Hi guys, just back from another fabulous two weeks in Carv. (my 4th trip in 8 months) and was seriously considering travelling down from 30th Dec to 6th Jan. Can anyone tell me

Just how cold will it be in Dec/Jan (are we likely to see any sunshine)

Most of the village closes in Dec and especially in Jan. Are some pubs and restaurants open at this time.

How busy is the village for New Years eve, are there celebrations in the square or anything like that.

I suppose the question would be is it worth going down to the village at this time. I am trying to encourage 3 families to also travel (looks like they will) and I don't want them to be dissappointed (cold) !!!!!

Any advice would be helpful, thanks Robbie

Click Here for a few details.

We have spent the last 2 New Years in Carvoeiro and are going again this year!

The weather has been good to us both times. Warm enough for shorts and t-shirts during the day. However very cold at night when the sun disappears so recommend you take some winter woollies with you for the evenings.

A lot of places are closed over winter season but there are still many places open. We have never had any trouble eating/drinking out. Would be best to book well in advance if you intend eating out on New Years Eve though!

We normally go to Bon Bon so dont really know what the square is like but going by the evidence the next day would imagine that it is very lively!

Spent Christmas Day on the beach sunbathing a couple of years ago. Played golf in shirtsleeves. But beware it can rain too.

We came out for a week the day after Boxing day a few years ago, we stayed in a friends villa which had been shut up for some time, it was absolutely freezing if it hadn't been for the fact that it was equipped with gas heaters & electric blankets I would have booked straight into a hotel. They also had a hurricane that year, the Carvoeiro beach ended up in the square, but in spite of all that we had a brilliant time & thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We moved out here at the begining of December last year & had lots of sunshine all through the month (except Xmas day when it chucked it down in buckets) & in January but it was still quite nippy in the shade. I'd say come just be prepared.

".... had lots of sunshine all through the month (except Xmas day when it chucked it down in buckets) ...."


.... and half of Boxing Day!

But, it's a great time to have a holiday in the village. Mostly warm and sunny during the day - Sharen and I have spent many an hour sunbathing beside the villa's pool (out of the wind when possible) and had a lovely winter tan to show for it.

At night it can be cold - we're lucky in that respect, there's a log fire in the lounge that we stoke up each evening. We sit by its cheery glow and snuggle up together on the sofa. Just remember; it is December, and it will be cold(ish), but, if you bring warm clothes (slippers, dressing gown and a hot water bottle also help!) you'll be OK.

The biggest bonus is that the village will be 'deserted' to a large extent, but there will be enough bars and restaurants open to indulge your every taste. New Year celebrations are what you want to make of them - every bar has a party and there's always a bunch of people on the beach or in the square at midnight, all clutching a bottle of bubbly and all having a great time.

The one thing I discovered on my first New Year in the village was the complete and total lack of menace. At home in Lincoln we always stopped at home or went to a friend's house for a party; we never went to a pub because the idiots that get tanked up throughout the night just spoilt it for us. It is so much more civilised in the village.

My advice? Go for it! We'll see you in the square at 11:55 and we'll raise a glass of bubbly to see 2007 in.

Thanks for the info guys. I will make the decision with the others over a bottle of !!!! on Saturday. I stayed in the village at the start of November and again at the end of Feb and it was very cold at night but I stay in Monte Dourado and they have recently put a log burning stove into the apartment. Damned if I know how it works from looking at it last week but I guess it should help. It looks more like an early edition of a microwave oven rather than a fire but I am sure that I'll work it out.
regards
Robbie

we are also coming out on Boxing day through to 2nd Jan with two other couples, last year we did the same and spent NYE in Silves - which after 11pm was rather quiet. This year we are thinking of going into Portimao (we are just outside of Silves) does anyone know if they willbe having a big firework display etc this year. OR is CVO the best place to be.

von von

We have only spent one New Year in CVO and had a fantastic 4 cloudfree days - like previous comments, hot sunny days but cooler evenings. Spent NYE in The Bon Bon with their own small firework display at midnight but we could watch the bigger displays in the distance at Praia Rocha (I think - anyway, Portimao way) and I think there is sometimes a function down at the Fatacil in Lagoa - something we have toyed with going to in the past but haven't got round to it yet. The Tivoli Almansor does a special NYE dinner dance but at very silly prices which we couldn't bring ourselves to pay even tho' it would be a lovely venue for such a do. Partly because we had such good weather last time, we couldn't quite believe that we would be so lucky again - but with a whole crowd of you going you would have a great time whatever the weather. There are certainly enough places open to eat out all the time if you wanted to and for NYE you definitely need to book - probably around now !

Go for it !

Thanks Alison for your comments it would be interesting to know if there is something going on at the Fatacil and yes the weather was good last christmas we were on the beach New Years Day (with the same friends)couldn't believe it.
It seems it will either be Portimeo verses CVO.

ALSO - as we will be arriving early on Boxing day are the supermarkets open and will it be easy to get lunch / evening meal without booking.

look forward to suggestions
Von Von