Hello
I have just come across this forum and am amazed at all the really helpful information that has been posted. My husband and I (both 60) are coming to CVO by car via Santander in January 2011 and renting an apartment for 8 weeks on the 'road out'. We are hoping to escape the worst of the English winter (we live next to the North Sea in the UK) and also hoping to play some golf (handicaps 9 & 14). We also hope to meet like minded folk to either chat or play golf with so we don't feel isolated. Our apartment has a broadband ethernet connection and we wondered if we brought out a wireless router, would it work in CVO. We also love inexpensive traditional Portuguese cooking and would appreciate any recommendations for restaurants open in January/February. Any advice about anything we need to know about CVO would be gratefully received.

Thanks in anticipation.

I would check that your apartment does have adequate heating as the evening temps can get down to frost level.
Yes even in Carvoeiro we sometimes have to scrape ice of the windscreen.
If your apartment has a woodburning stove bulk buy rather than the supermarket bags, you will find info on the forum.
You may not find too many places open in the evening but if you want expats gather in places such as Hemmingways on the road where you are staying.
Brouse the forum and you will find many suggestions where to eat at very reasonable prices.

You may find golf very expensive as this is the peak time certainly in February, it is one of our " off " months.

hi Scallywag,

yours is a good idea, however chilly & miserable it is here it will be infinitely better than the North Sea.
there's not a busting amount open in Jan/Feb but you're in town so you can wander about, there'll be more than enough open to keep you going, it'll be quiet but not dead, us residents adore this time of year, we have the place to ourselves.

re. the golf; there's a nice society that plays locally, Mungo's, they base at Pestana who have 4 local courses; Pinta, Gramacho, Alto & Silves, they get discounted green fees for guests and there's a good mix of singles and couples playing twice a week, normally Wednesday's and Saturdays.
Contact Richard Ballington

algarve.golf@mail.telepac.pt

or 914194899, he'll help you and set you up.

in any case, January & the first half of February is low season here so there'll be lots of cheap green fee offers around.

I'm sure somebody else will be on to help you with internet info.

best

Sunman

I'm afraid the router won't work, broadband is usually tied to the landline that it is connected to. There are three options that I can think of:

1. Ask the people you are renting from if it is possible to connect via their service provider.

2. Get a dongle. These plug into your laptop and provide internet connection via the mobile phone networks.

3. Go down to Hemingways, which has entrances on the out and in roads and use their wifi connection. It will cost a drink or two but they are very friendly people.

I've not used a dongle in Portugal so I don't know what costs are.

Yes, it does get chilly in January and February in the Algarve. Even us Canadians find it cold at night. However, during the day it is fabulous when the sun is shining. Usually us Canadians (mostly retirees) start arriving in the middle of January and stay till the end of March. If you are bored, go down to Smilers (at the corner of the main interesecting streets in the centre of Carvoeiro) and join us on Thursdays at 3pm for a Canadian quiz and drink. Sometimes there are more than 30 of us having a great time and being noisy too. We love it when non Canadians join us.

Happys is always open and the food is good. He is also entertaining.

Re your router connection, I believe you should have no problem with your wireless router as long as it has an ethernet connection and can be plugged into the electrical outlet. I take it that you are referring to a router that once it is connected to the ethernet connection (that has active service) you can then use your laptop anywhere in the vicinity to access it without having a wire hooked up.

Hello

Just wanted to say thank you to EMM, sunman, laserblazer and Hoser for your advice so far. We will certainly call in at Hemmingways as we never say no to having a drink! Smilers sounds like a good idea as well - thanks for the invite on Thursdays. We like the sound of the golf society, Mungo's, as it will be nice to play with other people so we will make enquiries when we arrive. Regarding the wireless router, we will take a chance and bring one that has an ethernet connection as we can pick one up cheaply on ebay. If it works, it works and if not, nothing's lost.

Again thanks for your help - this is a great forum!

Scallywag

8 weeks eh? Lovely!!

I have had the pleasure of the Mungos Society and it was great fun the two times I played so would say hook (no pun intended) up with them!

I have been at the time of year you are going and there will be plenty of places open and if you get a good spell the weather once the sun is up can be around the 18 degree mark but as said it can be bloody cold at night but as I live next to the North Sea it is not the same type of cold I am used to so it's all good!

Where are you based in the UK if you don't mind me asking.

Hi dodger

Thanks for your reply. Will certainly get in touch with Mungo's. How much approx are the green fees with them and is there a membership fee?

We live in Scarborough and play our golf on the cliff top!! In fact I played today and nearly got blown away! Where are you?

hi scallywag,

no need to ante-up for Mungo's to play, just plenty of notice & commitment if you sign up to play, contact Richard no & ask him the green fees, they'll be very reasonable

Thanx for that sunman, will do.

Hi scallywag

A friend got a dongle for her laptop in early September. I think it cost 29.99 euros for 10 hours use and it then needs to be topped up within 6 months. She also was offered one for less (?19.99)but only 1hrs use. She got it from the Vodafone shop by the garage just as you turn off the N125 in Lagoa towards cvo(by the garage - someone else will know which garage this is). It shuts at lunch

Wish I had 8 weeks in cvo in Jan/Feb including playing golf- enjoy

I found that the "timed" dongles were far too expensive. I ended up with the one that gives you a certain amount of MBs. When I accidentally left the timed dongle on line, it used the whole thing in one day.

Regarding the wireless router, you are talking about the thing that plugs into the telephone line?

Ah North Cliff??

Lovely track!

Mo membership and the green fee was circa £40 a couple of years ago.

Thanx for the info re 'dongles'. Think I'll give them a miss and go to Hemmingways instead!

We play at South Cliff, Scarborough but had a game at Filey today in the fog!! First few holes quite interesting until fog cleared!!

Been in touch with Richard re Mungo's and really looking forward to joining in when we arrive in Jan. Roll on!!