Aparthotel Vila Petra Reviews

we have stayed at the vila petra about 5 times now and have to say it is still as clean and tidy as the 1st time we went. the staff are all very helpful, everything works in the apartments and if you have a problem it is usually fixed pretty quickly. we will be coming back again next year. if you have been before the supermarket down the strip on the corner next to the dual carrigeway was shut been takenover. the best one is up the stip past the montechoro hotel. found a very good restaurant called the palacete down the strip over the dual carraigeway, come to the little crossroads, the costa rica on the corner, turn right go along the road to the left of liberto's, past the bars on your right and a few minutes walk up the road and the Palacete is next door to the koala gardens restaurant. bread and butter 2starters 2main bottle red wine and 2 or 3 beers about 60odd euros

Travelled from Blackpool to Faro which was only a 2hr 30 min flight with Jet2 and as we are used to a long boring 5hr flight to Cyprus this flight seemed very short and we were landing in what seemed no time at all.Booked Flights,Transfers and Hotel all seperately £790 for 1week for 2 people.

The Vila Petra was indeed 4 star accomodation with a good indoor and a superb outdoor pool set in well kept gardens.Hotel also had a well equipped Gym

Our one bedroomed appartment with street veiw was excellent with a fully fitted kitchen, including a microwave and even a dishwasher. All furniture was clean and of a high standard with plenty of storage space for our many belongings.And most importantly a TV with BBC1 & BBC2 which helps to pass away the time whilst waiting to hit the town.

The bars in the Vila Petra were ok to finish off your night, but wouldn`t stay there all night (as 2 forty something year old working class people, we thought these bars were more suited for elderly upper class residents who tutted if the noise level went above a certain level)

Albufeira itself was a very nice area in which to spend a week although the walking could be tiresome with almost every street around the seafront being very hilly.

The Strip was lively enough but quiet compared to the likes of Ayia Napa. We did find several decent bars including Micks Bar toward the bottom of the strip and Blues Bar at the top end where we spent a frustrating night watching Everton draw at home.

On the down side, we thought the quality of restaraunts was poor with very limited choice of menu. Ended up eating three times in Mr Menu which was basicly just pub grub, but cheap enough.

As for the Road Train, "FORGET IT" despite what other reviews say it is impossible to get on due to it always being packed out with people crammed in like sardines.

As others have reported, there is a large number of beggars around the strip area and this can be very upsetting to see if you are caring socialists like ourselves. Not all beggars are con merchants so we urge everyone to spare a thought for their plight and give what you can afford.

All in all a good holiday made all the better by staying at the first class Vila Petra. And being able to enjoy a smoke with your meal and drinks unlike at home.

Just returned from our first holiday in Portugal and stayed at this superb Aparthotel. It is well placed and kept in immaculate condition, lovely apartments, pool area is large and pool very nicely kept, the gardens around the hotel are also very well maintained. This is not a hustle and bustle hotel with lots going off but a great base for a family holiday and to say it is only 300yds from the 'Montechero Strip' you just do not hear any of the bars discos etc.

As regards the resort, this hotel is set in the Montechoro area of Albufeiora which has a 'Strip' approx 1 mile long down toward the sea, full of a wide range of quality restaurants, bars, shops etc, whilst busy it is not overpowering and the quality of eating / drinking places is excellent and caters for all tastes and budgets. Favourite eating places on the Strip were 'Restaurant Leao' ( first restuarant on the left as you come onto the strip from Vila Petra ) traditional Portugese and English cooking at reasonbale costs, seafood and meats were so fresh and also do a mean English breakfast. The other was an Italian called 'Nonsolo' further down the strip just beofre the main road.
Then the other part of Albufeira is the 'Old Town' access is best by the land train, leaves every 20mins near the Steak house at the bottom end of the Strip. Last train back is 3am !!! cost approx 12 euros return for a family of 4 takes about 15 mins or 1 hour+ to walk. Old Town has lovely selection of old style typical portugese cobbled side streets and alleyways then the Town Square has all been refurbished with open air eateries and bars, great place on a night, safe for families and a mix for all ages, cracking atmosphere with a few resturants that have live acts on ( Bar 7 1/2 and Vegas Bar ).

Trips - we had pre-booked on the net to vist ZooMarine several months ago to swim with the Dolphins and for nature lovers believe me that was an experience that will stay with all of us for ever, not cheap but worth every penny, always pre-book as there were not many cancellations the day we were there. Apart from Dolphins Zoo marine has many other attractions and is only 30 mins by coach from Albufeira, (little gift shop called 'Popfashion'near Linekers Bar does discounted tickets including coach ). The only other place we travelled to was 'Aqualand Water Park', again 30 mins by coach or bus, excellent clean park, good selection of slides for all ages, good eateries and value for money. If you hire your own tyres then the queueing was very minimal even mid-afternoon when it filled up.

All in all probably the best holiday we have had and cannot reccomend Portugal or Albufeira highly enough, something for everyone including great climate and beaches. Give it a go, we'll defintiely go back to Vila Petra at some point.

Spent a fantastic fortnight in Vila Petra 26th may to 9th june. 2 adults and 1 infant in a studio. I e- mailed ahead to make sure a high chair and cot would be available and they were in the room on our arrival. The apartments are very well kitted out with full oven, hob, dishwasher etc and plenty glasses and crockery etc.

Everything was spotless, all lights worked, great power shower and always hot water which is a change.

Very child safe balcony (concreted walls instead of rails) but lost the sun as early as 11am but this was goos as our 20month old was wandering about and this meant he didn't get the sun on the balcony at the heat of the day. We were located in the 2nd block outside, there are 3 incl reception/main block but just a few minutes walk.

Laundry was e3.50 for a wash and same for a dry but both machines were huge and took a large load, get the key and tokens from reception.

Night entertainment looked pretty average but we were out most nights and only stopped in for a nightcap the odd night. Large beer in the hotel a bit more expensive at e3.20 compared to as little as e1.50 around the Strip. Tasted the same to me!!

Large pool area but a few times not enough to go round if you go down after 10am but lovely gardens and grounds to put your towel down on. We did this a few times with the bairn as it was lovely lying in the shade and he wandered around happily. Main pool was warmer than the baby one strangely. Sunbeds were reserved contrary to what the sign said at the poolside. I was at the pool early (9am) and the 2 beds next to me had towels on with no people. I left at around 1pm for lunch and still no bodies on the sunbeds. Selfish, as others were coming down and couldn't get one.

Health centre, jacuzzi/whirlpool, massage, indoor pool, onsite supermarket, laundry, 2 bars, restaurant, excellent gym, tennis, squash.......plenty to do.

Very well equipped, smart, clean, well run apartments with lovely gardens and location. Okay, it's near the Strip but not noisy at all.

I would highly recommend these apartments to couples and families alike and would definately return to them. Only downside was we not only e-mailed ahead to First Choice and the hotel but also asked the hotel several times while there for a late checkout as we had a 7 hour gap between vacating the room and being picked up for the airport, but they coudn't/wouldn't accomodate us. We even offered to pay a full daily rate so our son could get a sleep during the day but no go. The hotel was not full so I don't know why?

Great apartments in a great location so go for Vila Petra. Definately 4 star.

Recommend:

Stones Bar (top of the Strip): Joseph and his staff always make you welcome and lost count of the free beers, t shirts and toys etc for my wee boy. Great place for a drink, to watch the footy and people watch. Oh, and play connect 4!

Mr Menu (top of the Strip): Not the cheapest or the best but saved my life with a pretty damn good pepper steak late when arriving late on a saturday night.

Taj Mahal (opposite Mr Menu): Visited twice and as good as ever. Great service and food. Beware though, portions are smaller than in the UK but fine if you are a moderate eater like me! Great with kids (lolly).

Chor Bar (very top of the Strip): Excellent service, very friendly staff, good fish and quite an extensive menu. Do English breakfasts for e2 if that's your thing (didn't try). Kids no problem as waiters loved our bairn and gave him tassles etc to play with.

Silk (top end of Strip): Strangely empty both times we went for lunch but busy at night. Just had toasties and sandwiches a couple of lunchtimes but very nice, cheap also. Staff great with our wee boy (balloons, lollies etc). Large beer for e1.50??

A Tasca dos Careca (straight across from the Vila Petra): Lovely meal here with very friendly service, large, chilled shrimps (about 2 dozen) to start and nice piri piri. Lovely little restaurant. Again great with children. Wine only about e6 a bottle which is cheap for a restaurant. Port after meal on house.

Amendoeira (Left as you leave the Vila Petra and around 80 metres away): Waiter a good laugh, attentive and Golden Bream a joy, seafood fetucinni nice also. Nice little place for a relaxing meal. Breakfast wasn't so good though but they do take away sandwiches in case you have a delay between checking out and your flight time. Monte Velho tasted best here somehow!! Free port after meal again.

Paella (just off the Strip): Heard a few good and bad about this place but we had an excellent meal here on our 10th wedding anniversary. Quite relaxed although just 30 yards from the Strip. Great Tournedo Rossini, wife had a lovely paella. Good service again. Complimentary port etc. Best olives I tasted this holiday, well marinaded and really tasty.

Martinique (opposite Oura Praia Hotel): Lovely sandwiches but beware. I wasn't very hungry but was caught out as the sandwich was huge. Lovely tuna and fresh salad. Very fair prices as well. Good for people watching but busy with traffic.

O'Leao (top off Strip): In the past this was a real favourite of mine but sadly never had dinner there. Had a few lunches though and a breakfast, all were nice. Staff very funny (playing the bongos ate breakfast!) and lollies for the wee fella yet again.

Bank (Old Town square): Just had lunch here but huge portions, extensive menu and I thought very fair prices for location. Busy so service a bit slow but a nice place to watch all the goings on in the square.

Kilt and Kelt (just off the Strip): Nice Scottish breakfast, lady that served not very friendly though. Do potatoes and veg with meals which is a nice change.

Hollandaise (across from the taxi rank halfway up the Strip): Good, friendly service, good prices and lunch selection.

Would NOT recommend

Restaurant Grille 54 (Old Town): Been here a few times before but the service and food has slipped. Wife's sea bream overcooked. My monkfish kebab had 1 piece undercooked. Slow (but friendly) service. Wont go back but great views over the sea.

Ramos (bottom half of Strip): Both fish dishes came luke warm (dont they heat the plates in the Algarve?) No apologies or even a word. Just whipped the food away and brought back a few minutes later without a word again. Still wasn't that hot. Banged bread etc down on the table when we said we didn't want it and they were reluctant to take it away. Very unfriendly service, no atmosphere, avoid.

Ancora (next to the Ramos-nearly): Beef in the stroganoff very tough, chicken absolutely smothered in cheese. Very average, not cheap and too touristy. Get you in and out as quick as possible.

Oasis (Old Town Square): Been here in the past and always good but this time the worst pizza I have ever had. Undercooked, mussels still had the beard in, kalamari like a rubber band and several bits of shell throughout. All washed down with a lovely warm o/j which was mainly bits and no liquid! Too keen again to get you in and out. Wont be back as plenty other places around the square to eat.

The Strip get slagged off for being tacky and like Blackpool with sun. That's unfair in my opinion as there are plenty of nice bars and restaurants that are not touristy at all, you just need to explore. Anyway, thats what some people want on holiday. The Old Town is every bit as touristy in my opinion but probably more traditional in places and more pleasing on the eye. During the day the Old Town is lovely but we went at night and with a baby in a pram both my Wife and I felt uneasy as it was so busy and there were a lot of very dodgy locals hanging around. We both felt we were watching our back a lot there.

The Strip met our needs perfectly as we has a baby in a pram and wanted to be close to nightlife without having to travel to far.

Taxi to the Old Town was e3.5 each way.

Zoomarine was well worth a visit, especially the dolphin show but not a full day out unless you want to go to every place in the park and use the swimming pool etc. We went at 10am and had seen all we wanted bt about 2.30pm.

We hired a car and found best beaches were Coehla, Salgados and Gale. Coehla has a fair walk from the carpark to the beach though so no use if you have a pram with you.

All in the Strip, Albufeira and the Old Town has lots happening if you want it and plenty of quiet, traditional places if you look deeper and are willing to travel.

This was my 7th visit to the Algarve in various locations and I very well might return to this area, mainly becaue of the standard of the Vila Petra and in may/june its a bit less mad than in july and august.

Enjoy!!

The Vila Petra is a 4* hotel in a quiet but convenient area and definitely worth the rating.

Booking in was very easy as the receptionists all spoke very good English and check-in was very speedy.

We stayed in the main hotel block but there are two other blocks in the immediate area also. There are a couple of lifts which always seemed to be readily available and we never had to wait any time at all. But if you were on a lower floor you could use the stairs anyway. We were very lucky as we had a room on the second floor overlooking the pool and it was an extra bonus as we hadnt booked a room with a pool view.
Cleaners came in every day and changed towels and sheets and they even provide tea towels in the kitchen and change these too.

The hotel is spotlessly clean both inside and out and the pool area is kept immaculate. You are not allowed to put towels down unless you are going to stay as they will remove them. It means that the usual 7 a.m. and a towel on every sunbed does not apply. There always appeared to be plenty of sunbeds even at 10 a.m. They provide mattresses for the beds too and they are very comfortable. They are also not keen on inflatables in the pool.

We stayed in a studio apartment which was very spacious - twin beds, settee, dressing table, good sized wardrobe and plenty of drawer space, table and chairs, ironing board and iron, bathroom and separate kitchen which had an oven with 3 electric rings, kettle, toaster, microwave and a dishwasher. There were plenty of pots and utensils for cooking although we only ever had breakfast as there are so many restaurants nearby. We were self catering so cannot comment on the food in the hotel although people we had spoken to had said it was very good.

The hotel is situated just a short stroll from the Montechoro ";Strip"; with all its restaurants, shops and bars and we found that the better restaurants were on the lower end of the strip. One we particularly liked was the Costa Rica for an evening meal, the food here was really excellent and Fredis for lunch, and there are also a few excellent Chinese restaurants but there are so many, just look out for the crowds and you know the restaurant is good.

Just opposite the hotel is a vila on the corner on the left hand side and usually you see a labrador dog sitting at the gate with a ball for you to throw. He is adorable and very friendly. If you like dogs please look out for him as he just loves attention.

We thoroughly enjoyed our 2 week stay in the Vila Petra and would definitely stay in this hotel if we return to the Algarve in the future.

When you are leaving there is a luggage room where you can store your suitcases free of charge which leaves you free to do something until the coach arrives to take you to the airport.

We would have no hesitation in recommending this hotel to anyone who wishes to visit Portugal. You are guaranteed a first class hotel.