Just in! Rail Strike/Work to Rules continuing - January 2013

This has just been published in the national public newspaper, Publico!

publico.pt/sociedade/noticia/greves-na-cp-pr…

So if you are planning to travel in Portugal in January 2013, continue to avoid the Railways and use the bus if possible!

Lagos, Algarve - Midnight bar curfew from February?

Regrettably, this has been in the air for years.

Despite the economic crisis and the travails it has brought, Lagos Council seems hell bent on continuing to destroy what little remains of its night-life attraction. While I can sympathise with the issue of noise in the old town, it is a regrettable side effect of about the only economic raison d'etre for the town, at present.

Fishing is practically dead, the cost of parking is chasing people away from down-town shops, and this latest move will contribute to the slow death for the solo traveler business.

Lagos, for many years, has been on the European backpacker route for US and Antipodean travelers. One of the attractions has been the late night activity. This has generate substantial income for Lagos in terms of backpacker hostels, etc. It has also spread the word about the desirability of Lagos as a holiday destination.

Lagos is already suffering from a number of almost terminal hits.

I have never seen Lagos so quiet as over the past few days. Even the Vila Galé Hotel only had 20 to 30 cars in the car park over Christmas.

Meia Praia is empty. Usually there is the usual small crowd of folk from Lisbon, Seville etc. This year none!!!!

Lagos in the Algarve is dying. The local youth are moving away and it is not just because of the economic crisis.

I suspect, that in the absence of having money to spend, and to try to distract the populace from the fact that vast amounts of money do not appear to have been spent wisely in Lagos in recent years, the Council, with elections coming up in late 2013, are trying to push through a measure that will be popular with residents of the old town, irrespective of the economic consequences.

Given the increased cost and difficulty of getting to Lagos, what with ongoing train strikes, motorway tolls, reduce frequencies of flights to Faro, the prognosis for this town is not good.

I have always made an effort to promote and encourage folk to visit Lagos, but these latest measures are making me actively desist from promoting it.

I no longer can recommend Lagos as an ideal cost-effective destination for holidays.

I now prefer to encourage travelers to visit Lisbon, where there is still a night life, a greater range of things to do and tourist offers, and some great beaches at Oeiras, Carcavelos and Estoril. From there, it is also much easier to visit other parts of Portugal, than it is from Lagos.

In the Algarve, albeit the eastern end, it appears that Olhão and Monte Gordo are making a real effort to promote themselves as "visitor friendly destinations"!!

Flights from Faro Airport to Central Europe

At present, there are currently no direct flights scheduled from Faro to Milano in either the winter or summer 2013.

Ryanair have tried to animate routes to both Milano/Bergamo & Orio al Serio in previous seasons, as well as to Madrid and Barcelona.

Indeed, I even understand that for Summer 2013 there will be no route to Madrid.

Unfortunately, it appears that low usage resulted in these being dropped. Efforts have been made to promote the Algarve as a tourist destination into the Italian and Spanish market but with little success. So existing scheduled routes target the destinations in the Algarve's main target markets...viz. UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Scandanavia, Switzerland, Canada, Luxembourg and certain charter markets such as Poland, Finland and Russia.

Decreases in visitors is severely affecting Faro's attractiveness as a flight destination and I am afraid it is only going to get worse.

I recently had to travel from Lagos, Algarve to Pompeii in Italy via Napoli. The only options were either via Sevilla or Lisboa. In the end, because I like Seville and had to spend the night there, I took the twice daily bus from the Algarve to Seville and then flew Vueling.com from there.

I am increasingly recommending folk want to travel to and from the Algarve to consider using Lisbon as their gateway. There are frequent buses between Albufeira and other Algarve towns to Lisbon, taking three to four hours and from Lisbon there is a much greater choice to flights to a variety of European and destinations including Italy.

As regards France, ryanair.com fly several times a week to Paris Beauvais.

Have a specific look at vueling.com. They are the only real low-cost airline that I know that offers through booking. When I flew from Seville to Napoli in November 2012, I got a ticket for €55.00. The route, however, was by one aircraft from Seville to Barcelona, a two hour stop-over and then another Barcelona to Napoli.

Vueling.com fly from Lisbon as well.

On final option to consider, could be flying Ryanair from Faro to Porto. There are many more flights from Porto into destinations in France, Spain and Italy than there are from Faro.

Bus or train service in the Algarve on August 15th holiday

Ask us that question a few days before 15th August.

In principle, there should be both rail and bus services.

However, with the ongoing work to rules and strikes that have been affecting the railways here over the past few months that have affected travel on public holidays and ongoing labour rumblings in all sectors, it is unlikely we can say what the situation is with any certainty until a couple of days before.

Portugal - ANA Aeroportos sold to Vinci

It has been announced this afternoon that the Portuguese Airport Authority, operator of Lisbon,Porto, Faro, Azores Airports and Beja International has been sold to Vinci, a French Consortium. (Not sure about Madeira)

Although the company operates a few small regional airport in France the purchase of ANA will bring the company into the ranks of the big international airport operators.

See:

reuters.com/article/2012/12/27/us-portgual-a…

and

publico.pt/economia/noticia/franceses-da-vin…

Lagos - Sagres - Autobus

Il faut voyager jusqu'a la ville du Lagos.

À partir de Lagos, il y a plusiers autobuses quotidien pour Sagres:

Regardez:

http://goo.gl/Lil8z

Algarve - Passport advice needed going into Spain

Three weeks ago, en route to Sevilla on the morning EVA bus from Lagos, about 5 minutes from VRSA, and with three pax of Asian looks on board, I heard the driver phone the police at the border to say the bus would be crossing the border in "15 minutos"!

When we arrived at the Guadiana bridge, sure enough, there were two Spanish Guarda Civils from the joint border control point waiting to walk through the bus and check ID's. The three paxs turned out to be from South Korea, so no problem.

On the return trip, a week later, we passed over the bridge with no id check stop.

I have noticed the drivers doing something similar before but have never been close enough behind them to hear the conversation exactly. It appears the the drivers of both the DAMAS and EVA buses on the Sevilla run have an "unofficial" agreement to notify the border police if they are carrying passengers whose id they think should be checked.

Therefore, always carry a passport or Euro ID if crossing the Portuguese border between Portugal and Spain at VRSA/Ayamonte.

Les Roses Tremière - Gîte Holiday Rental in Crevant, Indre, France

Absolutely wonderful Gîte situated in the middle of France run by friends of ours.

I have visited Les Roses twice and it is finished to the highest quality and set in a wonderful rural location. Ideal for peace and quiet!

See: Les Roses Tremière - Gîte Holiday Rental in Crevant, Indre, France

Rodivíario Rede-Expressos - Porto

O endereço do rodivíario que serve os serviços Rede Expressos em Porto é:

ROD. BEIRA LITORAL-GARAGEM ATLANTICO

RUA ALEXANDRE HERCULANO Nº366

4000 PORTO

Tel.: 222052459

Pode encontrar uma mapa da localização aqui:

http://goo.gl/9mNQ0

Tunisian tourism bounces back after jasmine revolution

This is very interesting given that the Tunisian tourism market offer is similar to the Algarve and Spanish Costas.

I wonder who flys there and if any "low-costs" are looking at that market and if so from which countries? Need to research this.

http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/tunisian-tourism-bounces-back-after-jasmine-revolution/

Portugal - Government has not accepted offer for TAP

Portuguese Govt. has decided not to sell TAP to the only accepted bidder, (ostensibly due to lake of bank guarantees)! Says it remains the Goverment's intention to privatise the airline in 2013!

 See: (in Portuguese) http://lnkd.in/8vHtMS

Lisbon airport to ResIdencial Florescente

It is much more direct to get Aerobus No. 1 from outside the Arrivals Terminal 1. This bus line is equipped for bags and will take about 20 to 30 minutes.

http://www.yellowbustours.com/pt/cidades/lisboa/aerobus-transporte-de-autocarro-do-aeroporto-de-lisboa/

Descend at Restauradores. Cross Avda. Liberdade and you are a block and a half from the Florescente..Note taxis/transfers cannot stop in front of the Florescente. You have to walk the last bit.

http://www.residencialflorescente.com/hotel-directions.html

Also see:

Also see:

…blogspot.pt/2010/09/travel-to-residencial-f…

Hotels Are Now Paying Cash For Positive TripAdvisor Reviews

Bad bad news for the accuracy of Traveller's reviews!

See:

Hotels Are Now Paying Cash For Positive TripAdvisor Reviews

Governo irlandês não apoiará oferta da Ryanair pela Aer Lingus

Governo irlandês não apoiará oferta da Ryanair pela Aer Lingus

Irish Government will not support Ryanair's bid for Aer Lingus!

Warning! Yet Again Lisbon Airport Taxi Scam! (failed)

Once again I have to report that a taxi driver at Lisbon Airport last Saturday night tried the "forgot to switch on meter" scam.

My wife arrived on a flight from Italy at about 22:00 and although she is wise to such things, after a long days travel, she did not notice that the taxi driver who was taking her too the VIP Zurch Hotel at Entrecampos had not switched on the metre.

En route, she noticed the meter was not ticking and asked him how much he was going to charge her!

"Euro 25.00, says he!"

My wife speaks Portuguese very well, although with a Anglo-Brazilian-Rio-Carioca accent! The taxi driver thought he had picked up an innocent Brazilian Tourist!!!! Unfortunately, for him, my wife knew the approximate cost of the ride and had, fortunately, in her bag, a receipt for €7.50 for a similar trip from the Airport to the VIP Zurch a couple of weeks previously.

There then ensued a rather strong "fish market" conversation, in Portuguese, at the end of which the taxi driver received €11:00 as it was late on Saturday night.

When she told me later, I said she should have gone into the hotel and told the reception to call the police. She said the receptionist on duty said exactly the same.

So, if you are flying into Lisbon Airport and are going to use a taxi to get to your destination:

1) Go to the Lisbon Tourism desk (Straight in front of the exit from the baggage hall) and ask them how much a taxi should cost to your destination.

1) Make sure the meter is ticking before your leave the stand! If he doesn't switch it on, call one of the PSP officers who are usually hanging around the taxi stand and tell them.

2) If you only find out, en route, the meter is not working, as soon as you arrive at your destination call the receptionist and tell them. They may well call the police.

Lisbon Airport taxis drivers are hurting because of the recent opening of the metro to the Airport. However, forewarned is forearmed and the more we nip this in the bud now the better!

Ryanair announces 54th Base - Zadar, Croatia

Ryanair have just announced the opening of their 54th Base in Zadar, Croatia as from April, 2013

See:

http://www.ryanair.com/ie/news/ryanair-announces-zadar-base-no-54

Sale of TAP/Air Portugal - Latest Problems

As I surmised previously, negotiations for the sale of TAP-Air Portugal are  becoming increasingly difficult as the Portuguese Government's constraints of the sale are becoming so rigid as to make it almost impossible for potential investors. One almost thinks the Government does not really want sell the Airline.

The latest news is that the Portuguese Govt. is demanding 100% bank financing guarantees from the sole remaining preferred bidder.

See: (In Portuguese)

http://economico.sapo.pt/noticias/exigencia-de-garantias-bancarias-ameaca-venda-da-tap_158690.html

Obras paradas: Decisão de construir A26 foi “equívoco técnico” - Estradas de Portugal

Works on new proposed sections on the A26 Sines to Beja motor road in the Alentejo, Portugal have been suspended or cancelled reports online news site, regiaosul.pt 

Obras paradas: Decisão de construir A26 foi “equívoco técnico” - Estradas de Portugal

Roadworks on the N 120 between Lagos and Odemira - 2013

It appears that repairs to two damaged bridges and other roadworks on the N120 between Lagos, Algarve, Portugal and Aljezur/Odemira will advance during the first half of 2013, reports local newspaper Sul.

http://www.sulinformacao.pt/2012/12/pontoes-da-en120-entre-lagos-e-aljezur-avancam-para-obras-em-2013/

Anglo-Portuguese School for London!

Este projeto precisa de todo o nosso apoio!

This project needs all our support! 

http://lnkd.in/4G3zwQ

and

https://sites.google.com/site/angloportugueseschooloflondon/faq

easyJet doa 1 milhão de libras à UNICEF

Easyjet donates UK£ 1 mn. to Unicef.

easyJet doa 1 milhão de libras à UNICEF

airberlin announced non-stop flights to Madrid from February 25, 2013., Airline News

airberlin announced non-stop flights to Madrid from February 25, 2013., Airline News

Optimus and ZON to merge

It was announced tonight that the holding companies for Optimus (Sonaecom) and Zon are planning to merge by the middle of 2013.

http://economico.sapo.pt/noticias/51-da-nova-empresa-serao-detidos-por-isabel-dos-santos-e-sonaecom_158563.html

The move comes after the announcement that returns from the Portuguese mobile market have been dropping substantially as there are too many operators in the small Portuguese market.

Interestingly, the majority shareholder of ZON is Angolan Business Woman Isabel dos Santos who is daughter of the Angolan President Eduardo dos Santos.

I suspect that the medium term result of this will be higher prices for mobiles services in Portugal.

Algarve Resident - MPs ‘too busy’ to attend debate against A22 tolls

Algarve Resident - the REAL Algarve Resident - 1st for News, information and classifieds - MPs ‘too busy’ to attend debate against A22 tolls