Colina Sol Aparthotel

I can only comment on winter holidays, but we go every year for 6 weeks and love the place. Carvoeiro is easily the nicest place on the Algarve without a lot of high rise buidings, a villagy feel to the town and some of the best small beaches. It has a good selection of restaurants to suit all tastes and pockets. There are good walks along the cliffs or if you want a day out by car Silves and Monchique are both nice. We are always there for Carnival and go to Loule, which is fun. Colina Sol offers excellent value for money although it is a little out of town, so you may have to take a taxi back after a meal.

Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Great hotel and beaches and food and people and coastline and the SUNSETS.

My family (kids are 7 & 10) had a gentle walk into town most nights (took 20-30 minutes) and was pleasant. We got a cab back for 5 euros inc` tip.

Go to `Aqualand` rather than `splash and slide` as the queues are a lot less, and if hot, go towards end of holiday to avoid sunburn from standing a lot in the sun.

If you go on the `Pirate ship` cruise to the caves and are unsure of if you suffer from sea sickness, don`t go if it`s a bit wavy, you WILL be sick. If you`ve booked the day before though, and it turns out to be rough, turn up because they do offer your money back(Wouldn`t get that in England).

From Hotel, go for a walk (if you`re able) over the cliffs above the beach and follow them to the town. 3/4`s of the way you come across a great little bar and restaurant.

Hotel rooms have a safe which fitted passports, money, mobiles digital camera and lenses, camcorder, keys etc in. They charged £35 for 2 weeks with a refundable £18 deposit. (though I wasn`t exactly going to pack the safe in my suitcase and take it home!). We did accidentally leave our mobiles out sometimes, but they were always still there after the maids had been. Apparently crime against tourists is very low in Algarve.

Nice castle and museum in Silves (not to far). Castle doesn`t take long, so go in afternoon and there`s exhibitions, stalls, music, dinosaur thing from 6pm.

We had a car from europcar. Pay for a full tank and you bring it back empty and pay the bit extra on the insurance so you are totally blameless (in their eyes not the police) for damage. This is very useful as they don`t have to check the car over if you have an early flight, so you just put the key through the letterbox if office is shut.

If you have children, wait until you`re sure yourself of the sea (by the hotel) of the strong back pull of the waves, they pulled me over a few times.

Take a phrase book or learn basics (yes, no, please, thank you etc) they all, mostly, speak good English, but are very pleased if you try a bit of portuguese.

We can`t wait until we`ve we can go again, It`s everything we wanted.