Visitor Guide

A Visitor Guide is available which is a downloadable version of the web site, so it can be available in properties.

Uprating Your Electricity

Have you had problems with the main fuse blowing? If so, its easy to get it uprated and only a few extra Euros per month.
Here’s how

Call Minder on Telefonica

If you’ve got a land line from Telefonica, did you know that you have a free English speaking answer-phone service, similar to “BT’s “Call Minder”, where you can record your own greeting message. Its available by calling 1004.
Click here to get a few notes on how to set it up and use it.

English Speaking Operators at Telefonica

If you’ve got a land line from Telefonica, did you know that you can speak to an English speaking operator? First ring Telefonica using 1004, and you will hear a recorded messege telling you to press numbers, ignore this and keep quiet. Then you will hear another recorded message asking what service you require when this is finished say "Habla Ingles". If the English operator is free you will be connected to an English speaking operator, if the operator is busy you will hear music, until you are connected.
It it best to call around 14:00 hours as that seems to be the best time for reaching the English operators.

5 Cent per Min Calls to the UK

Telefonica has a standard charges to the UK on a land line of 11.87 cents to establish a call and 12 cents per min thereafter. BT has a Spanish subsidiary called Direct-Telecom, who charge only 5 cents per min. and you can see your charges online.

Telefonica Pay As You Go

If you have a Telefonica Pay As You Go mobile, did you know that you can dial *133# once a day, without charge, to be sent a text message telling you the outstanding euros on your card?

Getting Sky Cards for ITV1, Ch 4 and Ch 5

If you have a Sky box it will pick up all Free To Air TV and Radio Channels apart from ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5. Since November 2004, you can purchase a card from Sky which will enable you to see these channels. Click this to get a few details on how to do it.

And click this if you want a full list of all the TV and Radio Free To Air Channels.

Brezzo

Properties with pergolas are permitted to cover them with “Brezzo” as an awning. We discovered that there are different qualities and prices for Brezzo.
Click this if you like a few details on what we learnt.

Terrace Furniture Covers

Wet Tendedero?

For those with first or second floor apartments, you'll probably be well aware that there's no roof to the tendedero. Whilst for some, this might not be a issue, for others it might be quite useful if it could be made watertight. If you want any information on how to do this, within the development regulations of not changing the facade/external appearance, use Contact to request information. There's even a company who could do it all for you.

Post

In a recent experiment to see how long post took from the UK, it took over 2 weeks. One suggestion was that the post is stockpiled until there is enough to make a delivery worthwhile.
The Post Office which handles our mail is based in Punta Del Moral, in the building behind the new Kindergarten/Guarderia, next to Restaurante Simon II. Apparently its open from 13.45 to 14.15 Monday to Friday, and one may be able to go there to see if any mail is in transit. The Post Code is 21409

Faro Airport Parking

There are 3 different car parks at Faro airport. Click this if you would like information about their differing purposes and prices.

Sunday Openings of IKEA & Leroy Merlin

IKEA is open Mon-Sat 10-22,
plus Sun 10-21 Jul 3, Oct 12, Nov 1, Dec 4, 11, 18, 26.

Leroy Merlin Aljaraque is open Mon-Sat 10-22
plus Sun ??-?? Jul 3, Oct 12, Nov 1, Dec 4, 11, 18, 26

Carrefour is open Mon-Sat 10-22,
and for information, on whether they are open during local festivals call 902 20 20 00 between 8.30-22 Mon-Sat or
for information about the forthcoming week click this.

Buying/Importing and Maintaining a Car

The cheapest route to buying a car seems to be to purchase a left hand drive on either English or say German plates and transfer it to Spanish plates, working out even cheaper if you have the time to drive one down. The cost of transfer depends on engine size (under 2000cc is best) and on the car's value. 1000 euros is about the average which would include all taxes, registration and Spanish M.O.T. (whats that called? After 3 years?)if required.
The Spanish car market is more expensive than England, and Portugal is even more expensive with heavy duty and taxes on top of the car price. In a recent Price Waterhouse survey, Portugal was found to have new car prices 22% higher then the average in Europe. Click this to see the article in Portugal News.
For servicing, repairs and M.O.T., there is a garage run by two brothers, situated near the football stadium. To find it, turn left at the roundabout opposite the stadium as you head into Ayamonte, then first right. Its a Ford agency, and the blue Ford sign iseasy to find, with a show room as well as a service and repair garage. Meri speaks English very well, and his brother speaks a little English but is fluent in German. Meri will also search for cars for, bringing in cars from Germany to order second hand, and then handling all the paper work.
Probably not a good idea to buy from the local paper unless you get the car checked out, and even then can be quite a gamble unless you really know what to look for.