Southam

The Algarve is picturesque but not overstocked with impressive sights. It serves Britain as a winter retreat -- think Florida.
I wonder about your air travel. I would certainly fly to Lisbon from Barcelona (www.skyscanner.com for budget flights.) But to back up, please look at the possibility of using a multi-destination flight search to fly into the city where you cruise starts and home from Lisbon. You might even find connections from Lagos, the main airport town for the Algarve.

Diamantina

I think Faro is the main airport for the Algarve.

dgunbug

Southam - we are taking the cruise from Florida to Barcelona, then flying to Portugal. Our flight is already booked from Portugal back to the states where we live.

We are still working on arranging our itinerary and as usual, it is rapidly filling up. We are wondering if it is really worth going to the Algarve region at all as we will only have 1 1/2 days there. Your comment about the unremarkable sites makes me wonder if there are better ways to use our time.

In May, other than booking hotels in Porto and Lisbon, would it be safe to wing it for the other cities? That may give us more flexibility if we decide we want to stay in an area or leave early. Thoughts on this and on skipping the Algarve area?

Thanks again to all of you who have helped this far.

PalenQ

Algarve can be nice if you stay in an old town with character and not in glitzy modern seafront areas - Lagos is one such place - with car you can head to less crowded beaches - Tavira was another Algarve town I loved - I think your original itinerary is sweet.

Southam

IF you are still researching, here is a suggested itinerary for air travel:

Fly Barcelona to Faro; work your way by surface transport to Lisbon and then Porto; fly Porto-Miami.

The first, short flight can be very cheap on budget European airlines, with TAP closely competitive. See Skyscanner.

TAP will fly you home from Porto for roughly $360 base fare plus the inevitable extras. Prices may change next year. There will be a stopover in Lisbon that could be fairly lengthy but I'd endure a four-hour wait to get that low trans-Atlantic price.

Word of caution: TAP is a long-established carrier; current reviews are mixed. I have no personal experience. Quality of service on short-hop flights can be different than the trans-Atlantic leg. In particular, watch the luggage fees.

www.skyscanner.com

www.matrix.itasoftware.com

Habsfan10

We spent a week just outside a town in the Alentejo called Vila Nova de Milfontes. Delightful place and more typically Portuguese than many places in the Algarve. Also, very well situated in that it’s on the Rota Vicentina which is a long distance coastal trail. Great hiking, spectacular coastal scenery and remarkable fairly quiet beaches. We were there in September and loved it.

DebitNM

We are in the process of a driving trip along the coast in mid - late May. We spent 7 nights in Lisbon and 4 nights in Porto this past may and fell in love with Portugal and the people.
We felt 7 days was about a day to long. We did day trip by train to Cascais and Sintra. We should have done Duro Valley when we were in Porto. We want to do it on this upcoming trip, but it's going to be a PITA to work it in and not repeat Porto.
We stayed at an excellent hostel in Porto. Our 1st hostel and we are likely ruined for life! Had a private room and bath in a newly acquired building across the street from main building. Quiet, clean and Ikea like furnishings.
Gallery Hostel Porto - Luxury Hostel in Downtown Porto - Portugal I can't recommend it highly enough. Nice dinner for 10 Euros and free breakfast which was good too.
We fly into Lisbon, will stay a night just to recuperate from flight from MIA. on Iberia.

Anyone know GRANDE REAL SANTA EULÁLIA RESORT & HOTEL SPA? Think of doing 2 nights there at end before flying from Faro to Madrid.