Vila Vita Parc Resort & Spa

Vila Vita Parc is perched on a clifftop overlooking the Atlantic near the small town of Porches. Set in landscaped tropical gardens with direct access to the beach, the hotel occupies a stretch of unspoilt coastline equidistant between the towns of Albufeira and Carvoeiro.

Vila Vita Parc’s rooms and suites have a stylish, modern design, which nevertheless pays homage to local folk traditions and to the beauty of the natural world outside. 

Located in the main hotel, the Deluxe Rooms, Junior, Grand and Penthouse Suites have a subtle sand and ocean-inspired colour scheme, and beautiful azulejo vases, cushions and mosaics. The rooms have lovely mosaic-tiled bathrooms and overlook the hotel’s verdant gardens, dotted with palm trees. 

Couples in search of uninterrupted ocean views should consider the Residence building, while the Oasis Parc area of the resort offers a village-like setting and houses two-bedroom Oasis Family Suites, some with rooftop terraces, and one-bedroom Oasis Suites with either a garden or rooftop terrace overlooking the surrounding flat white roofs, terracotta tiles and blue wooden doors to the azure sea in the distance. 

With an impressive number of restaurants and bars spread across the resort, it’s fair to say that you’re pretty spoilt for choice here. The jewel in the crown is the Ocean restaurant, which has garnered two Michelin stars for its exquisite Portuguese cuisine. Sample dishes include black pork with artichokes and purple mustard, Sagres octopus with sweet potato and a seafood trio of squid, crab and sea urchin.

Other dining options include the stunning Aladin Grill, Japanese cuisine at Mizu Teppanyaki and two beachfront restaurants offering either laid-back or fine-dining experiences. For an aperitif, head to the sophisticated Oasis Bar, or sample local wines at the atmospheric Cave de Vinhos. The resort also runs Biergarten, a traditional Bavarian pub and restaurant which hosts its own Oktoberfest annually and can be accessed via a complimentary shuttle service.

The spa is a luxurious, marble-walled sanctuary, where a wide menu of wellness therapies are on hand to help you relax and rejuvenate. Thai, hot stone and aromatherapy massages are all on offer, as are manicures, facials and body wraps. Other health and wellbeing facilities include an indoor/outdoor pool and a state-of-the-art fitness centre.

The resort is a great place for an active escape, with no end of sporting and leisure activities to choose from. The Algarve has long been a magnet for golfers, and you can work on your game at the resort’s dramatic clifftop driving range and nine-hole pitch & putt course - lessons with a professional coach are also available.

There are also tennis courts here – clay and hard court – while windsurfing, jet-skiing and snorkelling are also on offer. Boat trips can take you through the coves and bays of the surrounding coastline, spotting dolphins as you go. The resort also has a yacht which can be chartered for half-day or full-day trips out on the Atlantic.