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?

Hi, transfer time is about 45 minutes from Faro, there are lots of car hire companies, have a look at algarvedriver I know quite a few people who use them - or get a transfer and hire a car for a few days once you're here?

I wouldn't bother heating a pool in August, we're forecast some high temps again next week (42!) and my pool is actually getting too warm for me - I much prefer cooler water

Do you have any more info on where the villa is (or do you want to pm a link?) near rocha brava can mean middle of nowhere

Hi Costa, can't wait til 30th July when I'll be flying over to stay in our apartment at Vila Nova until 3rd September! We bought it 3 years ago after many lovely holidays there. Not been since last year as DDs dancing has taken over our lives. Has the boardwalk been finished? Is the supermarket at Monte Carvoiero still open? What about the little coffee bar / shop on the corner opposite Monte Carveiero? That's such a handy stop on the walk back from town to Vila Nova, I hope it's still open.

Hi. Yes the boardwalk is finished - it's really popular and algar seco bistro is a good stop for a drink or lunch! I don't know if the monte cvo supermarket is open but the cafe was last time I looked. It's v v hot at the moment - be prepared!!

Thanks Costa, just counting the days now......

Just a bit of info - the Aldi on the road into Carvoeiro is now open until 10 pm - maybe just for the summer

So so so so jel Costa. I have always stated to anyone who will listen that I will end my days in Carvoeiro. Our first holiday there was in 1992 and have been back over and over again. Just got home from a fab two weeks and everytime we leave the pull gets harder. What is it like to live there realistically? Btw restaurant wise we love Jotalita. A Gale and not forgetting Mona Lisa for a decent Pizza and pasta.

Love love love Carveoiro. FIL has a gorgeous villa there. Sadly not going this year but have fun everyone :)

To live here is great, really, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, and I haven't been back to the UK since 2004 (except for a funeral in 2007!)

To work here is ridiculously difficult, the rules and laws change all the time, with little notice or warning, and are usually illogical and contradictory, so you're never 100% sure that you're 100% legal, and if you ask 3 different professionals a question, you'll get 3 different answers - so, so frustrating! I feel sorry for the Portuguese people, they are very friendly and welcoming, and the authorities seem to do everything they can to make life as difficult as possible

Oh and Apolonia are running a free bus service from Carvoeiro, every half an hour throughout the day, to their new supermarket in lagoa

Hi Costa, we've spoken on some of your previous threads, probably under a previous name as I change regularly. We come to Vilamoura once or twice a year and I'd just like to put in a complaint. What did you do to the weather in early June??? Never had that much cloud before this year. Can you please sort that out before my next trip?

We always use VIP Chauffeurs for transfers. It is owned by a British family and the drivers are either expat Brits or have very good English. The cars/minibuses are very posh, the drivers smartly dressed and you get a drink or chilled water for the drive. It's a nice touch of luxury which only costs 10 euros or so more than an ordinary transfer

Love the Algarve and am very jealous of you living there!

Ooh, I don't remember any cloud in early June here actually we had friends here then and they couldn't believe how good the weather was - was it really cloudy in vilamoura?

So pleased I spotted this thread as fly out on 27th for a week in Caveiro followed by a week in Cabanes. We are staying in apartments '2 minutes' from the beach (will try and get name later). How busy does the beach get and are there many sunbeds or do we need to take chairs, parasols etc? We visited 10 years ago and I can't remember anything on the beach.

I have just noticed comments about wind/breeze will we need cardigans or jackets for evenings?

Carvoeiro town beach isn't huge and it does get busy in summer. There are usually some sunbeds/umbrellas to rent, or take your own, easy to buy locally if your accommodation doesn't provide them

If you have a car or are happy to get a taxi, the two nearest bigger beaches are Centeanes, near rocha brava and vale de milho, and Praia Grande between Carvoeiro and Ferragudo. The taxi rank is near Smilers/colombos, opposite the Carvoeiro Sol hotel

I'd be surprised if you need a cardigan in Carvoeiro in the evenings at the moment, I don't even take a shawl/pashmina type thing out with me until probably October! - but you might need something in cabanas!!

We stayed in carvoeiro last year (well, a lovely villa just outside). A restaurant we really enjoyed was jardim do farol. Lovely fish and really friendly staff.

Yes I know it, just past rocha brava? I haven't been for a while but I know it gets good reviews

Thanks Costa. We will have a car so will most probably visit some other beaches. DD and I are beach fans whilst DH and DS prefer the pool so we chose a location to please both!
Thanks for the tip about Cabanas.
Love this thread and hope it's still going when we arrive next week so I can check out some of the restaurant recommendations

It may be fine in cabanas, but it's more exposed than Carvoeiro, so any breeze is stronger there

Have you been to cabanas before? Do you know about the boat to the beach?

No never been to Cabanas but have read about needing to get a boat to the beach. Am hoping it's a simple as they say it is. Have read good reviews about the resort though

I know it a bit, a couple of restaurant recommendations - the Ideal, and Noelia's which is the last restaurant on the right, near where you get the boat across to the beach!

We are meeting up with friends in Cabanas towards the end of the holidays so are planning on testing out all the restaurants for them.

Am more excited about our first week in Cavoeiro though. DH and I visited it years ago pre DC and promised ourselves a repeat visit as we both fell in love with it

I hope it's as good as you remember

Costa what is it like in the winter or out of season. ? Is it dead? I have dreams of living there eventually but i only ever see it buzzing and hot and sunny ?

I love the winter more than summer!! IMO July and August are the price we pay for being here all year round!

The winter is short, we didn't start lighting the log burner until mid November last year (it's our only heating) and the almond blossom starts in January - the earliest it gets dark is about 5pm, by the end of Jan/beg of feb it's 6pm.

The weather can be stormy around end nov/beg December then it usually settles down until another potentially stormy spell usually march/beg April

We have lots of bright, sunny, blue sky days of 20 degrees so you can have lunch outside, then home and light the fire around 5 and have a cosy night in! After 4-5 months of constant heat and sunshine, I love feeling cold and seeing the rain. We can also get parked in the village, get into restaurants easily, get round the supermarket without whole families blocking the aisles.....

Some restaurants close in November then re-open at Christmas, others close Jan or Feb but there are always enough open, and from Jan to Easter there are lots of long winter let clients from UK, Canada, Germany, holland - retired couples who spend three months here for some winter sun, so that creates a bit of a buzz, the absolute quietest time is November to mid December but I even like it then!

Hi Costa, we stayed at Rocha Brava last summer and loved it. Can I ask what the weather is like in October? Thinking of returning for a week, is it still warm enough?