Carvoeiro

jkspoff · Post by **jkspoff** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:01 pm

As a frequent visitor for the past 15 years I have to say that the Algarve as a whole has unfortunately taken on the 'mass' English abroad that has ruined so many beautiful areas of the world. I realise that we have brought a huge booming economy boost to what was many years ago a very poor part of Europe, but along with it has come the poor 'English Abroad' reputation that has now effected most of the Algarves traditional fishing villages, i.e. Carvoeiro, its a great shame, but we still love it, lets just hope that the overcrowded areas that have been overdeveloped leading to massive crowds on an evening stops before its too late.

laserblazer · Post by **laserblazer** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:29 am

jkspoff wrote:I have to say that the Algarve as a whole has unfortunately taken on the 'mass' English abroad that has ruined so many beautiful areas of the world.

Which is down to you, me and the majority of people on this forum

jkspoff · Post by **jkspoff** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:46 am

I know, thats exactly my point ! We are all guilty of it, cheap flights and sunny weather, who can blame us, if the UK had a better climate it would be very different.

Stevie-C · Post by **Stevie-C** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 1:54 pm

laserblazer wrote:
jkspoff wrote:I have to say that the Algarve as a whole has unfortunately taken on the 'mass' English abroad that has ruined so many beautiful areas of the world.
Which is down to you, me and the majority of people on this forum

IMHO it is not the amount of people it is how they behave. There is no need for parents to allow their children to run riot and no need for the parents to get so p!$$ed(I do like a bevvy also by the way) that they can't look after them. There is no need for loutish behaviour either but these things do happen home and abroad. This does spoil it for other holidaymakers and I am sure most of us have experienced this on holiday. We all need a break from our hectic lives but many take the "work hard play hard" culture to the extreme no matter what the cost to others or indeed themselves. I do prefer quieter resorts with less people and that is why I will be back in CVO in 4 weeks time. I like many have holidayed abroad every year for the last (not telling you

) years but have found CVO to be the best place I have visited. It is not too busy but not too quiet either and I like that balance. Other discussions about Sullys do put a little doubt into the reasoning behind going back to CVO but I think I will have a great holiday and still believe it will be the setting for most of my holidays for years to come and you do need to have belief right?

. Roll on 27th July

bruce · Post by **bruce** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:35 pm

Well said Stevie
It is the odd ones that tend to spoil it for others, that's why when there is a bit of a squirmish everyone is concerend.
Basically it is still a small family resort not yet spoiled by the lager louts.

jkspoff · Post by **jkspoff** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:27 pm

See you there ! We're off at beginning of August for 3 weeks.

ceh · Post by **ceh** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:49 pm

Having been visiting the area around CVO since 2000, it is still possible to see some of the so called real Portugal just outside CVO. A flock (?)of goats regularly go across the land next to the villa and I have had to wait for the same goats to cross the road whilst I've been driving to the beach at Albandeira. I have also seen horse and carts on the road towards Porches.

We went to Ericeira (on the coast near Lisbon) whilst waiting to complete on the villa in 2006 but it couldn't compete although it was much more Portuguese etc etc

I too don't like seeing the English in their football shirts, short shorts and noisey kids but you get that anywhere

holiday1 · Post by **holiday1** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:12 pm

Our flight from Faro landed at 3:15pm today....
We have just had 2 weeks in Carvoeiro, our 5th visit. My partner came twice as a kid and then we have been 5 times; twice together, once with our then new(6mth) son, joined by 3 of our parents, once as a party of 13 (my parents loved is so much my dad returned home and booked a villa big enough for the whole family to go for his 65th birthday), and then this last fortnight, again joined by parents for the first week.

We love Carvoeiro, absolutely love it. Our parents now love the place as much, when collected from the airport this afternoon the conversation in the car included where we are probably staying in October (we have already booked again for June). We have once eaten at an english owned establishment (MA-JAs, it was great), our other meals are served and presumably cooked by portuguese people; if anything we have the opposite issue, portuguese restaurants have fairly standard child food (sausage or chicken or fish finger with chips), and therefore finding variation for our son is hard because we don't eat in english places. I just have no idea where Grinch went - I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion but unless we have missed something, aren't most of the restaurants portuguese?

Anyway - irrelevant of that, Carvoeiro is amazing to us, home from home, the most relaxing fortnight ever. Our 2 year old son learned to swim and made some "friends", we laughed, browsed, ate and generally chilled out. I would have to say from the Grinch perspective, if i wanted somewhere to go on a string of day trips then I am not sure where I would go, we have done Silves, Ferragudo, Portimao, Vicente, Sagres, Albufeira, Lagos - enjoyed all of them very much but wouldn't, for example. want to spend a full day in Ferragudo! But I go on holiday to relax and maybe visit one or two places; if I wanted somewhere to visit lots of touristy things I would probably more opt for somewhere renowned for it's historic monuments.

If anyone living in Carvoeiro wants to do a house swap and look at plenty of historic English churches, castles and villages - just let me know

holiday1 · Post by **holiday1** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:17 pm

Stevie-C wrote: Other discussions about Sullys do put a little doubt into the reasoning behind going back to CVO but I think I will have a great holiday and still believe it will be the setting for most of my holidays for years to come and you do need to have belief right? . Roll on 27th July

We have just returned, Sullys often had a few outside but nothing intimidating or threatening; unfortunately the society we live in means that a group of youngish people are often assumed to be threatening in some way? Having said that, we were away from the square no later than 10 due to taking care of our kid and not wanting him out and about

Guess my point is, dont know who is fighting or why but doubt its at random people in the street and therefore should affect people?

Lucky you - enjoy July!

Lofty · Post by **Lofty** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 7:50 am

Im going with my family to Carvoeiro on Tuesday but having read Grinch's comments Im thinking of cancelling - is it really that bad?

bruce · Post by **bruce** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:10 am

I have been 8 times now and last year took our 8 year old grand daughter we ate out - stayed in the square until around 10pm a couple of nights and saw no trouble just families enjoying the atmosphere and music. Daytime we spent around the pool or going to the beach at Benagil or Albandeira.
I cant speak for what goes on late at night but the last thing I would do is cancel, it's not Benidorm by any means.
Not taking anything away from Benidorm by the way lots of people go there and that it their choice.
Take a ride out to Guia and get some real Poruguese food, loads of places to visit.
Let us know how you got on.

Lofty · Post by **Lofty** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:20 am

Bruce

Thanks - feeling reassured now - are the taxis out there cheap? We are staying at a resort about 2/3 miles from CVO.

maddi · Post by **maddi** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:28 am

Hi Lofty

I think you have a great time, there is nothing scary about CVO, and it certainly isn't the same style of resort as Blackpool and Benidorm; or Falaraki and Kavos.

On the other hand as first time visitor I think many of us would like to hear what you thought when you get back - the positives and negatives - and if you go with an open mind and report back constructively, wording any negative criticism a little more specifically than the O.P. - it could be really useful as many on here are residents, local business or letting villa/apartment owners.

Perhaps if you tell us a couple of other places you have been on holiday, someone else may have been to one of them too and be able to make a direct comparison for you.

Anyway, have a brilliant holiday

Maddi

Stevie-C · Post by **Stevie-C** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:05 am

Lofty wrote:Im going with my family to Carvoeiro on Tuesday but having read Grinch's comments Im thinking of cancelling - is it really that bad?

Don't cancel, you will love it.

fmm · Post by **fmm** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:26 am

Sorry to say, but OH and/or I have visited Carvoeiro at least once a month for the past 3 years, and have never noticed any trouble. Sure, if you are there all the time on the square, there is bound to be trouble at some point or other, but for anyone to think that it is anything out of the ordinary is simlpy unfair on the town.

If you are at all concerned, then don't go into the town centre - there are more than enough places to eat, drink and be entertained without going down to the square. I have never been into Sullys - it holds no appeal - neither have I been into most of the other bars down there. Stick to what appeals to you and I am sure you will have a great time.