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With more hours of sunshine than California and only short periods of rainfall, the Algarve has the perfect climate for holidaymakers looking to soak up the sun. It’s easy to see why, as a family, we keep going back!
FAR AWAY SO CLOSE
Up until a few years ago we wouldn’t have considered Portugal as a holiday destination having always favoured Minorca and Mallorca. However, after a friend of ours kindly offered us the use of their beautiful villa near Carvoeiro, we’ve been hooked ever since.
So, when the opportunity came for us to take a family break, we chose the five star VILA VITA Parc Hotel, only thirty five minutes drive from Faro airport, close to where we had originally stayed.
One of the Leading Hotels of the World, VILA VITA Parc has to be seen to be believed. The hotel is set in 200,000 square metres and has beautifully manicured grounds with a spectacular range of subtropical plants and has its own private beach. We were spoilt for choice for accommodation with a choice of the main or private villas or family suites. We opted for one of the family suites, a little away from the main building but within easy walking distance of all of the facilities.
As you’d expect from its rating, our suite was beautifully designed, immaculate with three balconies giving views to the gardens and sea. We also benefitted from a roof terrace from which we could view the lavish abundance of the hotel’s plants and flowers. With nine restaurants to choose from, we certainly were spoilt for choice when it came to mealtimes.
We could also visit the hotel’s beach restaurant just a taxi ride away or, as we did on a couple of occasions, a pleasant forty minute stroll along the coastal path and stretch of beach.
Spa goers would have been in their element with the VILA VITA Vital Spa with their wide range of high quality beauty treatments and being the fit family we spent much of our time in the resort’s Health Club with its state-of-the-art gym, crammed with Technogym equipment, Finnish sauna, steam baths and whirlpool.
There was even a cold room packed full of snow. It was a bit cold when we stayed so we couldn’t make use of the outdoor pool but the temperature regulated indoor pool was great fun.
There was certainly plenty to do at VILA VITA Parc, with the 9 hole pitch and putt practice course, five tennis courts, weekly sports programmes and a host of other possibilities.
You could even charter the hotel’s luxury yacht and explore the beautiful Algarve coastline and visit the many secluded coves and beaches.
Children are particularly welcomed in the Algarve and the hotel is fully equipped to keep the young ones happy with their play area, children’s pools and child care facilities at Anabella’s Kids Park and Natalie’s, the VILA VITA Parc’s crèche. The hotel staff were very welcoming and very accommodating with our every whim catered for. We can’t wait to return!
What we loved
■ The breakfasts! Everything you could think of from meats and cheeses, porridge and cereals to full English and pancakes
■ The sheer luxury of the hotel
■ Breathtaking beaches
■ Free transfers to and from the Hotel’s Beach Restaurant
■ The 18 hole putting green
■ The friendliness of the Portuguese
Places to visit
Lagoa, Silves, Portimao, Lagos, Monchique and our favourite Carvoeiro
We flew with Bmibaby
www.bmibaby.com
We flew from Cardiff International Airport
www.cwlfly.com
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