Vilalara Grand Hotel Algarve

“It wad a relaxed experience”

This is a beautiful quiet hotel where one can really switch off. I loved the whole philosophy of it and will be sure to return

“AMAZING STAY!”

We found Vilalara by accident after a bit of a rough start to our Algarve trip — one of those last-minute happy finds — and while we knew it was supposed to be nice, it far exceeded every expectation we had. The property is absolutely stunning!!! Set along dramatic Algarve cliffs with a private bea… more

We found Vilalara by accident after a bit of a rough start to our Algarve trip — one of those last-minute happy finds — and while we knew it was supposed to be nice, it far exceeded every expectation we had. The property is absolutely stunning!!! Set along dramatic Algarve cliffs with a private beach that is truly to die for, it feels peaceful, secluded, and incredibly special. The beach alone would have made the stay memorable — that quiet, tucked-away feeling that makes you feel like you’ve discovered something rare. But what really made it a 10/10 experience was the people. Every single staff member was so genuinely kind and welcoming. Nothing ever felt like too much trouble. Everyone was smiling, helpful, and warm in a way that didn’t feel scripted — it just felt real. We loved that many of the team members are from the neighboring town; it gave the whole place such an authentic, community-connected feel. The food was also excellent. Every meal felt thoughtfully prepared and high quality, and you could tell real care went into everything. The breakfast buffet in the morning was so good. There were so many options: fresh fruit, pastries, made to order eggs, breads, fresh squeezed juices, many coffee options— everything you could want and more. It made mornings feel relaxed and indulgent in the best way. Another highlight was being able to exit the property and walk straight onto the cliffside trails. The views are breathtaking, and having that access right outside the hotel makes it both magical and incredibly convenient. Our room was beautiful, and the bedding and pillows were some of the most comfortable we’ve ever had in a hotel — fluffy pillows, soft sheets, an actual king sized bed (not two twins pushed together). We loved the space, the staff, the calm, the attention to detail everywhere, and the delicious food. A perfect 10 out of 10 — and we absolutely cannot wait to go back. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!

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“Beautiful and scenic resort”

Overall, this is a beautiful resort in a stunning setting with welcoming staff and an amazing breakfast. Setting & Location Pros: The resort is set in a truly stunning location, with breathtaking views of the beach and cliffs. The landscaping and gardens are beautifully maintained and create a r… more

Overall, this is a beautiful resort in a stunning setting with welcoming staff and an amazing breakfast. Setting & Location Pros: The resort is set in a truly stunning location, with breathtaking views of the beach and cliffs. The landscaping and gardens are beautifully maintained and create a really peaceful, scenic atmosphere throughout. The tranquility garden has beautiful views and is so quiet and relaxing. There are also plenty of lovely seating areas dotted around the resort where you can sit and take it all in. There is direct access to a gorgeous sandy beach with lots of sun loungers available when we visited in April. Cons: The resort is hilly with lots of steps, just something to be aware of if you are carrying small children around! If you need to go to the local shop or supermarket, it is a very steep uphill walk from the resort. Uber is a good option if you need to go somewhere. Food Pros: Breakfast is a real highlight of this resort. The selection is fantastic, with lots of variety and really high-quality options. There are freshly baked cakes every day (everything from chocolate cake to coconut brioche and carrot cake), along with local cheeses, homemade jams in different flavours, and a range of freshly baked breads. The staff were also very friendly and welcoming, especially towards our small child, bringing her a babycino each morning which was a lovely touch. You can sit outside and see the lovely sea view every morning. Cons: The restaurants in the resort are quite overpriced and while some dishes were good, overall it didn’t feel worth the cost. Opening hours are also limited – for example, the Italian restaurant isn’t open every day – which means very limited options for food in the evenings. I recommend going to local restaurants outside the resort to get more variety and better prices. Uber is fast and reliable for going to local restaurants. Bedroom We stayed in an elegant suite, which was very spacious and comfortable. There was a great balcony overlooking the gardens. Family-Friendly Nature of the Resort Pros: I found this to be a family-friendly resort with warm and welcoming attitude towards children. There were lots of families with young children staying, which created a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere overall. The kids’ facilities are very good. There is a lovely indoor playroom with a ball pit, toys, teddies and colouring activities. Outside, there’s a sandy play area with buckets and spades, plus a slide, swings, football pitch, basketball hoop, playhouse and tricycles. Cons: The outdoor play areas have no shade and are fully exposed to the sun. Even in April it was quite hot, so this could be an issue in peak summer. The kids’ club schedule was a bit disappointing. The timetable looked great, but none of the activities listed on the timetable seemed to take place. This might have been because it was the off-season and maybe there weren't enough children attending everyday to make it possible to run the activities. On one day, a lovely staff member ran a small arts and crafts session for just a small number of kids, and it worked well. It would have been great if activities like this happened everyday and if staff interacted a bit more with the kids. Summary: This is a beautiful resort in a stunning location where you can have a very relaxing holiday. Dinner options and prices could be improved.

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“Beautifully landscaped but not at all family friendly”

I’ll start with the good bits. Visually, the resort is a treat. The landscaping is lush and green, and impeccably maintained. You get a really relaxed vibe walking around the property grounds. The beach is essentially private as it is nestled between cliffs. The beach is really big, clean, and sand… more

I’ll start with the good bits. Visually, the resort is a treat. The landscaping is lush and green, and impeccably maintained. You get a really relaxed vibe walking around the property grounds. The beach is essentially private as it is nestled between cliffs. The beach is really big, clean, and sandy, with plenty of loungers available. The highlight of our stay was the breakfast. The variety and quality were excellent. Note that the window for breakfast is short (8 - 10:30am) and the restaurant gets full after 10am. On the flip side, this is not a family friendly resort. The property is built on steep terrain and cobblestone roads that make it inaccessible for strollers. Getting to the beach or the pools requires you to constantly navigate stairs around the property. Apart from checking in or out, the hotel does not offer a buggy service for guests which means you are left to trek across the resort on foot, which can be exhausting for small children. The most concerning part of our stay was the kids club. There are serious safety issues at play here, and when I reported this, I was met with indifference. We saw children trip over exposed tiles / bricks, basic safety hazards that should not exist in a play area. Worse, I found a sharp wooden plank with a rusted nail sticking out in the play house. The next day, I saw a sharp nail left behind in the sandy pit that kids were playing in. Apart from safety, nothing actually happens in the kids club. Despite a detailed “activity plan”, the staff member sitting there looked totally bored and did not organize any activities. Kids are left to keep themselves occupied. Despite paying for a premium 5* experience, you can’t shake the feeling that the property is attempting to squeeze more money out of you at every turn. The resort has a number of tennis and pickleball courts, but these were empty for the most part because you need to pay to rent the rackets. If you prefer to order room service, every order comes with a 9 Euro delivery charge, even if you are ordering a 4 Euro coffee. I have never stayed at a hotel that charges a delivery fee for room service! There are a number of (expectedly overpriced) restaurants dotted around the property, but the food was distinctly average. Even a plain margherita pizza will set you back 24 Euros for a really sloppily made pizza. You are best off taking an Uber and eating out in town. Overall, while the resort is beautiful and breakfast is great, the rest of our experience really made it hard to truly enjoy our stay. Not a property I will be returning to.

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