Vale d'Oliveiras Quinta Resort and Spa

We stayed for 11 nights in a one-bedroom apartment on a half-board basis (family of four with kids aged 11 and 14). Booked via BA Holidays. Arrival & Check-in Be warned: Faro airport was a nightmare. It took us 3 hours to get through passports and luggage. Our Uber XL to the hotel took about an hour and cost €60–€75. Because of the delay, our room was ready when we arrived just before 4 PM. However, the check-in experience lacked 5* polish. The receptionist was quirky, unhelpfully pointed out that we should have booked a larger room, and told us the hotel was full so no upgrades were possible. We were pointed toward our room but not escorted, and we had to carry our own bags. The Apartment The room itself was large. The living area fit a sofa bed and an extra single bed, and the kitchen was perfectly equipped for self-catering (washer, dishwasher, freezer, oven). The bathroom was spacious, though for four people, a second bathroom would have been ideal. While the bedroom had plenty of storage, the bed was too hard for our liking and the pillows were poor. On a positive note, the air conditioning was exceptional—among the best we’ve ever had. Food, Drink & Entertainment Breakfast: Good quality overall. Go at 8 AM when it’s quiet and fully stocked; by 9 AM, it changes completely. Tip: You have to specifically ask for fried or poached eggs (they use vinegar in the water). It isn't advertised, and even if you ask, the wait can be long. Dinner (The Olive Tree): Included on half-board (three courses). Good quality, but the menu didn't change once in 11 nights, and they frequently ran out of items, which is frustrating when traveling with kids. Lunch (The Jasmin Bar): We regularly swapped our half-board dinner for lunch here. Huge portions, great quality, and the kids loved it. Highly recommend. Jasmin Pool Bar: Pretty cheap; beers were €4–€6 (the €4 Corona was very welcome!), Magners €7, and Aperol €9. There is a happy hour (25% off) from 4–5 PM, but it is poorly advertised. The Olive Bar: Same drinks and prices in a nice setting. Happy hour is 20% off from 6–7 PM (again, not widely advertised). I believe there was also a 9–10 PM discount, but we never used it as we always headed out. Evening Entertainment: We had no evening entertainment despite it being the school holidays. Because of this, we always went out and never stayed in at night. Location & Amenities The hotel is very remote. It's fantastic for peace and quiet, but you can't walk anywhere. Ubers are cheap but take 15–20 minutes to arrive (€6 to Carvoeiro/Ferragudo, €12 to Praia da Rocha). The main pool is unheated and cold, though you get used to it. It was quiet initially but got very busy during the second week (school holidays), leading to a shortage of sunbeds. We skipped the indoor pool, but my wife had a great massage at the spa. Customer-facing staff work hard, though management is invisible and some staff have limited English. Verdict Overall, a pleasant but unspectacular stay. I would rate this a 3.5* rather than a 5*. We wouldn’t rush back to the hotel itself, but it served as a perfectly adequate base for exploring the Algarve.

What a wonderful hotel. It was so relaxing, chilled and calm, which was exactly what we were looking for.

We arrived early and had to wait for our room, which can sometimes be frustrating, but we were looked after really well while we waited. We were even given vouchers to use at the poolside bar, which was a lovely touch.

We had a one-bedroom apartment and it was absolutely wonderful – incredibly spacious, even with the sofa bed in use. The outdoor area was also a great size and had sun loungers, so you could relax in your own space if you fancied a quieter afternoon.

The pool area is lovely too. The decking could do with a little TLC, as could the showers, but neither affected our enjoyment of the pool. Yes, the pool is slightly on the cooler side, but honestly, during the heat of the day it was perfect and very refreshing.

There are plenty of sun loungers and, during our first week, no one was reserving them – an absolute first and very much welcomed! Sadly, once the English started arriving (yes, I am also English 😂), the sunbed reserving began! There were still plenty available at 10am, but come on people… read the room! If nobody is reserving beds, you don’t need to start! 😂

Breakfast was vast and plentiful, with loads of choice. During our entire two-week stay, we only had to queue once, which was impressive. The staff throughout the hotel were also lovely – really friendly and helpful.

All in all, we had a fantastic stay. A wonderful, relaxing hotel with lovely staff and a great atmosphere. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it and would happily return.

Thank you for an amazing stay! ❤️