Pioneer47322579565
25 settembre 2024
We stayed at the Vale d'Oliveiras Quinta Resort and Spa from 13th to 20th September. This was our second visit. So the plus points first. The accommodation is in a beautiful location surrounded by countryside, and has well-kept grounds and gardens that are spacious and well-designed. The pool is large and the water crystal clear. In fact one of the nicest pools we have experienced. Our stay included breakfast, which is buffet style and offers plenty of choice. There is a large atrium-style dining area with two outside verandas. The rooms (we were 'upgraded' to a two-bed apartment from a one-bed) are spacious, generally comfortable and clean. They include a fairly large kitchen, separate bathroom, and with a two-bed apartment a separate shower and second smaller bathroom. The lounge area is large with two comfortable sofas and a tv with a number of English channels. There is an outdoor patio area with table and chairs. The flats have air con, which worked perfectly. We had a massage in the spa area which was first class. There is plenty of car parking, and realistically you will need a car at this location. Now the not-so-good points. Sunbed Cushions. Whilst the pool and pool area is lovely and there are lots of sunbeds, the cushions for those sunbeds are awful and insufficient for the number of beds. A number had come apart or were split, and they were dirty and stained. You needed to cover them with two towels to make them useable. Some beds are on a grassed area around the main pool, and people will leave the sunbed cushions on the beds at the end of the day. There is a young member of staff assigned to give out cushions and towels (although in theory you are only allowed one) and who takes down the umbrellas etc. He does not take in the cushions from the sunbeds on the grass, and they then get soaked overnight, rendering them unusable the next day as they get soaked by the overnight sprinklers! This further reduces the number available. Such an easy issue to address through proper management. Pool Bar Food. We decided to eat at the pool bar one evening rather than go out to eat (we didn't have dinner included). The food was frankly very poor. I had a club sandwich, and the bread was virtually inedible, and the food poorly presented, whilst my partner quinoa salad was pretty tasteless. I would add that we were not the only ones to comment on the poor quality of the food. Accommodation. Whilst our apartment was clean and comfortable it looked very 'tired' and dated, a comment we made last year. There was a broken cupboard door and evidence of water damage to a dresser in the lounge; the fitted door for the washing machine in the kitchen was missing; some of the veneer was peeling off the kitchen units. Whilst we had a small outside space, it was untidy with no real planting and no sun loungers (we did have two loungers with our one-bed apartment last year). Bar. The bar offers a small range of cocktails, but when we were told that they h
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