Algarve: Salema or Carvoeiro?
 

We will be spending 5 nights in the Algarve starting May 11. A couple of questions for those with experience. We are currently booked for 2 nights in Salema, but have looked at Alvor and Carvoeiro also. We are a couple in our 60's, and we like quiet places with nice beaches. Any thoughts on Salema vs either of those two?

Our plan was to head East to Tavira for 2 nights after that, with maybe a 1 night stop along the way. Any suggestions about where to stop for 1 night?
Any thoughts on setting up in Tavira for 2 nights before we head up to Evora?

Thanks!

Faro, the capital city of the Algarve, is often overlooked. It's an interesting city to spend a (half) day, though.
On the other hand, I personally don't see a reason to stop for one night on the way to Tavira. Salema-Tavira is only a short distance of 130 kms.

Re Salema vs. Carvoeiro: Carvoeiro is quiet, Salema is very quiet. It was almost dead when we went there on a daytrip in June of 2013.

Thank you Myriam. Are there any other differences you would think are important between Salema and Carvoeiro? I'm wondering if Rick Steves' promotion of Salema has made it a bit busier.

What do you think about Tavira as a base for the Eastern Algarve? Based on your experience does that make sense? Or are there other places you might prefer?

Thanks for the tip on Faro.

One more question for anybody with experience.
Do you think we will need reservations at this time of the year May 10-15? We would prefer to travel without and stay where we become enchanted.

Tavira is excellent. It's nea

Oops ... hit the wrong button.

Tavira is excellent. It's near where we used to stay in the Algarve (Cabanas de Tavira) but we have spent many evenings in Tavira. Lots of restaurants, tourists are mostly Spanish because of the Sp. border nearby. No clubbing/party atomosphere.

The beaches are totally different than in the western Algarve. In fact they are huge sandbanks that can only be reached by boat. https://tavira.algarvetouristguide.c.../tavira-island

In my opinion, Salema is just an ugly village, Carvoeiro is a really beautiful village. There are others along the coast, maybe during that day from east to west you can visit Benagil cave? You can take a boat from, for instance, "senhora da rocha", a beach near Armação de Pera, (or anywhere else), and see the cave and the desert beaches.

We've decided to explore the Alentejo coast on our way down from Comporta, do some hiking, maybe some beach time depending on the weather, and then spend one night in Salema. Hope its not too ugly! And it is possible that we will decide to move on to Carvoeiro for that night. We do want to spend at least one night in a small seaside village.

Then we will probably spend 4 nights staying at Portobay Falesia, doing beachtime and day trips. Faro and Tavira will definitely be on our list of daytrips.

Thanks for all the help!