VOI Vila do Farol Resort

The food had plenty of choices and was all good, and the international entertainers were adorable. The pool is pretty big, with lots of spots, while the sea is a short walk from the resort. I spent a week at this beautiful place near Santa Maria. The bungalows are a bit old but still work. The nature is majestic, and the palms, gardens, and flowers are simply beautiful, so I hope they keep them after the renovation. Santa Maria is about a 15-minute walk by the beach or outside the resort, or five minutes by taxi. A rope bridge to the sea would be a nice addition. The receptionist could be kinder, and the Wi-Fi was slow and only worked in some areas. It didn’t work in my room. I really enjoyed my stay!

We stayed for seven nights at Villa do Farol Resort in January 24. The service was excellent, the staff polite, and the food gorgeous. We liked it so much that we hoped to return for ten nights in February 25, but couldn’t find availability. Hope it’s not shutting down! 😔

The beach and sea are phenomenal, and the location is great. People were attentive, helpful, and always smiling. There was plenty to do sport-wise, and we especially enjoyed the tennis court. The mostly Italian food was great and varied, the bartenders were good, and the animators created a nice atmosphere without being too intrusive. The staff kept everything clean. Our room was a good size, with a large enough shower. It’s a bit dated, though that didn’t bother us, and the mattresses felt a little too soft, but that’s subjective. A very nice experience, and we’d like to return.

The reception staff were always helpful, and being close to the beach was nice. I’d recommend this place if you’re happy spending time by the pool or on the beach. It’s not a very good base for exploring, though. You can walk 30 minutes either way and still not find anything special nearby. The kids club is there, but if your children don’t want to spend all day in the pool, there isn’t much else for them to do. I booked a bungalow, but all the rooms look the same, like chalets from a 90s caravan park. That didn’t bother me much since they’re mainly somewhere to leave your stuff and sleep, and I had no problems with the room. The power did go out in the rooms for a couple of days, but it’s been okay over the last few days. The food was great, though sometimes cold, with pizza, pasta, crepes, beef, pork, and lots of fruit and veg. Daytime entertainment was good, but you had to go over and ask when things were starting instead of anyone coming around to invite you to activities. Evening entertainment started around 2230, which seemed late. I went once and left after 15 minutes because it was poor, though maybe I just picked an odd night. Most guests seemed to be Italian and French. The staff do speak English, despite what some other reviews say, but there were only a few Brits, so that might make it harder if you’re sociable. It’s a nice hotel, and if you’ve booked it, don’t worry, it’s a good place to visit and you won’t be disappointed.