Thanks for addressing my points! I checked out Renex but it's only in Portuguese ...

For the budget of the hotel, preferably around 70-90Euros? With pool, free wifi, pool, and a central enough location? (to beach, supermarts or shops)

So would you suggest I spend all 5 nights in either Lagos or Albufeira, then take a day trip to to other? Or is it feasible to do 3 nights in Albufeira then 2 nights in Lagos then take the bus/train back to Lisbon?

Thank you.

Oh and would you recommend staying on the Strip or the Old Town area in Albufeira?

Few hotels here offer free wifi (if they offer it all you have to pay and / or it may only be available in reception areas etc) but you can get free wifi in numerous bars and cafés, also in McDonalds.

For self catering apartment hotels, check the Brisa Sol and Vila Galé Cerro Alagoa. These are 7 - 8 minutes walk into the old town centre and beach and within 3 minutes of a shopping centre. Slightly further out of town is the well regarded Forte do Vale building.

Actual hotels in the old town area, (ie not self catering) include the Hotel Baltum, right in the town centre also the Hotel do Cerro, Hotel Belver Boavista and Hotel Rocamar Beach. There is the Sol e Mar hotel, a slightly old fashioned place (no pool) but it is right on the beach and the only hotel in town (currently open) that is so situated.

You can find plenty of reviews of these and others if you go the Albufeira forum page and look across to the left under 'Albufeira hotels´. You should be able to get rooms for less than 70 Euros per night.

I would not recommend the 'strip' in May. it is heavily geared for the summer tourist business and will probably still be quiet. The old town area is where the 25,000 local residents would be for an evening out.

In terms of seeing both Albufeira and Lagos in May, a day trip between the two will save you uprooting yourselves for just one or two nights. Both towns have train and bus service back to Lisbon.

BTW I don't know if you noticed this, but the RENEX website does have a downloadable timetable (unlike Rede-Expressos) which is easy enough to work out. But they do not, at present, offer on line ticket sales.

http://www.renex.pt/HorarDwn.php

This is great, thank you! So I guess if I wanted to book in advance bus tickets, it'll only be on EVA?

You gotta go for Lagos over Albufeira everytime. Albufeira more "brits abroad" type destination - kiss me quick hats, watneys red barrel Brit pubs, egg & chips.......ok I'm generalising a bit but you get the picture.

Lagos more cultural, authentic Portugese.

I completely agree with the above . Lagos is miles nicer than Albufeira.

You could rent an apartment near the marina (www.ownersdirect.com) or see if you an get a deal at Marina Club Dom Jaoi 11(make sure you have room with a view) or Vila Gale (smart, with a v good indoor and outdoor pool. )

I would definitely recommend staying in th Meia Praia/marina area.

They are both a comfortable walk from the train station (5 to 10 mins) or bust station( 5 to 15 mins)

Thanks you so much guys, very helpful.