WE have not decided yet so any advise much appreciated - we are flying in and out of Lisbon but happy to travel round by bus/train or hire a car if need be...

Want to avoid anything too touristy and family and get a feel for real Portugal if posisble - but also a nice resort with nice pool would be good! So really open to any ideas.

Well if you want resorts, Algarve is the place to go, but it's too turistic in some places.

My favorite beaches are between Sines and Vila Nova de Milfontes, but you'll need a car.

There are some nice hotels at Vila Nova Milfontes and in May there isn't a lot of people on the village. The beaches are gorgeous and a *lot* to choose from (some reachable by foot, others by car)

Try out these (I never used myself): http://www.dunaparque.com

Hotel Sinerama in Sines (no pool) (I've stayed on this one, and it's ok), there is a beach on Sines, but to the south, 5Km, it's the ones that you should go... :-)

http://www.mun-sines.pt/turista/e-beaches.htm

Sines is 150Km to South of Lisbon, and Vila Nova de Milfontes is 190Km South of Lisbon (40Km of Sines). You can Hire a car and 90% of the way is highway, the other is normal road, or can take a bus from http://www.rede-expresso.pt

Hope this can help you.

thx1011

Here's another good one: http://www.formosa-hotel.com/

The prices from travel agents are much better than they offer in their site.

It's impossible to say which is the best beach, the coast is very big and there are beaches for all tastes. Quinta do Lago is the area with best reputation and Hotel Quinta do Lago would be one of the best places to stay. But there a lot of other luxury villas and appartments in resorts in Quinta do Lago for half the price, given that Hotel Quinta do Lago is quite expensive.

The Alentejo coast offers a much less touristic environment but the sea water is much colder and there are no great luxurious trendy ressorts near the beaches (of course).

Nevertheless, if you're into nature and wilderness it's the best place and there are quite a number of very good pousadas (http://www.pousadas.pt) near that coast. For example, Pousada da Quinta da Ortiga is located near the coast (5 min by car) and offers an excelent stay.

Another thing to consider is that May isn't very hot and so Algarve is probably a better option since it's always warmer there. Other options in Algarve: Clube Prainha, Pestana Alvor.

depends on what kind of beach you're looking for...my boyfriend is English and I am Canadian and we both love Luz. It's on the south coast of Portugal and completely gorgeous and un-commercialized! The weather will be great in late May and you will miss the majority of the summer travellers - a true Portuguese experience!

Yes, Praia da Luz is gorgeous and would be a great vacation, but I wouldn't rate it as the best beach in Portugal. It's more a homely vacation, the kind of family fantasy beach, nothing too "fancy", wonderful beach, but not the best and also the water is much colder in the most western beaches of Algarve. But it is wonderful.

One of my favorite hotels is the Sheraton Algarve. I know that people say the Algarve is crowded, but I have never found it to be so. Also it is all in your prespective.

If you want to go to the beach in the algarve but in a place not too touristic, go to the beaches in the "costa vicentina" (near the town of Aljezur). It is not as luxurious as the rest of the Algarve, as it's near the border with the Alentejo region, but the landscape is absolutely marvelous. There are several "turismo rural" guesthouses, you can visit the sites: "Monte velho" (http://www.montevelhoresort.com) , Quinta de Pero Vicente (http://www.terrasdemouros.pt) and Alto da Lua(http://www.altodalua.com/casa-abertura-ing.htm). The sea is a litle bit colder though... Have Fun!

I forgot to mention that if you wnat to go to this part of the algarve you must rent a car!