Prices in Algarve

Prices in Algarve · Post by **Prices in Algarve** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 3:56 pm

HI
I have been visiting Algarve " Carvoeiro " for a number of years and would like to continue to do so - but over the last year in particular I have noticed restaurant prices have all risen significantly in Carvoeiro / Algarve - that may have been ok when times were good - but I am looking all around me here at home and Cuts in Pay ,incomes, loss of investments - losses i npensions etc money is getting very very tight .
I don't know if I can continue to holiday in Algarve - does anybody know if Algarvian Restaurantuers have an awareness of this problem and are they reducing their prices and profit margins to ensure they can continue to attract people on Holidays - I just hope that the restaurants and indeed bars, food markets, and Splash Worlds do the same
regards
Prices in Algarve

carvoeiro1 · Post by **carvoeiro1** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:15 pm

Had a good lunch and game of golf at vale de milho golf club today, they have reduced there green fees, bar and restaurante prices by more than 15%.
Step in the right direction I think?

EMM · Post by **EMM** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 7:22 pm

HEINZ baked beans special price in Intermarche 87 cents, Continente have wine offers some 50% off ( now under 2 euros ).
Elliots restaraunt at Monte Carvoeiro 15% discount, Ela and Ela,s daily specials.

Yes the message that times are harder is getting across you just have to look for the reductions.

shawchele · Post by **shawchele** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 8:50 pm

have to agree about prices in carvoeiro you have to shop around,if you want good food and cheap drinks try pheonix nights

Prices in Algarve · Post by **Prices in Algarve** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:08 pm

Yeah,

it is good to hear that some at least are getting the message - all around the world business has to reduce their profit margins to survive - Algarva was definitely creaming if off over last year or two - they must act quickly before the summer - even before the Easter trade I believe so that the message gets out - despite the recession - there is value to be had in the Algarve - Carvoeiro is particularly vulnerable this year - with high prices in restaurants and all the activity in rebuilding the square - a lot of the attraction will be missing while that is going on - so they need to pull their socks up - get the square sorted and reduce prices all over the place
happy days indeed

MaisieK · Post by **MaisieK** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 10:11 pm

I posted re: prices when I came home in the middle of January it was most noticeable how the prices had gone up a lot, prawn cocktail in a very ordinary restuarant in Carvoeiro was priced on the menu at 8.20 euros and at the time the exchange rate was one for one with sterling, needless to say I did not order the prawn cocktail!!!! Coffee had also shot up a lot in some places, you have to be very careful because it soon runs away with the euros. Having said that we shall still be back in June and will shop around more than we used to, but we are having to do that in the U.K. now as well.

Maisie K

Prices in Algarve · Post by **Prices in Algarve** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:32 pm

Hi
yes, the problem is that the restauranters do not yet realise that the reason their trade is down so much is that people do not have the money in their pockets anymore like they used to. So therefore not as many people going on holiday yet the restaurants think the problem is no people but those that are coming here can still afford the high prices they used to charge but unfortunately that is no longer the case. What restaurenters must understand is that there will be even less people eating out now because those that can get to Carvoeiro now just dont have the money to eat out at the high prices they continue to charge - so they will be eating in more - you can buy a jar of Pesto and a packet of Tortelleni in Intermarche to do two people plus a bottle of Local red wine for less than 12 euro the lot - so if you are short of money - then thats what you do and you will enjoy it just as much. Now if the restaurants realised that they have to cut their margins and the people that rent out the restaurants premises to the restauranters realise that they must take a cut in their rental incomes - then sanity will prevail and prices will return to a mor realistic level - otherwise - hello Intermarche bye bye restaurants

Glasllwch · Post by **Glasllwch** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:38 pm

I really hope that this is a wind-up.

Whilst I appreciate that times are not great, for my family, ONE of the attractions of CVO is being able to wander around and choose a place to eat in the evenings.

Yes, sticking to a budget is important for us, but I think that if you are away on holiday that there is something more to be had than eating as cheaply as possible.

Gambrinus · Post by **Gambrinus** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:13 am

It is not always as easy as cutting margins on products. Don't forget that the quality should be upheld, meaning that the restaurants have to continue to buy fresh produce, even if it means throwing half of it away at the end of the day because the place did not fill up.
Running costs for a good restaurant mean employing qualified staff and keeping them on the payroll, utilities and rents need to be paid regardless of how many meals sell in a night, etc.

The prawn cocktail is a good example: If it was made with frozen mini prawns, a leaf of salad and dressing from the bottle, then it is not worth the 8.20. However, if it is made with plenty of fresh prawns and fruit, a home-made dressing and served in a reasoable portion, then taking the above into consideration and at today's prawn prices, it will not be that far off the mark.

At the end of the day, for a small tourist resort with aproximately 130 restaurants, a recession like this means there won't be enough clientelle to go around and it will probably result in a cleansing of the market leaving little more than three main categories: High-end, good value for money and cheap and cheerful.

It is not easy to assess wether or not a price is justified and we do hope that the restaurant review site will help make the right choices when eating out.

joanne · Post by **joanne** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:06 am

We have been told by several of the places we eat in how much things have gone up over the last 6 months, if they cut their prices how will they make a profit? All businesses are out to make a profit whatever they make or sell including Restaurants and Bars.

We also love going out in the evening and eating out and it is all part of us going away.

The only place I do feal that they could perhaps cut down the Bills a little is the drinks....Borba is 1.90 Euros in the supermarkets and i have never got it cheaper than 9 Euros when we out and that is in Happys....Just a thought

sanreen · Post by **sanreen** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:13 pm

I agree with Glasllwch that eating out every night is part of your holiday, but many people visit Carvoeiro 4 or 5 times a year. They cannot afford to eat out as many times as they could when the pound was stronger. I think that the restaurants will find it harder off season.

SAM SPARKLE · Post by **SAM SPARKLE** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:29 pm

It won’t only be Carvoeiro that will suffer I’m sure, but expecting bars and restaurants to lower their prices because of the appalling exchange rate is a bit like asking your local landlord to lower his drinks prices otherwise you won't patronise his establishment because you can’t afford it. You’re gonna have to grin and bear it for the time being.

Gambrinus · Post by **Gambrinus** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:32 pm

Carvoeiro has just over a thousand residents and almost no winter trade, so every establishment needs to make more money in the season if they are going to turn a profit at the end of the year.
There is no point cutting prices to attract buisness if that means going bust. The only thing they can do is ensure the price and the quality are in relation and hope for the best.

So visitors can either pay the resort prices, self cater or drive into the cities and seek out the local establishments where the prices reflect that these places have trade all year round.

CM · Post by CM » Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:10 pm

I have been with the family well over 20 times (and many more times without

) We love to eat out every night, the girls all getting ready with the music on and all that...

However last time we went we got crippled by a combination of higher prices and the exchange rate. We just kept an eye on the lunch time spend and carried on with the evening, however

Villa hire £2000
flights for five £1000 (school holiday rip off)
Car hire £400
spends per day 250 euro (min) £3200 with the exchange rate
Misc (we all know it just happens) £300

£6900 / £7000 In Carvoeiro

First year the girls wont have been to Carvoeiro for a two week break in the summer holidays.

Thomson Destiny 14 nights cruise Greece / Adriatic £7200 (all inclusive) looks like a bargain

SAM SPARKLE · Post by **SAM SPARKLE** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:28 pm

Col, Glad to see you have a contingency fund (Misc), you may well need this to fund my Guinness