Vinha da Areia Beach Hotel

The location is good, with an affordable stay, lovely views, and parking available by the harbour. We enjoyed our time here, and it was okay overall. The rooms were somewhat run down, a lizard got in through a small hole in the balcony door, and the breakfast buffet wasn't very interesting. Still, the beach, ocean, and harbour views were very pretty.

The hotel is in a good location, but I can't recommend it. Our room had only a 90° view because a wall blocked the left side. The air conditioning didn't work, the shower was a bath with a plastic curtain, and the sink had a rim at least 30 cm wide with a dirty cabinet underneath. Towels were changed every day, which may sound good, but it doesn't seem sustainable. Breakfast was the worst part. The coffee was powdered, the juices were watery and tasteless, and the same single jam, cheese, and ham were served all week. Even when we came well before breakfast ended, there were no eggs left and they refused to make more. At least there was fruit and water. I'm reviewing the hotel, not the beach, which many others have covered.

There was plenty of parking, and the beach wasn't too crowded. With sand, good showers and toilets, and such a beautiful view, it was easy for us to settle in comfortably and enjoy family time in the water and on the shore. The kids snorkeled near the rocks and saw lots of big fish, built sandcastles, swam, and said hello to crabs along the way. It was fantastic, and a must for us.

The staff were very friendly, though at times slow and disorganized. We waited quite a while for the check and for extra drinks, but I still highly recommend visiting. The food was very good: my fried fish had a perfect coating, crispy without being greasy, and my wife's hamburger was delicious too. They also have a range of gins from the islands and elsewhere in the world.