The Algarve has some of the best year-round weather in Europe and it’s also home to one of Portugal’s best luxury hotels Vila Vita Parc Resort & Spa.

Date of Stay: October 2021

Rates from EUR 215 per night including breakfast

Vila Vita Parc Resort & Spa is an all-singing, all-dancing multi award-winning luxury hotel just 30 minutes west of Faro airport. The team have been busy during COVID creating new shops including Etro, Villebrequin, Heidi Klein and Ralph Lauren as well as launching the first Sisley Spa outside of France. The award-winning signature treatment Golden Quartz Treatment has been a sell-out and you’d be well advised to book at least 2 weeks of your stay for any treatments to avoid disappointment.

If you’re travelling as a family you’ll want to be booked into the Oasis Suites which are away from the main building (just a short buggy ride or short walk) near the heated swimming pool with swim-up bar and though during the holidays this is where the children are, it’s the warmest pool and you’ll find yourself gravitating towards it for an afternoon smoothie or banana milkshake. The Oasis Family Suites sleep 4 with a large master bedroom with a private balcony and a smaller twin room with a private balcony. The large shared bathroom sits in between the two making it easily accessible for both rooms without disturbing the other. The entry-level rooms are in the main building with easy access to Bela Vista restaurant, the bar and terrace.

The adult-only infinity pool is near the pathway to the beach and is stunning as are the views, but it is cold and isn’t really a pool to do lengths - if this is what you’re after head to the indoor pool by the gym. If you just want to chill book a double bed in the infinity pool or one of the four posters up on the hill which have stunning views of the sea.

RESTAURANTS

Booking the restaurants in advance during half terms and holidays is essential for the evenings.

The infinity pool is on the same level as the Whale Restaurant, a popular choice with families as the menu features pizza and pasta, so if you’re travelling a deux I recommend booking a table from 8pm after the youngsters have headed up to bed. Above the Whale is the Atlantic a fine dining experience, though with teenagers in tow perhaps not a good choice as the menu is just a little too fussy for their simple taste buds, though there is a children’s menu.

We loved Adega, which is on a terrace near all of the shops. It serves simple, authentic Portuguese food (piri piri chicken, chorizo, pata negra) and the staff are cheery and eager to please. The children’s menu includes pasta with tomato, burger, spaghetti carbonara and sausages and mash. Please note that a sausage here is not like an English sausage, it is a frankfurter!

Bela Vista is in the main building and has a pretty terrace looking across the gardens and the fountains. This is the perfect choice for international dishes like lamb chops and mashed potato, good comfort food for the British palette.

Aladdin is a Moroccan affair and as my family don’t like Moroccan dishes we didn’t try it but the interiors are wonderful and very much in theme with the name.

For Michelin-star food and magnificent views try Ocean Restaurant, a fine dining Michelin experience led by Hans Neuner and his team, who has put the area on the world gourmet map thanks to the ideal combination of mouth-watering food, exceptional service and a sophisticated, yet relaxed, atmosphere.

Breakfast

Hands down the breakfast at Vila Vita Parc is the best hotel breakfast I have ever had. It really is a feast fit for a king. Vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians and carnivores will all be happy with the amazing selection on offer. The bakery selection is outstanding with daily freshly made rye, sourdough, seeded, white and gluten-free bread. There are the usual irresistible suspects but aside from the pain aux chocolat and croissants, there are madelines, doughnuts, apple tarts, cinnamon rolls, cakes, nut breads, wholemeal croissants and many daily specialities.

Lactose-intolerant guests have a choice of milks and there are plenty of fresh juices and daily smoothies to choose from as well as champagne and coffee anyway you like.

The choice on the breakfast menu includes avocado on toast, oat waffles with banana (delicious), omelettes, pancakes, full breakfast and my favourite sour dough with avocado, chilli, feta and chick peas.

WHAT TO DO

There’s plenty to do at Vila Vita Parc for all ages - crazy golf (the perfect setting for family arguments), yoga, swimming (there’s a family pool, adult-only pool, indoor pool and another outdoor pool) and there’s a private beach with bar and sun loungers. Be aware the steps are steep and if you’re a little immobile or have a dodgy ankle, knee or hip, then access might be tricky.

There’s a complimentary shuttle to two other restaurants on the beach less than 10 minutes away.

The Sisley Spa

The sensorial world of Sisley can be found at Vila Vita Parc. Housed in its own building the VILA VITA SPA is the only Sisley Spa outside Paris and offers guests a range of wellbeing therapies and beauty treatments. At the 2021 World Spa Awards VILA VITA Spa by Sisley Paris received two awards, one Best Signature Treatment in the World and the other Best Spa Resort in Portugal. The Golden Quartz Treatment, (the signature treatment) is 90 minutes long and involves warm healing quartz crystals and the healing sound of singing bowls. It’s worth noting that the therapists are just as exceptional as the Sisley products and it’s hard to beat the Manual Lymphatic Drainage massage if you’re looking for an effective immune-boosting treatment.

Who and Why?

Anyone and everyone! Vila Vita is the ideal hotel for all ages, couples and families; the estate is huge so there’s plenty of room for everyone, even when it’s busy.

www.vilavitaparc.com