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?

It's about 45 minutes from the airport, a private transfer will be around 55-65 euros for 4 people - lots of transfer companies like resorthoppa/yellow fish where you can get a quote, or EasyGo who have an office in Carvoeiro and who can also arrange say trips to the water parks or sightseeing

Day trips!!

There's also a nice restaurant on the Vila Nova development, if anyone is staying there, and A Palmeira us just round the corner from Monte Dourado if anyone is staying there

Also close to Monte Dourado is the market, open until around 2pm for fresh fruit/veg/meat/fish/bread

I'll look up the villa later and jet you know where it is. Apparently it's 15 min walk out of town. Is there a lovely bakery for Pastel de nata??

Ok - just so I can let you know what's near you or give directions

Lovely bakery on the right hand side as you come into Carvoeiro, called Fabrica Velha, also Le Doce on the out road, nice salads and home made cakes but you can get a lovely pastel de nata just about anywhere (the Portuguese are known for having a very sweet tooth!)

I can't find the name of the road but we are 100 m from vale do milo golf.

Ok, so you're near Centeanes beach, O Farol and Bella Vita, and about 10 minutes by car from the centre of Carvoeiro - there's also a little supermarket and cafe on Rocha Brava, so that will probably be your nearest shop - if you have a car you'll find it cheaper to stock up at Aldi, Pingo Doce or Intermarche on the way into Carvoeiro

Ohh I have Algarve questions. Have been before but not for about 30 years!

So my memory is a bit hazy but I seem to remember it could be quite windy. Does that mean it is cooler in the evenings (we're coming in July) or does it stay hot/warm?

It usually stays quite warm in the evenings in July and August, outside of that you might want a cardi or a shawl - I don't but I don't generally feel the cold and have been sitting out in the evenings since May in sleeveless tops/dresses, and will carry on probably into October!

It does vary a lot year to year. I went one August that was awful, very windy and chilly, although it was probably ok at the beach in Carvoeiro, which is between cliffs.

As you go towards the West it does become windier, particularly around Sagres. I'd take warm clothes (or a few good layers) if you visit that area (you should, btw), as a backup, although there are many shops and street vendors who sell warm jumpers. :)

In general, July can be warmer than August, as there is often some weird weather.

Yes Carvoeiro tends not to be as windy as the resorts further west, there's often a breeze, but it just takes the edge off the heat in summer

June can be hotter than the end of August, and as we've got temps of up to 40 degrees forecast for this weekend, this may be one of those times

Ohh, we're traveling to Carvoeiro today - perfect thread for me! Do people wear black and white for the festival? 40 degrees- eek!

We expect to arrive in Carvoeiro at about 7:30 tonight- will there be any supermarkets open at that time? Or should we stop off on our way out of Faro?
Is there a particular beach you'd recommend that has a good resturant on it- we love the beach bar in Bergau, for example, but wouldn't want to drive that far everyday. First time in Carvoeiro and am so looking forward to it - going to try all your resto recommendations!

Oh, how exciting, hope you have a great time

The larger supermarkets on the outskirts are open until 9pm I think, so if you're not delayed you should be ok - the small shops in the village may be open even later

Black and white night was last Saturday, we didn't go as my husband had to drop my sister back to the airport, but yes, lots of people wore black and white!

Do you know where you're staying? If you're near Centeanes, there is a nice bar/restaurant on that beach, several on Praia Grande (Ferragudo, about 10 mins by car) and the daddy of them all is Caneiros (between Carvoeiro and Ferragduo) and Rei das Praias restaurant built on stilts on the beach - it is expensive but has the most fantastic fresh fish and amazing view over the beach

Brilliant, thank you! That one on stilts looks spectacular - will definitely book it. We're in a villa on Estrada do Monte do Pariso, near Villa Nova. We usually drive rather than walk to beaches, as we have 4 DC, and never travel light (think parent as packhorse).

I know that area very well

Vila nova restaurant is good, there's also a (very) small shop there for essentials, and within walking distance for you - also the restaurants and bars at monte Carvoeiro - O Salmao is good, and A Tasquinha which is on the left as you approach the archway through to the main square at monte Carvoeiro - and there's mama Mia pizza near monte Carvoeiro reception

To get down to the square you can follow the beach road down, or take a short cut by a villa called Teodora or Dorotea (they're next to each other and I can never remember which is on the corner!) just walk straight down the hill, the road levels out then downhill again, past jailhouse on your right, and it brings you out at the post office - turn right for the beach, left for jomar bar/cafe/restaurant

Let me know if you've got any other questions!

From where you're staying you're nearer the ferragudo beaches (follow the signs to sesmarias then ferragudo, turnings to the beaches along that road on the left). For Centeanes, go across the square and up Estrada do Farol (restaurant hill) follow the signs to vale do milho and rocha brava and the beach is on the right just past Mona Lisa pizza restaurant on the left - if you get to vale do milho or rocha brava you've gone too far

I am coming out next week and staying at Monte Dourado. I am really looking forward to my pepper steak at Las Palmeras !

Can you recommend a hairdresser in Carvoeiro Costa? We will be going out for a birthday meal while we are there and my hair always looks atrocious in the sun and chlorine.

I love my morning coffee and cake in Fabrica Velha. Can't wait!

Ooh, I know the monte dourado apartments well too!

Victor Picardo has a v good reputation, the salon is on Estrada do Farol near A Gale and Jota Lita but you'll probably need to book

Happy birthday - where are you going for your birthday meal?

I've just been reminded that for anyone with a late arrival or flight delay, the cepsa petrol station on the right hand side of the road into Carvoeiro has a small shop for essential groceries, and is open until 11/12 midnight

This is really timely as I'm arriving with my DH and nearly-3 DS this Sat. I'm 28 weeks pregnant and feeling on the large and exhausted side already! (Completely different to pregnancy no 1...) We're staying at that rocha brava village resort and haven't booked a car as yet. We were thinking airport transfers and taxis to get around rather than hiring a car and dealing with parking etc. is that crazy? Do you think a car is essential? We're quite happy to chill by the pools and pop into the village in the evenings for dinner and or come to the beach. Are taxis easy to come by and reasonable?

I think there's enough to do at Rocha Brava to keep you busy, if you want a relaxing, poolside holiday - the restaurant O Farol is fab - plus there is a snack bar and about 4 other restaurants within walking distance (Rafaiol, Julio's, Jardim do Farol - just past the entrance to RB, and Rochamar). Also, if you keep going through Rocha Brava from the main entrance, past O Farol on the left, the road eventually bears to the left, then right, and you'll come to another couple of shops/bars/restaurants - you can also walk to Centeanes beach, although it's uphill back!

I think RB has a minibus shuttle down to the village a few times a day, ask at reception when you check in, but generally taxis are available and not expensive, there can be quite a queue at the taxi rank by the beach around 10-11 pm but as most journeys are fairly short and local, it moves quite quickly

Hope you have a great time - our first ever holiday in Carvoeiro in 1988 was to Rocha Brava (it was newly built then!), and we went back lots of times before we bought our own place, so it has lots of happy memories for us

Stayed at RB many times. Its lovely.
Last couple of years we has a private villa with pool, which was amazing. Massive garden and lots of shade which is vital for me!
Little minibus good but gets busy. Taxis cheap.
Julio's is a nice restaurant on the road to CV..always had great food but a bit pricey.
There is a good sports bar on site where my ds and his mate spent hours...run by great Portuguese chap who has great banter. Name escapes me.

Great tips - thank you both. I'm really looking forward to waving goodbye to work on Friday and saying hello to those pools!

Hi Costa! I am currently looking at a villa on the outskirts of Rocha Brava. It looks ideal, although no reviews as it's new to their books. Just wondered what the realistic transfer time was from Faro? Also could you suggest a car rental (the one that the villa company suggest seems very expensive) and finally, the pool can be heated but at a cost of £160 which seems a lot for a week and may not be necessary if the weather has been good all summer (looking to go at the end of August). What do the locals do with their pools? Many thanks