My girlfriend and I booked a holiday for ourselves and my parents to Albufeira, Portugal. I share a birthday with my mother which was the reason for the trip, it was her 50th (and my 29th)
We stayed in private apartments about 5 mins walk from the main strip.
Albufeira is very nice, as are portugese people in general.
I would highly reccomend the old town for restaurants and bars, it is about a 30 min walk from the strip or a 3/4 euro taxi ride for the lazy!! It is a little calmer and more subdued than the strip,live bands,singers,entertainers and is essentially cobbled streets around a main square.
The strip itself got busy later on, it is essentially a long (about 2 mile) strip of bars and opens until the early hours. We tended to go to the old town earlier then head back to the strip later.
Each day we walked to the beach, which if you go right to the bottom of the strip (everything is around the strip!!) is right in front of you. The beaches are lovely, sandy with lots of coves. Very,very cold sea though!!
Prices in Albufeira are very reasonable, considering the euro. Most bars have happy hour from 10/11am to 11/Midnight!!
A beer at this time is 2/3 euro. 3/4 after this time.
Taxi's are really cheap, 3.5 euro for the first 3 miles which covers most of Albufeira.
'Fishermans beach' is the main beach and is lovely. There is a restaurant which fronts onto this beach. (The very left one as you look from the beach) where you must sample the 'Cataplana' which is local speciality of fish stew and is superb.
I would reccomend the 'Blue Star' bar, run by two brothers (Portugese Kray twins,ha,ha) Great characters and the best lager in Albufeira.
'The Football Bar' is new, near the beach (bottom of strip) and is lively until late.
'Bank' is the best bar in the old town, modern decor,music on til late,reasonable prices and you get your beer served on a bar made of ice!
Both ourselves and my parents loves Albufeira and will definitely return.