Villanova Apartments

Just back from Villanova, Albufeira (30/9/10-5/10/10). We were a group of 12 40+ girls on a 5 night stay and it was cheap accommodation so our expectations were not high. Our villa was basic, served the purpose, they are a little dated and I would not go back with hubby & kids for certain. Pool a little grubby and green, think it needs a good clean, also absolutely freezing, we didn't venture beyond our knees in it. But biggest word of warning to any potential holidaymakers - BEWARE OF THIEVING ROBBING SCUMBAGS - our apartment broke into on night 3. They came in via patio door, which is not very secure, didn't take them much effort to lift it a couple of inches in order to open it. We had all our euros, english cash, ipods, mobiles, credit cards taken - no fun arriving back at 2am to a trashed room. Management not really interested, no apology. Police not really interested, came and had a look round that night, but when we went to station the next morning the officers had not logged it. There are no safes in the rooms and we only found out there are safes at reception that can be rented AFTER WE WERE ROBBED. Might have been nice to have had the offer of them when we arrived. Anyway we tried not to let it dampen the rest of our holiday and slightly lucky for us our fellow 6 holidaymakers who were 5 doors down did not get robbed so thankfully were able to bail us out and get money for us. Also luckily one of the 6 in our room took our passports out with her, and tickets were with the other apartment. So just bear in mind the security side of things and RENT A SAFE because you never know who is going to be next. Definitely won't be back in a hurry. Lesson learnt for sure though - our possessions will not be left out ever again! Resort is a bit of a Benidorm, heaving with stag weekends, etc, but if that's what you're after then give it a go, drinks and food were cheap, so that was a bonus (well for those who have money left and don't get their room robbed LOL). Have fun.

My family including my in-laws stayed here for 2 weeks starting from 24 July 2010. The apartments are really hard to find and most are a long distance from reception, the pool was not that clean and there were lots of stag parties staying. If you are going to stay here make sure its not with yoiur family, my kids seen sights that are only for adult eyes. Please beware

i was a little bit doubtfull of coming to vilanova after reading all the bad reviews. i stayed in a villa, but most of the bad reveiws are from the hotel. the rooms were very big and spacious, air con worked beautifully in every room. all bedroom doors and both toilets had locks on them. plently of spare blankets, double doors leading to outside in every bedroom, lighting was a little bit naff though. the upstairs was big and the kitchen had everything you needed, the front balcony was perfectly sized, with a table chairs and an umbrella the main social area of your family/friends. tv with about 15 channels. the pool has no life guard and was quite cold but the cold was a life saver on a hot day after walking around for hours. two diving boards wich everyone loves, very deep at points. baby pool for kids. not many loungers but there was nice grass with trees for shade. the bar was quite expensive but right outside was another sandwich store if you were really that bothered. kebab shop, and souvineer shop litterally RIGHT outside reception, although the bar and restraunt was closed, due to family who own the resort issues. doesnt matter much because you have the strip on your doorstep. the strip is AMAZING. so many bars, clubs, shops. there was strip clubs, too. beach has amazing watersports, banana boats, rings, speed boats, pedlos, that air thing, dont know anyones problem with the place. its lovely! i would deffo go here again and hopefully plan to. AMAZING HOLIDAY! IGNORE THE BAD REVEIWS!!

This has been the worst hotel i have ever stayed in. The rooms were terrible the beds which were supposed to double up as sofa's wereso hard my wife and i had bad backs from sleeping on them. This when you could sleep as there were large groups setting off fire extinguishers and the fire alarm almost every morning at 4am. That with the cockroaches running around made it just a horrible stay. Added to this the pool was ice cold and there wer'nt enough beds around the pool. If you want advice DON'T STAY THERE!!!

We went from 1st-8th August 2010

Three adults and two teengage girls.

Do not go to this hotel if you have a young family, everyone we spoke to were kept awake by loud rowdy boisterous Dutch guests, we stayed in a villa which was old fashioned but had everything we needed, every night we were kept awake till early hours of the morning, nothing was done when we complained as there were too many of them everywhere. The poor people in the apartments had their doors kicked in the early hours of the morning, it is full of out of control Dutch youngsters and they have taken over, their radios were full blast all day and all night. The pool steadily turned a strange green throughout the week, and stained all of out costumes which despite using vanish products are still green, they were testing the water every day, there was a thick layer of green gunge all around the walls of the pool, and our daughter has a serious ear infection now because of this. I would not recommend this hotel, unless you are young insensitive, do not care about others and Dutch, then you would have a great time!

im only 14 but i would recommend this hotel,

i had a great time here and would happily go again!

the strip has a lot of pubs for a night time and watching games of football through the day, the restaurants are great.

there is a local shop that you can get your bits and bobs from,

but if you are wanting other things you can get a taxi to the main supermarket for as cheap as 3 euro 50, or you can walk which takes about 20 minutes, the supermarket has got two floors containing different shops!,

and there is mcdonalds and kfc locally, also at the supermarkets/local stores you can purchase some tickets to go to waterparks or days out, and you can buy this with or without transport, i would not recommend people with young children 0-5 to take them here as there isnt much for them to do :), but i loved my holidayy :D!

Just got back from a holiday here, will not be going again. The staff where friendly and helpful, but if you book for B+B your choice of breakfast is a continental one and that is it, no alternative. On their website it shows a childs play area which is no longer there,and there isn't a lot to do there if you have a child under 3. From Thursday to sunday the place was over run with hen and stag parties and groups of young people drinking all day and night, which is fine but had we known this we would not have gone with our 16 month old child. Cleanliness and overall appearance not very good, badly needs an overhaul. But, if you like a good nightlife,and don't mind the odd cockroach, ants or earwigs then this is the place for you. Definately shop around as can be quite expensive but there are some good restaraunts there that do great food at a reasonable price.

Apt villa nova are right in centre of town.Great place to stay for young people would not recemend them for family's. There is no life guard on duty and as it has three diving boards the pool is very deep at one end.There is no security on site so there was a lot of pool party's going on till six in the morning. I went with a large group of family's ranging from 7-45 years there where 7 teenagers in our group they had a great time but the rest of us would not return.

Very bed hotel ever. Specialy new year time!The reception is not campatent.

Villanova Apartments are clean ,and although a little basic its still excellent value for money, The stairs are quite steep to the upstairs bedroom could be a problem for the elderly,Do your shopping at the locals supermarket, we did ours at pingo dolce.Car motorbike rental is expensive, Bus fares reasonable,I took my metal detector and found loads of coins and some jewelry on the local beaches.

I must mention you will be approached by Gypsies and asked would you like a watch or smoke,And sometimes by drug pushers.For us we loved the old town of Albufuria at night,The restaurants are of a high standard.