FACT BOX
Getting there
FeelViana is located at Cabedelo Beach, in Viana do Castelo, which is the main windsurfing spot in the area. Closest airport is Porto, which is well served for UK and international connections with EasyJet and Ryanair amongst the numerous carriers operating routes to it. Transfer to the hotel takes around 45 minutes and is an easy trip on a large motorway for most of the journey. The airport has all the major car hire operators, but really the beauty of the hotel is that you don’t actually need a car unless you really want to explore. The hotel has a large Ford transit minibus with roof rack to take gear and offers transfers for 90 euro each way, which is regardless of the party size, so works out good value for a group or family. The airport itself is Portugal’s second busiest, modern and well equipped with lots of shops, restaurants and kid’s play areas for stress free travel.
Windsurf centre
The hotel’s centre offers sales, tuition and hire, with a stock of essential spares as well as surf clothing and wetsuits, sunblock etc. The rental fleet is brand new JP/Pryde kit with boards ranging from small freestyle wave through to freeride and beginner and sails ranging from small Combat wave sails to large freeride. The centre also offers fully equipped shower rooms, ventilated lockers with padlocks to store and dry suits, boards and other equipment should you choose to bring your own gear and these lockers can be hired for 10€/day. Lessons run from beginner through to advanced and the centre’s team are all fluent English speakers and will go out of their way to help you choose the right kit for the day and advise on conditions.
Kit
Locals mostly use a medium sized (85 litre) wave board and 4.7 sails with 4.0 / 4.2 for the rarer, really windy days and then 5.3 and 6.0 with a bigger freestyle wave (100 litre) for the lighter days. It’s a 5 minute walk to the beach from the car parks and some locals used beach trolleys to aid transport of their gear but for anyone used to carrying their gear won’t find it an issue, especially when the path to the beach is so beautiful! Wetsuit wise I just used boardshorts and a rash vest but there was people on the beach in 4/3’s and 3/2 full suits – it really depends on your tolerance – a good summer suit and shortie will be fine for most. A local explained to me that Portugal’s reputation for colder water helped keep some of the mainland Europe crowds away! For anyone from the UK I think the term ‘cold water’ will be extremely relative and not a problem! By the way the locals are very friendly so don’t be afraid to ask for any tips or help!
Best time
The main windsurf season runs from the start of April to the end of September, though locals say some seasons the thermal winds have started as early as February! José mentioned May as one of his favourite months with good waves and wind and low crowds. In winter, south based winds from fronts do offer port tack cross on conditions, though can be accompanied by heavy swells. In this instance, locals will often launch from within the harbour to avoid the shorebreak and then sail out the back of the waves breaking onto the beach.
Camping
There’s a very good campsite just behind the beach further down from the hotel run by www.orbitur.pt, lots of windsurfers in motorhomes were staying there but there are also dedicated sites provided by the council near the northern end of the beach with water and slush out facilities available.
Other info.
The hotel staff speak fluent English (and quite a few other languages!) and English is spoken widely enough in the city also. Evenings are warm but a jacket or hoodie is probably wise to pack if you feel the cold.
For more info. on Viana do Castelo, check out – www.cm-viana-castelo.pt
Hotel Contacts
Prices depend on time of year but start at €115 for a double room, breakfast included. There is a half-board option for €18.50 per person (drinks not included); children 4-12 pay 50% and children 0-3 are free.
hotelfeelviana.com
[email protected]
(+351) 258 330 330