Quiet around town

[MaisieK]

I agree Lesley Jean, the square is much better without all the cars but some attention is
needed re: the seating etc. and from the car point of view I am disabled with a Blue Badge
and I seem to be able to manage even if my husband has to drop me off and then go and
park the car, if I can manage so can everyone else.

Maisie

[carvoeiro1]

I think the square looks great, and Iam sorry but its about time some of the business went up the hill and further.
Much cheeper to eat and drink up Rocha Brava , Vale De Milho End of town and LOADS of parking.

Even at the Golf Club at VDM. Credit Crunch Lunch 2 courses 10.00euros.
Plus the new take away at Rocha Brava.

The Golf club will even pick you up and return you to town for free.

and before anyone starts "NO IAM NOT THE OWNER OR ON ANY COMMISSION"

[Sandy]

Thats all very well but by moving businesses out of town the atmosphere dies and with it the town itself.

[carvoeiro1]

But if the catering establishments dont stop being greedy then they have themselfs to blame,EG: O Indiano has but his prices up 30% fact, as Iam a regular, Talvez Bar 4.00 Euros for a small bottle of magners. Come on Guys.
A barril of beer, what ever make usual costs the bar 25Cents for a small beer and 50Cents for a large one I understand that they have to make money but dont take the piss.

[martin.cork]

In response to EMM I notice that yje square is a favourite topic - refer to statement of May 2009 which stated that we would be singing its praises.
Strangely May of last year Carvoeiro was quiet also. No ash around then.
Your comment on the golf courses - Just because they are busy does not means they all visit Carvoeiro. There is life outside Carvoiro.
My comment on walking refers to when the place is quiet, in the summer this will be more like 5000 metres.
Looks like the park and ride will not be available this year
Carvoeiro has a lot of elderly residents and visitors and its these people i am thinking about.
I have no problem walking.
The only deals for Golf in Carvoeiro are twilight deals and you will need a buggy with lights to find your way to the 18th.
Its good that the meals are a good bargain at VDM as the golf is a rip off- No need for a buggy here......
Another point is if 30 cars park in the square it means approz 60=80 more people spending euros in Carvoeiro and not else where, also remember its the business owners that have/will probably have to pay.
All I want to do is to continue to support these businesses.

[EMM]

I get the feelng that there is little any of those of us who support the return to the " old " village feel could do to change his mind.

All those we see sitting in the square have the choice of using one of the local places to eat and drink and they far outnumber the " business owners " who used to park there.

[mysecondhome]

Have to say yet again that it seems that the traders in CVO are pricing themselves out of business. I noticed last year the many of the bars etc were not only empty but charging high prices for drinks etc. I can only agree with what has been said in the past, that they are all hiking their prices up to make the most of what little trade there is rather than reduce the prices to encourage people to stay in their bars longer. To be fair though, the supermarkets are doing the same. I know that we will be eating and drinking out a lot less this year and eating in most times

[Gary/Gaynor]

they can hike all they want, result will be fewer will spend. We will just eat IN more, let restaurants do this at their peril!!
Gaynor

[joanne]

We go out every 6 weeks and we really have not noticed the prices going up that much, our friends who come out every year still think it is cheaper than when we all go out at home, we can def eat out cheaper in the village than we do at home.........

[EMM]

We too visit every 5-6 weeks and stay for 3-4 weeks and in the last 2 years have NOT seen the level of increases that some report.
We usually go to O indiano each visit and again have not seen the 30% rise reported.
Reports of higher prices can be seen on other forums but again without little evidence.
As we all Know a Euro is still a Euro but a £ was once worth E1.4 but today is E1.15 ( if you re lucky ).
It can be shock for first time vistors who use the seafront bars/cafes and pay a premium for sitting there but they only need to walk a few 100 mtrs into the village to pay less for the same drinks.
Carvoerio is no different in this respect to every holiday resort in the world.

[snowytheboy]

I was speaking to the guy in the 'Funky Chicken' and he was telling me how people were complaining about prices - when talking about chicken that he sells for 6 euros they would say "that used to only cost £4 now it's nearly £6" to which he would reply "no it's not - it's 6 euros and has always been 6 euros".

[Ma-Ja's]

OK, I am probably running the risk of putting myself in the firing line here but here goes

Please don't tar all restaurants/bars in Carvoeiro as those in the square or some on "Restaurant Hill" as having put their prices up to try and make up for lost trade. There are restaurants both in and around Carvoeiro and not only Portuguese, that have definitely not increased their prices even though their costs have risen each year, and in fact are now offering daily specials, themed nights etc in an attempt to attract more guests into their establishments.

It is tough times for us all, and all we are trying to do at the end of the day is to make a living in this wonderful village. However, if the restaurants/bars are not supported, I truly believe there will be a few more that will be forced to close as a result of these tough times.

OK, I am now withdrawing myself from the firing line.

Happy times in Carvoeiro - long may they last.

[Bruce Wallis]

I'm not known as a fan of Ma Jas, but I agree with Jan.

Most of the restaurateurs that I know on Restaurant hill are trying to maintain the competitive edge, and keep their prices down.

Places like AGale, have not raised their prices significantly, but instead depend on volume.

Restaurants with this philosophy are easy to spot......they are always full....even in the low season.

If we have largely deserted Restaurant Hill, it is not over the price issue, but rather that having been coming here over 7 years now, we have largely outgrown the hill, and seek less touristy establishments in the surrounding area.

[Gary/Gaynor]

As I've said before, try eating in a Dutch restaurant you'll need a small fortune but having said that we find CVO not too bad as regards prices in restaurant as we get paid in euros so us it's pretty normal pricing. We have been to some restaurants that have really taken the p...s out of us on what they have charged and what we were served up so they will not get repeat business from us. We tend to stick with those that we know give us value for money and have maintained their standards, Ma Ja's being one of them. O'Indiano have kept their prices low over the past few years so a price rise was prob inevitable. I hear the VAT is going to hit 21% in Portugal, so that will be a ' ball breaker' for them in the business world.
Anyway looking forward to coming out in two weeks and having our Sunday Roast at Ma Ja's (For those who scoff at that, here in Holland we LONG for a trad Sunday Road)...roll on
Gaynor

[MaisieK]

IVA (VAT) is, I understand, going up on the 1st July each level will go up by 1% so it will be 6% l6% and 21%
I have always thought that IVA at 5% on bread was awful as it is a main part of a portuguese diet, now it will
be 6%. Having said all this we in the UK are shortly going to find our VAT going up I am sure, it will be the
only way that we may be able to reduce the debt. The price of food etc in the UK is going up all the time,
we always use Sainsbury`s toothpaste a month ago it was 39p per tube yesterday it had gone up to 50p!!!
I think the fact that it is quiet in Carvoeiro is not only the prices there but also in the UK and people just
don`t have any spare cash for holidays.