Informations

Preparing your trip

 

Here is useful information for your trip. 

Do not hesitate to contact us if you want more details.

Health

– European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

It is locally called CESD, Cartão Europeu de Seguro de Doença.

It is delivered free of charge. This card is nominative: each person in the family must have their own card, even the children.

It allows you to benefit from full or partial reimbursement of all on-site care of your health expenses (medical and pharmaceutical care, hospitalizations).

This card must be requested at least two weeks before your departure on the website http://www.ameli.fr/

– Pharmacies : You will always find a pharmacy on duty in large cities open 24 hours a day. All pharmacies display the nearest one.

In some shopping centers, you will find places dedicated to certain drugs.

Several pharmacies are located in Serpa :

  • Farmácia Monge, Lda : R. de São Bento 64, Vila Nova de Sao Bento tel: +351 284 588 282 Monday to Friday 9am-7pm, Saturday 9am-1pm, closed Sunday.
  • Farmácia Central: R. João de Deus 2, 7830-456 Serpa tel: +351 284 549 107 Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Farmácia Serpa Jardim: R. Dr. Eduardo Fernandes de Oliveira 37, 7830-457 Serpa: +351283 543485 Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 

Time difference

There is no time difference between London, United Kingdom and Lisbon, Portugal.

 

Opening hours 

Banks : Weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. ATMs are marked with the acronym “MB” (MultiBanco). They allow the withdrawal of cash 24/7.

“MB” have two particularities, they are capped at 200 euros per withdrawal and the largest denomination is 20 euros.

You will find two “MB” distributors in the village of Vila São de Bento (7km from the cottage) 

A little further, in Serpa, you have 5 “MB” available.

Post Offices : Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. In the heart of major cities as well as at train stations and airports, offices may be open on Saturdays (and sometimes even on Sundays).

Shops : shops are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. Some establishments remain open for lunch and Saturday afternoon.

In Serpa, the supermarkets (Intermarché, Lidl, Pingo, Doce) are open every day of the week from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

Closer, in Vila Nova de Sao Bento, is the “Damian” supermarket, open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Gas Stations : They are open 24 hours a day in major cities and along highways.

 

Credit card limit

Often when traveling, you want to buy a souvenir that can be expensive and you find yourself limited by the limit of your card. Before leaving, it is best to check your ceiling and, if necessary, temporarily increase it.

 

Electricity

The voltage and frequency are the same as in France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium… (230 V, 50 Hz).

So you can use all your devices without a power adapter.

 

Telephone codes :  

To call a number in Portugal, add the prefix: 00351 or +351 then the number of your correspondent.

Whether calling from a foreign country or within Portugal, the prefix 351 is always used). 

To call a French number from Portugal, dial the prefix: 0033 or +33 then the number of your correspondent without the first 0. 

To call United Kingdom from Portugal, the code is +44

To call France from Portugal, the code is +33

To call Spain from Portugal the code is +34

To call Germany from Portugal the code is +49

To call Belgium from Portugal the code is +432

To call Switzerland from Portugal, the code is +41

 

A few words and expressions for your trip to Portugal

In the big cities and tourist areas it is possible to get by in English or even in French. In the countryside it is a little more complicated.

In any case, saying learning words or expressions in Portuguese will always be useful and appreciated by your interlocutor.

Good morning ( bom dia ) for the morning and (boa tarde ) for the afternoon

Good evening (Boa noite)

Yes ( Sim)    /   No ( Nao )

Thank you : obrigado (masc.), obrigada (fem.)

No, thank you : ( Não, obrigado(a)) 

Goodbye ( tchau ) 

Please ( Por favor )

Can you help me ? (Pode me ajudar?)

The addition please ( Uma jarra de água por favor )

A carafe of water please ( Uma garrafa de água por favo )

Where can I find…? (Wave é que há …?)

Where is the post office located ? ( Onde fica o correio? )

Do you accept credit cards ? ( Aceita pagamento por multibanco ? )

How much is it ? ( Quanto isso cust? )

I don’t understand ( Eu nãoentendre) 

Can you repeat ? ( Você pode repetir )

Do you have a non-smoking area ? ( em um espaço não fumadores ? )

Do you speak French/English/Spanish/German ( Desculpe! fala inglês/inglês/espanhol/alemão )

Where is the toilet, please ? ( Onde se encontra à casa de banho, por favor? )

Which way to get to the airport please ? (Qual direção devo seguir para ir para o aeroporto, por favor? )

What time is it, please ? ( Que horas são, por favor? )

 

Driving in Portugal

The road network, both main roads and secondary roads, is in good condition. The highways are fluid also in good condition and the signage satisfactory.

 

Portuguese highways 

In Portugal, there are two types of motorways. Both are chargeable and relatively expensive, but are distinguished by different payment devices.

Classic highways

Payment is made at the toll in cash or by credit card as in France or elsewhere in many countries.

Electronic toll highways

Highways are electronically tolled for foreign vehicles.

These tolls with electronic gantries are marked with the acronym “Via Verde”. When you cross it, a photo of the vehicle is taken to calculate the amount of your route. There is no manual payment lane. 

We advise you to study how it works if you want to take this type of highway.

 

 

Car rental

It is very common that the rental company insists that you take out insurance, check the conditions of your credit card beforehand because very often you are already insured and there is no point in covering yourself twice.

In Portugal, like Spain, you are offered by default not to refuel when returning your vehicle. This device is much more expensive than refueling yourself, so choose the option “Return tank to the same level”.

It is not necessary to have an international license, however you must be at least 21 years old.

 

Airports

The closest international airports to Monte Vale Viegas are :

Lisbon: From the capital, it takes about 2.5 hours to get to the lodge. Be careful, when leaving Lisbon you have to cross the “April 25” suspension bridge which is very often blocked.

Seville: From this beautiful Spanish city, it takes about 2 hours 45 minutes to reach Monte Vale Viegas.

Faro: From this very touristy little town, it takes 2 hours and 20 minutes to reach the lodge.

 

Restaurants

It is common in restaurants in Portugal to bring you small “appetizers” dishes of olives, sardines, cheese and cold cuts…, to make you wait and put you in your mouth. These small dishes are always chargeable and can increase the bill, unless they are part of a fixed menu. 

If you don’t want it, just let the server know. This avoids discussions during the addition.

We have dinner late, around 9 p.m. Bread and cutlery are always payable.

As for tips, they are in no way obligatory. However, if you think the service deserves it, they will be appreciated and welcome.

here is the list of some restaurants

 

Holidays in Portugal

# January 1: New Year / Ano Novo.

# April 25: Freedom Day. / Dia da Liberdade (Carnation Revolution, anniversary of the end of the dictatorship on April 25, 1974 by the famous coup that ended the Estado Novo government and established the Portuguese Third Republic.

# May 1: Worker’s Day / Festa do Trabalho.

# June 10: National Day. Anniversary of the death of the poet Camões in 1580).

# October 5: The Establishment of the Republic / Heróis da República: (Republic Day – established in 1910). 

# November 1: All Saints Day / Todos-os-Santos.

# December 1: Restoration of Independence / Dia da Independência (Independence Day – restored in 1640 after 60 years of union with Spain in the Iberian Union).

# December 8: The Immaculate Conception / Imaculada Conceição (Catholic feast of the conception of the Virgin Mary, patroness of Portugal since 1646).

# December 25: Christmas / Natal.

FIND US EASILY

Here are some maps to locate the Vale Viegas lodge

Do not hesitate to contact us if you want more details.

 

MAP

GPS location

From Serpa

  • Take the IP8 towards Vila Nova de São Bento ;
  • at the Vila Nova intersection, turn right towards Mina de São Domingos – Kartodromo ;
  • after 4 kilometers, at the crossroads of the Penalva road, (Landmark = about few mailboxes).

 

From Rosal de la Frontera (Spain) 

  • Take the IP8 towards Vila Nova de São Bento ;
  • at the Vila Nova intersection, turn left towards Mina de São Domingos – Kartodromo ;
  • after 4 kilometers, at the crossroads of the Penalva road, (Landmark = about few mailboxes).

Take the unpaved road and follow our friends the lynxes to the Vale Viegas lodge.
tête de lynx

YOUR QUESTIONS – OUR ANSWERS

Here are the answers to your main questions. 
Do not hesitate to contact us if you would like further details.

HOW TO BE SURE THAT MY RESERVATION IS CONFIRMED ?

It’s simple, you will receive a confirmation by email immediately after your reservation and then a second email two weeks before your arrival.

Despite this, if you have the slightest doubt, do not hesitate to contact us contact.

 

I WANT TO CANCEL MY RESERVATION

This is a very important point for us because as you have noticed, we do not take a deposit when you book. If you don’t come without canceling, it’s a dead loss for us.

To cancel, just contact us by WhatsApp/phone +351 911 827 347 or send us an email to  contact@valeviegas.eu

 

WHEN DOES PAYMENT TAKE PLACE ?

Payment is made on arrival when the keys are handed over.

 

DO YOU ACCEPT BANK CARDS ?

No, we are not connected to the banking network, we accept checks and cash.

 

DO YOU ACCEPT HOLIDAY CHECKS ?

No, we cannot accept holiday vouchers.

 

AT WHAT TIMES ARE ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES ? 

Arrivals are from 10 a.m. on your arrival and departures no later than 6 p.m. on the day of your departure.

 

MUST WE CLEAN BEFORE LEAVING THE COTTAGE ?

Apart from the barbecue that you The rental includes the “end of stay cleaning” except the cleaning of the barbecue which remains your responsibility. This frees you from the hassle of cleaning the cottage.

 

CAN WE HAVE AN EXTRA BED FOR A YOUNG CHILD OR BABY ?

Yes of course. Please let us know when making your reservation. (Subject to availability)

 

IS IT POSSIBLE TO ORDER A BREAKFAST BASKET OR A PICNIC ?

Apart from the first day when we provide you with everything you need for your first breakfast, we do not offer this type of service. A bakery and a supermarket can be found in Vila de São Bento.

 

WE WANT TO TRAVEL WITH OUR DOG OR OUR CAT IS IT POSSIBLE ?

We will be delighted to welcome our animal friends.

 

ARE THE COTTAGES SMOKING ?

For reasons of safety and respect for the premises, we ask our customers to use the exteriors and the ashtrays.

 

WHERE CAN WE PARK ?

A covered car park is provided for this purpose, the car park is located inside the farmhouse, its access is always open for free access but the area is closed by a gate.

 

WE ARE MANY, IS IT POSSIBLE TO RENT SEVERAL GITES ?

Exactly, the estate is made up of 2 independent gites. If you wish these can be rented simultaneously, if the dates are available!

 

IS THE POOL PRIVATE OR SHARED ? 

The swimming pool (4X9 meters) is shared between the two gites.

 

WHERE CAN WE GET SUPPLIES ? 

You can get supplies in Vila Nova de São Bento (7km) with small shops, or in Serpa (8km) with all shops, including 5 supermarkets that are always open.

 

DOES THE MOBILE PHONE RECEIVE WELL ?

Yes in the gîtes and on the terraces, however in the rest of the property, it depends on the location.

 

DO YOU HAVE WIFI ?

No, wifi is only accessible via your mobile phone.

 

IS IT POSSIBLE TO COME BY MOTORBIKE ?

Biker friends, you are welcome. Your motorcycles will also be safe.

 

DO WE NEED TO BRING ANY LAUNDRY ?

We provide you with all the linen you need during your stay at the gîte, the beds will be made on your arrival and the towels necessary for your stay will be provided.

 

ARE THE COTTAGES COMPLYING WITH SAFETY STANDARDS (ELECTRICAL, FIRE…) ?

The lodgings comply with the standards in force. In each gite you will find a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, the emergency telephone number.

These different provisions are detailed in the “Welcome Booklet” and are reminded to each holidaymaker on the day of their arrival.

 

WHICH TV CHANNELS CAN I RECEIVE IN THE COTTAGE ?

We receive Portuguese and Spanish channels.

 

ARE THE GITES AIR CONDITIONED ?

No, but the gîtes are well insulated and allow you to keep a pleasant temperature in all seasons. 

As in all southern countries, the walls of the houses are whitewashed to protect against the heat. 

On request, fans can be supplied.

 

If you have another question that isn’t here Contact us

Contact us: Booking / Information

 

 

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