The villa is in the quieter eastern Algarve on a small, local (not busy) tarmac road
about 1 mile inland from the main coastal road (EN125) , and 5km (3 miles) from the A22 motorway exit 15( Olhao / Moncarapacho ).
The international airport at Faro, 22km (about 14 miles) is about half an hour by car.
The detached villa is tranquil but not isolated - there are other houses neighbouring "Vivenda Oliveira".
Laranjeiro is really a string of hamlets about 2km south of Moncarapacho and 6km east of Olhao.
THE AREA :
(To see more photos of the area click here-
http://only.chez-alice.fr/olivphotos.html )
The area around Olhao and Moncarapacho borders on the Ria Formosa nature reserve,
recognised as a wetlands area of international importance. This vast expanse of some 60 kilometres of tidal lagoons,
sandbanks, islands and marshland forms a protected habitat
for a large number of both indigenous and migratory birds, and the dunes are also of botanical interest.
Still largely unknown to foreign tourists,the area is popular with
Portuguese families avoiding the crowds of the western Algarve.
« Laranjeiro » means ‘orange grove’ and spring evenings here are perfumed
with the strong scent of orange blossom, whilst in summer, mornings are punctuated
by the gentle clack of long poles knocking almonds and carob pods off surrounding trees.
People here still pride themselves on their horses and gaily-painted wooden carts and local shepherds often bring their
herd of goats to graze in the field behind the house.
From both the garden and house, one has a beautiful view south across orange groves
to the blue of the Atlantic ocean breaking against long white sand beaches.
The fishing village of Fuzeta (6 km by road) and the larger town and fishing port
of Olhao (8 km by road) are situated on the edge of the lagoon which separates this part
of the Algarve from the Atlantic. Local ferries carry the inhabitants of the fishing
communities and beach-goers alike across the lagoon to the islands
with their magnificent long sand beaches. Nearby, there is also direct access
by car to a couple of small beaches on the lagoon at Fuzeta and near Aldeia de Marim.
|
Click photo to enlarge
|
12 miles to the east, Tavira, the ancient Roman town straddling the river Gilao
and best known for its numerous churches, is a delight on a warm evening as the sun
sets over the water.
Golf has now taken off taken off in the east with 4 new golf courses - Colina Verde, about 7km (4 miles) away and Benamor,
Quinta da Ria and Quinta da Cima (near Tavira )
Pottering about in boats, fishing, bird watching, hiking in the hills behind,
relaxing on the fine sand beaches or even windsurfing - this is an ideal area
in which to relax and « get away from it all », in a part of the Algarve
which is still genuinely picturesque and traditional. And for star-gazers, the night skies here are usually very clear and
ablaze with stars to observe from the comfort of our terrace.
MARKETS & FOOD :
The region is renowned for its local shellfish, crabs and fish. Olhao has one
of the finest fish markets of the region, along with an excellent covered fruit
and vegetable market which sells, amongst other things, locally-grown bananas
and paw-paws, and wonderful local sun-ripened strawberries from January onwards !
There is a very good local restaurant (where you can also order the food to take away)
about 2 miles from the house. Restaurants in the nearby towns of Fuzeta, Olhao,
Santa Luzia and Tavira are a good way to try regional specialities (cataplana,
pork with clams, grilled fish etc.) - most restaurants are inexpensive,
unpretentious and much frequented by locals. Bars and cafés are a bargain for a coffee,
cold beer, fresh orange juice and of course some Portuguese cakes !
The monthly local markets provide a fascinating insight into genuine rural
Portuguese life from horse harnesses and goats, to clothes and shoes, as well
as some sturdy locally-made baskets !
Local potteries sell the rustic pots and dishes typical of the Algarve.
The area is quiet and relaxing most of the year, but becomes livelier
in summer with more activities and festivals such as the Shellfish Fair in Olhao
and the International Folklore Festival in Moncarapacho.
Shopping for food is easy - there are many small local shops, and a few minutes away
in Moncarapacho or in Olhao good supermarkets stock Portuguese and international foodstuffs.
Twenty minutes by car, one can do the weekly shopping at the Jumbo hypermarket
in the vast shopping centre complex (« Forum Algarve ») in Faro.
A bread van stops outside the house every day (except Sunday) at about 9 am.
Inside the house is an information folder that we update regularly with information about the house, eating out, shopping, etc...
A colourful nearby house......................................
some of our bougainvillea ...........................................a cameleon in our garden
THE HOUSE :
« Vivenda Oliveira » is a new villa, built on a gently sloping
south-facing plot of about 500 m2 ; simple garden (enclosed on all sides) with olive, almond, palms and
banana trees, lime, orange, lemon, bougainvillea, jasmine, datura ...
an east facing patio at the side of house and courtyard area on northern side.
A 12 metre concreted driveway off the tarmac road provides good hard standing.
A vehicule can be parked out of the sun under the tall olive tree
( olive tree is "oliveira" in Portuguese) or in the garage.
The accommodation comprises :
Ground floor : Entrance into open plan dining-room and kitchen. An open wooden
staircase leads from the dining-room up to :
First floor : living-room with double French windows opening onto south-facing
terrace with panoramic views over countryside towards the sea,
2 bedrooms (1 double, 1 twin) well separated by the bathroom ( full size bath with shower bar and curtain,
basin and bidet), separate w.c.
The kitchen is very well equipped with a fridge/freezer, cooking hob, small oven and a small micro-wave ( new Oct 2008), toaster,
coffee machine and kettle.There is also nearly always salt, sugar, spices, cooking oil, coffee, tea....
In the upstairs living room: 55cm TV with satellite decoder, DVD and hi-fi
(for records, CD, cassette + radio); classical music records and CDs, a few DVD films, lots of books, and binoculars.
In the bedrooms : Bedding (sheets, pillowcases and blankets) and towels, including beach towels, are provided.
There is an automatic washing machine, with washing powder usually supplied. Bosch steam iron.
Outside : Barbecue. Garden tables, chairs, 2 sunbeds
The house has been built to high standards, is well insulated and has been built
on a platform above the ground to avoid direct contact with the earth ( most houses and new villas have just concrete poured onto
the ground with a sheet of plastic of course !!!).
All exterior walls are insulated, as is the roof and all doors and windows
are double-glazed. Only minimal heating is therefore required, provided
by fixed wall or portable electric convection heaters. Hot water is from a special
200 litre electrically heated tank.
A car is essential. (Car hire from Faro airport.)
NO SMOKING IN THE HOUSE PLEASE AND NO PETS.
SORRY BUT THE HOUSE IS NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 8
VIVENDA OLIVEIRA PRICES
Prices per week (2009 and 2010)
Please note that the house sleeps 4 people MAXIMUM.
2009 - 2010
|
PRICES (per week) all inclusive - no extras. Payment may be made in Euros or Sterling.
|
|
10 January - 21 March 2009
|
For 2 people - 320 Euros / £300 per week, inclusive.
For each supplementary person : 50 Euros per week.
Special winter rates - please ask.
|
|
21 March - 30 May 2009
|
For 2 people - 390 Euros (or £370) per week, inclusive.
For each supplementary person : 50 Euros per week.
|
|
30 May - 4 July 2009
|
For 2 people - 450 Euros (approx £425) per week, inclusive.
For each supplementary person : 50 Euros per week.
|
|
4 July - 29 August 2009
|
For 2 people - 520 Euros / £495 per week, inclusive.
For each supplementary person : 50 Euros per week.
|
|
29 August - 26 Sept 2009
|
For 2 people - 450 Euros / (approx £425) per week, inclusive.
For each supplementary person : 50 Euros per week.
|
|
26 September - 31 October 2009
|
For 2 people - 390 Euros / £370 per week, inclusive.
For each supplementary person : 50 Euros per week.
|
|
31 October - 19 December 2009
|
For 2 people - 320 Euros / £300 per week, inclusive.
For each supplementary person : 50 Euros per week.
Special winter rates - please ask.
|
|
19 December - 2 January 2010
|
For 2 p - 360 Euros (£340) 1 week,660 Euros - 2 weeks.
Each supplementary person 50 Euros per week.
Special winter rates - please ask.
|
|
2 January - 20 March 2010
|
For 2 people - 320 Euros / £300 per week, inclusive.
For each supplementary person : 50 Euros per week.
Special winter rates - please ask.
|
DISCOUNTS OF 5% TO 15% ARE AVAILABLE FOR STAYS OF 2 WEEKS OR MORE. (PLEASE NOTE THAT
THE AMOUNT IN POUNDS IS FOR REALLY MEANT FOR GUIDANCE ONLY- THE EXCHANGE RATES VARY AND A PRICE IN POUNDS WILL BE QUOTED AT THE
TIME OF THE REQUEST, AND THIS PRICE WILL NOT THEN CHANGE.)
Price includes cleaning at the end of each rental - but the house must be left
reasonably clean and tidy.
BOOKING and PAYMENT :
Payment may be made in Euros or Sterling, by bank transfer or by paying cash
into our LloydsTSB bank account.
A non-refundable deposit of 25% is required upon booking and the remaining 75% to be paid 4 weeks
before the arrival date.
If the booking is made less than 4 weeks prior to arrival date, 100% payment must be sent with the booking.
If the booking is cancelled less than 4 weeks prior to the arrival date,
a refund of up to 75% can only be made if other guests book for the same period.
A "caution" of 150 Euros cash or a £100 cheque (to cover possible damage or cleaning in excess of normal),
is requested upon arrival. Normally this will be returned at the end of the holiday.
CHANGEOVER DAY : We have no fixed changeover day - even including the summer months - we try to accomodate
whatever day is best for our guests.
FOR BOOKING AND FURTHER INFORMATION Please contact the owners :
Richard LONGLEY & Phillippa LONGLEY-RYDER (English, French & German spoken)
e-mail : viv-oliveira@aliceadsl.fr
Tel (France) : 00 33 467 77 36 64
NB : PLEASE DO NOT TELEPHONE BETWEEN 26 JAN - 2 MARCH 2009 : SEND AN E-MAIL AND AWAIT REPLY.
FOR A LAST MINUTE BOOKING SEND AN SMS TO OUR PORTABLE PHONE( BUT PLEASE DON'T LEAVE A MESSAGE !) 00 33 679 325 905
From Europe dial full number as above
From USA dial 011 in place of 00, then rest of number
