Feel slightly nervous about Praia de Luz as a holiday venue, tell me I'm being overly paranoid

[SayNOtothecookieRookie]

We are trying to sort out a group holiday, I have a DS everyone else has young DGs.

We have looked at various villas and it seems that the nicest ones, and also the ones with most availability are at Praia de Luz.

I consider myself to be a level headed person, but I must admit I feel slightly odd about it. I feel that the Portugese people may not like us and that we would have to be even more vigilent with the littluns that normal, but the sensible side of me tells me I am just being silly.

Has anyone been there since last May, or got any thoughts on it as a destination ?

Sounds like you are organising a holiday for other people as well as yourself so perhaps consider what they think of the destination as well. (I am not sure what a DG is though ).

Hmm think i would feel the same.

Dg = Dear Gril's

Oops I meant DD !

It was my friend who had come up with the villa there, but didn't realise where it was immediately. She is exactly like myself, a little unsure but not wanting to rule it out because from so many other aspects, it looks ideal.

probably would have the same feeligs as you-but then I think everyone is more vigilent now in a foreign country wherever you go.

Reason's i would feel the same is something fishy is going on over there no matter what anybody thinks, yes you could be extra vigilant but really you want to be able to relax.

To be honest though i may feel that way BUT i think i would still go because as long as you are with your kids, don't leave them alone sleeping & make sure everything is safe you should be fine, it does look a gorgeous place.

I would not worry about the people i am sure they will be as they always are no chnage there.

where are you thinking of staying?

OK, I know that it's silly, but I wouldn't want to go there. Not because I'm concerned that the same thing could happen, just because I woudln't like the constant reminder.
Daft, I know.

We are looking at some villas just outside the centre.

We wouldn't leave the children alone at all, that's why we are going as a group so that each couple will get a chance to go out for at least one evening.

It's more during the day, what if they go dashing away and go out of sight even for a minute as young children are likely to do. Oh the more I think about it, the more I think we will just have to find somewhere else, and logically it's just so silly.

Hmm i know where your coming from, i would not choose to go there to be honest.

It may seem silly in your mind but our kids are the most precious things in our lives so why risk it? even if it is 1 in a million chnace it does happen & has happened to a family.

something over there is very fishy, something is not right & the police & laws are far from the best!

But then should we avoid Portugal altogether, because I agree with you about the police, but if we don't go to Portugal there is only about one other villa in Majorca that meets our requirements whereas there are a few in Portugal.

I would go. I don't see it is any more risky than anywhere else TBH. You would surely watch your DCs and be vigilant about them wandering off at any holiday site with strangers and swimming pools and moving cars etc.

We're going to Portugal - penny didn't drop until I'd booked as to why the flights were reasonably cheap this year.

Not Praia de Luz though and my children are older - I'm looking forward to it.

We went in November and it was lovely. Stayed in a villa a few minutes from the town.
Locals are very friendly and the are a lot of ex-pats there.

It was obviously on my mind when we were there but my children are never on there own with me & dh, my parents and my sister to watch over them.

Lovely beach with a few small cafes right by.

It was a bit weird seeing all the places that I have seen on the tv re Madeline but was a lovely holiday

agree with themoon66.

We stayed near Praia de Luz the year before it happened and we thought it was lovely and would certainly go there should the opportunity arrive.

I bet the place is now crawling with security guards! I remember years ago when I was at school there was a fire in a ski resort school dormitory in northern Italy in the resort my school were due to stay at and several parents got the wobbles but as the headmistress reminded them, you could bet the fire safety would now be far better there than just about anywhere else! Sure enough, organised fire evacuation drill the moment they arrived, prominent new fire safety inspection notice in reception. The local tourist board were onto them!

Anyway, something we must bear in mind is that one reason we can afford these places for our holidays is because they ARE less 'developed' than maybe what we're used to. It is absolutely inevitable that the local police or health care services, for instance, may not conform to our standards. We have to accept these 'risks' when we book our holiday (and buy our insurance!). 99.99% of the time, everything is fine- yet we reserve the right to throw our hands up in the air when something doesn't work out and the local services don't instantaneously respond with 'Western' diligence. The Indian Ocean tsunami springs to mind- the OUTRAGE of those western holiday makers when their embassies didn't organise immediate airlifts to get them out of there! (sod the locals wallowing in the muddy remnants of their lives). I'm sorry I've come over all cynical but our new wealth does mean we can and do go further and further afield and now regularly venture into territory that even 20 years ago was the preserve of the insulated rich or the world-wise backpacker, but we expect it to be 'just like home' and express horror when it isn't.

Fwiw, armed with the knowledge that something DID happen at this resort, either gratefully accept the lower prices or pay up and hope for the best elsewhere.

Well it looks like we won't be going there.

My friends DH is showing reservations about going abroad at all due to the fact that one person reported on their one holiday that there was a delay at the airport, so we feel that the mention of PDL could throw him into a total tailspin so best not to mention it as an option at all we think.

It's a shame that one person has spoilt the idea of going abroad for everyone else.
Can't you have a vote?

I grew up in Praia da Luz. I also go every year to visit family. I appreciate what you are saying, however the Portuguese are very friendly people who love children. As long as you behave as you would at home (ie dont take unnecessary risks) you should be fine. In fact it is probably the safest place now. No one would dare do antrhing now under the scruitiny of the whole world. I would recommend it as a lovely place for a holiday. There are also lots of other nice resports nearby. Feel free to ask any questions on the area.

Sorry dancerandprancer, I didn't mean to insult anyone and I probably have.

Humphrey my friend and I did toy with the idea of going without her DH but on balance decided best to include him.

I think we will still end up going abroad, but don't want to give him any opportunity to get twitchy about anything else !