Vila Petra Aparthotel

The kitchen in our room was a real standout, stocked with every utensil and gadget we could need, which is rare. We enjoyed both the main pool and indoor pool area. We didn’t join the evening entertainment, but the gentleman who came around each night to update everyone was very friendly and helpful. We ate at the restaurant once. The food was high quality and kept well stocked. The location worked perfectly, close enough to the Strip for some excitement, with quieter local bars and restaurants nearby too. The Old Town was an easy, very cheap Uber ride away. I highly recommend the villa rooms and can’t wait to return. We had a wonderful time at Vila Petra and were honestly sad to be home. Check-in was seamless thanks to the lovely receptionist. The hotel itself is beautiful, especially all the lush plants inside.

We spent three weeks here in November 2025, and our one-bedroom suite was spacious and comfortable. The kitchen had what we needed for basic meals, plus a dishwasher. We used the fitness centre and indoor and outdoor pools, ate at all the restaurants, picked up last-minute essentials at the store, and did laundry easily in the on-site laundromat. Lots of restaurants are nearby, many just 200 to 300 metres away. The only disappointment was the 15-20 minute walk to the beach, as it would have been nice to stay closer to the water. What really made the holiday was how clean the rooms and public spaces were, along with the staff across reception, housekeeping, the bar, restaurant, games, and karaoke. We enjoyed meeting other travellers in the Stone Bar at the end of the day and joining Bellux Entertainment’s quizzes and games. David was an extraordinary bartender, and Nadi had everyone laughing and joining in.

The self-catering apartment worked out perfectly for us. It was a good standard, had a nice view, and was cleaned every day. Albuferia has changed a lot since our last visit 28 years ago, and we found some parts quite rowdy. This hotel was far enough from the noise, though, and there are good restaurants nearby. There’s a mini market downstairs for essentials and an Aldi a few minutes’ walk away. We’d definitely stay here again, as it’s a good base for exploring the Algarve.

The pool and garden at Vila Petra are beautiful and very peaceful. We loved our month here, staying in a huge one-bedroom apartment with a pool view. Our room was two floors above the bar, which could get a little noisy at times. When smokers were outside on the terrace, the smell came into the apartment if the patio doors were open. The hotel is in a quiet residential area with plenty of bars and restaurants within walking distance. We enjoyed drinks on the terrace at Double D and the fantastic Indian food at The Royal Punjab. We like walking, so the location suited us, though some people might find it a bit far out. Still, for 5 euros or less you can get pretty much anywhere in Albufeira. The staff were wonderful, especially reception, the pool maintenance guy, and the entertainment team. Some bar and restaurant staff could have been more engaging. Maybe putting their phones down would help. The restaurant space is lovely and relaxing, but the steaks we had on two Saturday steak nights both left a lot to be desired. I think they may serve smaller, cheaper steaks on offer nights. Early in our stay, the Stone Bar was a great place for relaxed pre-dinner drinks in an adult environment. Later, we stopped going because children were sleeping on the seating, running around, and shouting. A separate family bar area might solve that.