Vilamoura Garden Hotel - Adults Only

We went at the end of May and found it peaceful, clean and relaxing. The pool area was laid-back, breakfast was great, and the staff were lovely. Nothing negative to report, and we’ll probably stay again.

The staff were polite and welcoming, and the food we had was delicious, but the stay brought more stress than the relaxing break we expected. We booked because the hotel was advertised as adults only. Two days in, children filled the pool, with all the shouting and screaming that made us avoid it. Management said the hotel had only switched to adults only this year and still had to honor family bookings made earlier. They let us use the Hilton spa to make up for the misleading listing, though its pool is indoors. In my view, the hotel should wait until those earlier stays are over before advertising itself as adults only. The outdoor pool wasn’t especially appealing either. Large trees hang over it, and debris often falls in without being cleared properly. There was also a film of suncream on the water even early in the day. While my partner was swimming, I had to remove a spider from his hair. I only saw the pool netted once, on the day a plastic bag floated there for two hours. At least there were plenty of sunbeds, with no rush to claim one like at some other hotels. There isn’t much near the hotel, and it’s far from both the marina and beach, so there aren’t many places to get away to. Shuttles run from the Hilton, but we used Ubers for around 4€. A Spar is a five minute walk for drinks and crisps. Google Maps shows shops three minutes away, but they’ve been knocked down and the map hasn’t been updated. The hotel looks nice and has all the amenities you might want. Our room was spacious and had robes, but ants came through cracks in the locked balcony door. There was nowhere on the balcony to dry towels. We slept well until the last night, when two drunk girls screamed and ran along the corridor at 3am, sounding like they were fighting until their mum pulled them into their room. Embarrassing. Many staff are new, especially at the bar. The bar staff made some of the worst cocktails I’ve had, and prices aren’t low: an average cocktail was around 9/12€, and a spirit with mixer cost around 7/8€. We started buying drinks from the Spar instead and having them by the pool. We were half board, but couldn’t swap dinner for lunch, which there’s probably a reason for. The pool snacks were delicious but pricey too, around 15€ for a basic chicken sandwich and chips. We ate dinner there on the first night. It was a menu rather than the usual buffet, with a starter, main and dessert, and wine charged separately. King prawn dishes cost extra, and several menu items were out of stock, narrowing the choices. The service was good and the food we got was delicious. Still, the room felt like a nursing home, with sterile surroundings and what sounded like call centre hold music. We didn’t go back, choosing the marina instead, where there are plenty of good places and entertainment. The hotel itself has none. Half board didn’t feel worth paying for. The food and staff were the only saving graces, and for the price of staying here, it didn’t deliver. I’d book somewhere else.

Our room had comfortable, very cozy beds, though the bathroom could do with a refresh. We enjoyed our stay at Vilarouma Garden Hotel, where the staff were warm and welcoming and the atmosphere was great. Restaurants and golf are within walking distance, and there’s a free shuttle to the beach, 2.5 km away. Breakfast offered plenty of choices each day. The pool is small, but suited the size of the hotel well.

For a very short visit, around 2 days, it’s a decent option. The area is quiet and the location is good, with the marina about 5 minutes away by car. The building feels old, though, the furniture is mediocre, and the bathroom is small and dated. Breakfast was average.