sunbear
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Villa Soledo, nr Quinta do Lago, Algarve PortugalStayed 6th to 13th Oct 2007 Style Holidays Allocated on Arrival
Two adults
Often do the Style AOA deals, which are good value especially off season and for a couple. You are guaranteed a minimum two bedroom villa with private pool and group A car hire, located anywhere in the Algarve.
This time we got the Villa Soledo located on the Quinta do Lago estate in the Algarve just west of Faro. Quinta do Lago is one of the posher areas in the Algarve based around a couple of golf courses amongst a stone pine forest. The villas in this setting are large and very low density, the resorts are top end like the nearby Four Seasons. Its an area where a car is necessary to get anywhere like shops restaurants and beach. Prices in restaurants in the area tend to be on the high side, about two or three times what you might pay in a normal tourist restaurant in the Algarve in places like Albufeira for example. The area felt like millionaires row our little Fiesta looking a bit out of place among the BMW and Mercedes off-roaders of other villa owners.
The nearest town was Almancil which had an Aldi and Apollonian supermarket (bit like Waitrose), and a sprinkiling of shops and restaurants. Nearest beach was at Quinta do Lago, a long streach of beach backed by sand dunes and the national park, reached by a long pedestrian walkway/bridge. The beach is service with sunbeds and a restaurant.
The villa looked like it had been designed in the seventies or early eighties with large gardens and private swimming pool directly overlooking the golf course. Accomodation included four double/twin bedrooms all en-suite, kitchen, dining room, snug, large lounge and verandah. Lounge included tv, playstation 2 with game, micro hi-fi and various board games. Outside we were supplied with lilos, barbecues. All the bedrooms had recently been refurbished with laminate flooring and new furniture. The only area of criticism would be of the bathrooms which while clean and adequate might beneifit from modernisation.
Plus points
Lovely villa in manicured area. Exceptional value for what we paid. An insight into how the well heeled live.
Negative points
The area could be any posh golf based resort anywhere, it did not feel like the real Portugal. Quite a hike to get to reasonably priced restaurants and shops.
Rating 8/10
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