Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Nestled at the top of the cliff of the Albandeira beach, surrounded by unspoiled typical Mediterranean and Algarvean vegetation, Vila Alba offers a unique spot in Algarve's worldwide awarded beach. Direct public beach access through a path from the hotel (beach about 150 meters from the resort). A very quite and calm environment; the resort comprises 62 rooms, being 35 family suites, with 85 sqm and with kitchen, 2 bedrooms, living room, bathroom and balcony or terrace. Includes also restaurant, 1 bar and the Spa. The facilities and the romantic setting make the resort the ideal retreat for couples and with its all-suite accommodation and location just a short stroll from a great beach, Vila Alba provide all the ingredients for an excellent family holiday.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
We returned to the UK yesterday following our seven day stay at the Resort.This was the fourth year that my wife and I have stayed at the Resort. On this occasion our daughter, son in law and nearly three year old grandson travelled with us. We were supposed to stay this time last year but, because of the Pandemic, it was agreed that we could carry the booking through to this year.
To say we were apprehensive about the booking because of the Pandemic is an under statement .However having endured uncertainties in the months leading up to holiday as to whether we would be allowed to travel or not and then jumping through every "hoop" for Covid Testing etc., travelling requirements it was well worth it.
We have in recent years used Jet2 for our flights . They were excellent again with their flights and with Covid measures.
Not unexpectedly the Resort was not that busy. Our accommodation was thoroughly cleaned every day by very conscientious Cleaners .Bed linen was changed daily as were the towels . Covid measures in the Reception area included the wearing of face masks. This was also the case in the Restaurant area where disposable gloves were supplied for use when accessing the" help yourself" breakfast area.
As we found on our previous visits the staff were all very friendly and helpful. We particularly appreciated the attention the Restaurant Staff gave to our young Grandson. He enjoyed the children's play area , the Swimming Pools and the beach just down from the Resort. There were three different time slots for breakfast so ensuring that even at busy times the Restaurant was never too crowded.
We enjoyed the one evening meal we had in the Restaurant. We have always preferred to use our rental car and try other Restaurants in the area as well as eating in a couple of nights.
We know that building works have been" threatend "for the last two years , but understand these are again being postponed . We like the current Vila Alba experience. We do hope that those works, when carried out, do not risk spoiling that experience.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2021
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â We had Apartment 504 which is one of the side sea view Apartments
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Vila Alba Resort, AgĂŞncia/Consultor at Vila Alba Resort
Responded Sep 24, 2021
Dear Guest Thank you for your amazing comment and for keep your preference when choosing Vila Alba for your holidays. Was a pleasure to have you and your family, here again. We are truly happy to know how much you enjoyed your holidays and we hope to welcome you again soon. Best wishes Maria Morais
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
These reviews are machine translated from their original language. Show machine translations?
The Vila Alba is located directly by the sea on the rocky coast with a spectacular view and a very beautiful garden.
There is a small bay right next to the complex, other beaches such as Praia Marinha can be reached with a short walk along the coast in about 30 minutes or by rental car (which is a good option in the Algarve anyway).
Our deluxe suite with a sea view left nothing to be desired.
The restaurant offers a good breakfast buffet as well as lunch and dinner. The very good food justifies the price. The staff are very friendly and helpful, but often cannot understand the guests' wishes due to a lack of language skills. Those who speak Portuguese have an advantage here :)
Read more
Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My husband and I have just returned from Vila Alba whereby my son and his new wife held their wedding 14/09/24. The wedding was absolutely magical and I would highly recommend this as a wedding venue for any couple considering getting married in Portugal. Upon our arrival on 12th September, we'd arrived early and having been ill the night before, the gentleman on reception saw that I was weary, and instead of making us wait for the room we had booked and paid for, he very very kindly offered us an upgrade free of charge. The room was immaculate and the bed/pillows very comfortable. I would highly recommend this hotel.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Very peaceful location. No shops/bars/restaurants nearby, but the nearest town Carvoeiro is only...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Vila Alba Resort, AgĂŞncia/Consultor at Vila Alba Resort
Responded Sep 19, 2024
Dear Guest, Thank you very much for your feedback and the excellent rating given to Vila Alba Resort. We are delighted to hear that your stay was so special, particularly with your son’s wedding. It is wonderful to know that you appreciated the peaceful location, the comfort of the room, and our service. We are pleased that we were able to provide you with a memorable experience and that you enjoyed the complimentary room upgrade. We appreciate your kind words and recommendation of our hotel. We look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you back in the future! Best regards, The Vila Alba Resort Team
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Overall I felt disappointed with this resort. It’s extremely overpriced for the value. The accommodations are ok, I felt that they were clean and they give you plenty of towels which is nice. The bed wasn’t very comfortable but the sheets were good. They do have an ant problem, ants in bed, ants on the room service tray ect. The food is average at best especially for the price. I feel that they are understaffed. You always had to hunt for someone if you want food or a drink and then try to track them down again to sign the bill. At lunch I waited at least 40 minutes for my bill after I was finished eating with no luck and finally left to sit by the pool thinking they know my room number and I have a card on file. I ordered room service later and was accused of walking out on my bill. I tried to order a breakfast room service one morning because we had an early tour but was told they couldn’t do that. We were always out most of the day but the cleaning service always came around 4:00pm when we got back. The cleaning service did do a good job. I also tried to book a massage a month before my stay. I gave them all my contact information and the dates I was staying. They booked it a week before my arrival and emailed me saying they were waiting for me and I never showed up. Then told me they didn’t have anything available for the day I requested in the first place. The beach was very overcrowded on the weekend but wasn’t so bad on a Monday. Again just overall a very expensive disappointment. I couldn’t wait to leave. This was the last place in Portugal we visited before leaving for Spain. We stayed in Porto, Coimbra, Nazare, and Lisboa and this was the worst place especially in regard to customer service.
Sarah Fleming
Read more
Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were in this establishment a few years ago, unfortunately it has nothing to do... even if the setting remains very beautiful (swimming pool , sea view, proximity to the beach) The service is poor, half board more than limit, the waiters do as they can but can not manage, the dishes served are very basic... The accommodation is aging, the housekeepers unpleasant if you dare to ask to come in 5 minutes ... You will have to carry your luggage yourself to your room (at the head of the client) ... I tried to book a treatment at the SPA, mission impossible, the reception tells you to go to the Spa nobody at the Spa ... when you have the chance to find the beautician, she no longer has availability ... The Spa area closes at 7pm but from 6pm she closes the doors ... and becomes unpleasant ... At the pool you will have to fight to have a deckchair, customers leave their towels, are on the phone in speaker mode.... What a pity I had kept a beautiful memory of this place which is no longer the peaceful place it was!
Read more
Automatically translated
Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I are staying here for the last part of a two week vacation in Portugal. We had looked at reviews and pictures of this resort prior to arriving and were excited to stay here. Upon arrival we could see that the views were beautiful but the resort fell short in every other way. When we checked in our room was not yet ready so we stopped at the restaurant for lunch. While at lunch we had to track down staff to give us a seat, get any drinks, and then to order our lunch. Finally our food came and for a 5 star resort the food was less than subpar. We ordered 2 sodas, a personal pizza, and a cheeseburger and the bill was over $60 usd. The restrooms that were available to use for guests had toilet paper holders that were falling off the walls, soap dispensers that were rusted, and bathroom doors that did not lock. Finally once it was time to check into our room I was at first impressed with how the room looked but that quickly changed. Once in the room we found ants crawling around the bathroom and within 5 minutes we had killed over 10 ants alone. At this point we were frustrated and contacted our travel agent to help resolve this issue. Soon after my travel agent contacted the hotel the hotel then called me personally to say that they were made aware I was “complaining.” During that phone call they never offered anything to make our stay better. We decided to walk around the resort to get out of our room and walked down to the spa only to find all the lights off and the “hot tub” cold. After a long day of travel and frustration we decided we would give the restaurant another try. Unfortunately our experience was not any better with dinner. We both ordered risottos one mushroom and one scallop and prawn risotto. The mushroom risotto was almost all mushrooms that tasted like they were from a can and the scallop and prawn risotto had only two scallops and two prawns. We contacted our travel agent again to have them help with our problems with the resort and then decided to get some rest. The next day we spent the day by the pool where not once did any staff ask if we wanted a drink or to order lunch. When we found a staff member to order lunch they gave us a menu but never came back to take our order. Finally we got our food and after we finished it they never came to pick up the plate so after over an hour we took the plate to them. Since check in we have been working with our travel agent to get a refund for our stay and our travel agent has been met with nothing but pushback. Considering all of the issues we are having a refund is the least this resort could do. This resort has the potential to be a great place because of the scenery but they have a lot to improve on for it to be considered a 5 star resort.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Don’t come here if you want the service of a 5 star resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Vila Alba Resort, AgĂŞncia/Consultor at Vila Alba Resort
Responded Aug 13, 2024
Dear Guest, Thank you for sharing your experience at Vila Alba Resort, although we regret that your stay did not meet your expectations. From the moment of your arrival, our team made every effort to ensure you had a pleasant experience. When you mentioned your initial dissatisfaction, we promptly offered a complimentary upgrade in the hope of improving your experience. However, we were surprised to find that, even with this gesture, constant complaints continued to arise, many of which seemed aimed at obtaining monetary compensation, even after full consumption of services. Regarding the dinner at our restaurant, we must express our surprise at your dissatisfaction being expressed only after the meal had ended. We are always willing to correct any situation at the moment, but we believe that when a dining experience is not meeting expectations, it is customary for the guest to express their dissatisfaction immediately so that we can resolve the situation promptly. After your initial complaint, and with the intervention of your travel agency, a daily dinner was offered throughout your stay to ensure your comfort and satisfaction. However, we regret that the complaints persisted despite this. We reiterate that our priority is to provide a memorable experience for all our guests. However, we also depend on the cooperation of our guests to find solutions together. At all times, we have tried to meet your needs as best as possible. We sincerely hope that, in the future, you will give us the opportunity to provide an experience that better meets your expectations. Best regards, The Vila Alba Resort Team
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Attended a wedding and extended stay for a holiday. The wedding was fantastic and the hotel were excellent. Our apartment was good. First sign that all was not perfect was the notice that extra coffee pods were charged for, not the usual for 5 stars. On one night we had a problem of ants in the kitchen and one of the bedrooms, very poorly dealt with. We asked for clean bed linen but the night porter/ manager said he could not do this as the cleaners were off duty. To be fair the next day the whole apartment was very well cleaned. The bar and restaurant were where this hotel really fell down. Service was extremely slow, an order for three drinks took 30 min, each drink arriving at 10 min intervals. It is a pity because the location is beautiful but it is remote and you do need to hire a car.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Vila Alba Resort, AgĂŞncia/consultor at Vila Alba Resort
Responded Sep 21, 2022
Dear Gerard Thank you for your review regarding your stay in Vila Alba. We are happy to read that overall, you had a good time with us. We also appreciate that you have mentioned some details that did not entirely met your expectations, because this will help us to improve our services. Looking forward to welcome you once again soon. Best wishes, The Alba Vila Team
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Totally opposite from what the pictures in website show. Please do not waste your money, I believe maybe this place was good precovid but not now. The buffet dinner was just omg disgusting bland cold, my kids could cook better. The rooms were OK 5/10 cleanliness , no turn down service. No laundry service, bar service was brought to room no glasses or bottle openers . The garden outside the room was unkept and covered with ants like millions! The pool for website photos has been captured decievingly . Itz actually tiny. The walk down to beach could of been tidied up. The road to the hotel definitely needs double the amount of passing places unless you want to risk your car being scratched. Management just have no idea here and say we'll your stay is non refundable. Please people do not walk into this place it's a complete waste of money. There us one waiter Marco who tries his best but obviously he can't run the whole place, good luck to this guy!!
Read more
Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Vila Alba Resort, AgĂŞncia/Consultor at Vila Alba Resort
Responded Aug 31, 2022
Dear Fiona, Thank you for your comments, which have deserved our best attention. We sincerely regret that we were not able to meet the entire of your expectations. Unfortunately, we feel that some of your comments are a little inaccurate and unfair, and that you are maybe trying to wreak havoc for not having the refund of your reservation, that was made with a nonrefundable rate. For example, we are truly surprised to read that the garden was unkept or that the pictures do not correspond to the reality because what is common to hear from the guests is exactly the opposite. The same way, you said that the pictures of the pool are deceiving, however, most of the pictures that we have online show the view from above where is possible to see the entire size of the pool. The way to the beach and the road to the resort are not property of the resort, and so, as you may understand, there is nothing that we can do to change those. Regarding the other points mentioned in your review, we thank you for them as we appreciate all our clients’ comments in order to improve our services. Best regards, The Vila Alba Team
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This was the last leg of our visit to Portugal. Unfortunately, Vila Alba was a disappointing finale. We paid over $300 a night for a suite with a sea view but the sea was on the horizon and the foliage blocked a fair portion of it. It was not the “sea view” we experienced throughout the rest of Portugal. The vast majority of rooms are not water view and designed in an artificial townhouse enclave that did not blend naturally with the environs. The design of the room is ultra modern with complicated light switches and glass doors between the toilet and the shower offering no privacy from the sink area. The bed is large and comfortable as are the pillows.
The infinity pool and access to the beach are the highlights. Both are beautiful and relaxing.
The restaurant and reception staff are doing their best and were helpful. The cleaning staff first showed up around 5pm and no one offered to help us with our luggage from the parking lot and up the stairs to our room.
Dinner was a major disappointment. The two pasta dishes were initially inedible and the kind waiter swooped them away to the chef without being asked to do so. The second round, while better than the first, was still not very good. Brandied shrimp pasta without brandy is just oily. I would recommend eating off-premises for your dinner. Breakfast was fine and a full buffet.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Vila Alba Resort, AgĂŞncia/Consultor at Vila Alba Resort
Responded Oct 19, 2021
Dear Guest, Thank you for your time sharing your experience with us. We are happy to know that overall, you had a pleasant stay with us and that you appreciated the location and the staff, however, we regret to know that we have failed to fully meet your expectations in some aspects of your stay, and for that we offer you our sincere apologies. It would be a true pleasure for us to welcome you back in the future. Kind regards, Maria Morais
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had a brilliant stay at Vila Alba for our honeymoon. The resort provided us with the perfect location for a relaxed stay - the pool facilities are excellent, as is the spa and the proximity to the beach. Breakfast is delicious and, although the lunch and dinner options are a tad on the expensive side for what they get, the hotel is in close proximity (~10 min taxi) to a number of delicious local restaurants, chief amongst them O Pescador in nearby Benagil - absolutely worth a visit!
Read more
Date of stay: June 2022
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Vila Alba Resort, AgĂŞncia/Consultor at Vila Alba Resort
Responded Jul 26, 2022
Dear Scotty, On behalf of the Vila Alba Team I would like to thank you so much for sharing your experience. We are delighted to hear that you have truly enjoyed your experience at Vila Alba and really thank you for your feedback. Was a pleasure to have you here and we hope to see you again in your next stay in the Algarve. Best wishes Maria Morais
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
hello, we have 1 room prepared for wheelchairs and the common areas are accessible, but we do not have a hoist in the pools and the beach is not accessible neither.
Hi
The kids club will be open but without supervisor, so the parents need to accompanied the children.
Yes you can use the indoor pool with the baby - just please use the proper swimming diapers. The use of swiming cups it is also compulsory on the pool.
See you soon
There are more places to choose from in the Lagoa area.
PRICE RANGE
C$153 - C$323 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
suites alba hotel carvoeiro, suites alba resort and spa
LOCATION
PortugalAlgarveFaro DistrictLagoa
NUMBER OF ROOMS
62
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
