Guys,
I had a rush of blood on Saturday night (alcohol induced !!!) and booked flights to Carvoeiro for Christmas (18th-29th Dec) for the whole family We have 3 kids - a 15 year old who is not at all impressed but everyone else is happy to go !! an 11 year old who is on his last year of "you know who" and a 4 year old. Can I create a Christmas atmosphere in Carvoeiro. Would there be a santa about in the Algarve Shopping Center. What do I do to occupy their time. The pool is out because it is too cold. What bars are open etc. Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated as I am fearful of stealing the Christmas spirit from my kids One last question. There is no sky television in the apartment. Does anyone know what my options are to get some english speaking channels. Would one of the cheap (€100) satelite dishes used in caravans pick up any english channels over there
The flights were very cheap but if there is nothing to do I might not go even though they are paid for I would particularly like to hear from any other family who have done the same.

Robbie, Robbie, Robbie...! What have you done??? Suggest you change your flights to one of the Alpine resorts and take advantage of their early dumping of snow? Go onto one of the property rental sites, get an apartment and ski for the week. Can't get much more of a Christmassy atmosphere than that!!

Good luck!!

Oh boy! You must have been well drunk!

The sort of Christmas you're looking for in the Algarve is the sort I go to the Algarve to get away from

Can't say I've seen any Santas . . . but then I haven't really been looking for any, either. Re TV. We once went for two days without Sky; Christmas Day and Boxing Day and all we had to watch was Portuguese TV! It was pants!

oh oh !!! the vibes are not good. Helpppppppppp!!!

Xmas in the Algarve is probably about as far away as you can get from the conventional european Xmas without leaving the continent.

Street lighting and big, well-lit trees on the roundabouts is as much as we get here for Xmas - I was actually quite surprised to see this trend growing every year.
You can find Santa roaming around Algarve Shopping on most days, but none of the "sit down, take kids on lap" jobbies.
Absolutely, positively no snow (except maybe on Monchique, but very unlikely). There have been years of people having lunch outside on the 25th in sunshine and temps well above 20ºC. Other years have seen torrential rain.
Nothing open on Xmas day, nobody on the streets - everything back to normal on boxing day.

I hate to say it, but I think you are going to find your kids climbing the walls of the flat because of lack of activities. Take all the kids DVDs you can fit in a suitcase, a Playstation and a bunch of games.

When we were in CVO in early December last year I particularly liked the toy Father Christmases suspended from balconies etc on rope ladders or similar structures. There were some on the road from the airport. They made it seem quite Christmasey (although as I was with the original Bah Humbug, not realy appreciated other than by me).

I tried to buy one but couldn't find any but maybe this year will have more luck.

Don't worry Robbie I think here is a great place to be for Christmas, the weathers usually infinitely better than UK or Ireland, the Portuguese love their Christmas decorations, the ones in Loule are better than Oxford Street. T.V is usually cr**p on Christmas day anyway, make sure the kids get lots of DVD's for Christmas if not you can rent them here. Play games. The Faro shopping centre has a small ice rink, there's bowling at the Guia shopping centre & the cinema, & there's a really nice community spirit in Carvoeiro at Christmas. I'm sure you'll all have a great time, don't listen to the men - think positive.

Robbie you will be fine my son! Tip for next year though book for the 27th and have New Year away! My kids love new year in Carvoeiro

By the way ceh you can get the hanging Santa's in Mestre Mako (now called Izi apparently) next door to shoe world in Lagoa.
When we first moved out here a couple of Christmas's ago I wondered what the Portuguese had against Santa they all looked like they'd been lynched, think I will invest in one this year though.

Thanks Blue. Much appreciated. I had highlighted most of the things on your reply to do but was not aware of the ice rink. My greatest concern is the evenings. We will travel and do things each day but from 5.00pm onwards it is dark and no television of note to watch unless we get a crash course in Portuguese. I am feeling a bit more optimistic after your posting and thanks again
Robbie

It's what ever you and yr wife make it and it's up to you to make it happen. We had Xmas there last year at our apartment and although we had two grown up sons between us we still enjoyed. We hit Mesto Maco when we arrived or (izi as it now is) in Lagoa, equivalent to our B & Q, went up there and chose a cheap fake tree (the sort that cost around €12 and you can throw away), picked up some baubles and tinsle and fairy lights etc, yr 4 year old will love getting involved picking out the Xmassey bits and pieces I'm sure. You can decorate your villa/apartment really nice will candles and little Xmassey novelty bits and pieces, bring yr Xmas cards with you to put up from friend s and family. I guess yr bringing their pressies too or at least a couple to put under the tree?. Then off to the shops and get everyone involved in choosing what they would like in the way of drinks, sweets, food etc. The weather was brilliant when we were out there, so lots of walks on the beach. Are you eating in or planning on doing Xmas lunch out wit the family? I know Ma Ja's is doing a Christmas lunch and I think there could be one or two others also (Check CVO site or maybe someone ont he site will let you know) so check that out NOW if you intend eating out. We had Xmas lunch up at Rascals last year on the terrace, the pushed the boat out with a 3 course and champaigne, sun was shinning etc. If yo have a car go out for the day to places if the weather isn't too good. Also as someone suggested, bring DVDs and games with you. You'll be fine I'm sure. We aren't doing it this year but next year we will be out again and although it's quiet we still had Xmas.
Good luck!
Gaynor

WE are going back for our third christmas/ New year in the Algarve.

Can confirm all that has been said about being able quite cheaply to recreate a christmas atmosphere. Albufeira usually has good christmas lights.

Find somewhere that has a good " long " christmas lunch, hope the sun shines as well.( we were in shorts last year ).

As for TV, forget it, you will not be able to get UK channels without a very large and expensive dish and tuner.

One year one group was overheard complaining about the lack of UK soaps, " not like Lloret de Mar ".

tbbr wrote:One year one group was overheard complaining about the lack of UK soaps, " not like Lloret de Mar ".

And what, pray, is wrong with UK soaps? Surely one isn't expected to do without EastBenders or Emma Dale, or Carnation Milk, or Holly Hocks, or Nay Bars, just because one is in a foreign country?

I don't think one is expected to do without those things, but I do feel its reasonable to suggest that one adapts to the circumstances appropriate in another country.

Michael Crane wrote:

tbbr wrote:One year one group was overheard complaining about the lack of UK soaps, " not like Lloret de Mar ".

And what, pray, is wrong with UK soaps? Surely one isn't expected to do without EastBenders or Emma Dale, or Carnation Milk, or Holly Hocks, or Nay Bars, just because one is in a foreign country?

Verily Sir Michael,thou hast a way with words but thou speakest the truth and before ere I set sail for the Arade or the Tagus,I do set up ye olde video recorder for Enders and Street for I am lost without the goings on of all the young Lotharios and maidens that adorn our screens
and consultations with the Sphinx of course as he often will foretell -whats going to happen next!!
Ill be throwing a bash on the barge Robbie,bring the kiddies along and Demetrius will amuse them with his magic rope tricks and for music it will be his flute --------again