Carvoeiro

[Costacoffeeplease]

I know there are several mnetters coming to Carvoeiro on holiday this summer, as I live here I thought I'd start a thread for any questions anyone might have?

We will be coming, on your and other mnetters' recommendation . Thank you for starting this thread.

We have never been to Portugal, so some of my questions may relate to the country not just Carvoeiro, if that is ok?

Firstly, especially in public pools, are there any restrictions eg have to wear swimming hats, certain types of swimming trunks? Please tell me I don't need to get DH a pair of speedos . Avoided pools in France for this reason

Secondly, our resort is supposedly in walking distance from the beach, restaurants etc. we haven't booked a car, but may wish to do so for a couple of days. Can we easily do this when we are there?

I am sure I will have some more questions nearer the time

Hi - no restrictions on clothing or swimming hats in communal pools so you can relax on the budgie smuggler front! (Different in municipal indoor pools where you used to have to have a doctor's certificate until recently )

Where are you staying? There are lots of places to hire cars but there can be a shortage in peak season

I love Carvouero..been about 8 times. Sadly not this year.

There's always next year mrs

Oh I really like the sound of Carvoeiro, We tend to go and stay around burgau, Salema that sort of area-How far a drive is Carvoeiro?-think I would like to do a little recce this year!

We're about 20-30 minutes from Burgau, take the A22 to Lagoa, then follow the signs to Lagoa Sud then Carvoeiro - it's not as quiet as Burgau, but not like Albufeira/Praia da Rocha, maybe more like Luz?

I can spell Carvoeiro honestly.

I love Silves in the evening.
And O stop..we could walk there from our villa over the cliff

Please don't walk over the cliff mrs

My question is how on earth do you narrow down where to stay! If we go abroad we generally do eurocamp style driving holidays to France/Spain.
However next summer (just before schools go back in England) we have a family wedding in the Algarve. So we will hopefully turn this into our summer holiday next year. There seem to be lots of reasonably priced apartments/villas in the Algarve but there are millions of them. At the moment just trying to figure out how cheaply I can get flights/car/accommodation for 2 adults and 4 kids.

Where is the wedding being held major ?

I think the first thing to think about is whether you want to hire a car or be within walking distance of beach/restaurants etc, that might narrow it down quite a bit - then by number of bedrooms, whether you want a communal pool, wifi etc

If you want big beaches and biz then look at Albufeira, Armação de Pêra, Praia da Rocha - more upmarket Vilamoura, vale de lobo, Quinta do Lago - smaller towns Carvoeiro, Luz, Alvor, Lagos, Tavira, Cabanas, inland - Silves, Algoz, Monchique

See if you can get a feel for the type of place you'll feel most comfortable and relaxed

I just noticed the 2 adults 4 kids bit, there aren't that many 3 bed apartments but lots of 3 bed villas, so that's something else to think about

So, Carvoeiro, you say?

Except it's too hot for scarves here in summer - maybe in winter

It depends on the Summer...

Not when it's a Carvoeiro summer

Thanks Costa lots to look at there.
Not sure of exact wedding location yet (!) Just been told Algarve and airport Faro. The exact date is still to be finalised but should be sorted soon. Either way I'd envisage we'd hire a car. I'd be delighted with no wifi but Dd will not! Scarily she'll be 13 by our holiday next summer. Because of flights and car hire I am thinking we're going to have quite a few extra costs to our usual holidays

Probably best to find out where it's going to be, as although the Algarve isn't huge, you don't want to be at one end and the wedding at the other!

Ooh I'm coming to carvoeiro this summer. We have a big villa for 4 adults and 5 children. Recommendations for nice beaches with parking and good sightseeing day trips would be great. We have cars hired so travelling isn't a problem.

Praia de Centeanes and Praia Grande are both bigger than Carvoeiro beach, Centeanes is closer (about 5 minutes by car from the centre of Carvoeiro) Praia Grande is between Carvoeiro and Ferragudo and about 15 minutes by car, both have parking and snack bars/restaurants but best get there early to make sure you get a parking space.

Ferragudo is nice for a walk round, Silves is lovely, very quaint, ruined castle and cathedral but take comfy shoes, it's all uphill! Caldas de Monchique is nice to get away from the heat and buzz of the coast

There are dolphin watching trips out of portimão and Lagos, water parks at Lagoa and Porches, Zoomarine at Guia, boat trips off the beach that go through the caves - lots to do!

Best ice cream in Carvoeiro, IMHO, is gelados e companhia, with entrances from both the in and out roads

The live music in the square started a week ago, so there's something different every night of the week

The last Sunday in August is the local festival with a procession from the church down through the village, plus there are usually games on the beach during the day

And if anyone's arriving in the next few days, Saturday is Black and White night with lots of different live music and dancing shows throughout the village

Sounds fabulous can't wait!
Any restaurant recommendations?

Well some of our favourites are -
Ele e Ela (bit pricier than average but worth it, also best to book)
Bella Vita at Clube Atlantico
A Vela on the out road
Taste also on the out road
O Farol on Rocha Brava
Jomar on the in road, open all day from breakfast to a nightcap
Casa de Bife on Estrada do Farol
Ponto de Encontro on Areias dos Moinhos

Will have a think of any more....

Thanks that will keep us busy! Are they all suitable to take children to?

Really want to book a last minute holiday here! Just concerned how far it is from the airport. Do you recommend organising a separate transfer to avoid being on a coach for hours?

Ele e Ela, the tables can be quite close together, so if the kids are likely to get bored then maybe not the best idea, but all the restaurants will cater for children

I forgot about Monte Carvoeiro, there's a square there with a few restaurants and cocktail bars, O Salmão is nice, and there's space for the kids to run around a bit - also A Tasquinha just outside Monte Carvoeiro is very nice

Back on Estrada do Farol I think the best pizzas are at Mirage, again on a little square where the kids can move around a bit

Most people head down to the beach after dinner to see what live music is on, and get a drink/ice cream to round their evening off - there's usually a few stalls for hair brading, caricatures etc

Do you know roughly where the villa is?