Vila Alba Sun Club Reviews

Just got back from vila alba apartments and we were thrilled with our stay so much so we plan to return next year for 14 days, a week wasn't long enough. apartment was spotless,well maintained and towels and bedding clean and fresh. The staff were all helpful helping us book trips and getting the free bus for the beach to pick us up when needed, pool area and snack/bar were clean and we enjoyed snacks and drinks from here. Must recommend the irish bar erin's isle the food was excellent and we ate there every night everyone was friendly and helpful overall it was the best holiday and accommodation we have ever had and we were pigsick leaving, roll on next october.

pamela morgan, whiston, merseyside
Family with teenagers 12+

Really great apartments, spacious and spotlessy clean. We stayed there for 9 nights and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Only complaint is being charged 2 euros by reception for a 2 minute phone call, bit steep!! otherwise will definitely stay here again as they lived upto their reputation.

Robert Dwyer, Birmingham
Group of Young Friends/Couples

A great budget apartment complex at the top end of the Montechoro Strip, just behind the Hotel Montechoro. This is the best self catering apartment complex that we have stayed in at the budget end of the market. It was clean, spacious and comfortable. The grounds are well looked after and the pool was great. The poolside bar offers very good value and very helpful staff. You cannot go wrong for the price!! However, the claim that it is only one Kilometer from the beach should be taken with a pinch of salt; it is probably double that.

Paul Gregg, South Wales
Group of Mature Friends/Couples

Just returned from a fantastic week at Vila Alba. We travelled with another family with older children and we all realy enjoyed it. Accomodation was brilliant! . We were surprised to find that the decor looked as good as it did in the photos! The size of the apartment was great and we liked the idea of having a separate kitchen. There was also a handy utility room with a brand new washing machine, did not feel the need to use it but would be good if staying for 2 weeks. The gardens and pool area were really impressive although the pool was freezing but thats only natural for the time of year. The only down side is the lack of air conditioning in the rooms, we felt we would miss this in the height of summer. All in all it is one of the nicest apartments we have stopped in, including most 4 star apartments. The apts are located about 10 mins from the stop of the strip. We found some great restaurants down the strip, the ones i would point out are the Top Deck Steakhouse and the Indian restaurant just along from the supermarket at the crossroads on the stip- both are well worth a visit.

Debbie, Durham
Family with Children 11 and Under

have just come back May 2007. Had big 2bed apartment plenty of room for the 4 of us. newly decorated bathroom and kitchen a little dated but everything there even a washing machine and microwave. new curtains and bedcovers as well. Poool area great lovely gardens and nice friendly staff. a little bit of a trek to get to the bottom of the strip and the beach but you can get a taxi for around 4euros 5 if you tip to the old town Albufeira or a wolly wagon (little train) for 3euros for the day and use as much as you want. very good hols and plenty at the top of the strip so no need to go to the far end unless you like to walk. you can get a bus into Villamora from the crossroads for 3.5euros so plenty of places to go

Denis, liverpool
Group of Mature Friends/Couples

We came home yesterday from a lovely stay in the Vila Alba. The apartments have been decorated and new bedlinen,curtains and towels. but the kitchen and bathroom are very much in need of upgrading. The pool area and gardens are very well kept and the staff are friendly and helpful. It is a bit of a hike to the bottom end of the strip and the beach, but as this is my second stay at the vila alba I knew about the walking distaance. it was 7years since my last stay and the kitchen and bathroom were in need of upgrading then, but as you don't spend a lot of time in the apartment and not many cook on holiday anyway I suppose it does'nt matter to some. the area is not far from the old town of Albureira and we were never charged more than 4euros in a taxi. A good deal is the little train an all day pass is only 3 euros and you can travel all day we used it to shop at the modelo took our shopping back then used it to go to Albufeira old town and then used it to go back to the old town in the evening we used it around 6 times in one day so it is very good value. The only problem we had was on the day we arrived it was fairly cold and the apartment hadn't been used and when I asked for some kind of heater I was told I could have an extra blanket but they don't have heaters so don't go before the middle of may.

Sheila Evans, Merseyside
Group of Mature Friends/Couples

stayed at vila alba 16 october till 23 october wish it had been two weeks apartment was a lot more than expected with all you need for a good holiday it would be ideal for a family a nice pool and poolbar all the staff were very helpful a perfect location for all bars and restaurants the beach could be a bit of a hike but dont let that put you off well worth a try for a good holiday at a reasonable price you can get to anywere local ie old town for 5 euros that includes tip try it you will like it

steve& janis, hull e.yorkshire
Mature Couple (36+)

1st time in this apartment must say i can be funny at times but the Vila Alba we found was fantastic value for money the apartment we had was great very clean and very big my wife and i have both  said we are coming back here next year and for us to say that it must be good  so stop here you carn't go wrong just enough distance from the strip without being disturb by any noise

paul hinchlife, leicester/england
Mature Couple (36+)

Spotless clean, well presented Apartments & grounds. Friendly staff - Excellent Value & only a few minutes walk from the Strip

Phill Hamilton, Chester
Mature Couple (36+)

EXCELLENT APARTMENTS. VERY LARGE SPACIOUS AND WELL EQUIPPED.
GROUNDS AND SWIMMING POOL VERY WELL KEPT.
GREAT LOCATION AT THE QUIETER END OF STRIP BUT ONLY FEW MINUTES
WALK TO GET TO MAIN NIGHTLIFE.

J COUSINS, SLOUGH ENGLAND
Mature Couple (36+)

The Villa Alba is a lovely family complex situated at the back of the Hotel Montechoro . It is within 5 minutes walk of the top end of the Strip , and supermarkets , cafes & pastry shops are even closer. We found the accomadation to be spotless clean , good decor & comfortable . We had a ground floor which gave us a big patio with a palm tree . The grounds are impeccable with numerous garderes working all day on them . The Complex design is superb with the magnificent pool shrouded in Sun all day. The pool side bar is great with plenty of choices. The only fault we found was a lack of Air conditioning , but you get what you pay for. We would recomend the Villa Alba to all Families.

John Mc grane, Dublin , Ireland
Family with Children 11 and Under

Stayed in Vila Alba last two weeks of August 06. Apartment was very spacious. 2 large double bedrooms, large lounge, separate bathroom and kitchen. Balcony a little small. Superb pool area, pool bar and gardens. Would have perferred the choice of a ground floor apartment at time of booking to suit small kids. No air conditioning!!. Apartment was very hot and stuffy at night, necessary to leave windows open which meant that it was difficult to sleep past 8am due to noise of morning traffic on busy road to rear of complex. Steep incline from apartment to top of strip, difficult with buggy. However strip was only 10 min walk away. Lots of good restaurants and bars. Complex staff very friendly and helpful.

Jarlath Mangan, Galway, Ireland
Family with Children 11 and Under

The Vila Alba was an excellent base from which to explore the Algarve.  The apartments were very spacious and could easily accommodate 6 people in a one bedroom apartment.  The apartments were clean and well laid out, and the fully equipped, full sized kitchen contained everything you could possibly want in terms of utensils and crockery, and not forgetting the washing machine (I returned home with a case full of clean clothes opposed to dirty clothes - Bliss!!)  The grounds that the Vila Alba are set in are meticulously maintained by the groundsmen and the results are truly stunning. The kids loved the pool which had plenty of sunloungers and parasols and a cafe serving a full range of snacks, including breakfast, ice creams and children's meals.
The only draw back is there is no entertainment on site or a bar however the top of the strip is literally 5minutes walk away.  We took the kids to Coconuts where DJ Mash entertains the kids (and the adults) for a good couple of hours with Party Games, quizs, Acts and Kareoke.  I would definately reccommend the Vila Alba.

Tina Dudley, London
Family with Children 11 and Under

Vila Alba is conveniently located to the left of Montechoro, at the the top of the strip in Sao Joao. It was great value for money and the apartment was light, airy and clean. The staff on reception were pleasant and helpful and the pool area and bar were clean and well situated. We loved our top floor end of terrace apartment as the balcony was big and out of view of the rest of the complex.
I would recommend this accommodation to anyone and will be using it again

Caroline Clarke, Devon/England
Family with Children 11 and Under

we found the alba very spacious and clean
we got a taxi in to the centre everynight for 5 euro
the pool and gardens were well maintained and the staff were helpful

frances quinn, ireland
Group of Mature Friends/Couples

We have stayed at the Vila Alba on 3 separate holidays in the past 5 years and it is always a good holiday.
Rooms are basic but clean and the staff are very friendly.

Located in a quiet spot beside the hotel Montechoro, it has easy access to the strip and fun park. The strip is 5 minutes walk and there are a number of pubs closer if you don't fancy the walk (Kitty Coady's, Erin's isle, Father Ed's.).

Trip to the beach or the old town takes about 10/15 minutes by car. Plenty of opportunities for walking but taxi's to everywhere local cost €4 or €5 so no need to if you don't want to.

Ray O@kelly, Dublin/Eire
Family with teenagers 12+

Arrived at Vila Alba in April this year, on an "allocated on arrival" basis .  Never dared to do "allocated on arrival" before, but the holiday, picked up on the internet,
was so cheap that we decided to risk it. Are we glad that we did!  We couldn't believe it when we arrived.  Having been led to expect a studio, we opened the door to a superb two-bedroomed apartment with full kitchen, fully equipped with cooker, fridge/freezer, washing machine, microwave, etc.  Two large double bedrooms, a delightful, large lounge, with 2 more settees which converted into more beds, and patio doors that led out onto an enormous balcony overlooking the pool and gardens.  Vila Alba is situated just 10 minutes from the bustling "strip" so, whilst there is plenty to do in the evening, the apartments are situated in a quiet area away from the hustle and bustle - just up our street as we are in our 60s but do enjoy wandering down the town in the evening for a nice meal and a spot of "people watching".  The old town of Albufeira is delightful and we used to walk there most days (a walk of about 45 minutes), spend a few hours on the beautiful beach and have a spot of lunch in the square before walking back again to our apartment for a short siesta, and then off again in the evening for dinner in the bustling "strip", browsing in the shops which stay open quite late, followed by a nightcap in one of the many cafes.  

We holiday quite extensively and I have to say that this holiday in the Vila alba in the Algarve rates as one of the very best we have had, both for accommodation, variety of things to do, relaxation and walking (I actually lost 7lbs in weight by the time we got back from the fortnight's holiday, purely because of the walking we did).  Definitely one for the memory books.  

We went on a very expensive 3 weeks holiday to Mauritius just a fortnight after getting back from the Algarve and I have to say it did not come anywhere near to comparing with the superb holiday we had in Albufeira at the Vila Alba.

Wendy Harvey, Devon/England
Mature Couple (36+)