Algarve Important Information
To make a holiday trip to or through Portugal can be a delight. It is a smaller country to its neighbour Spain and therefore has a more personal and endearing character The major resort areas such as the Algarve, offer the holidaymaker as many attractions as anywhere in Europe. Throughout Portugal there is a chain of Tourist Offices manned by bilingual staff to assist the tourist. As the Portuguese are by nature hospitable, they are keen and proud to share their country with foreign visitors.
Commercial Hours
The normal shopping hours are from 09.00 until 1900 hrs on Mondays to Fridays. Saturdays is from 09.00 until 13 00 hrs. There are some shops that extend their hours and days of opening. Shopping Centres are open from 0900 to 23.00 hrs all week except for certain Public Holidays.
Disabled Facilities
There is a great lack in past design and facilities to provide for disabled needs. Happily, awareness is now showing and this is evident with the appearance of special parking places in public areas, special toilets at airports and stations and centres of entertainment. In Lisbon (217 585 676) and Porto (226 006 353) there is a dial-a-ride disabled bus service. Also in Lisbon (218 155 061) Braga (253 684 081) and Coimbra (239 484 522) there are taxi services for disabled persons
Electrical Current
The current all over Portugal is 220 volts AC and connection is made by two-pin plug. The plug today acts also as an earth except in older buildings that use older models of this two-pin plug.
Emergency Information
By calling anywhere in Portugal on 112 you will be connected to Fire, Police and Ambulance services. Every Fire Brigade also maintains one or more ambulances for emergencies. Chemists can give advice on simple health problems and suggest appropriate treatment. They are also permitted to sell many medicines without a Doctor's prescription. A green cross on white background denotes a chemist. A red cross on a white background denotes a Red Cross station. In most towns there are Emergency Treatment Centres (Centro do Saude) that will provide medical assistance 24 hours a day. Security in cities and towns is handled by the Policia de Seguranca Publica (PSP) rural areas by the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) and the traffic by the Brigada de Transito. On motorways and several major roads there are SOS phone boxes for help in accidents or breakdowns.
National Holidays
January 1st New Years Day
Good Friday
April 25th Liberty Day, commemorating the 1974
Revolution
May 1st Labour Day
Early June Corpus Christi
June 10th Portuguese National Day
August 15th Feast of the Assumption
October 5th Republic Day
November 1st All Saints Day
December 1st Celebrating independence from Spain in
1640
December 8th Feast of the immaculate Conception
December 25th Christmas Day
It is tradition for each municipality (concelho) to reserve one annual day as a holiday for its commerce. This day is principally used as an excuse for celebration and you will find restaurants open but most shops closed.
Local Numbers
Property Letting Agent/Management Company:
Algarve Rental Management, LDA
Urb. Rubafer Lote 4B Torre
Armancao de Pera
8365-184
Louise +351 917771686
Bonnie +351 917771637
Police:
Albufeira +351 289 513 203
Tourism Office:
Albufeira (Rua 5 de Outubro) +351 289 585 279
Health Centre:
Guia +351 289 561 662
Pharmacy:
Guia (Rua da Liberdade, nº 10 ) +351 289 561 443
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