What is Carvoeiro like in Winter?

[GemmaW]

Hello!

Me, my partner and our two young children are coming to stay from 1st Dec to 31st Jan. We are hoping to eventually come for 6 months of every year as we can run our business anywhere we have broadband but this year is a bit of a taster!

Any info you can give me would be appreciated (I'm just being nosy really) ie:

Weather?
Are many shops / restaurants / bars open?
Do many tourists come over the winter?
We will be there over Christmas, what's that like?
Are there many places we can buy children's toys nearby as I don't really fancy lugging two sacks of toys all the way there!!
Has anyone made the journey over by car (as that's what at least one of us will have to do)? How long does it take and what's the journey like?
Does anyone know about childcare? Our children are still young and in the UK, we have a nanny 3 days a week as both myself and my partner need to work. Ideally, I'd like to try to make childcare arrangements if possible.

Like i said, any info would be much appreciated. I've tried to research as much as I can but there's noting like asking people who live there or visit often.

Many Thanks,

Gemma

[Lotte]

Hi Gemma,

We spent two seperate New Years in CVO (both just over one week each time), we had a great time.

We spent 2-3 hours every day on the beach, but it did go a little colder about 4 o'clock each day.

Obviously it was a lot quieter than when we normally go, (May or Aug/Sept), but there was still a number of bars, Restaurants & Shops open.

We would definately go back for New Year (Pennies allowing!!!!).

We have just come back from 12 days in CVO & had a ball (it even felt quiet then!!) , but we were speaking to one of the Waiters in Martins Grille (In the Square) & he told us for the 1st year ever, all the bars & restaurants in the square are closing this New Year - I dont know how much truth is in that, but it may be worth checking it out.

As for travelling to CVO by Car, and Childcare, I cant really comment, as our daughter was 9 & 10 when we went - but she had a ball - even went in the sea!!!!!

New Years Eve was good, we had a meal, a few beers round town (cant remember where!!) & then watched the fireworeks from the beach.

Dont know if any of that helps - but as I said earlier, we would go back - well, i'd go back tomorrow if I could!!!!


Cheers,

[EMM]

Do not expect the sun to shine every day, it does not, we can and have had rain for what seems weeks on end.
We even get frost.
The village can be very quiet like a ghost town at times.

But to be honest we much prefer it over July and August.
Those places that stay open welcome you and people have much more time
All the bigger shops are open , you have a number of large retail centres in the Algarve so can get almost everything you need.

Do come in Dec/Jan you may see things possibly at their worst but in our opinion also at their some of their best.

[maccasa]

CVO in winter? like england in spring - usually around 14-18c but I have seen 20 in mid jan - unfortunately the last two years have been very wet - lot of showers, but not that cold. About 70% of the bars and restaurants are open so you get just the same as later on, but it does go cool when the sun goes down and we usually light the log burner about 6pm - dont often eat outside either at night but usually ok for lunch.

[matoserrao99]

Hi,
regarding the journey, its very easy, very long though so you really have to like driving.
since the French completed the A28 its a lot faster than it used to be.
about 1400 miles, 99% on easy motorways / toll roads i've tried it the non toll route way and it took forever, really not worth the bother unless you're having a lazy holiday.

This is what i do - Dover - Rouen- le man - Poitiers - Bordeaux - Biaritz/Bayonne - SPAIN - San Sebastian - this normally takes about 9-10 hours including a couple of short stops / refuels etc.

San Sebastian - Vitoria Gasteiz - Burgos (i normally stop around here at approx 12 hours - several motels on the roadside around here)
Burgos - Vallodilod - Salamanca - Portugal - Guardia - Terras Novas - Santarem (towards Lisbon) - A2 motorway all the way to the Algarve - A22 to Lagoa - Carvoeiro. - this part takes about another 9-10 hours including stops

The other alternative is take the overnight ferry to Santander, but i always found that expensive, but it leaves you with approximately 12 hours to drive.

Regarding the rest.
In my view the only time the UK is better than Portugal is Xmas - having said that its still really nice here.
The big shopping centres at Guia and Portimao make life very easy, you can get 99% of the things you'd buy in England - only thing we had a problem finding this year was a xmas pud - the Portuguese love their kids, toys everywhere, and the shopping centres very festive.
Amazon deliver to Portugal now so any problems they fill the gap.

Portugals a bit rainy over the winter, 2 years ago was its all time rainy record, generally its nothing like so bad.
We went on the beach xmas morning, it rained later, had a bbq boxing day and new years day and i got sunburn on my nose.
Rest of the time it was mixed but a good 7-8 degrees warmer than England
Frosts are rare, 2-3 a year unless you're in a very unfortunate location.
Its possible to eat out at lunch most of the time with no more than a jumper on and often less if you have a sheltered spot- Feb this year hit 30c for a week.

Lots of places open - don't forget people live and work here its not just a holiday resort.
Tourists - a stready trickle , but also a lot of people do long term lets, germans, scandinavians and Canadians seemed to be everywhere this year, and quite a few people seem to prefer to visit their own second homes over this period - you also get a lot of Portuguese still visit for the wekends.

Best of Luck

[Lamby]

Wow !! That was some report Matoserrao99. As a visitor to CVO in the summer, I am considering coming over for New Year. Fly out 29.12.11 and depart 2.1.12. So, your report was excellent. I usually stay in a villa at ADM but for New Year I am investigating hotels. I am a little concerned by what Lotte said about the waiter claiming all bars and restaurants in and around the square will be closed. Whatever, I guess CVO for New Year would be okay. Watch this space.

[HampshireRich]

Wow !! That was some report Matoserrao99. As a visitor to CVO in the summer, I am considering coming over for New Year. Fly out 29.12.11 and depart 2.1.12. So, your report was excellent. I usually stay in a villa at ADM but for New Year I am investigating hotels. I am a little concerned by what Lotte said about the waiter claiming all bars and restaurants in and around the square will be closed. Whatever, I guess CVO for New Year would be okay. Watch this space.

Blimey Lamby - for someone who said this in the "Carvoeiro - you seductress" topic

Thank you if you chose to read this. I might go quiet now - until I have booked for 2012 !!

you have a funny definition of quiet - addicted to the site, or addicted to Carvoeiro or what?

[EMM]

The main New Year activities take place in the large resorts, Albufeira and Portimao have concerts wwhich attract tens thousands , mainly Portuguese.
All the large resorts have fantastic firework displays, Ferragudo is the best place to watch the nearest to Carvoeiro at Pria Da Rocha and Portimao.
On a clear night you can probaly see the one in Lagos as well.

Carvoeiro is quiet compared to these , I believe that last year we had "a firework ", but from what we have heard the usual places are very busy with expats and tourists and everybody has a good time.

[Lamby]

Ha Rick. Good point. I guess I am still "buzzing" from my fortnight in CVO. Subsequently I am on the forum reading everything and considering coming at New Year. I am sure there WILL come a time when I disappear. I did after my trip at Easter in 2010. Addicted? No - wellllllllllllllllllllll, maybe a little

[GemmaW]

Thank you so much for your posts everyone, very informative! However, anyone has anything more to say, please feel free to add!

Matoserrao99, thank you so much for the travel info. The best idea would be to fly with the kids and my partner take the car but we'd quite like to all travel over together. Therefore, from what you've said, the best option may be the ferry and then drive the remaining 12 hrs. I'll look into it. Thank you!

Does anyone know of any childcare (babysitters / nurseries) in the area?

Wow !! That was some report Matoserrao99. As a visitor to CVO in the summer, I am considering coming over for New Year. Fly out 29.12.11 and depart 2.1.12. So, your report was excellent. I usually stay in a villa at ADM but for New Year I am investigating hotels. I am a little concerned by what Lotte said about the waiter claiming all bars and restaurants in and around the square will be closed. Whatever, I guess CVO for New Year would be okay. Watch this space.

Does anyone know anything about the bars etc for new year?

Many Thanks,

[matoserrao99]

Hi really sorry Gemma,
just checked the ferry timetables and the ferry ends its season first week of November and doesn't restart until June.
Also checked motorrail and France has cancelled all services permenantly.
The only options in the winter seem to be drive or fly.

Good Luck

[GemmaW]

Good luck? I'll need it with 2 kids in the back of the car for 3 days!! LOL.

Never mind, we'll figure something out but thanks for all your help

[Rayeileen]

Well we think its wonderful,two years ago we went for about a week and last year we went on the 27th December and stayed till 12th January,it was just such a lovely break,escape from the snow,and the weather was much better than Ireland.
Lots of places are open,the days are warm,evenings cooler,we have a stove so we lit that and had lovely cosy evenings by the fire with takeways from our favourite Indian.
We had friends visit for New Year and had a wonderful evening at 'A Vela' on NYEve,on New Years day we walked along the cliffs from Al Fanzina to the village and sat out on the balcony at Metabixo and had drinks and snacks.
We visit usually in May and September which is warmer but also so enjoyed our visit in the winter.