Vila De Carros (Portugal) May 2011

Hotel: Vila De Carros, Acoteias, Portugal

We had not even been on our "relationship testing" holiday (Turkey), and we were already booking another.

Clare was working as a Travel Agent for Co-Op Travel and rang me on my birthday to say, "Danny, I have found a deal for 6 nights in Portugal for £120 each, what do you think?"

 When we arrived in Vila De Carros, I felt rough...really rough.  I don't know if it was my Guinness Breakfast (a must for the start of every holiday), the flight, or a little bug I had brought with me.  We unpacked and I asked Clare if I could have a sleep for 10 mins and see how I felt.  The Portugal air, sunshine and atmosphere was a winner.  I was back and ready to rock.

On our second day, Clare suggested that we take a little walk from Acoteias across to Albufeira where Clare's mum and Mr Kev were staying, taking in a few sites along the way and seeing places Clare had lived and worked whilst a rep out here.  This little walk was a little further than I had expected and I happily welcomed a beer at our final destination.

I tried many of the local cuisines whilst in Portugal and Peri Peri chicken being the main one, had to be tried in several different restaurants.  One of local jaunts served fish so fresh you could pick the one you wanted from the tank.  This was definitely one of my favourite meals, and the port to finish was just divine.

Clare's mum is a karaoke diva and rocked the Albufeira strip every night with her angelic voice and I was dragged up on stage a few times as well.  One night at their hotel we entered into a quiz night, to which we won a segway experience in the Old Town.   So the day after, I claimed our prize and ripped up the tarmac hurtling round on my own two wheels.

Vilamoura was really picturesque and quaint, although I think we chose the hottest day to go there as on the beach my baldy head was baking.