About: Monchique, Algarve, Properties For Sale, Portugal, Villa Rentals, Holidays, Travel, British Columbia, Canada
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The Algarve is the 2nd cheapest European resort for travelers, an analysis of 20 seaside holiday destinations reveals.
In first place, comes Bulgaria followed closely by Portugal’s Algarve and in 3rd place was Turkey, the UK’s Post Office Travel Money said.
The survey looks at the costs of several typical expenses that the average tourist will encounter, including lunch and evening meals, drinks, etc.
The most expensive destination was Sorrento in Italy, where prices were three times more expensive than the survey leaders…ouch!
The survey concludes that these whilst any result is affected by the strength of sterling against the euro it is better than it was 12 months ago. The real reduction in costs are due to competitive pricing in restaurants, bars and shops by as much as a third in some resorts.
The survey reflects what costs to expect in various resorts but not the quality of service, food or products bought there. Cheap is not always least just as expensive is not always best. I can speak personally for the Algarve and as many tourist will agree, quality has and still does rate very highly here whilst still being the 2nd cheapest destination in Europe.
So the Algarve comes out tops for value for money notwithstanding favourable weather for 12 months of the year not just the season and has the most frequent flights in and out compared to its close competitors.
Brexit means Brelcome, well at least it does in Portugal!
“Brelcome, Portugal will never leave you” affirms new tourism campaign aimed at the British.
– tourism bosses in Portugal unveiled a campaign in March 2019 to reaffirm Portugal’s ongoing commitment to its ‘oldest ally’ Britain. No Visas, access to the SNS health service and to the transport of pets is to remain the same………….read more
Cobbled streets and artisan shops, a ruined convent and wonderful gardens are well worth a visit. Monchique is famous for it’s cork oak forests, wild boar and black pork cuisine,
From either the EN125 or the A22 you will find an intersection with the EN266 just north of the coastal city of Portimao. Following this road you will pass through Rasmalho (Stork City), one of the largest colonies of White Storks in Portugal. 
You will be gradually climbing the wooded foothills of the Serra and will come across a famous Spa village, Caldas de Monchique, turn off here and walk this tiny but fascinating village, you may get to see bread being made in the communal ovens, walk the shaded pathways to the thermal streams, or indulge in rituals at the spa itself.
Continue upwards to the town of Monchique, cobbled streets and artisan shops, a ruined convent and wonderful gardens are well worth a visit. Monchique is famous for it’s cork oak forests, wild boar and black pork cuisine, if you intend to eat out in the Algarve then Monchique would be a great choice.
From the town centre continue upwards along the EN266-3 to Foia, the highest point in the Algarve at 902m above sea level. Here you will have spectacular 360 deg views. An unforgettable experience. You can retrace your steps to Monchique or take any of two other roads that descend, one to the east and one to the north, both will bring you back town.
There is a gorgeous contour drive that you can take from Monchique: Head to the roundabout that you first encountered when you arrived at Monchique, next to the petrol stations, and take the exit marked Alferce EN267. Take a right 20 meters (literally) after entering this road, which goes behind the bar on the corner, (local labour exchange). You are now on the contour road that circumnavigates the smaller mountain of Picota.
Again the coastal views are spectacular, you will also look down on the Oudelouca dam wall. Stay on this road until you hit a T junction, turn left in the direction of Alferce. Take a drive through the village, just a typical sleepy mountain village where sleeping dogs will not raise an eyebrow as you pass by. Follow signs back to Monchique.
Leave Monchique by the way you came on the EN266, if you still have a few hours, at Porto de Lagos roundabout turn left on the EN124 in the direction of Silves. You can have a taste of this historic walled town with Moorish castle, archaeological museum and Roman bridge, though this could be a full half day trip in its own right.
The Algarve West Coast. Some of the best coastal scenery in Europe awaits you here, pristine, deserted beaches and rugged cliffs will captivate you.
Some of the best coastal scenery in Europe awaits you here, pristine, deserted beaches and rugged cliffs will captivate you. Take the A22 or EN125 to Lagos, Lagos is a day trip all on its own so don’t include it on this itinerary there is simply not the time. Continue west along the EN125. At Vale Verde turn left on the EN537 to visit Praia da Luz and Burgau. Don’t turn north at Burgau keep going west along a much smaller coast road to Salema. These are all small fishing villages that are popular but not swamped with tourism. Great fish restaurants in all of them.
Head north again until you hit the EN125 again and head west in the direction of Villa do Bispo and Sagres. You will notice that the landscape has changed drastically, very few trees and quite windswept, not unlike Cornwall in the UK, for much the same reason. At Sagres visit the Fortaleza de Sagres and the Cabo de Sao Vicente light house. The cliffs here are spectacular albeit dangerous, don’t go too close to the edge! You are also at the most South Western corner of Europe.
Retrace your steps to Vila do Bispo and find the north west corner of the village near the market, head out on the M1265 to Praia do Castelejo, this is one of the best unspoiled beaches in the Algarve, if not Portugal. Back to Vila do Bispo and then head north on the EN268. There are about a dozen small tracks that head west off this road to some spectacular and remote beaches, each about 4kms long, you may need a 2nd day to try some of these. Head north and (don’t miss this section), just 2-30 meters before the quaint village of Carrapateira there is a turn to the left that goes south west to Praia do Amado and from here a wonderful cliff top road that runs north, don’t take a right turn to Carrapateira but continue along the cliff road. There are some great cliff top board walks you can go on. Eventually this road will look down on Praia do Bordeira which is a kite surfers paradise and end up back on the EN268.
Head north again. The EN268 will join the EN120 continue north in the direction of Aljezur which is an old village to explore with a castle and some excellent traditional restaurants. Drive through the narrow streets and keep going uphill to the castle (to save your legs). A few kms before Aljezur you will have passed a turning to the coast, if you have time, track-back and take the M1003-1 to Praia da Arrifana, a surfers haven with stunning scenery, fishing harbour and a small fort that was badly damaged by a tsunami in 1755 which stands atop a 200 foot cliff, yes a tsunami, seriously.
At this point you can turn back on the EN120 to Lagos about an hours drive. Or from Aljezur take the EN267 in an easterly direction towards Monchique. This is a delightful route via the village of Marmelete and then along a contour road to the EN266 just south of Monchique, turn right in the direction of Portimao, this route will take about one hour 15 minutes.
300 days of sunshine each year make holidays in the Algarve very popular and driving a convertible a real pleasure. No better place to get your top down! Sightseeing couldn’t be better, secluded coves along the coast or panoramic views from Foia.
300 days of sunshine each year make holidays in the Algarve very popular and driving a convertible a real pleasure. No better place to get your top down! I have to say though when we lived in the Algarve full-time, during July and August, the top only came down for half an hour or so then up it went and airco on. Those months are just too hot to drive without airco! The rest of the year though is perfect and now that we only spend winters here we take every opportunity to zip around the twisties here in Monchique with the wind in my (grey) hair! (Weather Statistics)
We also try to get away for a few days here and there, New Year in Cadiz Spain, the weather was glorious with temps in the high teens, no rain and blue sky, a great trip, only spoiled by the rudeness of the local Spanish people. Well there you go symptoms of Brexit perhaps?
We love to tour Portugal there are so many interesting places to visit, stacked with culture, history and excellent food, any excuse and we off to somewhere and above all the people are polite and friendly, Portugal is England’s oldest ally!
One of our favourite places to visit is Tomar, it has a Monastery and castle of the Knights Templars well worth seeing, the town is picturesque with great restaurants.
There are plenty of day road trips from our Villa Rental in the Algarve and also into the Alentejo, the next province north of here. We often explore and redo trips to Sagres the most south-western point of Europe and from there the west coast right up to the Alentejo border. Easily done in a day with a stopover at one of the many restaurants along the way. Spectacular unspoiled scenery around every corner.
Our Honda is popular with the wildlife too, this Javali, (wild boar) was inquisitive and kindly left his muddy nose print on my pride and joy, bless him!
Slalom at one of the Portuguese Honda S2000 weekends in the north of Portugal.
Winters day on the west coast of the Algarve.
Algarve villa rental “Villa Vida Nova” receives coveted TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for providing consistently outstanding experiences and whose owners offer first-class customer service to their guests.
(24 October 2018)
TripAdvisor has given Nigel Stringer and Beverly Herrington-Stringer, owners of Villa Vida Nova, its exclusive Certificate of Excellence accolade – presented to the best of TripAdvisor Rentals’ hundreds of thousands of homes.
The Certificate of Excellence is given annually to those properties that provide consistently outstanding experiences and whose owners offer first-class customer service to their guests.
Owner of Villa Vida Nova, a home that received the accolade, Nigel Stringer said that he is thrilled with the recognition.
“We are very pleased to earn the Certificate of Excellence for our property. We have listed with TripAdvisor Rentals for nine years and we always strive to provide great customer service. It’s great to be rewarded by TripAdvisor after all of our hard work and it’s wonderful to know that our many guests over the last years have really valued their stay.”
Laurel Greatrix, Communications Director, TripAdvisor Rentals, said: “We’re excited to recognise and honour the top homes and homeowners on our site. This is a hard-earned accolade, and we’d like to thank Nigel and Beverly for their dedication to providing travelers with consistently outstanding experiences.”
Villa Vida Nova is available to book directly or if you prefer through TripAdvisor Rentals where travelers can search, compare and book hundreds of thousands of properties worldwide. Choose properties with Payment Protection to enjoy safe and secure payment.
About TripAdvisor Rentals
TripAdvisor Rentals is the holiday rentals branch of TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site. Travelers can search, compare and book hundreds of thousands of rental properties worldwide on TripAdvisor Rentals, including beach houses, ski cabins, private islands, treehouses and city apartments. Feel confident in your decision with our Payment Protection. For more information, please visit: TripAdvisor Rentals.
Strong national and international demand for property coupled with a housing shortage have put Portugal on track for a forecast 9.5 percent rise in property prices this year
Strong national and international demand for property coupled with a housing shortage have put Portugal on track for a forecast 9.5 percent rise in property prices this year, which means Portugal, along with Ireland, will be the European country with the sharpest increase in real estate prices, among the 10 countries analysed by the US financial rating agency S&P.
This forecast, according to a piece by business and economy site Economia Online, is made in the ‘Europe’s Housing Market’ report published on Monday by S&P.
In the report, the agency analyses real estate price developments in Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
S&P predicts only in the UK will prices remain unchanged this year, with increases in all other cases; up until 2021, Portugal will remain among the countries with the highest increases.
As a result of strong demand, both domestic and international, and supply shortages, prices are expected to increase by 9.5 percent this year, slowing down to seven percent in 2019, six percent in 2020 and 5 percent in 2021. This, after last year, having already increased by 10.5 percent, and another 7.7 percent in 2016.
Nonetheless, S&P believes that the Portuguese market “remains affordable”, with “a price-earnings ratio still seven percent below the long-term average”.
In any case, S&P points out, “limited supply coupled with strong domestic and external demand is fuelling house price inflation”.
Bolstering this demand is “robust economic growth, job creation and low interest rates” as well as falling unemployment and “special incentives” such as the granting of gold visas and the programme for non-residents.
In this context, the agency anticipates that Portugal’s economic growth will remain “solid” this year, despite a slowdown compared to 2017, pointing to an increase of 2.3 percent of GDP.
Thus, the Portuguese real estate market should “remain dynamic over the next few years, supported by job creation and increased incomes, as well as by external demand”, S&P concluded.
The gap between supply and demand is also expected to continue over the next few years. This is because the number of properties under construction is increasing, but still small, so it will likely not keep pace with the growth of demand.
Portugal is well ranked of countries that best know English as a second language. Portugal comes in first place in Southern Europe and 18th worldwide
With tourism reaching peaks of demand from the all four corners of the world, it is not surprising that Portugal is well classified in the ranking of countries that best know English as a second language. According to the English Proficiency Index prepared by Education First, Portugal comes in first place in Southern Europe and 18th worldwide, set at the “High” level of knowledge of the English language.
According to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), holidaymakers spent more than €23 billion in Portugal in 2016. Over 28 million visitors entered the country. The number of overnight stays exceeded 144 million. Tourism is growing four times faster than the rest of the Portuguese economy and represents 7% of the gross domestic product.
Lisbon was the fifth most popular destination for European holidaymakers in 2017, registering a 17% jump when compared to the year before. Porto came in ninth place, 12% above 2016. Registering a 24% increase, London was the first choice for European tourists, followed by Barcelona, Mallorca and Paris.
Source – Nalle.pt
Different moods for different seasons
One June evening in the summer of 2017 we were blessed with this awesome sunset whilst sitting on our deck with a glass of wine. We live for the best part of the year in British Columbia Canada, on Vancouver Island in the Cowichan Valley. Our house sits in an elevated position on terraced land with views over lake Quamichan to the mountains beyond.
It is early May now and the last of the snow has melted from the top of that mountain in the photograph, temperatures here are warming up with averages of about 15 or 16 deg C and highs of 24.
By contrast here is a photograph of the same view in winter.
And here is an early morning summer photograph not a breath of wind.
And by way of even more contrast an early morning autumn mist covers the lake.
Same view but different moods for different seasons!
In the small lane that leads down to our villa this Aloe type plant is just growing wild at the side of the road. We had never noticed a plant growing there but now it is flowering it is very noticeable, the flowers are opening up from the bottom a few more inches every day. To give a perspective the flowering part is about 6-8 foot long.
We suspect that a seed has been dropped by a bird and taken root. We have not seen one like this on our travels in Portugal or Spain so wonder if it has come from Morocco and the Sahara. If any one knows more about this mysterious plant please let me know.
The trees in the back ground, by the way, are Cork Oaks. The cork has been stripped off part way up the trunk. When the cork has been stripped the trunk underneath is dark orange but turns black after 6 months or so. The cork will grow back and be ready for stripping again after a minimum of 9 years.
Portugal has to be one of the most affordable countries in Europe in which to live.
Property prices and property taxes in small villages will be low and the cost of food if bought at the local markets low too. Buy what is in season. You may have to make a longer journey now and then to a larger town to stock up on certain items and fill your car up with cheaper gas at one of the supermarkets.
Alentejo villages would be a good starting point, or any village in the North of Portugal, just stay away from the larger towns and cities. If you prefer a warmer climate in winter then the Algarve would be suitable but stay away from the coast and look inland, have a look at places like Alcoutim, Almodovar, Salir, Alte, Ourique, Sao Marcos da Serra, Alferce, Monchique, Marmelete, Aljezur, Rogil, all are within striking distance of larger towns and airports but are clear of industry and heavy tourism, check out this site MonchiquePortugal.info
Stretch your EurosIf you are prepared to live sensibly, grow some of your own fruit and veg, have a few chickens, do without too many trappings you can make a pension go a long way. Much depends on where your pension comes from of course. The one thing that can be costly here are cars both new and used. If you have a fairly new and reliable left hand drive to bring with you then consider doing so and get it “matriculated” here. Portugal has to be one of the most affordable countries in Europe in which to live.
Portugal has some of the best food in the world. This article helps supports this opinion because the Portuguese use natural products and so do most restaurants.
An article recently published in the UK’s Daily Mail makes for uneasy reading. Unless you are Portuguese that is, who lead the healthiest of (eating) lifestyles in Europe.
The map below compares Ultra-processed foods as a percentage of household purchases. “Ultra-processed products account for 50.7 per cent of food bought by Britons, Germany came second with 46.2 per cent, followed by Ireland on 45.9 per cent. Lowest was Portugal with 10.2 per cent.”
You will see from my other blog posts and from what I say on our villa website that I strongly support the opinion that Portugal has some of the best food in the world. This article helps supports this opinion because the Portuguese use natural products and so do most restaurants. We are blessed with many restaurants in our area that serve the most amazing dishes all made from fresh local produce. If you need a “whet your appetite” fix just follow this link.
If you came on holiday to Monchique for say two weeks, even if you ate out in a restaurant every day you would be hard pressed to try all the best dishes, here is a list of my favourite main courses, in no particular order.
Grilled Chicken Piri Piri, Wild Boar with plums, (or chestnuts) casserole, Black pork steak, Black pork cheeks casserole, Chicken with cherries casserole, Pork and Prawn Cataplana (casserole), Fresh Grilled Dorada (fish), Grilled lamb chops, Roast kid, Pork with clams Alentejana, Seafood Rice, Mixed kebab, Lamb stew, Kid stew, Suckling pig, Pork steaks with cream and mushroom sauce, Pepper steak.
When we are staying at our villa in Portugal over the winter time the weather in the Algarve is warm and sunny in the day time and in the evenings, although the temperature drops to between 6 and 12 deg C its still warm enough to be outside in a fleece. A perfect climate to enjoy a BBQ at any time of day.
I love to BBQ, I don’t need an excuse so at about 7.00pm I get started, it is so quiet only the hooting of owls disturbs the silence. The view to the coast has taken on a new dimension, a myriad of twinkling lights laid out like a carpet along the coast line, quite awesome! I fire up the BBQ with Charcoal, for me there is no other way, charcoal adds greatly to the flavour of any meat or fish, propane just does not do it. A good friend of mine in Canada says that propane is better and that charcoal is carcinogenic, I cannot agree, how can a man made refined oil product be better than a natural product? I asked him how would Jesus have cooked his fish, Charcoal or Propane, argument over! Seriously though the Mediterranean folks have been cooking over Charcoal since time immemorial and still do, the majority of restaurants in Monchique, Algarve and Portugal are in fact Churrasqueiras (Barbecues, cooking over charcoal) and the Portuguese live to a ripe old age, they are not dropping like flies!
BBQ recipes are endless but on our Villa Vida Nova Blog I will from time to time write up which I think are best suited to Portuguese produce, the Algarvian Climate, the holiday mood and of course which ones I like!
The photos show Dourada, (one per person size), a local fish with white soft delicately flavoured flesh, found on all fish counters in Portugal. It will come cleaned for you, all you need to do is rinse the fish, cut 3 diagonal cuts through to the bone, (see top picture) rub some coarse sea salt into the cuts, a little ground white pepper and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. You will seen in the bottom two photos the fish are sandwiched in a cleaned hinged BBQ griddle, this simply makes turning the fish far easier without them falling apart. To clean the griddle let it burn in the hot coals for 5 minutes then brush it with a wire brush. Let it cool then brush the cleaned griddle with a little olive oil so that the fishes skin does not stick to it or you can brush the fish with olive oil, either way is good. Cook over medium coals for 5-10 minutes depending on heat and size of fish. Look into the cuts and you will see when the flesh is cooked through to the bone, don’t over cook, slightly underdone is better than overdone.
Read what Andrea Smith of Catavino has to say about Fish In Portugal
Awesome Algarve 
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