FACT BOX
Getting there
FeelViana is located at Cabedelo Beach, in Viana do Castelo. 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.
SUP 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 kit with boards ranging from inflatable kid and adult all-rounders to hard boards from the JP Fusion and Surf Wide range. 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. 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
For SUP surfing here, just your normal all-round beach break board is fine. Wetsuit wise I just used boardshorts and a rash vest when I was there in July 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 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!
Best time
September through to May is the main wave season but you can still score in summer, just expect it to be on the smaller side and the thermal
side-shore winds to be more prevalent. In winter, storm fronts can bring heavy onshore conditions.
Camping
There’s a very good campsite just behind the beach further down from the hotel run by www.orbitur.pt, lots of surfers 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 in summer 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
Prices
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.
Hotel Contacts
www.hotelfeelviana.com
info@hotelfeelviana.com
(+351) 258 330 330
