The "BIG" Shop!!

[Lamby]

Hi, I know this has been posted and discussed many times, but I can not find them. So, apologies, but here we go again!!
I arrive in Carvoeiro for the first time on 27.3.10 for two weeks. We have traditionally gone to Menorca and know our way around the island very well. Being in a villa and self catering we always go to one of the BIG supermarkets away from the resort for our weekly BIG shop as you do when at home. We do use the local supermarket in the resort for day to day stuff but we find there are significant savings to be made by the "weekly shop". Can anyone please help with a name a general location of the best supermarket. Once again, sorry, I know this is old stuff but your help would be gratefully appreciated. Ta

[Mike,Chislehurst]

Intermarche is the closest Lamby but not necessarily the cheapest, there is another one about 5 min drive back towards Lagoa but can't remember the name of it at the moment. Intermarche will be clearly marked on your map

[EMM]

For your BIG shop go either to Continente at Guia or the closer one just of the 125 at Portimao.

The Portimao store is in our opinion better .

[jeremy]

Following Mike's post:

[Mike,Chislehurst]

That's the one Jeremy, less crowded, better parking and cheaper.

[EMM]

But nothing like the choice of Continente or the others listed.

[cereza]

I agree with EMM - Continente on the 125 Portimao has the biggest selection and not expensive plus the petrol there is the cheapest

[TaxiDriver]

Hi. The popular and the biggest shop closer to Carvoeiro, is the Algarve Shopping Center.
15 minutes with taxi.

[laserblazer]

The supermarket formerly known as Modelo, by Slide and Splash will have pretty well all you will need.

[Lamby]

Thanks guys. Plenty of choice then hey!!
Desperately trying to think of other questions to take advantage of all your local knowledge. I have worked on restaurants, bars to watch sport, car hire and now the BIG shop. If I think of anything else I will post here. Thanks again x

[suziebear]

Hi lamby

Have a look at www.myalgarveinfo.com fantastic for ANY information you may want and its split into easy to find sections per area etc. Take a look....

[Sharen Crane]

I pretty much use all of the supermarkets as there are some items that I prefer from one store that you cannot buy in another or the quality is different. That said for a BIG shop I tend to gravitate towards Continente at Portimao or Algarve Shopping. Portimao is nearer though than Algarve Shopping but there are fewer shops to browse around before heading off for the supermarket!

Good luck with whichever you decide or be like me and try them all

[snaj1]

Theres one on the way to Portimao called Leclerc past ferragudo, which is good value.

Regards
Snaj

[MikeandDi]

If you want to treat yourself and are in the vicinity of Gale (there's a beautiful fisherman's beach here), there's a supermarket called Apolonia - the only way I can describe it is an upmarket Waitrose - so probably not the best place for a big shop! However, it's a beautiful spacious store with terrific fresh food counters, and an eclectic range of products. Prices are not uncompetitive - e.g. I bought a duck from the fresh meat counter which was cheaper than those at Lagos market. When we were last there is January it was practically deserted, with more staff than customers (it's quite tricky to find, in a housing development, but is signposted). It also produces a beautiful (and free!) in house magazine, with recipes and interesting articles in English and Portuguese. There's also a branch in Almancil.

[EMM]

We have been to Apollonia a few times, bought a ham fro christmas needed a second mortgage to pay for it.

Not the place if on a budget or in sensible frame of mind.