Vilalara Grand Hotel Algarve

Rating: 4/5 Stars|My family recently stayed at Vilalara Grand Hotel Algarve in Portugal in July 2025, and overall, it was a solid experience with some notable highlights—and a few areas for improvement.|Rooms: The rooms were quite spacious, which is nice, but honestly, they felt a bit underwhelming considering the price point (our room did not have the same amenities or accommodations that are captured in the advertisements). Nothing particularly spectacular or luxurious, and the beds were unfortunately hard and cheap—definitely not the most comfortable sleep.|Service: The staff were friendly and operated with good intent. They were attentive, but service was a bit slower than what I’m used to in American culture, so patience is needed.|Breakfast: The buffet offered a strong selection of quality food, though it was a bit bland in flavor. Still, a good way to start the day.|Location: The real highlight of this hotel is the breathtaking ocean view. It’s a stunning setting that truly makes the stay memorable. However, the hilly terrain means it may not be ideal for elderly guests or those with mobility issues.|Amenities: The spa was decent, and the gym was good, though it had restricted hours. No major complaints here.|Food: As mentioned earlier, the food quality was good but lacked a bit of flavor. It didn’t quite excite the palate.|Value: Given the overall experience, I felt the hotel was somewhat overpriced. The rooms, in particular, didn’t quite match the luxury vibe, and the beds were a disappointment. |Crowds: The property is quite large, so it never felt crowded. There were always available beach and pool chairs, which was a plus.|In summary: The Vilalara Grand Hotel Algarve is a very solid choice. I enjoyed my stay, but nothing about it was particularly inspiring or unique enough to make me want to return. A good one-time visit for a relaxing getaway with breathtaking views, but perhaps not worth a repeat for me.

Vilalara Grand Hotel is a beautiful place to stay on the Algarve. The architecture is quite unique and charming. (The only other property I am aware of designed by the same architect is Vila Joya.). What makes the property fairly unique is its beachfront setting on the Praia da Cova Redonda (one of those exquisitely beautiful beaches with dramatic cliffs and outcroppings of stone), where it retains a private and well-serviced section on the beach. (Unlike some other properties I have stayed at on the Algarve, which were more expensive and still had the gaul to charge 50 Euros daily for a beach chair, Vilalara provides the chaises and umbrellas without additional fees. Small things like this make the guest feel cared for and not fleeced!)||The property is over 50 years old, but is so well-maintained that I would have thought that most of the buildings were built less than 10 years ago. The grounds are tastefully landscaped and well-maintained. The layout is a bit confusing with the names and numbers of buildings on the map provided not always correlating to room numbers, etc. Although the majority of guests seem to be adults, there appear to be wonderful services provided for families with children. The number of steps, stairs and inclines|would not make the Vilalara an obvious choice for those with mobility issues.||While the entire staff seems to be terrific, I would like to lavish praise on Tiago Sacramento, a member of the Reception Staff who helped to make my stay particularly enjoyable. The room initially assigned to me was beautiful, but in|an extremely shaded location. As I love bright light, I was not particularly happy in that first room (which was admittedly cooler, not a minor consideration for many during the Heat Dome which has gripped much of Europe in the past several days).|I was loathe to complain, but I ended up mentioning my preference to a Housekeeping manager, who in turn notified Mr. Sacramento. He went out of his way to search for a room in an especially sunny location at the same price point, and moved me to such a room when it became available the next day. The thoughtful consideration shown by Mr. Sacramento reflects extremely well on management of the |Vilalara and confirms my exceedingly high estimation of the hotel and my wish to return in the future. (They truly care about trying to make every guest happy!)||If you love the coast, come experience the gracious and refined hospitality of the Vilalara!

Lovely resort with wonderful suites and rooms, gardens, pools and beach. Free access to the hotel sunbeds and umbrellas at the beach. Wonderful breakfast with everything you could think off. Lovely staff. The ideal place to book if you're looking for a 5 star hotel. Location is ideal as well.

An unforgettable stay! Vilalara Grand Hotel is pure serenity — a perfect blend of luxury, nature, and impeccable service. The gardens are lush and beautifully maintained, the views over the ocean are breathtaking, and the private beach access feels like a dream. Our suite was spacious, spotless, and tastefully decorated, with every detail designed for comfort. The breakfast is one of the best I’ve had — fresh, varied, and served in a stunning setting. Every staff member we interacted with was kind, attentive, and truly professional. The spa is also a highlight, offering deep relaxation and high-quality treatments. If you’re looking for a peaceful, elegant escape in the Algarve, this is it. We left feeling completely recharged — and already dreaming of coming back.

The location is absolutely stunning — right on the ocean in a beautiful area in Portugal. The natural setting is wonderful and the resort has great potential. However, the overall experience did not meet expectations for what’s advertised as a 5-star hotel. Upon arrival, I went to have a meal but was told I needed a reservation — even though the restaurant was nearly empty. Later, when I got a table, I was forced to sit indoors because they claimed the outdoor seating was full, yet the outdoor tables remained empty during my entire meal. I also requested urgent pressing service s (which they say is going to be delivered 9 am ), and specifically asked to have it ready by 9 AM before my departure. They failed to deliver on time, even after repeated reminders. Sadly, the level of service is far below the price paid. There is no real value for money here — which is disappointing for a supposed luxury resort. I hope things will improve soon.

The resort is absolutely perfect for a romantic getaway. Surrounded by peaceful gardens and featuring spacious rooms, it offers the ideal setting to relax and reconnect. To top it all off, there’s direct access to a stunning beach that makes the whole experience unforgettable.

I rarely leave negative reviews, but my stay at Vila Lara Hotel was so far below expectations that I feel compelled to warn others.||Let’s start with the restaurant by the pool – the food was simply awful. The pasta was overcooked and drowned in a cheap, tasteless tomato sauce. The vegetables tasted like they had just been boiled in plain water, with zero seasoning. Worst of all, the beef came nearly raw, and after eating it, my kids ended up with stomach aches. To top it off, the waiter made us very uncomfortable, repeatedly trying to engage with my children despite their visible discomfort. It was awkward and completely inappropriate.||Now for the room – I had booked what was supposed to be a two-bedroom apartment, which on the website looks modern, stylish, and spacious. What I got was a completely different reality. The apartment looked and felt like a budget motel: cheap, dated, and absolutely nothing like what’s advertised. Worst of all, it was dirty – the sink still had visible toothpaste from previous guests, and the sofa had crumbs all over it. It was disgusting.||I addressed this with the receptionist, who apologized and promised housekeeping would take care of it while we were out for dinner. When we returned that evening, nothing had changed – the sink was still filthy, and only one of the two bathrooms had been “cleaned,” and even that was done poorly.||This was hands down the most disappointing hotel stay I’ve ever experienced. I feel completely misled. The website only shows photos of the best rooms – you’ll find no trace of the outdated, run-down apartment I was given. It’s incredibly dishonest marketing.||If you’re considering staying here, I strongly suggest looking elsewhere. This place is nowhere near the standard it claims to offer.

Good welcome and check in. Buggy tour of estate and facilities and room functions well explained.|Beautiful setting, on a sandy beech (though steep shelving might be a hazard for young kids) and lovely, well maintained gardens.|Room (and all the rest of the facilities) in very good repair. Room (Junior Suite) very large with ample storage space, big bathroom and comfortable bed.|Choice of 3 restaurants and one bbq event (which may or may not happen, depending on demand that night). Acosta (Portuguese) the basic offer and perfectly ok with a wide range of Portuguese dishes using local ingredients. The Trattoria is one notch up: feels like a family owned restaurant and the standard of cooking is high (eg the spaghetti with lobster or the duck). Top of the range is Coral offering two tasting menus. Very interesting food that you may not have tried before (including crispy conger ell skin!). Expensive but good.||Facilities include the beach (umbrellas don’t really provide enough shade for two); pool by restaurant (too few sunbeds and quite crowded); upper pool by spa (much less crowded and with a very nice cafe; pool by Trattoria (less crowded and the trattoria acts as the pool cafe).||Beware the problem of finding a table though. Demand exceeds supply so book ahead to avoid disappointment, especially if you have taken the (excellent value) half board option.|Breakfast is lovely, served in Coral, overlooking the main pool. Comprehensive offer of excellent fruit, parties, cooked to order egg dishes. You really couldn’t ask for more.||Very pleasant staff: friendly, efficient and eager to please.