I have just read the exchange of opinions outlined below on a travel website, and I have done the thing I told MC off for and stolen their copyright although it is not exactly a cut and paste job.

Disconcerting that there are people who have been to Algarve that have formed these opinions, in fact I was quite horrified to read it and couldn't believe they were talking about the place that I know and love, but what about people who have never been and are thinking about it, this was on a major UK travel site which receives 30,000 daily visits. I would interested to hear/know what others think of this.

"never ever want to go to portugal again, it really is the poor relation to spain. The people werent friendly, the country is dirty and poor"

"i agree with u about the algarve,it really is disgustingly filthy with hordes of dogs fouling the pavements, toilets inc. restuarants so dirty and dangerous it reflects on th e portuguese people it was lovely to come back to uk to civilisation"

"we did not feel safe leaving the villa.

Beggars in car parks directing you to spaces and then expecting payment for it!! Of course we paid, we wanted our hire cars still to be undamaged when we got back!!

In shops the assistants didnt smile. Some in albufeira were just plain bloody rude.

And the concrete building sites, some parts that were finished were painted disgusting colours, what was that all about?? so they could be seen from space!!

We are used to more 'classier civilised' holidays if they are the right words.

My sister has only ever been to portugal, we are now trying to persuade her to go to arenal d'en castell in menorca. I know once visited she will never go to portugal again.

As a football fan, i cant see how they are going to cope with euro 2004. "

Well, they aren't describing the Portugal I'm familiar with.

I've no complaints. I think it a wonderful holiday location and, if money and the grim reaper allow, I shall endeavour to spend my final years there.

If they say that about Portugal then I dread to think what they say about Turkey!

Mind you, it's as well the writers won't be returning. They sound like the sort of people we go out of our way to avoid on holiday . . . and at home too.

Spain is welcome to them . . . .

My views exactly Micheal and I have several hundred more views as well

As you know, and many others on this forum, I holiday a lot in Turkey. It is amazing the number of people that go there and moan because it's not like Spain or Greece!

Well, it's not supposed to. It's Turkey! And the same is said about Portugal. I think Portugal should be pleased to be described as Spain's poor relation. If being affluent (as Spain is?) means a bunch of moaning, whinging, lager-swilling, short-sighted, narrow-minded cretins invade each summer, then it's poor is better!

Clearly the writer of the piece has either been 'bunged by the Spanish Tourist Board, or just simply took a dislike to the region, which is fine, every in entitled to their opinion but to say it was unsafe to leave the villa is just plain horse£$%^!. I have four teenage daughters, and Carvoiero is probably one of the few places where I feel comfortable with them to being out on their own. If the writer only visited Albufeira, then I can perhaps see where he is coming from in some respects, but Portuguese people, unhelpful? I really don't think so. Poor relation to Spain ? I agree with MC, if you want to holiday or live with the lager Larry's then Spain offers a much wider choice of such resorts than Portugal. Give me Portugal and its friendly people any day, any time.

G

i wonder what i could write about going on holiday in London...beggars..dirt..overcrowding.... rip off prices....muggings..crime...rude service....more!!!

yes, if we really look under a microscope what can we find.....how true our Lords words .."Let him who is without sin cast the first stone"

Maddi --this reminds me of an elderly couple I met once when we lived in Lagoa.
I was taking a break from work and strolling up at Roch Brava lighthouse area. It was a beautiful day--wonderful air--and as you all know --lovely scenery.
The couple (English) stopped and spoke to me. I was teling them what a good life we were having there--but--from start to finish--all their words were ones of complaint.
I said 'Look around you--isnt it absolutely beautiful?'
The man shrugged his shoulders saying' Its all scrub'!!!
I was horrified as all around were wonderful pines wild flowers of every colour -the scent of herbs-thatsuperb sea air---
'Cant get fish& chips' was his next exclaimation!
'Breads horrible'!
and so it went on and on and-----------
Id had enough! Looked at my watch saying 'Got to get back to work'!
Then drove back to the orange groves and a wonderful 'fish bbq' the lads were cooking--with a big smile on my face--thinking--they dont know what theyre missing

Hi Maddi, if there's anyway you can divulge exactly where this came from, I would like to know as I fancy a bit of "digging" on this. Have you passed it on to the Portuguese tourist authority? might be worth it but don't hold your breath! I think Steen will fancy a crack at this when he reads it, well picked up.

Hi Mike

As you probably know by now, I have sent a PM with the details in it.

I have a 101 answers to this and to be honest they do not have to be set in a counter argument that attacks Spain or London. The Algarve is better than that!

Maddi

As a frequent visitor to the Algarve (although new to this forum) i can only comment on my own experiences and what i see with my own eyes. These negative comments regarding the people of Portugal is untrue and deeply disappointing. I have returned to the Algarve for 20 years due to the friendships i have built and the genuine nature of its people. Whilst there is good and bad in every walk of life ( and Portugal is by no means a perfect world), there are far more positives than negatives.

Hi Gary

Thanks for your input and the realism which it contained (i.e. to paraphrase "Portugal isn't perfect"). If I were to look at at the places I have visited and then identify the best food, the warmest people, the most interesting culture, the most beautiful landscape, the best weather, the greatest snorkelling,the most impressive sights, best standards of cutomer service,the friendliest bars, the most gorgeous beach, etc, etc, I wouldn't come up with Portugal or Menorca or USA or Greece or Turkey or Spain or London, I would come with an Utopia made up of the best bits from many countries as I am sure many of you would too, but I have to say the exchange I reported on above bears absolutely no relation whatsoever to the Algarve I know.

Maddi (still )

Matti, I too was quite disturbed by the excerpt of the travel website that you quoted in your post. But in all fairness to the one sided article if you dig long and hard you can find these downsides to Portugal, more so in the Algarve. But the author did not take in to consideration that there is a side of Portugal that makes it one of the best countries in Europe to visit or live in. Any of the things that disturbed the person in question you can well find in any other country, not just Portugal. Still in all, for the last 15 years I still get a rush when I get ready to go to Portugal. There are people that ask me, "why do you continually go there?" The only answer I can give them is that I find Portugal to be like a pair of old shoes that I feel very comfortable in and refuse to give up.

Charles--youve expressed my feelings exactly!
Whenever I land there---by air or by car----I have a great feeling of warmth and of being 'at home'!
lovely --isnt it

Ellie wrote:Charles--youve expressed my feelings exactly!
Whenever I land there---by air or by car----I have a great feeling of warmth and of being 'at home'!
lovely --isnt it

Without a doubt Ellie..without a doubt

The people that gave these opinions ment them, based on what they saw and felt , they are not lying they are telling the truth as they saw it ,we tend to be very defensive because we are a bit blinkered ,maybe these guys have no axe to grind.