Here’s what ClickandGo’s Liam Murphy thought of his recent holiday in the Algarve where he stayed in the Rocha Brava holiday village in Carvoeiro.
Where to go, where to go?
So, earlier this year my wife and I took the plunge and decided to go on our first family holiday with our (almost) 2-year-old twins. For choosing where to go we had a number of criteria. We were looking for somewhere warm but didn’t want to fry our two small children. We also wanted a relatively short flight time just in case our energetic toddlers got bored and decided to storm the cockpit. Finally, we had to be back before their second birthday in May, otherwise, they would no longer be considered infants and we would have to purchase a full priced seat for each of them.
With these conditions in mind, we decided that a holiday in the Algarve was our best bet. The Algarve is just three hours from Dublin and in April enjoys temperatures in the mid 20’s. Also, there are daily Aer Lingus flights to Faro from Dublin so we could choose exactly when to leave and return. Note that Aer Lingus also flies direct to the Algarve from Cork, Belfast and Shannon.
Next, we had to decide where to stay during our holiday. There’s a huge selection of family-friendly accommodation in the Algarve. We were looking for a self-catering apartment or villa close to (but not necessarily on) a beach and close to a centre or town where we could purchase food and supplies. Having looked at various options, we decided on the 4-star Rocha Brava village resort in Carvoeiro, about an hour’s drive west of Faro.
I should also mention that we commandeered one of my nieces to accompany us in the role of toddler wrangler. This was a masterstroke and well worth any additional expense. For anyone not fortunate enough to have a ready supply of nieces, I have several spare ones who I will happily rent out at very reasonable rates.
Rocha Brava
So having negotiated the necessary airports, flights and car rentals, we found ourselves heading for Rocha Brava just outside the town of Carvoeiro in the Algarve. To get there, head west from Faro Airport along the A22 (motorway including tolls) or N125, following the signs for Lisboa/Portimão/Albufeira. Once you reach Carvoeiro, Rocha Brava is very well signposted. Of course, you could also just book airport transfers from with your holiday and let someone else worry about the directions. You can check out directions from Faro airport to Rocha Brava and Carvoeiro on Google Maps.
Rocha Brava itself is a resort village of one and two-story villas and apartments of various shapes and sizes. However one of the really appealing things about the village is how it is landscaped. A lot of thought obviously went into planning the grounds so that the different units are separated by trees, bushes, shrubs and paths, providing a sense of privacy as well as ample shade. The grounds are also meticulously maintained.
We rented a three-bedroom villa which included a fully equipped kitchen (fridge, freezer, cooker, microwave, kettle, dishwasher, washing machine), one main bathroom and one en-suite, dining/sitting room, TV with various satellite channels, open fireplace (nice touch if you’re staying during the winter), small patio (with table and chairs), a barbeque pit, and a large rooftop sun terrace. A nice touch was that the kitchen came supplied with some simple essentials (tea, coffee, milk, bread, fruit, etc).
The grounds of Rocha Brava include three outdoor swimming pools one of which remains heated over the winter months. Each pool also has a separate kiddies’ pool. In addition, there are tennis courts and a fitness centre available for guests’ use.
Other facilities include a supermarket, cafe, restaurant and a wellness centre offering various treatments and therapies. A kids’ club for 4 to 12-year-olds operates from May to September, and for those who wish to stay connected during their holiday, there are free wi-fi hotspots in and around the cafe and restaurant.
The supermarket is small but well stocked with fresh fruit and veg, bread, milk, frozen food, wine, etc. Note however that it is a little expensive and better value is to be had in the large supermarkets (including an Aldi and Intermarché) on the outskirts of Carvoeiro.
The onsite restaurant in Rocha Brava is called O Farol and is well worth a visit at least once during your stay. It’s a little pricey, but the quality of the food (especially the seafood) and service is first class. You’ll also find a good selection of other restaurants within 15 minutes walk of Rocha Brava, and of course an extensive choice if you venture into Carvoeiro town.
Around Rocha Brava
Centianes Beach
The nearest beach to Rocha Brava is in Centianes, about a 20-minute walk away. The beach is also served several times a day by free shuttle buses from Rocha Brava. This is a golden sandy beach enclosed by cliffs at either end. Note however that access to this beach is via a pretty long and steep set of steps. If you’re looking for a beach that you can walk straight on to, try Carvoeiro.
Carvoeiro town
The closest town to Rocha Brava is Carvoeiro, about 3km or a 5 minute drive away. As with Centianes beach, there are free shuttle buses several times a day from Rocha Brava. Carvoeiro is a small, fairly touristy town with lots of bars, cafes, restaurants and shops. One of its best features is a perfect sandy beach right at the end of its main street, so you have swimming, sun-bathing, shopping and eating all within a couple of minutes of each other.
Further afield
If you fancy going a little further afield or doing a couple of day trips, there are loads of interesting cities, towns and villages within an easy striking distance of Carvoeiro. In no particular order, some of these include:
- Lagos: Home to the best beaches in the Algarve (according to www.lagosuncovered.com). Steeped in history, Lagos is the site of Europe’s first slave market and was the base of Portugal’s 15th Century explorations and conquests.
Silves: Incline Alert! Silves is very hilly, particularly if you want to visit the town’s Moorish castle, which is the main reason for going there in the first place. Having said that, the castle and its museum are well worth a visit. Silves is about a 20 minute drive north of Carvoeiro.- Ferragudo: If you’re looking for somewhere slightly less touristy, check out Ferragudo, a small fishing town across the estuary from Portimão. There’s a good selection of cheap restaurants and cafes around the town’s central square.
So would you recommend it?
Absolutely! If you’re considering spending your holidays in the Algarve, definitely check out Rocha Brava. Its layout, onsite facilities and range of accommodation options make it ideal for family holidays as well as couples, while Carvoeiro is perfectly located on the beach-dotted Algarve coast within easy reach of Faro airport and a host of other towns and villages. Our one regret was that we only booked 7 nights. With the two small people in tow, it took a couple of days longer than usual to settle into a routine, so we found ourselves heading home far too soon.
Useful links
- Holiday packages to the Algarve including Rocha Brava
(from Dublin, Cork, Belfast and Shannon) - Images of Rocha Brava (from their Facebook page)
- The official Visit Algarve tourism site
- Directions from Faro airport to Rocha Brava
