Sneak preview of new bedrooms at top Algarve hotel

 

 

The Falesia Hotel in Acoteias, Portugal, is one of my favourite hotels ever.  Here's why...

1. The staff are SO nice. Previous blog posts mention Armen the barman, a great character at the hotel, but there are many others who are equally kind and welcoming. In my opinion, the staff deliver five-star service in every way. Last time we were there, Carlos,  the manager, made such a fuss of us we were gobsmacked.  My partner told him: 'You make me feel like the king of Portugal.'  He replied: 'You are the king of Portugal.' If a hotel makes you feel like royalty, it's got to be good. Meet Ilidio, below, one of many great staff...

2. The gardens are beautiful. It's like stepping into the Garden of Eden. A water feature with pools, waterfalls and bridges meanders down, filled with fish. There is bags of shade and space under exotic trees. Birds fly, dragonflies hover, fish glide and very shy frogs make themselves heard, though you rarely see one. On a sunny day, it is quite simply heaven on earth.

 

 3. The hotel is having a huge revamp this winter so will be even better. All bedrooms are being modernised and the WiFi (free, by the way) will be updated. We liked the old rooms, though admit the bathrooms were tired. A handful of rooms were modernised in advance to allow customers to choose their favourite. The new rooms have superb bathrooms, better lighting and more power points. Here is a sneak preview followed by a picture of an old room with a tradional Portuguese feel.

 

4. Facilities are good. Believe it or not, the sun does not always shine in Portugal so it is good to have an indoor pool, a spa where you can book a massage, TV and reading lounge.

 

5. The food choice is huge, though you do feel fit to burst after two or three days! There is low calorie and gluten-free options if you're more disciplined than me!

DRAWBACKS: I have to mention a few things that may put some people off this hotel. Firstly, it is adults only (sorry folks with kids). You have to be 16 or over. I just qualify!
That means it is very peaceful but the clientele is generally older. If you're ageist or think you're 18-30 material, it's not for you. The hotel is only around 20 minutes by taxi from FARO Airport but it is a little tucked  away.
There are bars nearby, places to eat and a couple of supermarkets but some people find it too quiet. It takes about 25 minutes to walk to the nearest village, Olhos, and about 15-20 minutes to reach the beach. However, there is a free bus to the beach.
Finally, it's a Thomson Gold hotel which means, from May to October, it has an entertainment programme. We avoid it as it dominates the main show bar and it's not our bag. But you may like that sort of thing. Finally, if you do fancy trying this hotel be careful to book the right one. Falesia is the name of the nearby beach and lots of hotels and apartments have it in their name. Shop around for the best deals and find out more about the hotel at www.falesia.com.

 

 

Weird woman with moustache in Portugal!

Hit menopause and you can expect to wake up with a beard more fulsome than Santa's in the morning... or you may simply sport a lovely moustache, like this....

Yes folks, it's me with the big, black moustache which I wore this week in honour of comedy genius Armen the barman who provides constant unexpected entertainment at the Falesia Hotel in Acoteias,  Portugal.

Armen, second from left, is just adorable as is his colleague Ilidio, left. By the way, his moustache is fake, too, as is my partner's Martin's, second from right. It was a just-for-fun joke to make Armen smile ... in return for the fact that he has  made us laugh so many times over the years. He also makes a mean cocktail. It took us a while (about five minutes!) to get Armen's sense of humour but we love it and visiting Portugal just wouldn't be the same without seeing him.

Armen is from Armenia, the first Christian country in the world, and has perfect comedy timing. Ilidio is another charmer with bags of quiet charisma and, like many of his colleagues, brilliant English skills.

I have said it before and I'll say it again, the Portuguese and, it seems, the Armenians have the same sense of humour as us Brits.

Know any famous Armenians? Well, there is British TV's David Dickenson and.... CHER... her father was an Armenian-American truck driver. Armen was proud to tell us that.

He didn't mention that reality stars (I prefer to call them cleavage stars) the Kardashians also have roots in Armenia, along with tennis star Andre Agassi and Charles Asnavour.

It's a travesty of justice  that the Kardashians only have to burp to make the news when Armen has genuine talent and does not need to strip naked and paint himself gold to catch our eye. Soon he will be heading home for winter with his lovely wife Olga, who also works at the same hotel and makes the most amazing cakes and towel sculptures! Beat that Kim Kardashian!

Portugal Rules OK!: Smile when your heart is aching ... times so hard ...

Portugal Rules OK!: Smile when your heart is aching ... times so hard ...:   Returning to Portugal over and over again and getting to know the people more has its darker side... life is pretty tough for many of ...

Portugal Rules OK!: The world's first cat selfie? Meet Cat Kardashian....

Portugal Rules OK!: The world's first cat selfie? Meet Cat Kardashian....: Cat selfies are all the rage in Portugal. I blame the Kardashians. Here is Cat Kardashian, a Portuguese cat who just loves pouting for the ...

The world's first cat selfie? Meet Cat Kardashian...

Cat selfies are all the rage in Portugal. I blame the Kardashians. Here is Cat Kardashian, a Portuguese cat who just loves pouting for the camera.

 

 

This feisty little tiger came running up to me in the street and just couldn't keep her paws off my Samsung.... here are the results....

 

 

But, the fact is, like all cats, all she actually wanted was a bit of fuss...

And while on the subject of cats, mystery still surrounds the disappearance of famous feral street cat Mr No Ears who vanished from Albufeira.... Mr No Ears has more than 23,000 followers on Facebook campaigning for his return. They fear he has been kidnapped by people trying to obtain money for vet fees. It's all rather depressing if true. For the full story, visit Mr No Ears' Facebook page. Incidentally, cats often lose their ears in hot countries like Portugal because the delicate skin of the ear cannot contend with the strong sunlight. Here is the majestic Mr No Ears...

 

 

Smile when your heart is aching ... times so hard for Portuguese

 

Returning to Portugal over and over again and getting to know the people more has its darker side... life is pretty tough for many of them. Here are five reasons why.

1. Portugal salaries are among the lowest in Europe. When I was away I read about the furore in the UK surrounding Tories slashing family tax credits. A mum-of-four had an emotional outburst on TV's Question Time because the £400 a week she received was likely to be slashed. Well, get this... a typical salary in Portugal is around 600 euros a MONTH, and 600 euros equates to around £459. I have  heard stories of people working 16 hours a day for as little as 2 euros an hour. So £400 a week in assorted benefits sounds like fantasy land for the Portuguese.

2. Despite  low salaries living  costs are still high. You can expect to pay at least 350 euros a month  for a one-bed apartment. So many people work crazily long hours and still struggle to survive.

3. Tourism jobs  are seasonal. Come the end of October many bars, restaurants and some hotels are shut and boarded  up as, once the holidaymakers disappear, there are no customers for months. So staff  dependent on tourism often end up going into the red once their savings run out and have to pay the bank manager back come March when things take off again and they go back to work.

4. Industry is  practically non-existent. Portugal has little to lift it out of the recession doldrums. The UK may have lost much of its manufacturing industry but it is a powerhouse of activity, engineering skills and opportunity when compared to Portugal. And when the big foreign firms move in - Ikea is coming to Loule - they pay staff the local rates. I have been told that will be around 4 euros 50 cents per hour. And though they are glad of the jobs, some Portuguese fear Ikea will destroy lots of small furniture and home ware businesses.

5. Poverty breeds crime. I have never felt in danger in Portugal, quite the opposite, but know a couple whose hotel room was broken into. They were fine and the burglar got nothing but most shocking for me was that the hotel did nothing. The police were not even informed. Apparently problems are also emerging on the Strip in Albufeira. Put young people, drink and drugs together and trouble will inevitably brew but I fear the country is so strapped for cash it hasn't got the resources to pay for a bigger police presence.

NEVERTHELESS... as the old song says, the Portuguese smile even if their heart is aching ...these wonderful folk keep on going come what may. Get to know them and hugs, kisses and warm handshakes are a daily occurrence. Plus, if it's been a case of long-time-no-see they INSIST on giving you free drinks (just because they like you) and constantly  lift your spirits with their kind and generous personalities. Here's another typical story ... We were in a small bar in October and the owner, who has a disabled son and works all hours, was eating some roasted chestnuts. We asked if they were on the menu. The owner said no but two minutes later a generous plate of hot chestnuts arrived on our table, totally free of course, accompanied by a warm smile. How come people who have the least often give the most? I would love to help the Portuguese and my blog is one way to do that. By encouraging people to visit this beautiful country, I like to think I do my bit.

 

Sorry, but by the time I took this photo Martin had eaten most of the chestnuts!

 

 

5 MORE things I miss about Portugal

 

1. The air.... that may sound odd but in the UK it's often drizzly, misty or foggy. Polluted grey skies are the order of the day and this year I have been dogged by allergies from May to September. Sea breezes, less traffic and clear skies help me breathe more easily when I am in Portugal. So I feel a million times better. Bliss.

2. Oranges! It's orange heaven in Portugal. They're growing everywhere and locals set up roadside stalls selling huge bags of them for a euro or two. Picking up a bag and making yourself some freshly squeezed orange juice every day feels like the height of luxury. Vitamin C, I love you! And how about squeezing your early morning orange juice al fresco? It's got to be good for you.

 

3. Rita the pancake lady - Rita used to be the pancake lady at the Hotel Falesia, which has someone cooking and serving freshly made pancakes from 6-9pm every evening as part of the normal dinner service. I find that in itself pretty amazing. Anyway, she has left the hotel now but was yet another of those Portuguese people who warmed your soul thanks to her non-stop smile and cheery demeanour. She was also game to let you have a go at making your own pancake. My son, Luca, had a go but, even though he's a magician with incredible sleight of hand, he was battered by the skill of the task. Rita made it look so easy!

 

 

4. The slower pace of life - the frenetic, racing about we witness daily in the UK is replaced by a much more laid back approach to life. I have read that some ex-pats in Portugal find this annoying after a while. I find it hard to understand why. After 30 years of working flat out in the UK, I am definitely ready for some laid-back living. Oh for a day when the biggest thing I have to worry about is where to buy my oranges for the aforementioned breakfast juice.

 

5. Seeing the sea every day - This is such a novelty for me. Considering I live on an island, I am more than two hours from the nearest beach so hardly ever go to the British coast. In fact I officially live in the furthest spot from the sea in the entire UK. And last  time I went to an English seaside resort it was a case of dodging the donkey poo. The Brits love treating their kids to a  beach donkey ride, but the resultant poop all over the sand is a tad off-putting. That and the usual gale force wind and super-sized seagulls swooping down for your chips. Honest! I was in Brighton earlier this summer and a seagull the size of a small dog dive-bombed a woman and nicked her chips. Give me a Portuguese sea view any day of the week!

 

 

6 GREAT tips to save cash and find a SUPERB Algarve holiday

If you fancy trying Portugal for the first time but don't know where to start, here's some recommendations to grab a piece of paradise, without shelling out too much ....

First of all, a glimpse of paradise... this is Olhos de Agua (Aga if spellcheck had its way). The beauty of going there is that it's only about 30 minutes by car from FARO Airport, so here's some tips to make the most of a trip from the UK  to gorgeous old Portugal.

 

 

1. FLIGHTS: Ryanair, Monarch and Jet2 all go to FARO. I like the www.onthebeach search engine as it offers lots of combinations to find you the cheapest flights. For example, it may suggest flying out from EMA and coming back to Birmingham, with two different airlines. Flight prices vary wildly and if you repeatedly do the same search on your computer you may pay an inflated price. Tip: clear cookies after every search. The best bargains are out of season, flying midweek. I have read that booking six weeks before is the optimum time to get the best price. I am not convinced. My rule of thumb is never to pay much more than £100 per person for a return flight from the UK to FARO. But this budget will be busted in school holidays and high season. Having said that, I have paid as little as £70 return out of season, and know people who have got them for £50.

2. AIRPORT TRANSFERS: If you stick to resorts near FARO, the distance is so short I really recommend a cab. Yes you can book a shuttle bus or just get the bus, but why make it hard on yourself and waste precious holiday time. You're looking at about 60 euros return for a taxi transfer from Faro to your accommodation and vice versa. That's for up to four people. The company I love, because they've NEVER let me down is www.yellowishfishtransfers.com. You can book online but I just drop them an email with my flight details, they send me a voucher and you pay the driver in full when you get there. They are very tech-savvy and send you email reminders. You even get a free gift, usually a small bottle of wine. Good, reliable people always waiting for you in the 'arrivals' , in uniform and with your name displayed on a tablet PC.

3. RESORTS: I have not stayed in all of these places near FARO but know enough to help you make a decision.
Albufeira town: If you like karaoke bars and dancing all night, this is for you. For me, it's a bit too much like Blackpool in the sun, though the old town is nice, as is the beach. It's a bustling resort with plenty to see and do.
Tavira:  The Portuguese recommend this as a taste of real Portugal. Less touristy, more authentic.
Olhos de Agua village: My favourite. Small place, no high rise, no nightclubs, amazing beaches, plenty of places to drink and eat out but not at all snobby.
Vilamoura: Golfers love this place. Glamorous marina full of yachts but, for me, it just seems to be  full of Irish sports bars and a little soulless. But, as I said, golfers love it.
Quarteira: Bustling town flanked by a huge beach  and famous for its markets. However, it hasn't got the all-out party feel of Albufeira nor the small scale paradise of Olhos.
Acoteias: Small suburb with some lovely accommodation and a handful of bars near Falesia beach. You'll find the Sheraton Pine Cliffs here where, I am told, the Beckham family have stayed. Not sure if that is true but it wouldn't surprise me. For many, it is far too quiet but if you want peace this is perfect. You can walk to Olhos in about 25 minutes, five minutes in a cab.
Vale do Lobo: Again, loved by golfers. I have had mixed reports. A friend who went there in September 2015 loved it so much she is rebooking for 2016. Another said the place was far too expensive to eat out, which is not normally a problem in Portugal. You see tourist menus for, typically, 7.50 euros a head, starter,  main and dessert!

4. ACCOMMODATION: This is the biggie. Get this wrong and the holiday is ruined. Comparison websites such as Tripadvisor are a vital tool but, if the location is not right for you, the quality of rooms won't help. Anyway, here are my five recommendations:
Self-catering: The Cabrita apartments, Olhos de Agua www.algarvecabrita.com. Great location and reviews.
3-star  hotel: The Velamar Sun and Beach Hotel, Olhos de Agua (www.velamar.pt) Superb for the money. You could pay as little as £22 for two people, B&B low season, about £56 per night for two high season. Not for party animals but lovely for an affordable short break.

4-star hotel: Porto Bay Falesia, Olhos de Agua. Excellent hotel in a great location overlooking the Falesia beach. Bags of luxury,  indoor as well as outdoor pool, games room, tennis courts. You can snap up a week's B&B here for as little as £450 out of season. Price soars in high season. Though I really rate this hotel and would stay there again it is a little too large to feel personally connected to the place. Have to say, though, the best happy hour drinks ever. Some hotels give you cheap spirits only in happy hour. Not here!  www.portobay.com

 

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Hotel Falesia, Acoteias - simply the best. This is an adults-only hotel (over-16s) with amazing gardens, food and staff. NOT for people who want party antics but if you want to get away from it all, and don't mind a generally older clientele, you should love chillaxing here. It has an indoor pool and spa, too. The only downside for me is that it is a Thomson Gold hotel which means it has entertainment in the main showbar from May to October. If that's not your bag either, use the pool bar in the evenings or head to a local bar. Simple! www.falesia.com

 

 

 

5. KEEP IT SIMPLE: If you are weary don't over complicate your holiday. Avoid long transfers. Make it as stress-free as possible by choosing great flight times. It is worth paying  a bit more to fly out in the morning, say 8am, and the perfect return flight time is 11am. Flying from your closest airport at the best possible times will make your holiday even better. You won't save money by choosing an airport further away and flying at 11pm is a nightmare. On the day you have to go home, you just want to get home. That way you maximise the benefits of you holiday.

 

6. HOTEL BARGAINS: Shop around. I can't emphasise this enough. Prices vary wildly. Comparison sites like Tripadvisor and Trivago will give you the rates for a hotel or apartment from half a dozen different booking websites. Also check the price against that offered by the hotel. I just bagged a deal by contacting an apartment direct. She knocked 15 per cent off the online price. All I have to do is pay her in cash on arrival. She then avoids paying commission to an agency or credit card. Cash-back websites are also useful but can be deceiving. I found what I thought was a good deal and then tried to gain discount through a cash-back website. It came up at a HIGHER price. Even booking direct through the site offering the best room rate came out higher than a link I found through Trivago. It's a game and you have to play it to win the best deal. Happy bargain hunting!

 

7 ways to bring a bit of Portugal home in your hand luggage

REMINDERS of Portugal and its blue skies are essential to bring back to the UK -  or wherever you live. But if, like me, it's a budget airline jaunt with hand-luggage, bringing anything home other than your dirty knickers can be troublesome.

And I'm no fan of stupid knick-knacks either. I like useful stuff. It is possible to load up with port at FARO Airport but struggling with lots of clanking bottles is no joke either.

However, there  are a few things you can sneak into your hand luggage with relative ease. How about...

1. A new number for your house, Portuguese tile style? Here's mine. The frames a bit battered due to our great British weather but I love my little reminder of sunny holidays.

 
2. A drinks menu from your favourite bar is nice too, but do ask permission, of course. You can ponder your next cocktail for months while you're waiting to go back to Portugal.

3. A Super Bock glass. Again, you have to get to know a friendly barman but they are plentiful,

4. A tiny jar of Portuguese honey. I bought this at Quinta Do Mel in Acoteias, a lovely honey, tea and herb farm, B&B and café. We strolled along to it one day, were randomly invited to join a tour and then given a free glass of lemon verbena ice tea. Those super friendly Portuguese strike again. But I did buy some tea to take home and this... the honey's long gone but the sweet memory remains.

5. Cards from all your favourite bars and restaurants. It's a must folks...

6.  Pictures.... Your camera holds some great memories but, often, they end up stuck in our cameras or computers. I have favourite shots put on canvas prints. These are in my kitchen.

7. Finally, you can't get this in your hand luggage but foreign holidays sparked my love for geraniums. I grow and nurture them and even bring them indoors to nurse them through the British winter. The result? A magnificent summer display. Here's one of many pots I dot around my garden...