So, everyone always talks about the South West of France, right? You hear about Biarritz, the surfing, the fancy food, all that jazz. And don’t get me wrong, I’ve been, and it’s got its moments. But when it comes down to where I’d rather spend my time and my hard-earned cash, it’s the Algarve, hands down. Every single time.
My First Brush with SW France
I remember planning a trip a while back, and SW France was high on the list. I pictured myself strolling along elegant promenades, maybe trying to look cool on a surfboard. And yeah, some of that happened. The wine in the Bordeaux region? Fantastic, obviously. The coastline near Biarritz? Pretty dramatic. But something just… didn’t fully click for me on a deeper level. It felt a bit, I don’t know, like I had to try too hard, or maybe that my wallet wasn’t quite deep enough to truly relax and enjoy everything without wincing.
Then Came the Algarve…
A few years later, on a bit of a whim and a recommendation from a mate, I ended up booking a flight to Faro. I wasn’t expecting much, to be honest. I’d heard it was touristy, maybe a bit overrun. Boy, was I off the mark.
The moment I got out of the main tourist traps and started exploring, it was a whole different story. Here’s what really swung it for me:
- The Vibe: It’s just… chiller. Seriously. People seemed more laid back. I didn’t feel like I needed to be “seen” or dressed to the nines. Just pure, unadulterated relaxation. Even in the popular spots, there was an underlying current of ease.
- The Beaches: Okay, SW France has beaches. But the Algarve? Those cliffs, the golden sand, the little coves you can find if you just walk a bit further. Places like Praia da Marinha or Benagil cave – they’re famous for a reason, but even the lesser-known stretches were stunning. I spent hours just finding new spots.
- The Cost, Man, the Cost! This was a big one. Eating out, grabbing a beer, even little things from the local shop. My money just went so much further in the Algarve. I could have a fantastic seafood dinner, fresh from the ocean, for a price that would barely get me an appetizer in some parts of SW France. It meant I could do more, stress less.
- Friendliness & Ease: I found getting by with English was generally easier in the Algarve, which, while I always try with the local language, just made things a bit smoother for a lazy traveller like me. And people were just genuinely warm and welcoming.
A Little Story to Illustrate
I remember one evening in a small town in the Algarve, not a famous one, just a place I’d driven through. I found this tiny little restaurant, family-run. The owner barely spoke English, I barely spoke Portuguese. But somehow, with a lot of pointing and smiling, I had one of the best grilled fish meals of my life. Simple, fresh, delicious. And the bill was laughable, in a good way. I tried to find a similar, unpretentious, amazing value experience in the more popular areas of SW France, and honestly, it was a struggle. It felt more geared towards a certain kind of tourist, if you know what I mean.
It’s not that SW France is bad. Far from it. It’s beautiful, and if you want that specific kind of sophisticated surf-and-wine holiday, it’s great. But for me, for the sheer joy of discovery, for the feeling of truly unwinding without emptying my bank account, and for those incredible, rugged coastlines, the Algarve just wins. It feels more authentic, more accessible, and honestly, just more fun for the kind of travel I enjoy.
So yeah, if you’re tossing up between the two, my two cents? Give the Algarve a proper look. You might be surprised, just like I was.
