Deakie - tell me about Portugal
Hi Deakie, you mentioned in a different post that you have lived in Portugal and I am looking for some inspiration for places to visit. My parents have a house just outside the Old Town of Albufeira and we have visited a few times now. We are due to go again this Summer and I was just wondering if you have any day out tips other than the obvious ones we have already done. They have a car over there so transport isn't an issue but we wouldn't want to be driving too far. Also need to be fairly child friendly if possible. Thanks in advance.

Hi b, Have you done Zoomarine and Slide & Splash? If you've been a few times then I would imagine you've done Zoomarine at least. They're both really good for kids and Slide & Splash is the best water park for littl'uns as it's got a huge baby pool with stuff in! Aquashow outside Quarteira is also good and they have more than just waterslides. Don't go to Aqualand which is the closest one to Albufeira, the slides are naff and they have very little for babies. There's also Krazy World in Algoz which is a bizarre sort of place. They have 2 mini golf courses, dodgem cars, a couple of camels, an elephant and lots of little crocodiles and big snakes. And a petting farm zoo thing. Strange combination and only really advised if you don't mind snakes! If you want a zoo, then Lagos Zoo is prolly the best in the Algarve. It's actually in Bensafrim, not Lagos, so is right at the end of the motorway so prolly about 45 mins from Albufeira. Omega Parque on the main road from Portimao to Monchique is more of a sanctuary and they have captive bred lemurs, monkeys and wild cats. In Albufeira itself (up beside Hotel Real Bellavista, go up the hill at the watch roundabout, not along the dual carriageway) is the Bellavista Leisure park which has mini golf and a big soft play area for little ons (they separate the kids ages out so no big kids in with the under 3s) May be worth a shot if the weather is naff one day orif they get fed up with the sun. HTH a little bit Deakie xxx

Thanks Deakie - well we've done zoomarine and Gatorworld (how sincere is that elephant with that woman - a really good relationship they have), and will probably do Zoomarine every year cos theres enough to keep you entertained. I know Quateira and Lagos is somewhere my mum and dad have been so will check that out. My sister has done slide and splash but her two are a bit older so I assumed mine would be too young at the moment. Thanks for the info.