Holiday Accommodation in Praia da Luz, Algarve, PortugalIdeal for Family Holidays, Golf or Fishing parties
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  On this page...Directions..Flights..Car Hire..Trains / Buses..Taxis |
 
Transport |
 The most convenient airport to Praia da Luz (and the Algarve generally) is
Faro Airport. The distance from the airport to Praia da Luz is approximately 70kms (45 miles), and as it is 95% motorway these days, the trip should be managed comfortably in under an hour by car.
TrainsThe train station is 5kms from the airport. Take a taxi or a bus, both from just outside the Arrivals entrance at Faro airport to the train station. You can then take a train which will certainly give you some alternative views of the Algarve as it manages to miss all the 'well known' towns along the coast following a route that is more inland. Services tend to be infrequent and can be unreliable, but they are getting better. The journey to Lagos takes about 1¾ hours and costs around 10 Euros. It is then only a ten minute taxi ride from Lagos station to Praia da Luz. Altogether the most cost effective way to get to Luz ( but not the most practical if you have a lot of luggage ) Train timetable. BusesThe bus station is 6kms from the airport. There is a local bus service operating between the airport and Faro centre about every hour. The stop is also just outside arrivals. During the high season ( summer months ) a special Aerobus service connects with the town centre. As most arrivals are heading west to Albufeira and further you'll need to get the bus from the airport to Faro bus station then catch the fast 'Tranrapido' bus service along the coast. Purchase tickets in advance in Faro bus station. Services are limited at weekends on normal lines. To make sure you don't miss connections in Faro it's a good idea to take a taxi to the bus station. There are buses that run from Faro to Lagos (approx one and a half hours). There is a local bus from Lagos to Praia da Luz (10 minutes) which stops near the centre of the town. Bus timetable.  TaxisFrom Faro Airport will cost about €70 to €85 (includes luggage surcharges). The upper end of the prices is normally charged at weekends and public holidays. These are rates for 2007/8. To be on the safe side you should check the price with the driver before travelling, don't be afraid to query anything that is not close to the rates shown above. Minibuses are only a little more than ordinary taxis but will obviously depend on your numbers as to whether it is cost effective to use one. Pre-Book Taxis
I've found that pre-booking transport to your accommodation whilst in the U.K. ( or anywhere else for that matter ) is a painless operation and can be extremely useful. If you are visiting a town or resort for the first time you are more than likely to spend the first few days just walking about to see the sights and get your bearings. In which case why have a rental car sitting outside doing nothing? If you need a car later during your holiday it is easy to rent one for a day or two when required. See here for Luz Car Rental. There is nothing better ( especially after a very early or late night flight ) than having someone to meet you in arrivals at the airport, taking care of your luggage and driving you to the door of your destination, definitely a stress free start to your holiday. Depending on your numbers and your destination you can get a private transfer or a shared transfer, costs vary accordingly. Either way the costs should be no more than getting a taxi from the rank outside the airport. From Faro Airport will cost about €75 to €85. If you have not paid in advance (e.g. on-line) you should check the price with the driver before travelling, don't be afraid to query anything that does not match the rate you were originally quoted. See further down the page for some places you can check the prices and book your transport in advance. By CarThere are several car rental offices inside the airport for those of you who have pre-booked. Just outside the Airport entrance there are also several of the major rental company main offices. See further down the page for Car Rental offices. ▪ It might seem like a daft comment but don't forget its driving on the right hand side of the road in Portugal! ▪ Watch your speed as there are on the spot fines. ▪ Alcohol tolerance is zero. ▪ No children under 13yrs in the front of the vehicle. ▪ Seat belts must be worn at all times. ▪ Give way to traffic on roundabouts or to the right at junctions to roads of equal importance. ▪ You must have a luminous jacket and warning triangle, so check your hire car when you pick it up. ▪ Keep your license with you at all times when driving. A final ( trivial? ) point, you may be tempted to keep re-tuning the radio on the trip down the motorway as 'local' stations tend to come and go suddenly and frequently. This can be very off putting not to mention dangerous, so stick in a CD or cassette instead or just turn it off. A note for golfing parties, you may want to consider 'local' transfers to golf courses as and when required rather than hiring a mini-bus for the whole holiday ( which may spend more time being parked up than being used ). There are plenty of places in the major towns that provide this service at reasonable rates. Note: Take it easy on the minor roads as they are often not as well maintained as in the U.K. They are also quite narrow, and seem even more so when you have just come off the motorway ( but this doesn't seem to worry the 'locals' who tend to drive pretty rapidly along these roads. This includes the local buses, which can be a bit scary ). Note: There is a petrol station right on the doorstep of the Airport. You will probably not need it for the journey out but its worth remembering for topping up the tank when you return your Rental. Otherwise petrol stations can be far and few between unless you are based in a major town or use the service stations on the motorway. 04/2008 Warning, as of April 2008 ( the latest increase ), the price of petrol is skyrocketing in Portugal. It is now not that far behind the U.K. Fortunately the Algarve is not that 'big' in terms of driving distances, but it could add another £50 to your holiday costs. |
Directions to Praia da Luz from Faro Airport |
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Link to ( Printable ) Google Directions Map
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Airports | |
| Lisboa ( LIS ) | Name: Aeroporto da Portela
Airport Information: See Details Distance to Luz: 295km (2:30Hrs) |
| Faro ( FAO ) | Name: Aeroporto de Faro Airport Information: See Details Distance to Luz: 70km (45Mins) |
| Porto ( OPO ) | Name: Aeroporto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport Information: See Details Distance to Luz: 640km (5:30Hrs) |
Agent Sites for Cheap Flights | |||
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Feb. 2009 Update: With the recession getting a grip of us all, look out for some good deals this year. I've noticed Easyjet has a sale on all flights in March, Aer Lingus is also showing some good prices. Try the Flight Search panel on the right for pretty much up to date prices and availability.
Nov. 2007 Update: Airlines are now charging for all bags in the hold, there is no one bag per person free anymore. Be sure to book baggage in advance (about £10 per item return) otherwise you will be charged £10 per item each way! You can get away with a slightly larger item cabin baggage than previously allowed but best check this before you arrive at the airport. |
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| Airport-parking-shop.co.uk | If you are flying from Gatwick this site will find the best price for parking up for the duration. | ||
| Flightline.co.uk | All airline search from one page | Flightsdirect.com | All airline search from one page |
| Lastminute.com | All airline search from one page | Lightbluetravel.co.uk | Flights and Car Hire samples |
Airline Sites for Flights | |
| British Airways |
 Generally
the most expensive. Single flights to U.K. reasonable. |
| TAP Air Portugal |
 Expensive.
Rare bargains. |
| GO Airlines |
 Uses
various airlines, occasional bargains. |
 Added for 2009. I've noticed some incredibly cheap prices appearing lately, not to mention more flights from London ( Gatwick ). Base prices look excellent but
like all the rest has all sorts of add-ons. Bookings are not guaranteed until you receive a confirmation. 03/2009 | |
 Some excellent good prices coming up on the Stanstead route ( April / May 2009 ). Prices from £30 fully inc. fees and taxes! Certainly worth checking.
04/2009 | |
| Monarch Airlines |
 Always
worth checking. Most flexible pricing. Watch out though for possible hefty service charges for some dates |
| Thomas Cook |
 Normally uses BA. Occasional offers. |
| XL | 08/2008 Ceased trading. |
| Easyjet |
 Probably
the cheapest on a good day. Managed to get cheaper prices for April 2007 compared with 2006. 02/2007 |
Sites for Car Hire / transfers | |
| Algarve Car Rental | |
| Faro Airport: (+351) 289 817 355 | |
| Luz: (+351) 282 789 510 | |
| Lagos: (+351) 282 761 961 | |
| Quad Bikes, Scooters and Bicycles available at Luz branch (by the church). | |
Luzcar  |
 A long established, and reliable 'company'. Not bad rates.
We've used them more often than the others, with no problem. |
| Dailyrent |  A new company based in Lagos. A full range of vehicles at reasonable rates.
Prices available on request. On-line booking form.Where : Rua D. Vasco da Gama nº51 B8600 - 722 Lagos. Tel : (+351) 282 799 380 Fax : (+351) 282 799 369 |
| Master Kings |  A rental company opening at Lagos Marina from the beginning of June 2008. All inclusive prices. Collection and Return to / from Faro Airport or Lagos.
03/2009 Now have a U.K. booking agent. U.K. Web : Masterkings.co.uk Address : 377 Warwick Road, Solihull, West Midlands, United Kingdom, B91 1BQ Tel : 0121 705 7425 In Portugal Where: Marina de Lagos ,Nucleo Gil Eanes , loja 8 8600-780 Lagos Tel: (+351) 91 295 00 69 Fax: (+351) 289 819 960 Email: evacristinasantos |
| Holidayautos.co.uk | Another possible option for booking in advance. |
| Portugal-car-hire.com | Rates from Faro Airport. |
| Flymonarch.com | Cheapest we found lately especially when booked with a flight. 09/2006 |
| Transfers to and from Faro / Luz | |
| Polotur | Reliable airport transfers to Luz. Instant Quote on-line. Pay in advance or direct to the driver. 01/07 |
| Faroprivatetransfers.com
Airport transfers to Luz. Book on-line. €145 Euros return ( 1 to 4 ), €160 Euros return ( 5 to 8 ). Pay the driver. Also Golf Course transfers. 12/2008 | |
| Algarvetransfersdirect.com
Airport transfers to Luz. Book on-line. Offers a reliable Airport Transfer service to all locations in the Algarve and to different locations in Spain. You can also book the transfers from your hotel or villa, to all Algarve locations, to Faro and other airports and to the golf course of your choice at very competitive prices. Check their online transfer prices from Faro or other places. Enquire direct regarding the Private Driver and Taxi Services. All taxis and transfers from Faro Airport and other locations are operated by professional drivers on high quality vehicles. No pre-payment required for bookings. The payment is done directly to the driver. An Algarve based company, fully licensed to provide public transportation to individuals or groups. At the Faro Airport they can wait for any members of your family or friends. Even if the flight is delayed. Don't queue for taxis and don't wait for shuttle buses at the Faro Airport. They wait for you and drive your group directly and privately to your Hotel with no stops. The price you pay is per group of passengers and not per passenger. They give discounts to property holders and their clients or commission on all transfers booked. | |
| The following Rental companies all have offices / fleets located at Faro Airport | |
| Auto Jardim do Algarve | Tel: (+351) 289 800 881 |
| Avis / Sovial Lda. | Tel: (+351) 289 889 456 |
| Budget / A. Castanheira | Tel: (+351) 210 323 605 |
| Europcar / National | Tel : (+351) 289 818 726
Leading European Car Rental Company. Easyjet partner. |
| Hertz - HR Aluguer de Automóveis | Tel: (+351) 289 818 248 |
| Guerin | Tel: (+351) 289 800 883 |
| Rentauto / Machado & Monteiro | Tel: (+351) 289 818 718 |
| Sixt Rent a Car / Globalrent | Tel: (+351) 289 818 294 |
Trains & Buses | |
| Trains & Buses | A page on this Site with timetables for Faro to Lagos / Luz |
| Eva-bus.com | Algarve Bus timetable |
Faro - Lagos Train timetable (use this link for our page, the left link for the official site. | |
Click here for more of our guide to Praia da Luz
Last Update: 04/02/2010 - Praia da Luz, Algarve, Portugal. - Maps, Directions, Trains, Taxis, Buses - © Luzholiday.com 2004 - 2010