This kind of thing has been a problem in most parts of the Algarve. My friend David Thomas has developed the Safe Communities in the Algarve Program which has worked very well in the Loulé area. There is some good information on the website - www.safecommunitiesalgarve.com . He is also an independan...

F J North are still around and have even re-branded. I met Suzi at a networking event a couple of weeks ago.
912 264 905, www.fjnorth.net and info@fjnorth.net are the contact details on the card she gave me.

Volkswagen Kundenbetreuung [kundenbetreuung@volkswagen.de]

The above email address is the customer services department at VW head office.

I had a run in with SIVA after I purchased a new Volkswagen (luckily in Faro). Shortly after I took delivery, they sent me a letter though the public postal system asking me to confirm my personal details. The letter that they sent to me included the following info printed on it: Address Full name m...

Hi Bazza, I believe that compared to the situation in Spain, the market here is not too bad, there are too many positives. Many agents are genuinely busy showing properties - perhaps the only thing that is needed in the market are priceing re-adjustments. There are probably thousands of examples of ...

I am trying to look into the health of the housing market here in the Algarve, which I believe to be fundamentally satisfactory, and am trying to draw some comparisons with Spain (which I believe is on its knees). I saw a report regarding the Spanish property market advising that there are close to ...

I have not flown TAP to the UK for some time (I used to, their A340's are excellent), but I have flown to Madeira and the Açores with them recently. I have never had a bad flight, the ony problems I have had were related to hurricane conditions in Madeira - not their fault. In my view, TAP do not de...

In the "good old days" it was not uncommon for stolen documents to turn up again soon after they were taken. Unfortunately, the days of the conscientious robber seem to be over, but it may be worth getting someone to visit the GNR, post office etc. for you.

I understand from The Resident that the little boy in Silves did not drown in the pool but in a cisterna (water tank). This is something that I am particularly careful about with my work and can I please remind everyone, residents and visitors alike, that every cisterna should be fitted with a secur...

You also have to be careful when you are using the pool with the kids. A colleague of mine in Spain nearly lost his son while he, and the entire family were playing in the pool (uncles, cousins etc. etc.). No one noticed the little boy get into difficulties (so much fun, splashing and noise) and he ...

I think it was Billy Connolly who said that there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes.

Take a trip up to Lisbon. Its an easy 2 hour drive, the Oceanarium is excellent.

Jose A, Dust Devil - Animal cruelty is a problem wherever you are in the world, and it certainly is not nice to see. However, it is not a 'Portuguese' problem. Indeed, we Brits even invented an organisation to prevent cruelty the problem was so bad in good old blighty. It even has Royal patronage an...

It doesn't matter where you choose to visit, the entire coastline is amazing.

Right now I do prefere Easy Jet to BA. Just booked a flight from Faro to East Midlands for Christmas hols, not for me I must add, sorry Jackie O, but I won't be going back there again! Return flight total cost was 85.35GBP including taxes, a bag in the hold, my credit card fee and a Carbon Offsettin...

Try http://www.algarvedigital.pt/algarve/index.php and click on the box marked mapas interactivios.