Have found a lovely apartment on Owners Direct in the centre of Carvoeiro.

We would like to visit in January. The apartment has full heating so should be ok. We usually go to a hotel in the winter but prices are very high for 2009/2010 and some hotels are not opening in Jan/Feb. Easyjet (who I do not like but will suffer if price is right) have their winter schedule from Stansted out.

What is Carvoeiro like in the winter months? We stayed at Colina Village a few years ago but that was October. We are not looking for nightlife but don't want it completely closed down either!!

Pippa

Just a general observation, but if you come on this forum WHY oh WHY, go via Owners Direct, and pay their prices, when all you need to do is post your dates and requirements on here....and await the deluge

The apartment is very reasonably priced and is just what we are looking for. We have used owners direct before and they are very good (they also provide some protection for the holidaymaker). If I had wanted to ask for recommendations then I would have done so. I would just like to know what Carvoeiro is like in the winter months.

Its very quiet, but there are always a handful of bars and restaurants open and the owners will all be very pleased to see you.

We were at the Porto Bay Falesia in Olhos in January - the hotel was gorgeous but only about 10% full - it is not open next January!

I suspect the euro/sterling rate is having a lot to do with areas being so quiet - gone are the days where it was much, much cheaper to go abroad for the English winter.

Pippa

Yes it is quiet, some would say very quiet, but when the sun shines ( and it does ) then we would rather be in the Algarve in Jan than in the madness that is sometimes high summer.

What sort of heating does your apartment have, you might need more than just a wood burning stove, are the bedrooms heated ?
Business being v quiet in January you should expect that the apartment owner does provide you with adequate heating.

Full heating from the air conditioning/heating units. The apartment is quite small too so should be fairly cosy.

Pippa

Had a lovely sunny week in cvo in early 2007. We were supposed to be decorating but spent a high proportion of the time lying in the sun reading and drinking. Have also had cold and wet weather as you would expect. Quiet but peaceful

We came out for New Year's Eve this year & stayed on for a fortnight. The village , bars & restaurants were all very quiet , though the square's problems didn't help. It can certainly be chilly in the evening , so pack a jumper & ensure there is heating at the apartment.....though NYE itself was quite balmy & I was walking around in shirt sleeves both before & after midnight ( might be the internal anti-freeze!)
As for weather , my diary records that we eat breakfast outside in the sun on 3 days, had lunch outside ( perhaps with a sweater ) on almost every day , had 3 wet days, 6 lovely sunny days & the balance were OK.
We plan to be out there again in Jan2010. Have a look at CVO Ramblers page & join us for some walks.
February, I hear , was another story! ......& March was beautiful!

We were there the end of February...
Awful weather....but lovely company!

We spend most of winter in Carvoeiro. This year 9 weeks before Christmas and 12 weeks after. For the 3 previous years the weather has been fine in January. OK, you expect a few rain days, but temperatures are about 10C above UK. This year was the wettest January for 15 years, and lasted into February. It would be unusual to have a repeat next year. Many of the "good" restaurants close mid-November to mid-February, although some do reopen for Christmas/New Year. There is always somewhere open, though. I know where I would rather be.