Flew in yesterday from Faro and Vila Vita Parc. Fantastic, superb, stressfull. As promised; very helpful staff, fabulous breakfasts at all the restaurants, endless supplies of everything from fruit to brioche, semolina to scrambled eggs etc.
Despite the heat - 33c all the pools were very cold, and the sea even colder (we were told this as we could not get down the steps with buggies and all the extras. When we arrived we were taken to our villa on a buggy ourselves, with VERY helpful staff, the villa was 3 bedroomed all ensuite, so both children had a bathroom for a noisy bathtime (18 months and 18 weeks). Room service was expensive and we were warned but we had to get some essentials immediately. My ds hated the UHT full fat milk, so had water instead, and also as warned chicken nuggets and chips were 9Euros but very much needed the first day until we got our bearings.
We took a trip to Algarve Shopping and stocked up on Gin, Tonic, water, soft drinks, nappies and wipes and the essential bribery items. We had lunch most days in one of the restaurants and that cost about 150 Euros, although we found that if we went to the pool at the top of the resort by the villas past the spa you could get really good pizzas for 6 Euros. Alcohol was very expensive and soft drinks even more so.
I used the creche facilities most afternoons for two hours and that cost 18 Euros, however, my normally happy little boy cried as we approached on the second day and broke my heart, however, they assured me that once I had gone he stopped, of course that did not stop me fretting, and he behaved totally out of character once I picked him up - child from hell. He is still very clingy and crying a lot even today but I am sure after a few days he will be fine, he did enjoy his bathtime at home this evening and drank all of his milk. That could be down to lots of reasons, heat, creche, Daddy not being there, and of course strangers (he is used to his childminder), they had for his age English versions on video of Bob, Tweenies, Tubbies, and they did drawing and sticking things and playing with a good selection of toys. For 6 children there were 5 assistants who spoke good english and seemed to me to genuinely like the children remembering the names and introducing them to each new child.
Do not take, towels, robes, slipppers, hairdryers, cotton wool, tissues, cotton buds (adult variety), shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion etc, all rooms replenished daily and the stuff is very good. Do take food for young children if you can, as the on site store is not very well stocked, however, they can order anything and get it but it may take a day or so. You can buy bikinis etc there but they are ridiculously expensive, they also stock a good supply of sun creams. No money changes hands at all on the whole of the Parc and everything is charged to your room (apart from if you want to buy a paper).
Would I go again - Yes definately but I would make sure that my husband can get the time off nect time as he was very much needed!, as I was clokc watching all the time.
