Hi, can anyone give me their opinion on the Hotel Carvoeiro Sol or the Hotel Mirachoro Praia? Are they of a high standard? We would like to be close to the beach, restaurants and bars of Carvoeiro. We believe that Carvoeiro is very hilly, and that's what is putting us off staying in the Almansor, as the walk back to the hotel, is supposed to be very steep. Thanks very much!

The Carvoeiro Sol is on the beach in town and quite well rated (there is a link on this site) the other one is halfway up the hill (slope) and very new but lacks character. The Almansor would be my choice irrespective of the walk back and a cab from town is about 3 euros.

Many thanks for your reply. Would like to stay in the Tivoli Almansor alright, but wary about staying on top of a hill. How far of a walk into the village is it? Would I break my neck in my heels trying to walk into the village for a night out?? Best wishes!

It's about a 5min walk to the top of the hill and about 10 to the bottom. It's not that steep either, don't worry

Hi Annie,
we were in June this yearly in the Mirachoro. It pleased us so well, so that we booked one week for Septembers directly still times.
Sunny greetings from Berlin!
Di

Many thanks for your honest replys, I appreciate them!!

Di, any chance you could pass some of that sunshine over to Ireland???

Hi Annie,
I would do gladly, we would have momentarily sufficient sun in Germany! When are you in Carvoeiro? Maybe one meets times!

Di

Unfortunately not until next year. Spent a fortune in Vilamoura last month, so cannot afford to do anymore travelling this year!

Sunshine here in Ireland Annie? that would be a first. Although I do remember a day when we had some.....

And Diane, nice to see your back with us again. There are many of us going to CVO in September the same time as you- youll have to look out for us

Dear Annie

My partner and I would thoroughly recommend the Carvoeiro Sol. If we had one reservation, it would be that the evening meals contain far too much salt, but that, of course, is a matter of personal taste. The breakfasts are lovely, with as much as you can eat. In the summer months, the rooms overlooking the Square may be a little noisy during the late evening,although if you ask for a room overlooking the pool, it is quieter because the pool is closed at 8pm. I have difficulty walking myself, but if you take it steady, there are no real problems, and in the warm dry Portuguese climate, I found my legs working much better anyway. The town certainly does not warrant the "disabled unfriendly" description it has in some brochures. If you are there on a Sunday, attend a service on the little church on the hill (RC, of course). It looks like something straight out of the "Alamo" Have a good time

Hi Annie

I stayed at the Carvoeiro Sol last year and can recommend it in general terms, we have two teenage (ish) children and they were able to have an adjoining room, additionally they were able to go out earlier than us and come back later if they so chose as we were of course right on the square. It certainly lacks the dramatic setting setting of the Almansor (and the sexy balconies!!) but it does mean that you are really are in the thick of it. I didn't find it particularly noisy, although, admittedly we tended to be going back to the hotel only after everything on the square was shutting down for the night.

The rooms were pretty spacious and comfortable and all the fixtures and fitting in tiptop condition when we were there, breakfast was plentiful and it was quite possible to fill yourself up for the day. We did not eat in the hotel in the evening as there is such a plethora of tempting restaurants that we simply had to visit, although we often had a "sundowner" in the bar before we went out.

Haven't stayed at the Mirachoro Praia but most of the write ups on other travel sites suggest that it has yet to find "atmosphere" but I cannot comment.

Maddi

Hi Annie,

If you are wanting to walk to and from the Almansor then definitely would be a pain in high heels - we usually stay in centre of Cvo and you have to watch where you are walking because some of the pavements arent in the best of conditions and my children usually trip over if they dont watch where they are going so gave up wearing the heels after the first trip.

There are so many gorgeous flat shoe & sandal styles in the shops now so I always wear them and all my friends say Algarve is the one place where high heels are to be avoided.

If you want to be in a fantastic location, sea, beach, bars, restaurants outside your door then I recommend the Carvoeiro Sol and if you want a bit of 'luxury' then the Almansor is the place.

Hi all, thanks for all the replys. They are a great help. We will definately have to make a decision this weekend, and just book one or the other hotel. Best wishes!

The Almansor has a shuttle minibus to the square, as far as I remember. Not sure how often it runs, but I'm sure reception would tell you.....

The little Noddy train which keeps appearing on the webcam. Which hotel does that go to?