Useful tips for your vacation

Pharmacies
You can recognize Portuguese pharmacies (Farmácia) by a green cross on a white background. Normal opening hours: Monday to Friday 9 am to 13 pm and 15 pm to 19 pm, Saturday 9 am to 13 pm. If you need medication on a Sunday or public holiday or at night, you will find a notice in every pharmacy with the address of the nearest emergency pharmacy. Information also at the hotel reception.

Doctor
In order to ensure that the costs of medical care are covered in the event of an accident or illness during your vacation stay, it is advisable to have a European health insurance card with you or to take out private international travel health insurance.

Excursions
The Algarve is just too good for swimming. Our excursion program with prices and dates can be found on this website or you can ask your tour guide for advice. The various excursions will be presented to you at the first information meeting.
A little hint: Don't wait too long to book. It is best to secure your seats as soon as possible.

Banks
Opening hours Monday to Friday 8.30 a.m. to 15 p.m. The most convenient way to withdraw cash is to use the numerous ATMs marked “Multibanco”.

Bus
All major towns in the Algarve can be reached by bus. You can get bus timetables at the reception of your hotel. Some hotels have their own shuttle service to the nearest major city.

SHOP
Every resort in the Algarve has a wide variety of shops and stalls selling handicrafts. On a trip to the hinterland, however, you will usually find the more original goods. Arts and crafts products are more authentic and in any case cheaper and nowhere is there better wild honey and the typical medronho than in the mountains. A large selection of azulejos, ceramics and other pottery can be found in the Porches pottery on the EN 125 between Albufeira and Portimão. Baskets and knitwear are made all over the Serra de Monchique, with the largest selection in Monchique. The cheapest place to buy brass and copper works is where they are made: in Loulé.

Holidays
Offices, banks and shops are closed on the following days:

There are also the moving holidays of Carnival, Good Friday, Easter and Corpus Christi.

Filming & photography
In many churches, museums and palaces there is a good reason why there is a ban on flashing lights. The brightness of the flashes causes irreparable damage to works of art. The Portuguese usually like to be photographed - provided you politely ask for permission.

Business hours
Supermarkets in the holiday centers are usually open seven days a week until late in the evening. The opening times of smaller shops in the country are variable. For all others the following applies in principle:

Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 13 p.m. and 15 p.m. to 19 p.m.,
Saturday 10am-13pm.

Markets are usually open from 8 a.m. (sometimes earlier) to around 13 p.m., except on Sundays and public holidays.

tap water
Tap water is suitable for making coffee / tea and brushing your teeth, but not as drinking water. Please buy mineral water for this.

Markets
Market halls can be found in every major town in the Algarve. Here you can buy meat, fish, poultry, fruit and vegetables. Occasionally there are also wicker and pottery stalls. Except on Sundays and public holidays, the halls are open daily in the mornings (see business hours).

Local markets take place in many locations across the Algarve. The Loulé market on Saturday mornings is particularly recommended. The markets offer good opportunities to meet the Portuguese.

Additional and particularly interesting are the farmers' and weekly markets (feiras), which take place regularly and where you can buy almost everything from art to kitsch and from pans to plastic. At least once during your vacation you should see what life is like in one of these markets, for example in

Important note: Not all markets are currently taking place. Please inquire with your tour guide or at the reception of your hotel.

Rental car
We ask you to make your rental car reservation exclusively through your tour guide, so that you can enjoy the full service and the favorable special conditions. She is also happy to help you with route planning and of course also informs you of current special offers.

Electricity
The voltage is 220 volts / 50 Hertz. The sockets correspond to Central European standards. Most hotels do not have electrical outlets in the bathroom for safety reasons.

Taxi
The reception of your hotel will be happy to help you if you need a taxi.

Tip
It is common practice to tip in restaurants and bars. The guideline value is approx. 5 to 10% of the invoice amount. At the hotel, consider the maid, porter and waiters in the dining room.
A little tip: Do not wait until the day of your departure to tip, you will be served all the more attentively and courteously. The bus driver who controls your excursion bus will also be happy to receive a small tip.
You are of course free to tip whether and how much you tip. It should only ever be given in recognition of a good performance.

Valuables
Valuables such as cash, ID documents, jewelry or your valuable photo equipment belong in the hotel's rental safe. Keep an eye on your bag wherever there is a crowd, take only as much money with you as you need and don't put your wallet in your back pocket. Please do not leave any valuables in the car either. For stolen
Neither the hotel nor the tour operator is liable for items. However, if you should lose something, please report the loss to the local police. For any claims with your insurance company or for submission to the German authorities, you need a police report (for a fee).