Vila Valverde

Reviewed by Laura Dibben


“ESTATE” OF THE ART!................

When one thinks of a restored Manor House in the countryside, one normally conjures up a vision of all things rustic; from ancient beamed ceilings to tiled floors and antiques in every corner. On arrival at Vila Valverde, it is hard to imagine that this Design Hotel is in fact a restored 19th Century manor house! Following 9 months of intense (and I mean intense!!) renovations, Director Margit Tavares, of German descent, and her husband Luis, magically expanded and transformed their ruin into a contemporary, architectural delight before opening their doors to the public in 2004.

The iron gate slides open, welcoming you into a 5-hectare estate of manicured gardens, expansive lawns, natural spring, olive and fruit trees as well as a veggie garden – their organic and eco-friendly approach wins them extra points in our books! A stone driveway leads you up to the Hotel, perched proudly on the hill and benefitting completely from lovely views over the property as well as the Bay of Praia da Luz. An outdoor pool tucked away in the gardens below the Hotel comes complete with sun loungers and its own little man-made sandy beach (sans “surf”!). Those who want “the real thing” don’t have far to go – the sparkling waters of the Atlantic and the beaches of Praia da Luz are a mere 900 metres away!

Entering into the Hotel is like walking into an architect’s playground. When I asked Margit who was responsible for the eye-catching design she smiled proudly and said, “Me”. Clean lines and angles busy the eye; a partial wall “here” and another “there” intercept wide open spaces whilst textures and bursts of colour on furnishings, “objets d’art” and the striking use of lighting complete this attractively balanced composition. Skylights top towering ceilings, allowing the light to pour in and have its way with the varied surfaces of the exposed (original) stone wall. A salon with modern fireplace, flat-screen TV and honesty bar is found off reception. Also on the ground floor, a fabulous indoor heated pool sparkles like a brilliant gemstone.

Fifteen contemporary bedrooms, comprising of Standard Doubles and Superior Doubles, are of impressive proportions and have a “Zen” feel about them. All have sitting areas, and I particularly loved the rooms under the eaves on the 2nd floor. The Standards are the smallest but believe me, they are not small in any sense of the word! The split-level Superior rooms with their private terraces are huge!! All beds have twin mattresses on the same bed base, but they can be made up as doubles on request (please state your preference on booking), and all rooms have either a balcony or terrace, five of which open directly onto a communal panoramic terrace that is dotted with tables and chairs for soaking up that sunshine and the picturesque surroundings. Sleek and modern en-suite bathrooms (all with bath) are also large, and the Superior rooms have both bath and separate walk-in shower. Some bathrooms have a glass wall and may not suit the modest guest, but again, please state your preference on booking. Rooms are well equipped with satellite TV, telephone, internet acces (communal internet station also available), air-con and underfloor heating, mini-bar, safe, bathrobes and hair dryer. The bedrooms are non-smoking.

Lovely buffet breakfasts are served in the ground floor restaurant (or on the terrace in summer) until 11:00am. A small, à-la-carte menu is also available for breakfast, and light snacks are served throughout the day; in your room, on the terrace, in the restaurant – wherever you wish to take them! A small selection of traditional Portuguese dishes are on offer for dinner – please let reception know by noon if you wish to “dine in” in the evening.

There is a sauna in the basement, and for a little pampering to go along with your R&R, massage treatments can be arranged on request. Tennis, bicycle tours, horse riding, sailing and diving can also be arranged through reception, as can golf....and golfers...welcome to your paradise. The hardest part about golf in the Algarve is choosing your course!! You may wish to start with Boavista – it’s just up the road from the Hotel.

An ideal Hotel if you are looking for stylish, contemporary and comfortable accommodation in peaceful surroundings; away from the mass tourism of the coast but with the best of the Algarve at your fingertips....