Carvoeiro holiday villa to let, Areias Dos Moinhos with walking, beach/lake nearby, log fire, disabled access, balcony/terrace

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Casa Manala (villa)

Home description

Whether you’ve been to the Algarve before or are currently thinking of going for the first time, you couldn’t have chosen a better holiday home to consider. Situated in a private area just outside the town of Carvoeiro, Casa Manala was built in 1986 as a 2 bedroom villa, extended to 3 bedrooms in 1992 and 4 bedrooms in 2004. One of these 4 bedrooms is private but guests can choose whether to rent 2 or 3 of the remaining bedrooms depending on the number in their party. The rental cost reflects this choice.
The villa lies in its own grounds with a garden that has become the most established and colourful imaginable. But while you have all the privacy you could wish for, whether in the villa or sunbathing beside the swimming pool, you can very quickly enjoy the bustle of the town centre which is only 10 minutes walk away and the fun of the many sandy beaches in the area just a few minutes drive away.

Casa Manala	Pool and patio
Villa from the 'Roman Garden'

To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/8535

The Algarve / Central Algarve region

The Algarve - A to Z Travel Facts

Banks and Money: Weekday banking hours are generally 08.30 - 14.45 although many banks have 24 hour cash machines. From 2002 Portugal converted from Escudos to the Euro. In Aug 2005 £1 = €1.47, €1 = £0.68. Credit cards are generally accepted in shops and restaurants.

Climate: The Algarve averages 3,000 hours of sunshine each year, more than the Costa Brava, Majorca and French Riviera.

Drinking Water: The tap water is perfectly safe to drink although you can always buy bottled water from supermarkets. This is more economical to buy in large bottles.

Eating: There are now over 400 restaurants offering excellent value in the Algarve with both local and international specialities. Try freshly caught sardines grilled over charcoal and washed down with an ice cold glass or two of Vinho Verde - the outdoor fish restaurants in Portimão near the old bridge are well worth a visit. Local dishes include Caldo Verde - finely shredded kale soup. Caldeirada - fish stew. Ameijoas à Cataplana - clams and pork. And the national speciality, Bacalhau - dried salted cod for which there are 365 recipes, one for every day of the year! Other Algarve specialities include cakes and sweets made from eggs, almonds and sugar - try the Dom Rodrigos, named after the sweet talking King of Visigothic Empire.

History: The Algarve was dominated for 500 years by the Moors who sailed from North Africa in search of fertile land. They arrived in 711 AD and their influence is still evident today in the architecture, music and even the language. The name Algarve originates from the Arabic “Al Gharb” which means the west. However, it is believed that the Cyretes first occupied the Algarve followed by the Phoenicians and Carthaginians who established trading posts along the coast and there is also evidence of Greek occupation. It was the Romans who organised the region, planted vineyards and improved the agriculture. King Sancho I, who with French and English soldiers led the initial crusades against the Moors, established the first links between Portugal and England. The Algarve came to prominence in the 15th Century when Prince Harry established his navigation school At Sagres Although tourism has become the major industry during the last 10 years, fishing and agriculture are still of prime importance to the region.

Location: The province is located in the far south of Portugal bordered by the Atlantic on two sides and by mountains in the North and Spain in the East. It stretches from the Spanish border westwards to Cape St. Vincent - 150 miles of Portugal’s coast formed by cliffs and rock formations which overlook numerous golden sandy beaches.

Places to visit: Faro - Capital of the Algarve. Destroyed by an earthquake in 1755: only part of the old town remains. Loulé - Market town, centre for crafts such as copper and leather. Quarteira - One of the oldest fishing villages on the Algarve. Albufeira - A town retaining its Moorish character with a bustling fishing industry, market and night life. Armação de Pera - Fishing village with one of the largest beaches on the Algarve. Silves - During the Moorish occupation this town was the capital of the province. An old walled city with a 12th century cathedral. Carvoeiro - Old fishing village with picturesque harbour. Portimão - One of the largest towns and fishing ports on the Algarve known for its furniture and wickerwork. One of the most popular beaches at Praia da Rocha is next door. Monchique - Set high on the mountains, it has a spa and the scenary and views are in complete contrast to the coastal resorts. Lagos - A fascinating historical town which used to be the centre of trade between Africa and Portugal. Its shipyards built caravels used by Henry the Navigator. Sagres - The town where Prince Harry established his School of Navigation. Visit the 17th century fortress. Sagres is also the centre of the lobster fishing industry on the Algarve. Cape St. Vincent - The most south westerly point of Europe. Nelson defeated the French off Cape St. Vincent in 1797.

Self-Catering: Food shopping is cheaper in the Algarve than the UK and both Carvoeiro and Lagoa have excellent markets which sell a superb range of vegetables, fruit and fish. Main shops close at lunch time on Saturday and do not re-open until Monday. There are many local supermarkets to choose from and these are usually open every day of the week.

Shopping: Ceramics and Tiles - The Algarve is renowned for its local potteries. Leather - Quality leather handbags, purses and shoes are of excellent quality and value. Copper - Bowls, trays and lamps are locally made. Cork - Portugal is famed for its cork products. Cane - Furniture and basketwork can be found all over the Algarve.

Sport: Golf, tennis, riding, fishing and wind surfing are just some of the popular sports enjoyed in the Algarve - ask for the “Sportugal” brochure from the tourist office in Carvoeiro.

Taxis: There are many available in towns and larger villages. They are black with green roofs or cream.

Tourist Offices: There are several tourist offices including one in Carvoeiro. They can help you on any aspect of the Algarve.

Travel: You can fly direct to the Algarve to Faro airport which is situated on the east side nearer to Spain. Or you can fly to Lisbon which is now only 2 hours drive away from the Algarve via the new motorway

Voltage: This is usually 220v AC with continental 2 pin plugs - Casa Manala has this power source.

Wines: Lagos is the centre of the Algarve wine growing area and produces excellent red, white and rosé wine. This is called Vinho Lagoa and the red is of particular good quality. Other Portuguese wines worth trying are Dao, Periquita, Bairrada and Alentejo, full bodied red wines and Vinho Verde, a light white wine ideal for drinking ice cold in the Summer.

Carvoeiro / Areias Dos Moinhos area

Carvoeiro is a picturesque village 45 minutes drive along the main coast road from Faro airport. Although Carvoeiro and the surrounding area retain all the character and tradition of Portuguese life, it also offers holiday makers the essential facilities necessary to enjoy a relaxing break away from home. There's a daily market, local banks, shops and many different restaurants to choose from offering excellent international and Portuguese food, all at reasonable prices.

Nearby there's the much larger town of Portimão with many shops, banks and an active fishing harbour. Lunch of grilled sardines fresh from the sea washed down with a glass (or two) of Vinho Verde in one of the open air restaurants alongside the harbour is an occasion not to be missed by anyone! And if you want to get away from the coast a short drive inland will find you in the beautiful Monchique mountains where the air is cooler and the scenery simply quite breath-taking.

Carvoeiro has a small sandy beach with fine swimming facilities and nearby there are many other small bays and coves offering idyllic swimming and skin diving conditions - or just simple seclusion for lazy sunbathing. And with such a wide selection to choose from the beaches are rarely that crowded - even in the height of the summer.

If you're an active person Carvoeiro has everything you require. For golfers there are many courses nearby including a course just a few minutes drive from Carvoeiro. The Carvoeiro Club with its tennis courts and fitness & aerobic centre is 5 minutes drive away and with deep sea fishing, horse riding, windsurfing, sailing and many other activities to enjoy you'll find Carvoeiro one of the most attractive areas in the whole of the Algarve.

For further information visit www.carvoeiro.com

Because we have aquired a considerable amount of knowledge of Carvoeiro and the local area over the 20 years we have lived there, we feel confident about passing this information on to our clients holidaying at Casa Manala. This knowledge includes helpful tips on what to do and see, where to shop, where to visit, and a comprehensive list of restaurants that we personally recommend, some in the town of Carvoeiro and some outside that you wouldn't normally find, each one offering a different experience and price.

Golf on the Algarve.
The Algarve is an ideal place for a golfing holiday or simply to play a round or two during your stay at Casa Manala. The weather is always suitable especially during the winter months when snow and rain can make golf a hardship in the UK…. But never in Portugal. There are two golf courses close by at Pestana Golf, Carvoeiro as well as several only short distances away from Casa Manala although many of the golf courses on the Algarve are within a comfortable drive.

Pestana Golf, Carvoeiro
The Quinta do Gramacho and Vale De Pinta courses, both gems realised by Californian golf architect Ronald Fream, lie alongside each other but each has its own character. The undulating terrain and natural vegetation have been fully exploited, subtly combined with the strategic placing of artificial lakes and bunkers, large, generally fast, well kept greens, often with tricky slopes, are a feature of both courses.

Quinta do Gramacho
Recently developed to now include a full 18 holes (previously it was a “double nine” layout with nine fairways and 18 greens). With plenty of water around the course and some spectacular sweeping fairways, this will test golfers of every handicap.

Vale de Pinta
This conventional 18-hole par 71 course includes many attractive as well as demanding holes. Many of them are excellent and some could become classic golf holes. Olive trees well over 600 years old abound on the course, together with almond, fig and carob trees, often strategically left in place on the hybrid Bermuda grass fairways.

Vale do Milho, Carvoeiro
A nine hole par 3 course set among villas and a lake. Undemanding but with several tricky holes, this is an ideal course for beginners or the more experienced golfers who just want to practice their short game.

How to get there

Fly to Faro airport and either rent a hire car or take a taxi, both of which are readily available. The journey to Carvoeiro is approximately 30-40 minutes by road. Alternatively, fly to Lisbon airport and drive down to the Algarve which will take approximately 2-3 hours.

Activities near Carvoeiro

Facilities

Further details indoors:
There are four bedrooms, although the one on the top floor is private. The other three on the ground floor are all twin bedded and all have their own bathroom/toilet. Bathroom towels are supplied in the villa but you should take a beach towel with you. In all three bedrooms are large built-in wardrobes each with shelf space, drawers and a hanging rail with hangers and one of the bedrooms has a lockable cupboard for large valuables and a small safe for money and passports. Guests can choose between using either 2 or 3 bedrooms depending on the number in their party.

The lounge/dining room is a comfortable and cool area to relax in out of the sun. There is a cd/cassette player with a selection of tapes (but don’t forget to take your own plus your favourite cd’s) and a selection of books and games to while away the hours. If you’re holidaying out of Summer there are electric wall heaters for the evenings and if you’re adventurous, a log fire to help build a cosy atmosphere at night time.

You enter the kitchen from either the left hand door off the lounge or from the back garden kitchen patio. The kitchen is fully equipped with a gas cooker, dishwasher and refrigerator/freezer and has a full set of china wear, glasses, cutlery, cooking utensils, etc., as well as a coffee cafetière, toaster and toasted sandwich maker. There is a washing machine in one of the outside kitchen patio cupboards which Maria (the maid) uses for general washing such as sheets and towels. While this is not strictly available for clients to use you can “negotiate” with Maria for her to carry out a small amount of your washing. The kitchen patio leads out to the top garden which contains a number of fruit trees.

Further details outdoors:
The swimming pool, 9mtrs x 4.5mtrs, is situated in the patio area next to the villa. At the deep end the pool is 2.25mtrs and suitable for shallow diving; the shallow end is 1.2mtrs deep with steps leading down in one corner. The pool can be heated for an optional extra cost (see rental costs) and there is a plastic blanket to cover the pool at night to keep the water warm. There is also an underwater light to add that extra atmosphere at night time.

The patio around the pool has two seating areas, one with a table, and there are two B-B-Q’s. Around the pool there are 6 cushioned lounger chairs, small side tables and 3 umbrellas. On the patio immediately outside the lounge is a large dining table and 8 chairs.

The lower garden has recently been landscaped and contains a number of indigenous and imported trees and plants. The centre piece of the bottom garden is the palm tree in the middle of the lawn which was planted in 1986 when the villa was built. There is a small “Roman” garden area in the bottom corner where you can sit in the shade during the heat of late afternoon. An automatic sprinkler system has been installed to water the lawn and all the flower beds which comes on during the night.

The top garden contains a selection of fruit trees, some of which we have labelled, and an olive tree which is the oldest tree in the garden and the only one still remaining from the land before Casa Manala was built. Feel free to help yourself to a lemon for your evening gin & tonic! Alongside the top garden at the end of the drive is a car port where you can keep your car in the shade; it’s conveniently near to the front door of the villa in case you’ve purchased some heavier items in the local shops (a few bottles of wine possibly?). You can also enter the pool area from a side gate off the drive.

Rental rates

Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
7th Sep to 5th Oct 2008	12 Sep 08	5 Oct 08	895£  895	0-	0-	1 Week
5th Oct to 2nd Nov 2008	5 Oct 08	2 Nov 08	695£  695	0-	0-	1 Week
2nd Nov to 7th Dec 2008	2 Nov 08	7 Dec 08	425£  425	0-	0-	1 Week
7th Dec 08 to 4th Jan 09	7 Dec 08	4 Jan 09	325£  325	0-	0-	1 Week
4th Jan to 1st Mar 2009	4 Jan 09	1 Mar 09	345£  345	0-	0-	1 Week
1st Mar to 5th Apr 2009	1 Mar 09	5 Apr 09	565£  565	0-	0-	1 Week
5th Apr to 24th May 2009	5 Apr 09	24 May 09	735£  735	0-	0-	1 Week
24th May to 28th Jne 2009	24 May 09	28 Jun 09	945£  945	0-	0-	1 Week
28th Jne to 6th Sep 2009	28 Jun 09	6 Sep 09	1045£  1,045	0-	0-	1 Week
6th Sep to 4th Oct	6 Sep 09	4 Oct 09	945£  945	0-	0-	1 Week
4th Oct to 1st Nov 2009	4 Oct 09	1 Nov 09	735£  735	0-	0-	1 Week
1st Nov to 6th Dec 2009	1 Nov 09	6 Dec 09	445£  445	0-	0-	1 Week
6th Dec 09 to 3rd Jan 10	6 Dec 09	3 Jan 10	345£  345	0-	0-	1 Week

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the owner's discretion.

The weekly rates above are for 2 bedroom occupancy. Weekly rates for 3 bedroom occupancy are available on request. The swimming pool can be heated for an optional £100 per week extra to the prices above.

Availability notes

To see availability please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/8535

Contact owner

To contact this owner please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/8535

Contact details for home 8535 Please mention Holiday Lettings
Name:	Paul Gardner
Languages:
Advertiser joined: 9 Jan 2006 This property added: 9 Jan 2006

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