Sofitel Thalassa Vilalara Hotel

We booked a winter break at the Vilalara, and were lucky to get warm sunshine in mid-November - which allowed us to enjoy the fantastic beach! Great service from very helpful staff, a good quality restaurant, peaceful grounds and beautiful views at breakfast over the pool and out to sea were the highlights. The free programme of activites was excellent and is worth obtaining before arriving if you want to make the most of your stay. In the interests of balance, the rooms were a little dated, and the Thalassa centre was fine, if a tad... more

this is a secret place in Algarve far from all those ugly touristic building. the private beach of the hotel is really peaceful. 5 pools for this spa hotel, with rooms spread in the park . the restaurant is also very good. as we have been outclassed we get the junior suite which was very large and in a portuguese style (including champagne and fruits) the perfect place to visit the south of Portugal, mid distance from Sagres and Tavira.

Sofitel Vilalara is by far one of the best Thalassotherapy centres in the World. Stayed there a week in October on a special Yoga/Thalasso package which was worth every minute. The location is secluded and the sand beach nested in a rocky semi cercle offers the utmost privacy. The food is stunning. Wednesday's Staff & Guest cocktail party is a perfect occasion to get to know one's surroundings. The sea treatments at the Thalasso are closely monitored and run like a Swiss clock. The quality is superior. Unfortunately the non... more

Lovely hotel with apartments spread throughout a glorious estate. Wonderful buffet breakfast. Good food and wine for dinner but not good value. Better to eat at a number of good restaurants in Porches just north of the hotel. Three excellent swimming pools, great private beach and generally excellent level of service. Interesting water treatments in the spa. Don't go to Armacao de Pera, it's ghastly. Fairly unimpressed with Lagos and Silves although old town Faro was great and a boat trip through the salt marshes and lagoons is a must.

Unlike previous reviews, we found the hotel complex to be very good value for the surroundings and facilities. The food was to die for, whether you wanted the a la carte or the set meal. There was an excellent choice that would suit all tastes plus a selection of very healthy cuisine, in the low fat restaurant. We had a very comfortable stay in a suite which was clean and luxurious. If you do have trouble walking the only possible barrier would be getting down and up the steps to the beach. However, the pools were so numerous... more

we have just returned from 11 day stay in Vilalara this is a paradice super service great kids program we loved it all. THANK YOU.

This is a beautiful hotel, catered for those who wish to get away from it all. Set on a secluded beach, with a comprehensive spa and gorgeous gardens it combines to create a satisfyingly tranquil environment, even for the whole family. The staff are very friendly and helpful, and there are lots of nice touches which made the feeling we had stumbled onto something a bit special. While breakfast was a treat, buffet style, with every choice imaginable, on a less positive note, the evening meals, while good in their own right,... more

A very peaceful 'gated' environment, with enormous and beautiful gardens - although this does mean some very long and steep walks (i.e. 5 mins from bedroom to breakfast and 10 mins to the fantastic private beach - all within the huge grounds of the hotel). In fact it's not a hotel in the normal sense of the word but a series of about 8 low-rise buildings. It is VERY steep to get to the top buildings and there are c100 step stairs to the beach - so if you have any mobility issues this place is not for you. This set up means there's also no... more

Just got back from 5 nights at the Sofitel Vilalara, which is a great beach Hotel. Strong points - there are three main pool areas (one includes a small heated pool) and these areas, the gardens and the breakfast/dining area overlooking the ocean as well as the beach are really beautiful. Breakfast buffet very good with plenty of choice. Got a good room rate (non-suite) by booking 3 months in advance on the internet. The rooms are spread amongst the gardens so not a high rise hotel. Rooms can be a few minute walk through the gardens to... more

I've just returned from an 8-night stay at the Sofitel Vilalara. The location is VERY good, it's in a quiet neighborhood, and the Sofitel is surrounded by the Vila Vita Parc Hotel. You're just 2 minutes by car from Armacao de Pera and its awful buildings, but when you're inside the hotel, it seems you're in another planet, as everything is so quiet and relaxing !!! The hotel's gardens are absolutely marvellous, it doesn't seem you're in Europe, it seems you're in some kind of tropical island !!! Beach is very nice, though... more