Vivenda Brito

Sylvia and I have been holidaying at Vivenda Brito twice a year for the past few years. If we didn't enjoy every minute, we wouldn't keep coming back. We usually take the large apartment at the end, the one with the b.b.q., though we never use it. There are too many good restaurants a 5-10 minute walk down into town. Try Jota Lita. The owner, Joel, is a bit of a nut case, and his food is better than some. Expect to pay 40-50 Euros for two. You pay your money and make your choice! And no, we weren't paid to write this. Sometimes we get a bottle of wine at the end of a holiday, that's all. I can't understand the review from the guy who said he was charged 40 Euros for cleaning. He must have left the apartment in a very messy state. As for the earlier review about Teresa, she isn't the person we know. That reviewer seems to take a perverse delight in writing such trash. Give one of the apartments a try. Some are bigger than others, I admit. Just tell Teresa you came on the recommendation of Sylvia and Norman from Manchester!

A stunning studio apartment, a beautiful pool, and a lovely, friendly host.

The place and its photos gave us a good impression, but our stay was a huge disappointment from the first day. We had booked three rooms in the same house, then were told on arrival that some of us would have to move halfway through the stay. The owner had knowingly double-booked one room, so some of our group had to stay in another house a couple of blocks away. We were still charged an extra 20 euros per night. The beds were misshapen and the mattresses so uncomfortable that my partner and I ended up on the futon, with the mattress springs digging into us. One room's A/C didn't work. We were told that on day one, but no one tried to fix it or make other arrangements. We also had to argue for a portable bbq because the regular one was only available in a specific room. The portable one was about A4 size and we could only use it for five days. Some chairs were loose too. My partner fell off one and nearly broke her wrist. We couldn't pay by check or credit or debit card, only cash. At checkout, just minutes before leaving, we were told about a 40-euro cleaning charge for each room, which had never been mentioned before. We refused, and the owner threatened to call the police. In the end, she accepted the cash we had to withdraw and counted it several times, making an already awkward situation feel deliberate. I could go on about how the pictures didn't match what we got. The location is nice, and there are plenty of better and cheaper places nearby. We should have chosen more carefully. Booking here doesn't guarantee you'll get what you see, so I'd stay away. It cost us money and left us feeling we'd wasted our holiday and time with friends and family.

Loved the apartments and studios. The location is great, with lots of restaurants around, a nice beach, and a walking trail. It was surprisingly quiet too.