Transport
Airport Transfer; Bus Servic=
es
– “A Onda”; Car Hire; Coaches;=
Driving;
Ferry Service; Taxis; Trains.
For names and telephone numbers, see our “Contacts” pages at the end of the booklet.
Note that most Public Transport facili=
ties
offer a discount to the over-65s. Just
ask “Disconto para idade, faz favor?” and show passport or ID.
Airport Transfer – (See also “Car Hire”,
“Taxis” and “Trains”.)
If plane ti=
mes
suit, our grandchildren quite like to get a taxi from the airport, €8=
to
€10, then the train to Lagos, c. €6 pp. They love standing at t=
he
rear-facing window of the train, looking out along the tracks – but be
aware that some of the older trains can - and do - move off with the doors
open!
There are a=
number
of “Low Cost” transfer services which can be good value –
though there are restrict=
ions
on timing in the off-season and if the vehicle is shared. It
is essential to be at the pick-up point 15 minutes before, and wait
until 10 minutes after, the designated time, to allow for variations in the
actual route taken. You can choose between coach, 8-seat minibus and 4-seat
taxi, and approximate prices (October 2009) were about €16 pp in a co=
ach;
€80 per minibus for 8 and €60 per taxi for 4.
Bus
Services – “A ONDA”=
![3D"viaturas](3D"Transport.htm_files/image002.jpg")
Lagos Co=
uncil
sponsors a local service, primarily to help bring people into the town from=
the
out-lying rural areas. However, it also enables visitors to
explore the surrounding country-side by travelling to the end of the line a=
nd
exploring on foot – perhaps catching an alternative service for the
return.
The Line 1, Circular Route, is excellent value, as it = visits all the essentials – both of the markets, main post office, schools, = all supermarkets, tax office, and even the two cemeteries.
The A Onda web site is comprehensive, but as it is only available in Portuguese, we have produced a short summary of their service.= This is attached as an Appendix wi= thin this paper.
Note there are real benefits in having a “freque= nt user” card.
Appendix - Loc=
al Bus
Services - “A ONDA” =
as at 24th =
May
2011
Full details are available on the web
site, www.aonda.pt. Routes, timings and fa=
res
may change at short notice, and in summer, extended evening services are
available.
![3D"viaturas](3D"Transport.htm_files/image004.jpg")
The Fleet – “A Nossa Frota”
The service and the fleet were new in
the spring of 2008. The buses,
“autoca=
rros”,
are modern, clean, air-conditioned, comfortable, easy-access and
environmentally friendly. Dep=
ending
on the route, “mini̶=
1; (c.
24 seats) or “medio”
(c. 32 seats) buses are used.
Time-tables – “Horários”
Details can be found on the web-site=
www.aonda.pt and on every bus-stop.
Services run from 0700 - 2000, on
“Dias Utéis”=
; –
Mon. to Fri. & “Sá=
;bado”
=3D Sat. am.
On Sat. pm, Sundays & Holidays,
“Domingos e FeriadosR=
21;, a
reduced service operates.
The Fares – “Tarifários” – correct =
as
at 24 May 2011
There are 3 “Coroas”, semi-circular fare zones.
“A”, the =
main
city, includes Meia Praia; Chinicato; Portelas; Boa Vista Golf.
“B”,
the inner area, includes Torre; Sargaç=
al;
Bensafrim; Colégio<=
/span>;
4 Estradas.
“C”, the outer area, includes Odiáxere; Lagos Zoo; Barão de S
João; Espiche; Luz; Burgau.
|
|
1. Bilhete 1 dia |
2. Bilhete B=
ordo
|
3. Pre-pagam=
ento |
4.
Passe Mensal |
5.
Passe Mensal |
|
Coroas Zones |
Daily Ticket=
; Pay Driver |
Single Trip;=
Pay Driver <= o:p> |
Multiple Tri=
p; Pre-purchase=
d |
Monthly
Pass; Pre-purchased |
Monthly
Pass; (Discounted) |
|
A or B or C |
=
364;
4.35 |
=
364;
1.45 |
=
364;
0.70 |
=
364;
23.10 |
=
364;
11.55 |
|
A+B or B+C |
=
364;
4.70 |
=
364;
1.60 |
=
364;
0.75 |
=
364;
24.80 |
=
364;
12.40 |
|
A+B+C |
=
364;
5.45 |
=
364;
1.80 |
=
364;
0.90 |
=
364;
31.80 |
=
364;
15.90 |
The first three tickets shown are of
most relevance to visitors.
1.
Daily Tickets are valid for any number of journeys on the day of issue.
2.
Single Trip Tickets are valid for an hour; transfers possible to
complete a journey.
3.
Multiple Trip; Pre-purchased Tickets need a re-chargeable card, purchased
for €3. This is then cr=
edited
with the number of journeys you wish to buy, (minimum 10), priced for the
number of zones you want to cross (see above). A 3-Zone card gives maximum flexibi=
lity
at minimal extra cost.
The tickets (only) expire after 12
months, but are re-validated if you later pay for a further 10 journeys.
One
card can be used for any combination of passengers and journeys – e.g=
. 20
journey tickets credit could be used for 10 people x 2 journeys; 5 people x=
4
journeys; or 3 people x 4 journeys, with 8 remaining. Unused credits can be
passed on to other visitors.
Cards can be bought and topped-up at=
the
Bus Station, or at the Renex/Caima Office, (just past the Repsol Garage on
Avenida dos Descombrementos).
The Lines - “Linhas”
There are currently 9 lines, each
numbered and colour coded. Ev=
ery
bus-stop is individually identified, sometimes just by the street name, but=
it
may be named after a near-by location, a key building or a service. All schools - “Escolas”, abbreviate=
d to
“Esc. xx=
x”
– are listed. Route lis=
tings
and maps are pasted on every bus-stop.
![3D"Lines](3D"Transport.htm_files/image006.jpg")
Lines=
1 and
2 - City Services – Zone A only.
Line
1 (Red) A “city-circular”
route, going in a “figure-of-eight”, but in only one
direction. It starts and fini=
shes
at the old station behind the Marina. It is handy for “Finança=
s”
if paying taxes, and for “Os CorreiosR=
21;,
the main Lagos Post Office, if collecting parcels or registered post; and a=
lso
for supermarkets.
Line
2 (Blue) A two-way
service which starts at Meia Praia, passes the old railway station behind t=
he
Marina, then passes close to Modelo and Inter Marché supermarkets,
before dropping down to Dona Anna and Porto de Mós beaches.
Lines 3 to 9 – Country Service=
s
![3D"Lines](3D"Transport.htm_files/image008.jpg")
Lines 3 to 9 start in Zone A and travel “o=
ut-and-back”
to Zone B or C for the different country areas. Note that they stop on the Av=
enida, by the Marina footbridge. For visitors, lines of particular
interest might be:-
*Line 3, Pink, for the DIY supermark=
et
at Odiáxere;
*Line 4, Yellow, for Luz and Burgau,
with the option of coastal walking;
*Line 6, Green, for Lagos Zoo and/or=
on
to Barão de S. João for forest walks.
And all that remains is to
wish you, “Boa Viagem!”
Car H=
ire
There are many local car-hire outlets which are very g=
ood
value - with modern and well maintained cars. All the local firms listed in “Contacts” have promised to give
“Navigators" their best deal. These include free drop-off or
collection at the airport, additional drivers at no extra cost, and baby se=
ats
and roof racks free on request. They say their prices are all TOTALLY INCLU=
SIVE
– i.e. no additional insurance, CDW or excesses – but check the=
se
details apply to you, when you book.
A personal favourite is Luz Cars offer of a 24-hour hi=
re, for
c. €40. This is ideal f=
or
airport connections, as it’s about an hour’s journey to Faro,
giving time for some heavy shopping or an exploration trip, before or after=
our
flight!
Europcar is=
the
only international brand name with an office here in Lagos. While others are at the airport, y=
ou
need to check collection and return details if you are not hiring for the f=
ull
duration of your stay.
Coach=
es
![3DDS=](3D"Transport.htm_files/image010.jpg")
Local coach services can take you to=
all
parts of the Algarve region and most of Portugal at VERY low cost. The vehicles are modern, extremely
comfortable and reliable.
EVA is the primary Algarve service, while Renex covers= the whole country.
EVA has a link with the Spanish company, Damas, to pro= vide a daily service to Huelva and Seville – making a day trip possible for about € 30 per person.
Driving
There’=
;s a
useful booklet available from AFPOP – the Foreign Residents Associati=
on -
for €10. It includes an English Language version of the standard acci=
dent
report form which must be used by all motorists involved in an accident.
In general,
Portuguese driving standards are poor, speeds are high, tailgating is commo=
n -
and driving after lunch is decidedly dangerous.
Ensure you =
always
have all the necessary documents – I.D., Licence, Tax, Insurance,
Inspection, and Permission of Owner to Drive. And a Hi-Vis jacket must be w=
orn
if you stop on a motorway. Documents MUST be shown on demand – or an
immediate penalty is imposed.
Don’t=
use
Green Lanes (Via Verde) on Toll Roads (Portagem), unless your car has the
appropriate data capture “chip” fitted. You’ll be charged=
for
using EVERY kilometre of that motorway!&nb=
sp;
Note that the ticket, collected on entry to the toll road, expires a=
fter
12 hours – so no overnight stops are allowed.
At time of =
writing,
May 2011, tolls are expected to be introduced on the A22 Algarve Motorway.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> This is likely to cost about 8 cen=
times
per km., ie €6 extra for an airport journey. The methodology for tourists, taxi=
s and
car hire has still to be clarified.
The most co=
mmon
speed limits (kph) are Motorway, 50 min. to 120 max.; Open Roads, 90; Built=
-up
Areas, 50. These are usually signed in the normal manner – BUT NOTE t=
hat
just the existence of a name sign for a town or village (rectangular sign,
black letters on white background) means you’re in a 50 kph zone. This
only ends when the name sign, crossed out in red, is passed on leaving the =
area.
Don’t ar=
gue
with traffic police. Be courteous and polite.
ALWAYS DRIVE
DEFENSIVELY AND AVOID TROUBLE.
Ferry Service
![3DDSC=](3D"Transport.htm_files/image012.jpg")
A
recently introduced ferry provides a weekly trip, departing on Sunday from
Portimão and sailing over- night to Funchal in Madeira.
It then sai=
ls on
around the Canary Islands before returning to Funchal for another over-night
trip to Portimão, arriving on Saturday.
The company=
is
Naviera Armas - and this is NOT one of their vessels!
Taxis
Taxis in Po=
rtugal
are clean, modern and well regulated.
And if they do drive fairly fast at times, they will slow down if as=
ked.
Just point at the speedo, shake a finger and say “Lentamente, faz
favour!”
Fares are
controlled and run by meter, with supplementary charges for each item in the
boot - so take handbags etc. inside with you. There are different tariffs depend=
ing on
time of day, with the numbers shown on the roofs, and on the meter, for the
fare tariff in force.
“1” means an empty cab; “2” is for day time
trips, Monday to Friday; and “3” is for night, weekend and publ=
ic
holiday journeys.
There are a=
number
of larger cabs (e.g. Renault Espace 7-seaters) which legally charge higher
fares (c. +20%). If you don&#=
8217;t
need their extra seats, take the next ordinary cab in the queue. There is no significance in the
different colours - black/green is the traditional “Lisbon” sty=
le;
beige is the more modern colour.
As a guide =
to
prices, in October 2009, the 1 hour journey from Faro Airport to Lagos was
€ 84 day time and €104 after 2100; while for the bigger taxis, =
it
was about €100 and €120 respectively. (These will vary with your exact
destination.) There is a list=
of
fares posted at the taxi rank at the airport.
Train=
s
![3D"Algarve](3D"Transport.htm_files/image014.jpg")
There are
excellent, reliable “Regional” train services to all stations b=
etween
here and Faro, with 8 trains per day in each direction. These are similar in style to UK
“Suburban” services - but be aware that some o=
f the
older trains can - and do - move off with the doors open! Shown in the photo is the beautiful=
old
station - with the modern version beyond it – both located directly
behind the Marina. It is a 90-minute journey to Faro =
and
costs c. €8 - or just €4 for over 65s!
At Tunes, 1 hour from Lagos, you can connect to the ne= wly electrified Lisbon line, served by the “Intercity” and “A= lfa Pendular” companies. Travelling 1st Class or “Conforto” - with aircraft-style seats and lots of leg-room - is well worth the small extra cost. Depending = on the operating company, there is either buffet car or seat-service with snac= ks and/or hot meals in both directions. This means the capital is only about 4 hours = away from Lagos and a day-trip is perfectly feasible – if not terribly sensible.
In Jan. 2010, the fare was €48 return (€24= for over 65’s) and our schedule was:-
|
OUT |
|
LAGOS |
|
TUNES |
TUNES |
|
LISBON |
|
|
|
Dep. 06.10 |
|
Arr. 07.06 |
Dep.07.26 |
|
Arr.10.04 |
|
BACK |
|
LISBON |
|
TUNES |
TUNES |
|
LAGOS |
|
|
|
Dep.18.40 |
|
Arr. 21.27 |
Dep. 21.35 |
|
Arr. 22.27 |
The rail company’s web site has an English langu= age version and the procedure is very similar to booking and paying for an airl= ine flight on-line. ALL seats are reserved, but you can change these to catch an earlier train, up to shortly before departure time.