Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Looking for a small beach village in Spain or Portugal

Looking for a small beach village in Spain or Portugal

Old Apr 15th, 2012, 11:22 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Looking for a small beach village in Spain or Portugal

A few friends and I are looking for a small Spain/Portugal beach town or village to stay at for a week. We want something scenic, ideally with cliffs or terrain on the beach. We are all 28 to 30 and looking to have a good time, but are more into laid back bars vs. loud clubs and crowds. Something with a backpacker feel may work well. Any suggestions? We are going in early-mid Sept.
Tanzerjr is offline  
Old Apr 15th, 2012, 12:23 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Try Tarifa near Gibraltar, the wind surfing capital of Europe. The entire Costa de la Luz we found to be much, much more attractive than the built up costa's on the Mediterranean side. You can take a ferry from Tarifa to Morocco just for the day.
Elisabeth54 is offline  
Old Apr 15th, 2012, 01:19 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We had a lovely week in Salema a year or two ago. Each morning we would walk to Restaurant Baio and have coffee while we watched the fishing boats unload and the daily fish auction. A lovey beach to walk. Friendly people. Enjoy. jeff
JeffTWA is offline  
Old Apr 15th, 2012, 02:35 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
10 years ago we stayed in Nerja - a fun little town on the Costa del Sol, east of Malaga and Marabella (the kind of towns you are NOT looking for!). It is on a cliff, with steep steps down to the sea, and mountains off in the distance. We were staying in a lot of paradors on that trip, but the Nerja parador was undergoing renovations, so we stayed right next door at a little 2 star place called Hotel Paraiso del Mar. We spent 3 lovely days in this little town before heading on to Granada (which we should've skipped, but that's another story!)
cathyo is offline  
Old Apr 15th, 2012, 02:44 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cadaques for a backpacker feel.
zeppole is offline  
Old Apr 15th, 2012, 07:03 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 8,827
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Strange as it may seem, there is a world of difference between the beach towns of Catalunya Andalucia and Portugal, Europe's "far" west coast.

"Something with a backpacker feel may work well" leaves you with few choices, even if you want loud clubs and crowds. You'll have to consider more tourist oriented locations, if that is what your are looking for. Have you checked Rick Steves recommendations. He's very much into "backpackers" and might have something for you.

Things have changed somewhat since cathyo ventured into Nerja 10 years ago.
Robert2533 is offline  
Old Apr 16th, 2012, 02:46 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,250
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Robert what would you say are the obvious differences between the two coastlines that you mention in your post just above?
ekscrunchy is offline  
Old Apr 16th, 2012, 03:16 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You want a stunning coastline? Cliffs? Beautiful beaches? Backpackers and surfers? South west coast of Portugal, Sagres to Aljezur. I am not sure if I am allowed to place links here, to show you some photos of the coast.
algarvissimo is offline  
Old Apr 16th, 2012, 08:22 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 8,827
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The Costa Brava is beautiful, with a number of small villages lining the coast and hundreds of impressive summer villas. I like the area around Begur, but it can be very busy during high season. I haven't spent than a lot time in the coastal around Valencia, but the beaches seem to go on forever.

The Costa del Sol area of Andalucia is overbuilt, much different than when I first started hanging out in the area many years ago. There are still some areas where you can get away from the crowds, but overall it tends to be too busy during the summer months. Traffic and parking can be a headache. The picture changes somewhat as if you head west toward Cadiz, or east toward Almeria.

The north coast, from the Basque country to Galicia (Green Spain), is rugged, wild, and beautiful, with many areas still untouched by development. Thankfully, it's not for everyone, but if you're from the Pacific Northwest, then you'll fell right at home, but with food and wine that tends to be a little better.
Robert2533 is offline  
Old Apr 16th, 2012, 09:27 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,250
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks!

I wondered how the coastline changed as far as beaches and development as one went west from the Costa de Luz of Andalucia into Portugal. I've heard that the beaches west of Cadiz are pretty, but very windy...
ekscrunchy is offline  
Old Apr 16th, 2012, 01:06 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Arrifana beach, Monte Clerigo Beach, Aljezur area. I can not stop promoting the Vincentine Coast. Al the way from Alentejo to Sagres. Mid September, great weather, not many tourists, good water and, and....
It is a surf spot, surfer from all around the world meet around Aljezur. Great food, (try the sweet potato dishes).
It´s a spot where you find many old VW Bully... that says it...
algarvissimo is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
travelbuggy1234
Europe
5
Apr 27th, 2011 04:09 PM
Macrobe
Europe
15
Sep 4th, 2007 05:01 AM
pmcconnell
Europe
4
Jul 17th, 2004 06:11 PM
Browntiges
Europe
4
Jun 22nd, 2004 03:55 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -