For a long time, the Algarve had been a constant fixture on our travel wish list. Located on the southernmost coast of Portugal, this region is famous for having some of the most dramatic coastlines in Europe. We spent years looking at those iconic photos of the golden, jagged cliffs and turquoise waters, wondering what it would actually feel like to stand there ourselves. Finally, we stopped wondering and made it happen in the summer of 2025.
Day 1: The Rental Car Saga & Golden Hour
Our journey began at Faro Airport. As soon as we landed, we were greeted by a very nice Sardarjee who drove us to the car rental office. During our short ride, he told us some really interesting stories about his life in Portugal—sharing how he’s been dealing with the language barrier, the weather, employment, and the complexities of visas. It was a lovely, insightful start to the trip.
However, once we arrived at the office, it turned into an absolute test of patience. We waited forever, and then the agent tried every scare tactic in the book to bully me into buying excess insurance. She was aggressive and frankly annoying, but I stayed firm and gave her a very stern “NO.” Pro Tip: Once we finally got the keys, we took detailed videos and photos of every inch of the car. It’s a habit we’ve started to ensure we aren’t charged for pre-existing scratches—a must-do for anyone renting in Portugal.
The drive to Albufeira was a breeze—the roads were quiet, and the A22 motorway makes it a very straightforward 40-minute run. We checked into our Airbnb, which was located in a lovely residential area. The apartment complex itself was great, with well-kept, clean garden areas and a handy cluster of shops nearby. Interestingly, right opposite the complex sat the old, abandoned Vale Navio resort and a collection of holiday villas. It was a bit of a mixed landscape; while some villas were clearly occupied and lived-in, many others stood abandoned. Despite the empty buildings, the area was beautiful—vivid bougainvillea and other wildflowers were blooming everywhere, and the grounds were dotted with olive trees.
The walk to the beach took us right through this villa complex and past the abandoned hotel. It felt quite unique, and the final stretch featured a very picturesque wooden pathway that led us straight down to the sand.The Algarve coastline is famous for its stunning red/orange cliffs, and seeing them glow under the setting sun was the perfect “we’ve arrived” moment. After enjoying the sunsent, we grabbed some supplies from the local shop, stocked the fridge, and spent the night chilling.
Day 2: The Art of the Beach Picnic
One of the highlights of our accommodation was the very nice and spacious balcony, which came with a full dining table setup. From this morning onwards, it became our favorite spot. Every morning, we would sit out there to have our breakfast in the fresh air, and every night before going to bed, Prerna and I would retreat there to have our masala chai and wind down. It was the perfect way to start and end our days.
Day 2 was pure relaxation. We packed the beach tent (an absolute lifesaver), a massive picnic, chilled beers for us, and plenty of drinks and toys for the kids. Even though the thermometer said 29°C, the Atlantic sun hits differently—it felt much toastier. While the kids braved the refreshingly chilly Atlantic waves, Prerna and I claimed our sanctuary inside the tent. One of the best strategic choices we made was selecting an Airbnb so close to the water. Being just 5 minutes from the beach was a total game-changer for convenience; it allowed us to easily go back and forth to fetch cold drinks, snacks, or more ice cream whenever the kids (or we!) needed a break from the heat. By sunset, the kids were happily “roasted” and several shades darker, despite us being human-shaped bottles of sunscreen all day!
Day 3: Thrills (and Spills) at Aqualand
We swapped the salt water for the slides and headed to Aqualand Algarve in Alcantarilha. It’s about a 15-20 minute drive from Albufeira (though traffic can make it feel longer). This park is famous for the “Banzai” boggan and the “Hydra” slides. It was a high-energy day; the kids had the time of their lives on the thrilling drops, though I came away with a little souvenir—I managed to scratch my elbow pretty well on the Hydra slide! A bit of a sting, but seeing the pure joy on their faces as they flew down the slides made every minute worth it.
Day 4: Caves, Speedboats, and Screensavers
This was the big one: an excursion to the Benagil Caves. Waze decided to take us on a bit of a scenic detour to the wrong spot, but we eventually found the meeting point. It was eerily quiet when we arrived, so since we had time to kill, we wandered into the nearby Portimão village. It was a lovely little detour, strolling through the streets and getting a feel for the local area before the tourist rush began.
When we returned, the place was buzzing! We opted for a speedboat tour departing from Portimão Marina. If you’re doing this, the speedboat is the way to go—it’s fast, thrilling, and can actually maneuver deep into the caves. The Highlight: Seeing the Benagil Sea Cave in person. You’ll recognize it instantly—it’s the one with the famous “eye” in the ceiling that has been a Microsoft screensaver for years. It felt surreal to be inside it.
Our guide and captain were the stars of the show; their playful banter and local jokes kept us laughing the whole way. The entire trip took about 1.5 to 2 hours, which was the perfect amount of time to see the rugged coastline without the kids getting restless. I highly recommend booking this!
Day 5: Poolside Vibes and Packing Up
For our final full day, we kept it low-key. We spent the morning idling on the beach, soaking up the last of the salt air. Once the kids had their fill of jumping over waves, we retreated to the apartment’s swimming pool. The apartment complex pool area was very nice and quiet; most of the time we had the pool completely to ourselves, which was such a treat. The kids spent hours splashing around in the water while I finally got to relax on the sun loungers, periodically jumping in myself just to cool down. It was the perfect way to wash off the sand and relax in a more quiet setting.
As evening rolled in, we started the dreaded task of packing our suitcases. Looking back at our photos, it’s clear that Albufeira delivered exactly what we needed: sun, adventure, and plenty of family memories.
Final Thoughts: Passing the Torch
For this trip, I decided to get the kids involved in the logistics. I delegated some aspects of our itinerary planning to my daughter Aryaa, and she really took the lead! She was actually the one who came up with the recommendation for Aqualand based on her own research, and she even tried her hand at a full day-by-day plan. Since it was her first time playing trip planner, I stepped in to help her fine-tune the details—balancing her enthusiasm with practicalities like travel times, how long to actually spend at each activity, and how to optimise our schedule for meals and comfort breaks. It was a great learning experience for her and fun for me to plan together.
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