast there is a resort very similar called Pedras Del Rei, pretty much the same in structure and operation seeing as how its the same company that operate them...I would say though that form the clientele its mostly older holidayers.

RESORT TOWN FULL NAME is Cabanas de Tavira if your looking for it on maps or the internet youll get more info with its Sunday name. The nearest bigger town next to it is called Tavira, hence why it's Cabanas (DE Tavira). Tavira is sold as the most beautiful town in the Algarve and I for one quite agree, as has plenty of artists including I believe Charles Rennie Macintosh. It is but 10 mins away by car from the resort, it also has a Roman bridge and an insane amount of churches for its size. Its lovely cobbled streets meander round buildings built hundreds of years ago too.

Cabanas also has a smaller town at the head end of it called Conceicao but 10 mins walk away, it's in the oposite direction away from the beach. A lot of private apartments were being finsished off but the work could not be heard from our resort, and should be all completed now in 2005. If you need a chemist urgently you'll find one here.

FARO is the nearest major town/city that you would see on an undetailed map , only 30-35 mins by car. It's a considerably more modern city/large town when compared to Tavira, it's also where you most likely landed and will once again be again to reluctantly fly off home.

If you can't go a week witout a big Mac you'll find them here in FARO. Eastern Algarve's major hospital is also there. Have a phrase book handy as it may be needed at times for any medical or urgent reasons....all the more reasons to practice ones VERY poor and extremely limited Portuguese.