Just back!

[The_Quiet_Man]

Just back yesterday from 12 nights in CVO - missing the sunshine/heat already!

We'd a lovely villa (Casa Camaleao) up by the old windmill/Collina Village area. Gorgeous villa, well-equipped and an awesome heated 10mx5m pool. Ready supply of oranges, lemons, limes and pears in the garden also. Really enjoyable and relaxing time had. The weather was glorious for 8/9 days and poor (dull/wet) for 3/4 - so not too bad! This was my fifth visit, previous visits being March, Sept and October and this was the very first rain I'd seen .. so we cannot really grumble

First time in CVO since 2006 and I was a wee bit surprised at just how quiet things were I was expecting a downturn on previous visits in 2004, 05 and 06 but the empty restaurants and bars were a sad sight tbh. It was only really A Galeria, Happys, E+E and A Gale that looked busy. Despite, all in all, I thought the prices were reasonable and not as expensive as I feared. I think the bar/restaurant owners are doing what they can. We were disappointed that Beaujangles was gone!

Don't know when we'll be back but I hope things pick up soon for all concerned.

ps - We rented a car from TravelRent - cheap but you get what you pay for - and the standard was cars are not valeted.

[James Faro]

I found the town very quiet compared to previous years in September and October. Many business owners told me that it has been a bad year. Tourist numbers may be up( statistics are very contradictory) but the tourists ain't a spending!

The last day I was there the rain was very bad. I am naturally nervous driving on that piece of rock called the A22 but with torrential rain on it; it becomes a challenge!

As for cars, I have a dispute with Barclaycard so my credit card is not in use at the moment! Auto Jardim saved the day for me! I booked online and when I got to James Faro Airport(!) they accepted cash or debit card; credit cards were not necessary - not even for a deposit, unlike most other car rental companies. What I paid for two weeks for a car, costs the same for hiring a car in Dublin for four days in August!

CVO may be quiet but dear old main Faro city was almost a ghost town. Really eerily quiet.

- J

[The_Quiet_Man]

We visited Villamoura also - and it was quiet also.

I think it is likely the entire Euro zone may be suffering from fewer and lower spending UK visitors. Clearly, the recession is biting every where also.