Almond Tree Park Hotel

1 reader found this review helpful

My wife was looking for a family holiday in the Algarve and a friend reccomended it, they stayed in Pra Da Rocha, but I wanted as going with another family and myself and my friend being golfers wanted to spend sometime on some of the courses so looked for somewhere that would help us with golf but also make a nice base for the whole two families. A guy I was talking to in a local golf shop recomended I checked out the ALGARVEGATEWAY on the net as he had used this to book up family holiday and some golf, he then later returned with four of his friends just for golf so thought it must have been good.
We was a little concerned at using the algarvegateway website but had nothing to loose as it was just an enquirey form. Will filled it out just a few questions and later on in the day someone contacted us at no expense to me, went over everything from appartment, car hire and our bookings for golfs at various reccomended courses. Just this part of the service was too good to be true, but after booking our flights ourselfs we realised that providing the food in the algarve was not too expensive we had just booked a 14 nights holiday with a car for around £1000 less than the high street...Great. Of course this raised our concerns as all we had was email confirmations, and okay had only paid a deposit, but we was pointed at there dedicated golf site and you could tell this was a dedicated services for golfers and also catered for the other family members so I was impressed, we was told someone would be waiting at airport with a sign for our hire cars. Yes they was there and we even got better cars than we paid for, we got to Villamoura in around 20 mins and all in all the whole journey from gatwick to faro 2.15mins, through and out airport and in the car around 35mins amazing and strange that we felt so far away somewhere so nice and warm in such a short time.
We arrived at Paq Das Amendorias, and okay we had seen pictures on the Algarvegateway website and they was all true, we did not want luxury, but wanted somewhere clean and it was. The Reception was helpfull, and you could change money, book trips everything, we had a blown light bulb in one room and it was fixed within a few hours and the handy man was a pleasant chap. The pool was located between the three blocks and on the roof, and the sun went around it but it offered shade in some areas for those wanted to keep out the sun. We decided to eat in the Chez Carlos restuarant as it was featured as Villamouras best kept secret, and I can tell you the food and service was fabulous, the waiter who I think also was maybe the owner or certainley the manager Philip was a smashing chap and fantastic at his job, his service and interaction with the kids was great. Nothing was too much trouble, and the orders where always correct and food came out at same time. We did not realise why the food seemed to be rather long wait even when it was not so busy but they cook everything from scratch and its all fresh so not re-heated stuff here, truly was great and excellent value to eat.
Myself and friend made friends with a guy called Carlos who appeared to own the complex and made our golf experience a better one than we expected, he introduced us to a team of staff and a gentleman named Geoff who sorted out all our extra bookings. As for the wifes and kids, we all enjoyed walking down to the marina even after eating in chez carlos, and then in the mornings we would all meet up for breakfast in the Tee-Times Snack Bar, but it was like a small resturant coffe bar, the breakfast full english was fantastic, and as much as we kept saying we will not eat in there the next morning we all ended up in there as very tasty, friendly people, within complex is supermarket and the rolls are very nice so you can make up picnic to take to beach, or as we did when we went to see the dolphins at zoo marine, great day out, and we also visited 3 water parks, the Algarve Shopping was even enjoyable for me and my friend, the wifes loved it even more, we was a bit sad and has a KFC in the foodhall, but let me tell you this was the cleanest food hall ever unlike uk ones. We also with our cars ventured to many towns and had meals in some of more off the beaten track restuarants and they was excellent value. My son see an advert for Go Karting, we went in evening at a place called Almacil or something about 10min drive from where we was, we decided evening as not too hot or packed, we had the whole place to ourselfs, there is go karts for young kids and other for adults and older kids also other things too do, we have a nice time and stoped at the marina after for a meal around the marina, nice to sit there, but found more expensive and not as good as the ones further back from the marina.
The beach was a 2min drive from where we was and we did infact drive the first time, but we did walk it from our complex and was around 10mins so the ladies who felt happy to walk this did so when we went off for a round of golf one day, the beach is great and just laying back listening to the waves breaking was most relaxing. All in all the Algarve is great, you need a car to see it all, and I can recomend staying at the Paq Das Amendorias for family holiday or one of there golf packages that I have just booked with my friend and six other guys are comming with us, so if you want a to relax and basically have a pool to yourself, get good service, friendly atmosphere, and excellent food, in a clean and safe place to stay, contact them through the algarvegateway.com and also have a look at the pictures so you can see what the rooms and pool is like. If you want to save money and have good holiday the is YOB free this is the place to be. P.s. Make sure you ask for a map to drive from airport to appartments, or they will arrange a taxi for you.
By: Martin Lawrence - London
Direct Booking with Discounted rates, Packages with Golf and\or Rent-a-car. www.algarvepackage.com

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2 readers found this review helpful

We stayed here in August 2008 and had a brilliant time with no problems at all. The reception staff were fantastic and very helpful. Ok the rooms are basic but it was only a place to put your head a night and don't get me wrong the rooms were very clean and a maid came twice a week to give you fresh towels etc. As it was self catering the kitchen had all you needed, a local supermarket downstairs for bread milk etc. There is a main road about 40 yards from the front of the hotel but we heard nothing or very little and our room faced the road. The pool is on the first floor roof above the restaurant which we found a great place to relax as it is never busy also the pool is cleaned and maintained every day at 9.00 am. Local bars on the ground floor which are busy at night and very cheap and again there was very little noise at night from the bars etc. We booked several day out's through the reception staff which saved a lot of problems with language barriers. You are approx 1 mile from the center of Vilamoura marina which you can walk to ( 30 mins at a stroll )or take a taxi average cost at the time was 4 euros well worth it. I don't no what more I can say about this hotel but I will be going back again very soon

3 readers found this review helpful

We are just back from a fortnights stay at these apartments and have to say we couldn't really find fault with them at all.
The actual accomodation was fine, (not 5 star, but then they don't claim to be)roomy, and everything was in good, working order. We found the reception staff extremely friendly and helpful also.
There are two restaurants, both of which offer good meals at a reasonable cost, a supermarket, gift shop, and two bars, oh and a laundry room free of charge if required.
We frequented "Parkys Bar" where we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves .
The owners and staff go out of their way to ensure their customers have a good evening, and they are very friendly and great fun.
Vilamoura marina is about a 15 minute walk away, non the less a pleasant walk, and there are many nice bars and restaurants there also.
You can cut through the Marina, and behind it there is a lovely beach.
The weather is glorious in September without being stifling.
If you get the chance go on the dolphin safari trip you see advertised as it is amazing, not only do you see the dolphins in their own habitat up closely, but you go for an amazing ride in the speedboat. It's really exhilarating, and great fun ! (Not for those who suffer from motion sickness).
The whole resort is spotless as well and well maintained, and in genaral we found it reasonable (cost wise)
All in all I would recomend resort and accomodation to anyone, we had a brilliant time and didn't want to come home.We will definately be goig back to rthe same place in April next year.

1 reader found this review helpful

I would have put zero of there was an option. Do not go to this dump, it is not fit for purpose. We booked online, paid in advance and stayed for 10 minutes. Horrible place. Go to Beirut or Hemand Province before trying this place.