Summary:
Destination: Albufeira
Date: May 2018
Group Size: 23
Key Activities: Boat Party
Review
The beautiful region of the Algarve is the destination chosen by thousands of people every year to celebrate a stag or hen do. An extensive coastline with a turquoise sea, breath-taking cliffs, golden sand beaches, a vibrant nightlife and cheap prices create the perfect conditions for the most awesome stag and hen do parties.
To better understand why the Algarve is considered one of the best destinations in the world for stag and hen parties, we had a chat with Chris Murphy, a British individual who chose to organise his best friend’s stag do in Albufeira in early May 2018.
When asked why he chose the Algarve for the stag do, Chris explained that he has been coming to the Algarve to spend his holidays ever since he was 20 years old. The good weather for practically 365 days a year, the kindness of the Portuguese and of the people from the Algarve in particular, the fact that he feels safe and comfortable in Portugal (the country has been consistently at the top of the rankings for the most peaceful countries in the world in recent years) and of course the amazing nightlife are the main reasons compelling him to return almost every year to this sunny region.
The stag do guests, aged between 30 and 35, were housed in a group of apartments with swimming pool, bar and barbecue near to The Strip in the new town area of Albufeira. This location allowed the 23-member group to enjoy the magnificent Algarve weather while relaxing by the pool.
The Strip is the most popular area for stag groups in Albufeira due to the vibrant party atmosphere of the bars in this area, so having this within easy walking distance and still being able to have a swimming pool and BBQ area for the day time made this an excellent location.
Other than the Strip, Chris and group also went out at night in the Old Town of Albufeira. The Old Town typically has a more relaxed atmosphere which added a nice bit of variety for the group. While you can walk to the Old Town often a taxi is preferable and from the Strip, where Chris stayed, it was approximately €5-7 and a little over 5 minutes making it easy to get to (or home from at the end of the night!).
Albufeira marina was also within easy reach and is about 10 minutes by taxi. If you’re taking a boat trip some companies do offer a free or subsidised bus service but note this often takes significantly longer depending on how many other stops it has to make. You’ll also have to fit in with the schedule so if you group wants flexibility then often a taxi can be a bit easier.
Editor’s note: For larger group it often best to pre-book your taxis as there are not always many 8-seater mini-buses available at short notice. When booking its also advisable to be clear about whether you’ll receive 3 x mini buses, it whether it will be 1 which will make several trips. That might not be a problem for you, but its worth bearing in mind as obviously that will take a lot longer to get places. Uber is also becoming more popular but note you’d need to allow quite a bit of time if you want to get 4 x 6-seater ‘Uber XL’ cars as often there may not be enough in the in the area.
While the most repeated activity was certainly sunbathing and plenty of relaxing (accompanied by the obligatory ice cold Super Bock or Sagres beers), Chris says the real highlight of the stag do weekend was the boat trip along the coast. This trip, which included some drinks onboard, was a lot of fun and the friendly crew helped make it an unforgettable experience for all members of the group.
The Catamaran with space for 120 people and which included a DJ, departs from the Marina of Albufeira and gives passengers a peek into some of the most beautiful places on the Algarve coast. There are a lot of boats available from the nearby Albufeira marina however its best to book well in advance as the best ones fill up quickly.
Editor’s note: Please note some boats now don’t accept all male groups as unfortunately they had a few groups who spoilt it for everyone else (!) which was a real shame. So make sure you check this carefully before booking.
During the three-days stag do, the weather was perfect, with the sun shining and without a single cloud in the sky. As Chris puts it: “The stag do was just perfect and I would definitely recommend the Algarve to all my friends as a destination for stag or hen parties”. Thanks for the advice Chris; sounds like you all had a great time!
If you would like to know more information about how to organize the perfect stag or hen do in the Algarve, please contact Algarve Fun where a team of experienced professionals will be happy to help you.
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