petrol prices & the cost of living

[cereza]

Well there was an interesting article in The Resident pointing out that December 2010 had the worst level of hotel occupancy ever with CVO suffering one of the worst declines. http://www.algarveresident.com/story.asp?XID=39786

From my experience at some resorts CVO has become more expensive than others, For example in certain bars in Praia da Luz lager can be bought for 1 Euro a bottle and 2 Euros a pint. The golf courses are just getting plain greedy and will suffer for it. It's amazing how many Portuguese I have come across in the UK who have had to leave home just to get work and they are mostly from the north so what chance do the locals in the Algarve have? Things will get tighter as the austerity measures take a grip and if (or more likely when) Portugal has to acept an EU or IMF bail out things wil get even worse.
The big problem is that Portugal does not have the possibility of growing the economy in order to pay back the debt unlike the much larger economy of Spain and so it will be extremely difficult to change the current plight while remaining in the European Union

[EMM]

I do not dispute anything that others report about the high prices they pay, we have paid them to on occaision the difference in our atitude is not to complain but to take our business elsewhere.
We know where we can get better value and those are the business's who take our money.

Comparisons with Pria Da Rocha or even Albufeira for that matter are not really relevant as CVO is neither of those places it does not attract the same type of visitors.
Do those who want the cheaper prices available in those resorts also want the stag nights, hen parties and associated behaviour that goes with them.

As many will tell you the Algarve is not Portugal and the coastal strip is not the real Algarve , there is value and variety not found in the Foreign owned CVO places just a short drive inland.

Things are changing the next few years will see the construction of more 5 star hotels aimed at a more discerning market ( not the UK ) , perhaps the days of mass market UK tourism are over for the smaller resorts such as Carvoeiro.

As for how do the Portuguse inhabitants of the Algarve survive, they would not if they lived as many expats do. But just look at property prices in Portimao, lagos or Faro the main population centres they are substantially lower than the resorts.
Visit these cities and compare the prices of food and drink where the local frequent and again you will see a vast difference as you would in the local shops.

Golf has never been aimed at the local population and maybe some will fail but I doubt it.
I have been told that the problem has been recognised at the far more attractive hotel/golf packages will soon be available.
Property sales financed golf, without these they still need revenue and again new markets ( not the UK ) are being targeted , just look at the increased number of flights available to Faro, the only ones seeming to be cut are from the UK.

As the song says " times they are a changing ".


PS I wonder what those few thousand UK tourists being flown back from Tunisia now think about their cheap winter holidays and all those who now will have to find somewhere else to go.
Maybe is not so bad in Portugal after all.

[pato]

I do not dispute anything that others report about the high prices they pay, we have paid them to on occaision the difference in our atitude is not to complain but to take our business elsewhere.
We know where we can get better value and those are the business's who take our money.

Comparisons with Pria Da Rocha or even Albufeira for that matter are not really relevant as CVO is neither of those places it does not attract the same type of visitors.
Do those who want the cheaper prices available in those resorts also want the stag nights, hen parties and associated behaviour that goes with them.

As many will tell you the Algarve is not Portugal and the coastal strip is not the real Algarve , there is value and variety not found in the Foreign owned CVO places just a short drive inland.

Things are changing the next few years will see the construction of more 5 star hotels aimed at a more discerning market ( not the UK ) , perhaps the days of mass market UK tourism are over for the smaller resorts such as Carvoeiro.

As for how do the Portuguse inhabitants of the Algarve survive, they would not if they lived as many expats do. But just look at property prices in Portimao, lagos or Faro the main population centres they are substantially lower than the resorts.
Visit these cities and compare the prices of food and drink where the local frequent and again you will see a vast difference as you would in the local shops.

Golf has never been aimed at the local population and maybe some will fail but I doubt it.
I have been told that the problem has been recognised at the far more attractive hotel/golf packages will soon be available.
Property sales financed golf, without these they still need revenue and again new markets ( not the UK ) are being targeted , just look at the increased number of flights available to Faro, the only ones seeming to be cut are from the UK.

As the song says " times they are a changing ".


PS I wonder what those few thousand UK tourists being flown back from Tunisia now think about their cheap winter holidays and all those who now will have to find somewhere else to go.
Maybe is not so bad in Portugal after all.

ADM apart that is.

[Bristle Si]

I do not dispute anything that others report about the high prices they pay, we have paid them to on occaision the difference in our atitude is not to complain but to take our business elsewhere.
We know where we can get better value and those are the business's who take our money.

Comparisons with Pria Da Rocha or even Albufeira for that matter are not really relevant as CVO is neither of those places it does not attract the same type of visitors.
Do those who want the cheaper prices available in those resorts also want the stag nights, hen parties and associated behaviour that goes with them.

As many will tell you the Algarve is not Portugal and the coastal strip is not the real Algarve , there is value and variety not found in the Foreign owned CVO places just a short drive inland.

Things are changing the next few years will see the construction of more 5 star hotels aimed at a more discerning market ( not the UK ) , perhaps the days of mass market UK tourism are over for the smaller resorts such as Carvoeiro.

As for how do the Portuguse inhabitants of the Algarve survive, they would not if they lived as many expats do. But just look at property prices in Portimao, lagos or Faro the main population centres they are substantially lower than the resorts.
Visit these cities and compare the prices of food and drink where the local frequent and again you will see a vast difference as you would in the local shops.

Golf has never been aimed at the local population and maybe some will fail but I doubt it.
I have been told that the problem has been recognised at the far more attractive hotel/golf packages will soon be available.
Property sales financed golf, without these they still need revenue and again new markets ( not the UK ) are being targeted , just look at the increased number of flights available to Faro, the only ones seeming to be cut are from the UK.

As the song says " times they are a changing ".


PS I wonder what those few thousand UK tourists being flown back from Tunisia now think about their cheap winter holidays and all those who now will have to find somewhere else to go.
Maybe is not so bad in Portugal after all.

A typical EMM pompous comment.

You seem to think that CVO is some sort of place that is 'above' the masses - well it ain't EMM.
We've been visiting since 2000 and it caters for all types of people from all over Europe - if you want to see it turned into some sort of elite resort it's got no chance. It relies on the golfers slightly out of season and it relies on the friends of the property owners thru' the high season.
Maybe it's time that the villa owners and their friends spent more time 'in resort' during the evenings to support the local bars and restaurants.

If you want to see the regulars driven away to somewhere else in the Med for their golf, for example, them you'll see property devalued and you'll eventually suffer as well

[EMM]

What a load of tosh, CVO does not have the capacity or the attractions for mass market tourism , we describe it as a quiet family based resort which is why it so popular with the visitors that Bri Si obviously despises.
Maybe the problem Bri is not CVO but you perhaps you should try in week in Albufeira , PDR or Quateria resorts that do cater for the market you think CVO is missing out on.
It would be interesting to hear your views afterwards.

Those of us who spend 20 weeks plus year NOT 2 have seen changes , yes there are fewer Brits but many more Dutch, Germans etc.

We were involved in the sale of 2 properties in the last 3 months, 1 was to a Dutch couple the other to a Swedish family , both who wanted to avoid the popular Brit centred resorts like the plague.

[bruce]

What a load of tosh, CVO does not have the capacity or the attractions for mass market tourism , we describe it as a quiet family based resort which is why it so popular with the visitors that Bri Si obviously despises.
Maybe the problem Bri is not CVO but you perhaps you should try in week in Albufeira , PDR or Quateria resorts that do cater for the market you think CVO is missing out on.
It would be interesting to hear your views afterwards.

Those of us who spend 20 weeks plus year NOT 2 have seen changes , yes there are fewer Brits but many more Dutch, Germans etc.

We were involved in the sale of 2 properties in the last 3 months, 1 was to a Dutch couple the other to a Swedish family , both who wanted to avoid the popular Brit centred resorts like the plague.

EMM you do seem to have a 'down' on anything British!

[Jaylay]

I am not getting involved with the arguements on this topic, but I would remind you all that the English are not the only tourists in Carvoeiro. The Dutch, German and Spanish make up a large part of the tourist population, they spent good money in the restaurants and supermarkets but unlike the English they do not spend hours in bars.
Prices are not always so important as value for money, if you think the price you paid for any item or service was fair, then you are happy if not you will moan forever

[bruce]

I am not getting involved with the arguements on this topic, but I would remind you all that the English are not the only tourists in Carvoeiro. The Dutch, German and Spanish make up a large part of the tourist population, they spent good money in the restaurants and supermarkets but unlike the English they do not spend hours in bars.
Prices are not always so important as value for money, if you think the price you paid for any item or service was fair, then you are happy if not you will moan forever

Jaylay that is quite a sweeping statement, please do not tar all English people with the same brush!
We spend plenty money in the supermarkets and restaurants, we have never spent much time in any bars in Cvo, neither do we moan about the cost of things !!!!!

[EMM]

I am not anti Brit at all but I am anti the atitude that some demonstrate on this and other forums that the tourism industry and local business should cater for the pockets of the poor Brit even if it is not profitable for them.

When we got E1.40 to the £1 we paid the going rate, yes the Euro price for those products has increased just as back in the UK our prices have increased.
That we find things even more expensive is that even now we still only get E1.18.

For the dutch , Germans, Swedes Portugal is still regarded as excellent value.

But I will admit to not shedding any tears if we see fewer signs for traditional sunday roast, or English breakfast served here. nor we will miss the bare chested bald headed sun reader types .

[Bristle Si]

What a load of tosh, CVO does not have the capacity or the attractions for mass market tourism , we describe it as a quiet family based resort which is why it so popular with the visitors that Bri Si obviously despises.
Maybe the problem Bri is not CVO but you perhaps you should try in week in Albufeira , PDR or Quateria resorts that do cater for the market you think CVO is missing out on.
It would be interesting to hear your views afterwards.

Those of us who spend 20 weeks plus year NOT 2 have seen changes , yes there are fewer Brits but many more Dutch, Germans etc.

We were involved in the sale of 2 properties in the last 3 months, 1 was to a Dutch couple the other to a Swedish family , both who wanted to avoid the popular Brit centred resorts like the plague.

You do love to mis-quote, don't you?

I have not said that i despise anyone - if i didn't like CVO would i be a repeat year-after-year vistor? all i'm saying is that many of the tourist businesses need to adjust to the austere times currently prevailing for many in Europe, otherwise they'll drive people away from resort, either not to return or just spend their two weeks in their villas/apartments.
CVO is not some kind of elite resort and never will be....thankfully - it has something for everyone...and i, like you, do not like to come to CVO for any kind of 'worst of British', as a way of putting it. I go to Benidorm for that for one long weekend a year! But then we are fully aware of what it's like.

[Matryx]

I do not dispute anything that others report about the high prices they pay, we have paid them to on occaision the difference in our atitude is not to complain but to take our business elsewhere.
We know where we can get better value and those are the business's who take our money.

Comparisons with Pria Da Rocha or even Albufeira for that matter are not really relevant as CVO is neither of those places it does not attract the same type of visitors.
Do those who want the cheaper prices available in those resorts also want the stag nights, hen parties and associated behaviour that goes with them.

As many will tell you the Algarve is not Portugal and the coastal strip is not the real Algarve , there is value and variety not found in the Foreign owned CVO places just a short drive inland.

Things are changing the next few years will see the construction of more 5 star hotels aimed at a more discerning market ( not the UK ) , perhaps the days of mass market UK tourism are over for the smaller resorts such as Carvoeiro.

As for how do the Portuguse inhabitants of the Algarve survive, they would not if they lived as many expats do. But just look at property prices in Portimao, lagos or Faro the main population centres they are substantially lower than the resorts.
Visit these cities and compare the prices of food and drink where the local frequent and again you will see a vast difference as you would in the local shops.

Golf has never been aimed at the local population and maybe some will fail but I doubt it.
I have been told that the problem has been recognised at the far more attractive hotel/golf packages will soon be available.
Property sales financed golf, without these they still need revenue and again new markets ( not the UK ) are being targeted , just look at the increased number of flights available to Faro, the only ones seeming to be cut are from the UK.

As the song says " times they are a changing ".


PS I wonder what those few thousand UK tourists being flown back from Tunisia now think about their cheap winter holidays and all those who now will have to find somewhere else to go.
Maybe is not so bad in Portugal after all.

ADM apart that is.

Nothing wrong with ADM, I'm quite happy there

[laserblazer]

but unlike the English they do not spend hours in bars

Take a look in Sully's?

[Polli62]

[quote="EMM"]I am not anti Brit at all but I am anti the atitude that some demonstrate on this and other forums that the tourism industry and local business should cater for the pockets of the poor Brit even if it is not profitable for them.

When we got E1.40 to the £1 we paid the going rate, yes the Euro price for those products has increased just as back in the UK our prices have increased.
That we find things even more expensive is that even now we still only get E1.18.

For the dutch , Germans, Swedes Portugal is still regarded as excellent value.

But I will admit to not shedding any tears if we see fewer signs for traditional sunday roast, or English breakfast served here.nor we will miss the bare chested bald headed sun reader types .

whoops you forgot to mention the tattoo's as well

[sunman]

The same goes for Bread and Sugar ( Pau a sucar ). They now do their own ranges of dips and salsas , 50% of the cost of brands you would recognise in the UK.
We buy local cuts of meat , sausages, bacon etc.

Pao de Acucar is a cracking shop, I like it more every time I go in there, nice fresh things, good beer & wine section, very good 'international' section, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese; and all very nicely spread out.

It turns out that Pao de Acucar translates into Sugar Loaf, and is named after Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro; they are the largest food retailers in Latin America with close on 2000 stores; so they should be around for a while and hopefully more of them will start to spring up around The Algarve.

[Jaylay]

Pao de acucar is part of the Grupo Auchan who also operate the hypermarket chain Jumbo. There has been a Jumbo in Faro for many years and one will open in Portimao in the next couple of months at the new shopping complex Aguas .

There is also a petrol station being built on the carpark of Pao de acucar in Lagoa, so hopefullly we will start getting supermarket discount petrol prices.