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We drove down from Lisbon for a weekend getaway and although the entrance to the property is not very visible from the road (we actually drove past it and had to come back) we were not expecting what we found. The grounds are beautiful, very well kept, beautiful trees and flowers, lots of birds and a pond full of fish and toads! There are several different buildings which house the reception area, spa, rooms and restaurants and they are all spaced out in the property. Because we went in April things seemed to still not be running at full steam. For example, there are 3 separate pools however only one seemed to be fully operational as you could only get towels there. The other 2 pools could be used but looked a little dirty. The pool bar was closed so there was no staff available which resulted in used towels just lying around as well as dirty glasses. If you wanted a drink you either had to wait for a member of staff to show up or what I did which was go to the restaurant myself and ask for a coke. It took a while for someone to bring it to the pool. The hotel also seemed to be short staffed as most were multitasking. They were however friendly. Breakfast was good with good variety. We had dinner there one night and chose the Spring menu which was good value for money and the food was well prepared and presented. We did find that the music in the restaurant was a little loud at breakfast although during dinner there was a man playing the piano which was nice. They had a good wine selection however the variety of wine by the glass was nothing special. The restaurant itself is a large airy room with a great view however we were not impressed by the cobwebs on the chandeliers.Now the room...we were given an upgrade to a junior suite as we are members of SLH which was a nice touch and as we had requested a room with a balcony it was a good option. There is not exactly a balcony however the junior suite was situated on a large terrace and so there was a small table and 2 chairs outside our door where we could sit outside however it is not very private as it is the access area to other rooms. The decoration in the junior suite definitely needs updating. There is a living room, a bathroom and the actual sleeping room. It is a good size although the bathroom is a little small and there was only 1 hand towel/wash cloth available. We requested a king bed and it did look large however it was 2 twins made as one double which is never really the same as it tends to make a hole in the middle. There is a sofa bed in the living room which is not very comfortable for sitting on. Some cabinets in the room were in bad condition, some of the paint was peeling off the walls and the toilet seat was in bad shape with chipped paint showing the woody material underneath. This is really unacceptable as a toilet seat is something cheap you can replace in no time! Furthermore there were holes in the black out curtains and some of the decorative pillows were dirty. The main door into the junior suite is made of glass which is good to let the light in however it only had a flimsy curtain covering it which is not enough as you can see into the room from outside in the evening when lights are on and if someone was to sleep in the living room there are no black out curtains to protect from the light although all other windows in the living room have black outs. There is only one TV and it is in the living room and it is one of those old bulky TV's which I have not seen in a while and the Tv channel selection is also pretty bad. Another downside is there is no Internet in the room, you have to go to the restaurant to connect although it is free of charge. The free large bottle of water in the room was a nice touch. The hotel is not far from the beach however you would need a car to get there. Our overall experience was good as it was good value for money and the surroundings make up for what is lacking in other areas. If they were to remodel their rooms they

The website doesnt show how this place is a little paradise! Calm, good food, amazing service, classy ... I cant wait my nest time here. The service is really a 5 star place, the calm and the view are amazing and the retaurant is very good and very classy. West european price but it is worthy it

I have just celebrated my 11th wedding anniversary at the Vila Monte Hotel and I could not have been any better looked after. The staff were so lovely, helpful and thoughtful. The dinner we had in the restaurant was by far the best meal I have had for a very long time. Again the staff were attentive but also discreet. Our room was simple and comfortable with the most amazing view. The Hamman was just what we needed and added to the whole experience. I would have no problem at all in highly recommending this hotel.

Travel 25 minutes east of Faro and there set in beautiful grounds, away from all the over-development of the western Algarve, stands this delightful hotel furnished in Moorish style. There is no doubt that our experience was enhanced by the very friendly and attentive staff but most particularly by the exceptional Resident Manager, Carla Costa.We had reserved a superior suite but when we expressed disappointment that the terrace was overlooked, Carla promptly offered to upgrade us and we spent six very pleasant days in the "honeymoon suite" located in the Orangerie which was very large, well appointed and had the benefit of a totally private garden. (Room 65). Mattresses could be a little softer and the provision of more comfortable armchairs with good lighting in the lounge area of the suite would be a welcome enhancement. Those suites in the Orangerie on the ground floor level whilst very spacious have relatively small and partially overlooked terraces. The balconies of the suites on the upper level are not private but have beautiful views over the surrounding countryside towards the coast. Within the extensive grounds there are many secluded seating areas, 3 swimming pools, a tennis court, a putting green and golf course. We did not try the Spa. There is a very limited exercise room.We had booked half-board and were a little surprised on the first evening not to be offered a menu but instead, the chef's suggestions for the 3 course meal. On subsequent evenings when the suggestion was not to our liking there were always alternative dishes on offer. The food was very well presented and of excellent quality. The restaurant staff were delightful. At breakfast the bread and patisserie were freshly baked and delicious, and fruit, cold meats and cheeses were also available. Tea and coffee served from urns could be improved upon.Car rental is advisable and Carla gave us lots of suggestions for trips. Particularly enjoyable were the Saturday morning market at Olhao, the endless beach at Birril and the town of Tavira. This is a hotel for those who enjoy peace, tranquillity, good food and exceptional service.

We arrived at Vila Monte on april 20 after a trip from Marbella via Jerez de la Frontera and Sevilla, and were immediately taken care of by resident Manager Carla Conti. She sent us for an excellent lunch on the lovely terrace outside the Orangerie, whilst handling our luggage and parking our car. Having booked through Slh.com (Small Luxury Hotels) we were upgraded and had a most romantic 1001-night suite on top of the Kasbah spa building (room no. 6), with a grand,charming terrace, giving us an amazing view of the lush gardens surrounding the various buildings in the Resort, in addition to overlooking the countryside and the sea. The suite was spacious, warm with a fascinating choice of colors and even had a fireplace, which we needed not use in the warm sunshine ! The weather was just perfect, and we had a lovely boat-trip from Fuseta, a small fishing village, out to the sandy islands outside the coast, with a stopover at Barra Velha, a beatiful beach we had totally to ourselves. The trip was organized by Carla, and Ricardo, the Captain, even went back and brought us a bottle of water ! As we had just two days in this relaxing, wonderful paradise, we spent most of our time just enjoying the amenities of Vila Monte. We lunched outside on the terrace , giving us a breath-taking view of the countryside and sea to wet our appetite. We had dinner in the restaurant, tasting the local seafood and wine from Algarve. Everything marvellous, and served by an excellent staff in beautiful surroundings. We also enjoyed the exotic Kasbah Spa, with Hamman and a couples massage, both relaxing and invigorating. The quiet tea-ceremony afterwards sent us into a dreamlike state of mind. We were taken round the resort, and told the history of the place, rooms and paintings by Carla, who showed us an extraordinary service and hospitality during our visit. The whole staff of Vila Monte did their utmost to make our visit a dream come true, and succeeded ! It was a most memorable stay in magic and tranquil surroundings. We ended up by buying towels, olive oil, salt and perfumes to take back to Spain together with a wish to return soon !