Vila Vita Parc

Just 40 minutes west of Faro, Vila Vita Parc, is a rejuvenating 5 star beachside retreat spread over 55 acres of landscaped gardens and waterfalls. Couples come here for a pampering and revitalising retreat, and families come here for a sophisticated holiday; either way Vila Vita has perfected the knack of making you feel at home as soon as you arrive. Family room options include the 2 or 3 bedroom white washed villas or the Oasis Parc family suites with a practical layout and the perfect proximity to the main pool. For the ultimate in privacy book Vila Trevo or Vila Praia, which sleep up to 10 and have their own cliff top pools. Couples should book one of the ocean view rooms in the adults-only Residence; fresh and bright they have their own little terrace or balcony.

Eight pools are spread across the estate including heated baby pools and a large indoor pool; some of them have swim-up pool bars serving an exotic selection of healthy smoothies, milkshakes and non-alcoholic cocktails. Adults can rest easy in the knowledge that the most striking pool in the resort is for adults only. The Annabella Kids Club, which includes a crèche, is open every day and is great for younger ones who enjoy trampolining, climbing frames and art & crafts, leaving teenagers to have a game of tennis, mini golf, volleyball or go on a day trip to the nearby Zoomarine where there are water slides and the chance to swim with dolphins.

From barefoot beach feasting at Arte Nautica, a 10-minute shuttle ride away, to rustic Portuguese dishes at Adega, most of the restaurants have an extensive children's menu. Adega is the most relaxed, authentic and atmospheric restaurant in the evenings for families, serving traditional Portuguese dishes, whilst the Atlantico has the best sea views and the most seductive al fresco evening setting for all ages over 6. Book the babysitter and dress up for an elegant dining experience at adults-only 2 Michelin star restaurant Ocean, where fish and seafood are the focus and Austrian head chef Hans Neuner’s mantra is to ‘keep it simple’.

Breakfast is a buffet feast with an extravagant selection of organic home-reared meats, organic local cheeses, homemade granola, fresh juices, freshly baked pastries, eggs, 5 different types of breads and an array of organic jams and honeys from the estate in Alentejo. Those on a detox have a choice of over 20 fresh fruits and there is a juicing corner with a daily concoction and where you can select the fruit and veg you would like and top it off with chia seeds or spirulina. Adults, and children over 12, can head to the sophisticated Atlantico for an a la carte breakfast where you can soak up the stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean in peace. Japanese restaurant Mizu is sure to be a hit with teppanyaki and sushi lovers.

The Clubhouse features a new infinity pool with massive day beds dotted around in the shallow waters and a new large roof terrace with faded Moroccan fabrics has a laid-back Ibizan vibe.

As well as understanding the importance of being active Vila Vita values the importance of relaxing and unwinding. Located in its own building, the VILA VITA Spa by Sisley Paris (the only Sisley spa outside of France) offers guests a range of wellbeing therapies and beauty treatments. At the 2021 World Spa Awards VILA VITA Spa by Sisley Paris received two accolades, one Best Signature Treatment in the World and the other Best Spa Resort in Portugal.

 

Written by Lulu Townsend

• Family Suites
• The Oasis Suites are great for families and some come with their own private roof terrace.
• Restaurant
• 12 restaurants for discerning tastes. From Mediterranean to clean crip Japanese cuisine.
• Shops
• New boutiques were introduced in 2021 including Vilebrequin and Heidi Klum
• Kids Club
• Fantastic kids club with outdoor playing area, trampoline and more
• Spa
• Award-winning VILA VITA Spa by Sisley
• Bar
• 6 bars, ring the changes each day...
• Child friendly
• Babysitting and kids club available.
• Airport transfer
• Vila Vita can arrange this for you
• Garden
• Acres of lush gardens to enjoy
• Good wine list
• Extensive wine cellar.
• Hairdresser/Beauty Salon
• Hairdresser onsite
• Swimming Pool
• 8 swimming pools
• Safe
• In every room
• Parking
• Free parking.
• Conference facilities
• Free wifi
• Private villas
• Gym
• Bicycle hire
• Air conditioning
• Car not required

• Bath robes
• Games room
• Satellite / Cable TV
• Room service
• Massage
• Business Centre
• Wifi
• Suites
• Library
• Outdoor dining
• Views
• Hot Tub
• Sit-out Terrace
• Meeting Room
• Rooms with balcony/terrace
• Four poster beds
• Disabled access
• Laundry
• No pets
• Walking distance restaurants

• Watersports
• Banana boating, windsurfing and water skiing are avaialble on the local beach, ask at the front desk for details.
• Diving
• Vila Vita Parc run dive certification courses as well as courses in underwater photography& deep sea diving.
• Other Activities
• Spend a 'me day' in the on site spa being preened and pampered, followed by a relaxing dip in the pool.
• Fishing
• The concierge will organise for guests to head out on the ocean and try their hand at deep sea fishing.
• Golf
• The resort offers complimentary golf including a 9-hole pitch and putt and an 18-hole putting Green.
• Great walks
• Take an afterdinner stroll around the lush landscaped tropical gardens that surround the property.

• Mountain biking
• The hotel has mountain bikes on hire, a great way to see more of this spectacular coastline.
• Hotel boats for hire
• Spend a day on the hotel's VILA VITA yacht, the ideal way to explore the coast in style.
• Tennis
• Make the most of the on site tennis courts with expect coaches on hand.
• Yoga
• Book in for early morning yoga
• Tennis coaching
• Available on request

Why do people love staying in your hotel? There are plenty of reasons why guests love to stay at VILA VITA Parc. First of all, its astonishing cliff top location, with stunning ocean views over the Atlantic, offering a real sense of place through authentic Portuguese hospitality, with high attention to detail and friendly service, personalised for each guest.

Suitable for all tastes and ages, it’s a great beach and leisure resort for the whole family, for all these reasons:

What is there to do in the area or on site? We offer diverse leisure and sporting activities: golf, tennis, volleyball, spa with health, wellness and rejuvenating programmes, fitness, cycling, water sports including scuba diving, birdwatching and garden tours, cooking lessons, private tour guides, and a private yacht.

In the Algarve, besides the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent beaches and delicious cuisine, you have the chance to discover a rich cultural heritage handed down over many centuries of history.

From legends evoking the beautiful almond tree blossoms (the “snow of the Algarve”) or even the rock formations, to the many churches and a few Moorish castles (the one in Silves, once the Moorish capital city in the Algarve and the most important commercial post in Portugal, is not to be missed!), to the Cape S. Vincent, where Prince Henry the Navigator founded his nautical school, to the nature possibilities like hiking, bird watching, diving to see the most beautiful and largest natural reef in Portugal (it is just 100m from our beach!), golfing in over 40 golf courses, speeding on the Algarve racetrack, sliding in the waterparks, going on several types of boat trips or even swimming with dolphins at the Zoomarine, you will find plenty of amusement and smiling faces.

What kind of breakfast do you offer? We offer a sumptuous continental breakfast buffet, either at Bela Vita restaurant, in a sun-filled dining room and garden terrace with al-fresco seating overlooking the lake, or at Atlântico fine dining restaurant, which also provides hot specialties “à la carte” in a romantic setting with sweeping panoramic views over the Atlantic Ocean.

Do you offer other meals? And can you recommend good places to eat out locally? Yes, food is never an afterthought at VILA VITA Parc. With a total of 6 bars and 10 restaurants, as well as a ranging from casual beachside dining to rustic Portuguese plates to one-of-a-kind gastro-creations at our two Michelin-starred restaurant, diversity is key to our culinary philosophy. Flavours span the globe, from sun-drenched Mediterranean produce to clean and crisp Japanese cuisine. And our impressive wine cellar, at a depth of eight meters under the ground, stocked with more than 11.000 bottles, ensures the perfect accompaniment wherever you dine. All of our restaurants and bars are subject to seasonal operation. Two of the restaurants are situated at our Armação Beach Club, at the beach of Armação de Pêra, between the beach and the lagoon in the natural reserve and another one at the nearby village Porches. Free transfer is provided uniquely for our guests.

Other options to dine or lunch include the local delicacy “chicken piri-piri” at Ramires in Guia or the traditional fish and seafood restaurants such as Praia Dourada, Arte Nautica or Só Verão.

Which is your most popular room, and why? The deluxe room with ocean view, obviously because of the ocean views over the Atlantic Ocean, meaning astonishing views over the wide of the sea and the beautiful bay which spreads over more than 8Km. Also, their location at the Residence building is a perfect ambiance for couples.

What facilities do you have for children and can you fit extra beds in your rooms? We have Natalie’s Crèche (6 months to 3 years inclusive) and Annabella’s Kids Park (4 to 12 years inclusive), with weekly changing programmes, as well as a playground, three children’s pools and babysitting service on the rooms, on request. Baby cots or extra beds are possible to place in most of the rooms, on request, as long it does not exceed the maximum capacity, and free of charge until 12 years inclusive. Also on request, we can place some baby items like a bottle warmer, for example.

Teenagers also enjoy special attention, especially during school break holidays, with tailor-made programmes including leisure and sports activities as well as the innovative Teen Wellness Programme.

What message would you like to give Hotel Guru readers? You will find the best of Portugal in VILA VITA Parc Resort & Spa in an ambiance of Moorish and Algarve-inspired architecture and design, reflected in all areas and aspects of the resort, using especially hand-made, locally produced and sourced artisan products, respecting and promoting local culture and traditions, with highly sustainable policy throughout the resort and a wide range of wellness programmes and treatments. With over 800 employees, VILA VITA Parc offers a ratio that exceeds 2:1 employee to guest - the highest in Portugal.

There are plenty facilities and services in VILA VITA Parc to make you feel great and overwhelmed, and to provide you an unforgettable holiday experience.

Portugal discovered the World. Now come and discover ours.