Portugal or Canaries

[CARBr6]

So I am thinking about my summer holiday next year (or maybe a cheeky week during the easter holidays or at the summer half term!), my fiancee is a teacher so I am restrictec on dates that I can go (and therefore money too as things are 3x the price during the school holidays )

I am thinking I can probably get a decent package deal for either Portgual or Canaries (or similar destination, France, Spain, Azores etc.)

We are both intermediate level surfers, however I am a little bit scared about the idea of a reef break (I still wipe out and imagine that hitting a reef would hurt...A LOT)
Can anyone give any advice, good locations, general advice?

Thanks

[Davidinho]

I am not the expert in Azores, but from what I know it is not highly advisable to go there if you are not very advanced. But I might be completly wrong.
Portugal mainland offers basically, whatever you need. Perfect of course would be eastern (really nice waves + already great weather). In summer waves are not so perfect.
What is comming more and more in Portugal is that people are renting vans instead of going to surfcamps. The advantage is that with the vans you are fully mobile and just go to the best waves, whereever they are. There are som providers of them. I traveled with surf-cars.de (the owner is a friend and will provide the service also in Lisbon up from 2013) and a friend of mine with indiecampers.com. He is going again for christmas now

[CARBr6]

Thanks Davidinho.
That's a great idea, we have a camper at home and use that to get to cornwall, never thought about hiring one elsewhere though.
Can you (or anyone else recommend) any particular beaches or areas with friendly locals and good breaks? We are now looking to go around Easter, around the 13th April.
Thanks

[Davidinho]

my opinion: Go to Lisbon, enjoy maybe one or two nights (depending how much time you have; otherwise leave it) at Costa da Caparaci (city beach, but extremly nice, with cool people) and than south to Odixeixe, Carapateira, blabla. Basically the whole region up north from sagres offers amazing beaches and really cool people. By van you are mobile, so you can change the beach everyday.

[CARBr6]

I have found a REALLY cheap deal staying in Albuteira, and a cheap hire car. So are there good beaches near to there?

[Davidinho]

Well, Albufeira is not my favourite town, let's say it like that. Furthermore you would have to go quite a bit to the westcoastbeaches (where you have the nice waves). That's the problem. In the nice towns (Carapateira, etc.) you hardly find cheap places to stay which are close to the beach.

[CARBr6]

What about Praia de Rocha? Is that any better/closer?

[Davidinho]

no. Check out: Carapateira, Rasposeira, Almada,Odixeixe. You can also just check all this town from Sagres to the north. It is hard to find perfect housing there, that's why I suggested a van. Some Surfschool you would also find of course, but then you would need a car in addition also.