" How Busy is It "

[EMM]

The papers are full of adds and news of dramatic price cuts by the package tour companies as they have not sold masses of holidays.
Fringe holiday companies are going bust. ( another one yesterday ).
One paper said that Portugal has lost over 700, 000 UK vsistors !!

Yet we are as busy as ever. summer sold out in may. As others have reported Carvoeiro is busy /busier than for many years.
Cheap flii]ghts are a thing of the past and our flights are almost always 80% plus full.

I would really like to know the true situation regarding UK vistors to Portugal this year.??

[fmm]

As far as Cvo is concerned, I come this time every year and this year is busier than I have seen it before. More people in the restaurants (well, in the ones I tend to go to) and the bars are also very busy. Plus, went to the Sand Exhibition (Fiesa) last week and had to queue to get in - never done that before!!!

[Ma-Ja's]

Talking to other business owners in Carvoeiro, our thoughts are that yes the village is busier this year, however not with people from the UK. The majority of people in Carvoeiro at the moment tend to be the Portuguese from the North, the Spanish, French and Dutch. Also, although it is busier, the holidaymakers are not spending as much as they have done in previous years, whereas before holidaymakers would tend to eat out most nights, the trend now seems to be only eat out maybe 3-4 times a week, if that. I am not saying that this is across the board and applies to all holidaymakers but just what the business owners that we have spoken to seem to think as being the majority this year.

Another interesting point, is that we also know a lot of business owners in Ferragudo, and they are saying that they are struggling to cope with the number of holidaymakers this year. Now is that beacuse you can easily park in Ferragudo, whereas a lot of people are saying that the parking in Carvoeiro this year is a complete nightmare? For example, this morning we saw a family park outside the book shop at the top of the "in road" to walk down to the beach as that was the only place that they could park.

Just our thoughts and maybe not be the true situation - as EMM said it would be great to know the real situation!

[Jaylay]

The village is very busy, but having lived here for more than 20 years this year it is different, there is a real cosmopolitan feel, just sit in the street and listen to those passing by, English is in the minority. Maybe not good for all the English bars but there is a buzz about the place and is walking 3 or 400 meters so hard, a chance to take in the local ambience not the 50 yds outside the front door We have in fact taken to parking on the edge of town to walk in and enjoy the international feel of the village, walk, sit watch and drink a cool drink as sun sets what more does one want?

[ditzy]

I would not have thought that it's easier to park in Ferragudo! In fact, just to get to Praia Grande, you have to park at the bottom of the hill no doubt, walk up to the top and then walk down all those stairs before even stepping on the sand. Doesn't seem like a walk to the beach from the book shop is much more arduous!

[blue]

In August the Algarve, not just Carvoeiro, is full of N. Portuguese, French & Spanish. These countries virtually close down in August, apart from tourism, for their national holidays. Most of the bars complain because they take up all the tables & nurse one drink all night.

[kappa]

That´s right - sometimes you find 5 people sitting in a café and one of them is having a bica and a "glass of (tap-)water". A friend of mine with a business had the other day 7 Portuguese - 2 of them had a bica and they stayed for more than 1 hour, all using the toilets etc. ...But, nevermind - 2 weeks to go and then it will be all a bit more quiet.

[jamielyon4]

just back from a month out there and the town is busy, also loads of through traffic...the french, spanish etc all leave booking hols until late and with the lack of Brits they have found accomodation available so have all driven down never seen as many in 15 years - shed loads of non portuguese cars parked everywhere.

[HampshireRich]

just back from a month out there and the town is busy, also loads of through traffic...the french, spanish etc all leave booking hols until late and with the lack of Brits they have found accomodation available so have all driven down never seen as many in 15 years - shed loads of non portuguese cars parked everywhere.

I suspect you welcomed them all with open arms - didn't nick all the beds round the pool again did they!

[jamielyon4]

just back from a month out there and the town is busy, also loads of through traffic...the french, spanish etc all leave booking hols until late and with the lack of Brits they have found accomodation available so have all driven down never seen as many in 15 years - shed loads of non portuguese cars parked everywhere.

I suspect you welcomed them all with open arms - didn't nick all the beds round the pool again did they!

Rich, I had coffee and croissants waiting for them each morning with a newly ironed towel out on their beds....then threw em in bed and all!!

if you ever want to know how to get 10 sleeping in a T1 then watch this lot...unbelieveable