What to do with the kids

twitchy · Post by **twitchy** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:41 pm

It looks like we chose a wet week to come out to cvo with the kids. The moans and groans are starting as they cant understand that its not hot all year round and they cant use the pool.

Any ideas? We are going to zoomarine on one of the days but running out of ideas.

Any good indoor swimming pools in the algarve?

Ideas welcome before 3 good kids turn into

Paul

blue · Post by **blue** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:58 pm

There's a bowling alley at Algarve Shopping in Guia, it's off the food hall, there's a very nice cinema there too. There are pools in Lagoa & Silves.

laserblazer · Post by **laserblazer** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:26 pm

If you get a half decent day then Sitio Das Fontes is a nice spot. It's between Estombar and Silves. I would think it is really nice during Spring.

Take a picnic to the caves at Algar Seco and pretend you are shipwrecked.

There's a nice pool at Silves plus the castle and museums. The skateboard park by the pool has a small climbing wall and there's a circuit training course that runs along the side of the river with things for them to swing and jump on.

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:51 pm

We use the pools in Silves when we are out here in the winter. There are actually 3 heated pools under the same roof. You will need bathing caps and flip-flops as well as your costumes. Take your passports as well, since they need an "identity card". Keep your fingers crossed, since I think the weather could improve from Wednesday onwards.

blue · Post by **blue** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:58 pm

A week ago we had lunch overlooking the beach at Praia da Oura it was such a lovely day there were people in the water. Mad people, but even so.

Ant1969 · Post by **Ant1969** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:05 pm

Maybe a day at Lagos? You can do the dolphin trips from there which are supposed to be good.

There's also a great shop with 'circus' type toys & games etc. Don't know what its called but it's off the main square. Their logo is 3x green, yellow and red spots. You'll definately find something to keep them amused in there... Anyone know the name?

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:55 pm

I know exactly how you feel twitchy. I go down to Carv quite often and get the same frosty reception when weather turns agains you. I think all the posts are bang on. The only problem is that we are presuming you have a car !!! If not you are a little snookered.
Cinema in Algarve shopping centre (all in english with Portuguese subtitles) but you don't notice after a while
Bowling in Algarve shopping centre.
Silves pool is best but if you don't have a car take a taxi to Lagoa pool.
Does your accomodation have a tv and dvd player. Most complexes will rent out a player if you dont have one for a small fee. You can hire dvd's in the village.
When mine were bored last year I got them all involved in baking apple pies including going down for all the ingredients etc. and it was a lot of fun but again I am presuming you have an oven !!!
Lastly, count to 10 each time they complain and remember you paid good money to get there so don't get to hung up on the weather. It is still a beautiful place.

twitchy · Post by **twitchy** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:19 pm

Thanks for the ideas as just got rained off playing tennis so bought portuguese word search.... that should keep them guessing for a while.

Barry - do you have to take id to the silves swimming pool? Would be reluctant to take passports there and leave in lockers.

Ant do the dolphin trips run this time of year?

We went to the indoor shopping mall yesterday but not as good as Guia. The cinema had no kids films. Will try guia tomorrow.

i guess we wanted to do and see things that we havent done before. I thought about going to sagres for the day but not sure whats is there.

Have car so will travel....dvd/tv and ps2 getting well used.

We are all smiling and glad we are not shivering at home.

Paul.

Michael Crane · Post by **Michael Crane** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:39 pm

twitchy wrote:... I thought about going to sagres for the day but not sure whats is there.

Taken from FAQ.
Sagres (61)
Is where you will see the remains of the fortress built for Prince Henry the Navigator. Windswept and relatively barren, the coastal views are dramatic and the atmosphere of the peninsula, known as the Sacred Promontory since prehistoric times, fires the imagination.

Scraps of evidence of Prince Henry’s School of Navigation - an old chapel, stones laid out in the form of a large mariner’s compass or sundial - can be seen.

Enroute to Sagres the village of Raposeira with its whitewashed cottages and colourful painted doors belongs to an era almost vanished. The town of Vila do Bispo, often overlooked by tourists, has one of the finest churches in the Algarve.FAQ

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 5:51 pm

Paul,
Silves swimming pool. You will need your passports, but they take them off you and keep them safe until you leave. Their system is very safe, anyway. You are issued with a swipe card and this lets you into the changing rooms and is used to secure your locker. Cost for swimming is 3 euros, maybe less for kids. There is also a jacuzzi in the pool area.
Barry

Ant1969 · Post by **Ant1969** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:25 pm

twitchy wrote:Ant do the dolphin trips run this time of year?

Oops... Sorry, don't know! Guess tourist info might?

Misty · Post by **Misty** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:15 pm

If you go to the pool at Lagoa they don't need your passports.
Also, not all the films at Guia are in English, you may need to ask.

White Rabbit 2 · Post by **White Rabbit 2** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:05 pm

For a daily or weekly fee the indoor pool ( all be it small ) is available at the hotel Cristal , they also have a games room with table tennos , air hockey , darts etc. I pay monthly for my son and I to use the pool and it costs approx 60 euros total to go every day.- ( oh i forgot they also have steam room and sauna included in the price , heaven , im in heaven !! ) Mind you I dont know if I should tell you this but not every body remembers their cossies ( I do ! ) , but as that is the norm in some spas its wise to use discretion , or at least peek through the window first ( just hope dont get too much of an eyefull ) . Sorry I jest , people do have their towels around them.
The hotel Cristal also has some very good live entertainers.
If the children are under 10 you have play oasis in ferragudo , seismarias towards ferragudo then right at the 2nd roundabout.

Helen · Post by **Helen** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:22 pm

What's the depth of the pool at Cristal? I'm looking for one that's just one level to take my 3 year old swimming in. At the moment I take him to Jardim das Dunas in Lagos which is 1.40m but it's closing down this Friday. Also does anyone know the depth of the pool at Silves? Sorry it's slightly off topic.

Misty · Post by **Misty** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:31 pm

White Rabbit, does the Cristal have a gym as well?

What to do with the kids

What to do with the kids

kids

Re : keep the children smiling