Recently visited the Rodrimar Apartments (September 04). The biggest 1 bed apartment I have stayed in for many years! Would easily have accomodated 4 people very comfortably. The catering facilities were also above average. Pool area and gardens were lovely, our room overlooked the pool. Two downsides - the noise from the road in front of the apartments which was noticed more in the morning (like 7 a.m. - the bedroom was on this side) and the poor water pressure in the bathroom which didn't make for great showering!
Tania's bar on the complex had some great drink prices & lively evening entertainment (as did Angelus bar accross the road).
We found a great place to eat on the way up to the strip (walking from the worms roundabout) called Deano's Diner. Fantastic home made English cooking, brilliant service, huge portions, and easy on the pocket too. Add it to your list - well worth a visit.
Many other nice bars/restaurants about - and some proper sized supermarkets - Lidl - (unlike the usual 'corner shop' type ones in Spain masquerading as supermarkets!) to make your own.
Overall, a clean, reasonably priced and well located accomodation for an enjoyable break.

We are in our early 20's and have just returned from the Rodrimar, New Town Albufeira, we went away with another couple and had an absolutely fantastic holiday. We had separate apartments and we found these to be extremely spacious, in which you have all the facilities you need, fridge, electric hob, oven, and toaster, the only down side was a lack of kitchen utensils.

The apartments were clean and nicely decorated, however it would have been nice to have had the towels changed more frequently!
The beach was about 20 minutes away, and you could walk to ablufeira old town along it, the sea was a little cold but that was refreshing as the sand did get very hot!

The pool area was very spacious and there were plenty of free sunbeds and a very large grass area.
Tania's bar (the hotel bar) was fab, happy hour between 3-5 pint of beer 1 euro! the usual price of a Vodka with lemonade and a Brandy with Coke would cost 4.50 euros for the 2 drinks, for the same 2 drinks on the strip this cost 10 euros+!!!!
Full English breakfast 4 euros, however Charlies bar (behind the Oura Hotel) did a fab breakfast for 4.50 euro!

The nightlife is a short stroll away, including many bars and restaurants. We found 'the strip' provided cheap poor quality typical 'english pub food' in the restaurants, and the drinks in the bars to be expensive. However if you walk off the strip you'll find restaurants the Portugese dine in, these will provide much better quality food at either the same prices as on the strip or for only a few euros more, restaurants that we found extremely good were;

-TRES PALMEIRAS (number 38 on the map)- fantastic food and many extras included in the price- chips, rice, salad. Fresh fish & shellfish on view in a chiller to choose from.

-O MANUEL DOS FRANGOS - a well kept secret of the Portugese! The best Piri Piri out of the originating town, extremely generous portions, incredible chicken and prawns at unbelievable prices- 2 courses and wine for 2 people 23 euros!!! Efficient and friendly service.

-AGAPITO - Wonderful service extremely friendly and helpful staff, popular with the Portugese, great seafood, but also fab meat and vegetarian options, very reasonable prices.

-RESTAURANTE CAPOEIRA(THE SIZZLING STONE) - (number 50 on the map) Serloin steak, peppers, onions and tomato, brought to you on a hot stone for you to cook to your liking-fantastic! Beautiful surroundings and good service. Other establishments do it a little cheaper (in price and quality!!!!!)

If you go to freemaps and download the free map of Albufeira, most of the restuarants above are on their (except O MANUEL DOS FRANGOS (near to taxi rank at the top of the Strip-Montechoro hotel end), AGAPITO somwhere around numbers 22 and 5 on the map.)

For a fantastic night out find yourself a group and Irish and visit Erin's Isle-near hotel montechoro (if you cant find any Irsih go there anyway) you'll have an absolute ball and will be sure to meet Irish in their!!! Go down stairs away from the 'holiday karaoke' and join in with the Irish songs and fantastic party atmosphere. (The guiness is good too!)

A taxi to the old town costs around 5 euro, we got the tourist train once and that costs 2 euro each and only has 2 stops 1 in Abufeira old town and 1 on the strip - ok if you dont want to be dropped off anywhere in between!!!!! we'd advise a taxi if you do.

Enjoy your holiday, we did.

Stace and Wes

P.s. ask ex-pats for good restaurants, we did and it made our holiday!