Albufeira, Portugal

ALBUFEIRA tops the list of package-tour destinations in the Algarve – and it's easy to see why. The old centre remains an unusually pretty village, with narrow, twisting lanes of whitewashed houses crisscrossing the high ochre-red cliffs above a beautiful spread of beaches. But beyond, hundreds of apartment buildings lie strung across the hillsides that spread east and west, around the town's marina. If you're looking for unspoiled Portugal, this isn't it. Nevertheless, Albufeira is undeniably a fun resort, attracting a varied mix of holidaymakers, notably a well-heeled clientele that frequents the more expensive restaurants, and a younger contingent who devote themselves to consuming as much alcohol as is humanly possible.