Daily Diary

Thursday 10th April

We arrived at Faro airport at around 9:15am and the weather was very wet and windy. After all the bags were collected we made our way outside to coach ready to transfer us to our accommodation.
When we arrived at our accommodation we waited in the reception area to be checked into our rooms. My first impressions of the apartments were that they were very clean and the land in and around the accommodation was very well looked after. The hotel staff were quite abrupt at first which I think was due to the large group that we were in. This only lasted a short time as they became very friendly towards us there after.
Once we got settled in a few of us had a walk around the local area to look for a shop. On the way we encountered a few souvenir shops, bars and restaurants. As they were few and far between I got the impression that the area surrounding the apartments was quiet but resourceful.
The first night we decided to stay in the grounds of the accommodation as it had been a long day. There is entertainment provided every night in bar melody. I think this is mostly aimed at families with young children.

Friday 11th April

Our first full day started with breakfast in the restaurant. There is a variety of food available from cooked “Full English” style to continental breakfast. This is to cater for the different nationalities that visit the resort throughout the year.
After breakfast we had a visit from our first choice representative who conducted a welcome meeting. She explained the many excursions available whilst going into detail about Albufeira’s centre and old town. After having a brief discussion about which excursions we would like to go on as a group we opted for the jeep safari, zoo marine and a bar crawl with the reps.
After the welcome meeting we had a brief break before having a talk about the hospitality provided by the accommodation. The talk was conducted by a senior member of the hotel management. After an in depth insight into the way the apartments are run from catering to environmental impacts, we had an opportunity to question the staff member. This gave us the perfect opportunity to gain some primary research.
After dinner we ventured outside the accommodation to experience the local nightlife. The rep had told us about the strip so with a short taxi ride we arrived at the centre of Albufeiras nightlife.

Saturday 12th April

Saturday was the first opportunity to go on an excursion. We had to get up relatively early for breakfast and leave the hotel at 9:55am. The coach was to pick us up at a bus stop just round the corner from the accommodation.
The coach arrived at around 10:15am. Zoo marine put on their own shuttle service that goes around Albufeira and the surrounding area picking up visitors at a set time.
We arrived at the park around 30 minutes after being picked up. When we got inside the park we were given a time to meet back at the entrance ready for a talk from management at the park. After a brief walk around the attraction it was time for us to meet up again. The talk unfortunately did not go ahead due to our first choice representative not doing her job to an acceptable standard.
We did however get to speak to a member of staff at the park who talked to us about environmental impacts the park has but also how it tries to improve the local community. After he gave us a walking tour of the park we had some free time to experience the rides and attractions. We saw the sea lion show which was made even more impressive by the animators. Shortly after we watched the dolphin show where we found out that zoo marine is home to the oldest male dolphin in the world.
After the shows a few of us decided to try out the rides. They were not the best of ‘thrill rides’ however I do think it would be an ideal attraction for families with small children. We left the park at around 4:30 and got back on the zoo marine coach ready to drop us back to our apartments.
I think that the zoo marine is the ideal attraction for golfing widows and families. There is plenty to do whilst in the park and the manor of which the shows are spread out over the day means it will occupy visitors for a long period of the day. However I think that teenagers will find it hard to keep occupied throughout the day as the shows and the rides are aimed more towards a younger audience.

Sunday 13th April

Again we got up relatively early to have breakfast as we were to be out for the majority of the day. We met in reception where taxis were called and we made our way into Albufeira. Once there, we caught the ‘tourist train’ through Albufeira and into the old town. The journey took about 20 minutes and we got to see a lot of residential areas on the way. We got off the train in the old town right next to the beach. As we made our way through the old town it was clear that this side of Albufeira attracted a different type of visitor. As we got into the old town centre, looking around, it was packed full of restaurants and people trying to get you to dine in theirs. There was also entertainment in the form of pipe players in the square. With so many people around, this gave us the perfect opportunity to conduct some primary research. After having lunch in the square we made our way down to the beach. I was surprised at how clean but also spacious the beach was when we arrived.
Having spent a few hours on the beach we caught a taxi back to out accommodation. We had a few hours to relax in our rooms before getting ready for the first choice organised bar crawl.
We met at Linekers bar which is located at the bottom end of the strip. After meeting our reps we started the drinking games and this continued in numerous bars as we made our way down the strip. Overall I thought the night was put together well by these particular reps.
I think this excursion alone would be a great way to keep teenagers occupied as it gives them a chance to have fun and meet new people on the night. Golfing widows would also benefit from this night out as they could also meet new people and possibly visitors who are in the same boat as themselves.









Monday 14th April

Today was the Jeep safari which everyone was really looking forward to. As we waited in the reception area our jeeps turned up and the group was divided into groups and we all got into our jeeps. The first stop was at a small restaurant; here we met the drivers and tourists from all over Albufeira on the same tour as we were about to do. The drivers were all very knowledgeable about the country but they delivered this information in a humorous manor. I think this enabled everyone to relax more and have a good time.
The first actual sightseeing stop on the tour was a waterfall which is located at the foot of the hills. We were able to get out the jeep and have a look round for 10 minutes before we got back on the road. Our next stop was set slightly up in the hills; a small community where a very Old Portuguese lady sits all day and makes baskets my first impressions of this stop were feeling sorry for this lady who literally sits there while group after group of tourists stand there and watch her. Then I realised that this was her living and was more than likely use to it.
Next stop on the tour was lunch at a traditional Portuguese restaurant. The restaurant itself was very clean although quite dark. Soup was the starter which I thought was very nice. The main course was pork and salad with peri peri sauce and chips. Personally I don’t like spicy foods so I tried to avoid the sauce but overall I thought the meal was very nice.
After our meals we drove a short distance to a field of cork trees. Cork, being one of the countries biggest exports, is highly valued in Portugal. One of the guides gave us a brief history on the cork trees and how they farm them. I found this talk very interesting as I did not know how important a cork tree could be to a countries economy.
The next stop on the tour was a small secluded distillery where the countries own spirit ‘Medronho’ made. The farm also makes honey and they were both on offer for all to try. Due to myself having a hangover I was in no rush to drink the local fire water at 60% proof. After having a brief talk about how the Medronho is made we had an opportunity to walk around the farm. There were a few chickens around but mainly dogs and new born puppies.
The penultimate stop on this tour was set high up in the hills around Albufeira. Before actually going on the tour our rep had told us that this part of the tour was good as there is a lagoon here and we would get the opportunity to swim in it. When we got there however there was nothing more than a stream. Our guide explained to us that during high seasons, locks at the bottom of the stream are closed and this allows it to fill up and people are allowed to swim in it. Not exactly a lagoon but I imagine it would still be fun all the same. There was also a shop with drinks and snacks available here so after a short break we were back on the road.
The last stop was in a remote field by the side of the road. Here the drivers said a final goodbye to everyone and it gave us an opportunity to thank them all before returning to our hotel.
I thought this excursion was a great day out and would recommend it to anyone. I think that the nature of the day means that it would be appealing to all types of visitors. This is because it’s an all day excursion but you are constantly on the move visiting different locations. Some locations are very informative and interesting and others like lagoon part of the trip, although we didn’t personally experience it, would be highly entertaining for all ages.




Tuesday 15th April

Tuesday was a relatively relaxing day with a tour of the kitchen area on the agenda. The talk wasn’t scheduled until 3:30pm so for the most part of the day we spent by the hotel pool and using the facilities. Come 3:30 we met the food and beverage manager outside the restaurant and we started the tour. I was pleasantly surprised to see how organised and hygienic the kitchen was. Not that I was expecting it to be dirty but it was extremely clean. We saw all the kitchen staff preparing dinner for the hundreds of guests that were visiting the hotel. The tour was finished off with a tour of the stock rooms which wasn’t really relevant to what we were doing but was an interesting insight all the same.


Wednesday 16th April

Today was our last opportunity to experience an excursion. We were to visit the gypsy market in Quarteira. The market is located quite a distance away from our resort. Took about 15 minutes in a taxi but a coach is also available to take you through your travel representative.
When we arrived at the market you can see pretty much all of it as it goes downhill. Another good first impression is that it is located right next to a beach so it seems to attract a lot of tourists. Only when walking round it do you become to realise the vastness of the market and the variety of things on sale. One thing that you do have to be weary of is drug dealers. Literally I alone got asked if I wanted to buy drugs no less than 14 times in the space of about an hour and a half. However don’t let this put you off altogether as the market is policed well and there are plenty of people about.
After everyone had grabbed their bargains at the market we walked the short distance to the beach. Here we had a look up and down the promenade and relaxed for about 45 minutes. Again I was surprised at how clean the beach was and how empty the whole area was. However I do imagine it being a very vibrant place in peak season.

On the Wednesday night we went to a traditional Portuguese restaurant called O’Pinhal. This was to celebrate our tutor’s birthday and thought what better way than to experience traditional local produce. Seafood and pork was on the menu with chips and chicken also available. The waiter brought out the first dish which was presented in a large bowl. It consisted of all kinds of seafood from prawns to clams. A lot of people were put off immediately by this dish including myself at first. I do usually tolerate fish but this huge dish of freshly caught produce was quite daunting. However I did try some and in all fairness it was really good. The second dish was pork which most people opted for. A birthday cake was brought out after our meals but I wasn’t particularly in the mood for it after a meal but apparently it was very sweet.
After out meals we caught a taxi back to our accommodation as we had an early start the following day.



Thursday 17th April

We had to get up early to check out of our rooms. We waited for about half an hour in the reception area for our first choice coach to transfer us to Faro airport.