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Snowbirds and Heat
Snowbirds and Heat
In association with the snowbird topic I agree with my fellow Canadians that I enjoyed visiting Carvoiero this year and last year (months of February and March). However, I and many Canadians will agree that if you want us to return and more to come out in the winter months; something must be done to supply decent heat in the living quarters. An oil heater or fan heater is not heat to us especially at night. Even though Canada in winter can be -30 degrees outside, we are used to a nice +20 degrees centigrade inside.
Last year, I rented a place with the barest of heating available and had trouble with the owner (Portuguese) to provide more heat. This year, I rented at a different kocation (English owner) and was happy with the heat. I understand that the natives have a thing about heating but if you want to rent to North Americans, you must provide what they want.
It's the cold damp nights that make you wish for warmth and drinking port only makes you get up in the cold night to go to the washroom.
Otherwise, the Algarve is a great alternative to the U.S.A.
Last year, I rented a place with the barest of heating available and had trouble with the owner (Portuguese) to provide more heat. This year, I rented at a different kocation (English owner) and was happy with the heat. I understand that the natives have a thing about heating but if you want to rent to North Americans, you must provide what they want.
It's the cold damp nights that make you wish for warmth and drinking port only makes you get up in the cold night to go to the washroom.
Otherwise, the Algarve is a great alternative to the U.S.A.
One of the reasons it is so economical to rent in Carvoeiro or other Algarve locations in the winter months it's because it is low season. All the accomodations are really built for summer rentals when no heating is required. Therefore us snowbirds have to either get used to the colder apartments and cuddle up under an extra blanket or be prepared to pay out much more money for electric heating or accomodations that provide aircon/heating unit, usually at a premium price. This may eliminate the price advantange of course. If you do a bit of research you may find places with adequate heating and/or insert fireplaces that will make your place quite cosy, but you will have to be prepared to pay for the extra costs. We have been coming here for the last 8 years and have had some cold nights but we still prefer the Algarve and Carvoeiro in particular to any other "snowbird destination" in the US.
Snow Birds and Heat
I know how you feel Hoser. After being there for a few days I noticve that your internal temp. gets used to the lack of heat. Most places have a log burner and at least one electric radiator which seems to heat enough. As Heini said it is different and we much adjust or pay a lot more. 
We have had some mixed experiences with heating as well.
The first thing to do is turn on the heat as soon as you arrive. And leave it on for at least a couple of days - especially if the unit was vacant before you arrived. The concrete block construction employed in Portugal and else where in Europe seems to require a heat up period. After that, it usually suffices to turn the heat on at night if necessary or as required.
As for the fireplaces, in most places, we found they have not worked well, especially in units with upper and lower apartments. But, when they work, they do add a bit of cosiness on a cool February night.
We prefer the cooler temperatures, although the past two years have been cooler than our first four or five. By the beginning of March, it is most comfortable.
On a another note, our experience with furniture has also been mixed. Often, you find the furniture is not built for North American fatties like us. It's usually the light, thin cushioned stuff from IKEA or a built in bench on the wall, also with thin cushions. Most North American motels these days include more comfy sofas and chairs.
Kitchens have generally been well equipped. However, we always take some of our own things, eg teflon fry pan, sharp knives, corkscrew, stoppers for wine bottles, kleenex, cd player, portable radio, some favourite cooking things like Splenda etc.
Often, we have to buy g & t glasses, beer glasses.
Also, we always buy an extra pillow or two at Continentale because usually the pillows on the beds are totally inadequate for oldtimers like us.
Sometimes, we have bought cushions for the living area as well.
Picky eh!
But we still love Portugal!
And we do have similar complaints about places in Myrtle Beach or Florida as far as that goes. It's hard to fathom how the owners - whether in NA or Europe, really just don't get it. People need bigger pillows than they put on their beds. I'll bet they (the owners) don't sleep on thin pillows. In an efficiency, a dull knife is useless. And on and on.
The first thing to do is turn on the heat as soon as you arrive. And leave it on for at least a couple of days - especially if the unit was vacant before you arrived. The concrete block construction employed in Portugal and else where in Europe seems to require a heat up period. After that, it usually suffices to turn the heat on at night if necessary or as required.
As for the fireplaces, in most places, we found they have not worked well, especially in units with upper and lower apartments. But, when they work, they do add a bit of cosiness on a cool February night.
We prefer the cooler temperatures, although the past two years have been cooler than our first four or five. By the beginning of March, it is most comfortable.
On a another note, our experience with furniture has also been mixed. Often, you find the furniture is not built for North American fatties like us. It's usually the light, thin cushioned stuff from IKEA or a built in bench on the wall, also with thin cushions. Most North American motels these days include more comfy sofas and chairs.
Kitchens have generally been well equipped. However, we always take some of our own things, eg teflon fry pan, sharp knives, corkscrew, stoppers for wine bottles, kleenex, cd player, portable radio, some favourite cooking things like Splenda etc.
Often, we have to buy g & t glasses, beer glasses.
Also, we always buy an extra pillow or two at Continentale because usually the pillows on the beds are totally inadequate for oldtimers like us.
Sometimes, we have bought cushions for the living area as well.
Picky eh!
But we still love Portugal!
And we do have similar complaints about places in Myrtle Beach or Florida as far as that goes. It's hard to fathom how the owners - whether in NA or Europe, really just don't get it. People need bigger pillows than they put on their beds. I'll bet they (the owners) don't sleep on thin pillows. In an efficiency, a dull knife is useless. And on and on.
You are right on SHOWWWIE. The first year we were so cold and tired of heating the bed with a hairdryer we went and bought flannel sheets at Modelo. This year we didn't need them.
As for the furniture, we met one couple who absolutely will not rent a place that has sofa and chairs with wooden arms. They say they will leave marks on their heads when they fall asleep on them. Only padded arms for them.
As for fireplaces in Portugal, most of them are useless. They do not draw smoke very good and wood you try to buy is not the driest. Last year we were told that although we had a fireplace, we should not use it as we would have to repaint the place if the walls got covered in black spoot. And I have heard this from other travellers too. Can't beat turning on a gas fireplace in Canada, clean and ash free.
We have never been able to find white vinegar (to make cole slaw), relish (for hambugers), pancake mix (although they have great crepe mix, but not the same). We bring these items plus maple syrup, canned tuna (still can't figure why they pay so much for tuna) golf clubs and balls. I am even thinking of bringing Folger coffee considering I can get 1kg can for $4.77 at Zellers back home.
For all I take to Portugal, there are items I buy at the gypsy markets and take back to Canada. This year, I got great deals on watches like 5 euros apiece. These are cheaper than the batteries at Radio Shack. They make great cheap gifts for everyone and cheaper than the t-shirts.
Plus all the first run movies on DVD (some that haven't been released yet) can be bought for as low as 1 euros each. Most are in great shape and not only do I watch them in Portugal on quiet nights but I can take them home and either watch them on a PC or have them switched over to N.American format. A lot of the new DVD's can run in any format.
Still cannot figure how some places can be so advanced in many things and yet in the personal pleasures, still be centuries behind the rest of the world (one of them is the bathrooms in southern France- hole in the floor).
As for the furniture, we met one couple who absolutely will not rent a place that has sofa and chairs with wooden arms. They say they will leave marks on their heads when they fall asleep on them. Only padded arms for them.
As for fireplaces in Portugal, most of them are useless. They do not draw smoke very good and wood you try to buy is not the driest. Last year we were told that although we had a fireplace, we should not use it as we would have to repaint the place if the walls got covered in black spoot. And I have heard this from other travellers too. Can't beat turning on a gas fireplace in Canada, clean and ash free.
We have never been able to find white vinegar (to make cole slaw), relish (for hambugers), pancake mix (although they have great crepe mix, but not the same). We bring these items plus maple syrup, canned tuna (still can't figure why they pay so much for tuna) golf clubs and balls. I am even thinking of bringing Folger coffee considering I can get 1kg can for $4.77 at Zellers back home.
For all I take to Portugal, there are items I buy at the gypsy markets and take back to Canada. This year, I got great deals on watches like 5 euros apiece. These are cheaper than the batteries at Radio Shack. They make great cheap gifts for everyone and cheaper than the t-shirts.
Plus all the first run movies on DVD (some that haven't been released yet) can be bought for as low as 1 euros each. Most are in great shape and not only do I watch them in Portugal on quiet nights but I can take them home and either watch them on a PC or have them switched over to N.American format. A lot of the new DVD's can run in any format.
Still cannot figure how some places can be so advanced in many things and yet in the personal pleasures, still be centuries behind the rest of the world (one of them is the bathrooms in southern France- hole in the floor).
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Dalcassian
- CVO Senior
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Hello Hoser,
Wake up and smell the coffee!
When you go to Portugal you are in a foreign country! 
They are very likely to do things different and 
Wake up and smell the coffee!
When you go to Portugal you are in a foreign country! They are very likely to do things different and That's the beauty of the place. It's not like home. If you want your home comforts, why not holiday in Canada?still be centuries behind the rest of the world.
Yes Dalcassian, I am definitely in a foreign country. However I am making observations that I and many other visitors to this fair country make. We in Canada will go out of our way to make changes for the business of attracting tourists (the weatjher is one thing we can't touch and that goes for Portugal too). I wonder if you noticed that tourism is about the only business the Algarve has currently.
And talking about foreign countries, another interesting observation is how the Brits visiting in Portugal must have to eat their national food fish and chips even though the portuguese food is terrific. If that was eliminated from the menus in the Algarve, I wonder if there would be as many British visitors. And again Dalcassiian, your point is: "When you go to Portugal you are in a foreign country".
And talking about foreign countries, another interesting observation is how the Brits visiting in Portugal must have to eat their national food fish and chips even though the portuguese food is terrific. If that was eliminated from the menus in the Algarve, I wonder if there would be as many British visitors. And again Dalcassiian, your point is: "When you go to Portugal you are in a foreign country".
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Guest
I agree, Hoser.
Most of our complaints probably apply to anywhere anyway. They are really a rant against the "tourist industry" which doesn't seem to make much effort - with notable exceptions, of course - to find out what the customer needs and wants.
It's not too much to ask for adequate heat, comfortable pillows and - especially for customers staying a month or more - comfortable furniture, is it?
I noted that Portugal plans to spend millions of euros promoting itself everywhere but Canada this year. While our market is not as big as say the UK's, there are large numbers of snowbirds that might at least try Portugal if there was more promotion. As far as I know, there are really only a couple of travel companies that make any real effort to promote Portugal.
But hey! What am I complaining about? As soon as it becomes a "hot" destination, the prices will go up. Bottom line: we love it as is!
Most of our complaints probably apply to anywhere anyway. They are really a rant against the "tourist industry" which doesn't seem to make much effort - with notable exceptions, of course - to find out what the customer needs and wants.
It's not too much to ask for adequate heat, comfortable pillows and - especially for customers staying a month or more - comfortable furniture, is it?
I noted that Portugal plans to spend millions of euros promoting itself everywhere but Canada this year. While our market is not as big as say the UK's, there are large numbers of snowbirds that might at least try Portugal if there was more promotion. As far as I know, there are really only a couple of travel companies that make any real effort to promote Portugal.
But hey! What am I complaining about? As soon as it becomes a "hot" destination, the prices will go up. Bottom line: we love it as is!
Thanks for the tip, Heini.
It is interesting to note how little of what we take for granted as available from supermarkets is not so in P. This year, I had to go to a chemist to buy sunscreen. At other times, we have been puzzled to find that antacids are not available except at chemists, cough syrup, cold tablets, etc. I have had similar problems in the UK.
No problem really once you figure it out but sometimes it leaves you scratching your head when you can get wine and liquor at the supermarket but not cough syrup. Go figure!
It is interesting to note how little of what we take for granted as available from supermarkets is not so in P. This year, I had to go to a chemist to buy sunscreen. At other times, we have been puzzled to find that antacids are not available except at chemists, cough syrup, cold tablets, etc. I have had similar problems in the UK.
No problem really once you figure it out but sometimes it leaves you scratching your head when you can get wine and liquor at the supermarket but not cough syrup. Go figure!
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elle
I think you could be wrong there Hoser, about the Brits only wanting to eat 'fish & chips' in Algarve!...Heres one who doesn't! and most Brits I know there (and I know a great deal) not only those in residence but who go for hols there, love the Portuguese cuisine and will venture to try many different dishes...
Oh and I think you may be a little out of touch on this one, as the top favourite dish in UK is..... curry!
SHOWWWIE..you've had problems finding cough syrup, antacids & paracetamol in UK supermarkets? ..where did you shopping for goodness sake?...
oh and theres always Boots..Superdrug.......branches in most of our towns!
Oh and I think you may be a little out of touch on this one, as the top favourite dish in UK is..... curry!
SHOWWWIE..you've had problems finding cough syrup, antacids & paracetamol in UK supermarkets?
..where did you shopping for goodness sake?...oh and theres always Boots..Superdrug.......branches in most of our towns!
You are actually complaining that the pillows are too thin. Good grief.
Mind you, we used to do B&B and one woman complained that her toast was too thin.
Hoser, I'd stay at home if I were you. Scarily few places in the world sell maple syrup and merkan 'coffee'. Definitely don't go to Africa, or Asia and, from what I have learned recently absolutely never go to the Himalayas.
Looks like there is some sort of American influence seeping over the border, not a good thing. :lol: :lol:
Mind you, we used to do B&B and one woman complained that her toast was too thin.
Hoser, I'd stay at home if I were you. Scarily few places in the world sell maple syrup and merkan 'coffee'. Definitely don't go to Africa, or Asia and, from what I have learned recently absolutely never go to the Himalayas.
Looks like there is some sort of American influence seeping over the border, not a good thing. :lol: :lol:
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Guest2