Excellent Apartment
Review Submitted: August 24, 2009
Date of Stay: August 2009
Excellent, modern apartment with all mod cons, and with Karen providing a first-class, professional and friendly service.
A car is essential as Vilamoura is a distance away (10 minutes by car, though traffic can be very busy when Aquashow is closing) and walking there would require the kind of planning Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman needed for Long Way Round.
Al Sakia Village is quiet and peaceful, the pool fabulous and fine for kids, and the poolside bar / restaurant reasonably good.
Great family days out include Zoomarine, the boat trips from the Vilamoura Marina and all the water parks.
For shopping, we recommend the Algarve Shopping Mall at Guia. It's about 20 minutes away by car along the N125, but worth the journey as the Continente Supermarket provides good value.
Vilamoura and the Marina are wonderful. 'Recession? What recession?' when you see the yachts, floating gin palaces and the array of supercars at the Marina, which has many bars and restaurants, some of which are very expensive. Check the menus in advance or risk paying 4 euros for a beer, when a pint for 2 euros is available next door.
We recommend Mulligans (which has a Pirate's Ship for the kids to play on) and Parky's (at the Boat Cabins) for low-cost, plentiful family meals in Vilamoura.
Falesia Beach (the Lake Resort side of Vilamoura) is fantastic and safe.
All in all, a splendid holiday in a great location - if you have a car. But make sure your car rental is all-inclusive in terms of insurance, thereby avoiding huge insurance excesses. The Algarve has the worst accident rate in Europe, we are told, and the standards of driving suggest this stat to be correct. The N125 can resemble the Monaco Grand Prix - without race stewards.
Toodle-oo
Recommended for:
Sightseeing,
Families with Young Children
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