Luxury family-friendly resort near Faro

[qgirl]

Hello all

We've booked tickets to fly to Faro on 7th April this year with our 8 year old son (husband wasn't thinking about Brexit when he booked!).
We've booked the Barcelo Isla Canela in Ayamonte, Spain on a HB basis but we have free cancellation. The reviews aren't making me excited so I'm wondering if anyone has recommendations for a resort either near Faro or over the border in Spain. Also is it a hassle to cross the border?

Resort needs to have a good kids club and good facilities for the adults as well. I've looked at the Martinhal Sagres but slightly out of our price range. Particularly as I read yesterday that prices are plummeting in the wake of Brexit. The Barcelo is €1800. Flights are booked and non-refundable.

Thanks in advance.

We own a property in Isla Canela so I do know the Barcelo hotel
It’s ok but not luxury. Fab location though and we completely love the area but there aren’t really any resort hotels that I know of, it’s a very Spanish resort in August and they seem to prefer SC so if you want kids clubs and AI you probably do need to look at Portugal rather than that particular area of Spain
It is a really lovely place though and I’m happy to answer any questions about it - we actually only got back from there early this morning!!

Pine Cliffs Resort is about 30 minutes from Faro

Actually just seen you are going in April.
Most things there don’t open until Easter so it will be pretty dead and the outdoor pools may not actually be open.
Pine Cliffs is fab but expensive.
As for the border it’s currently completely open so far and you only notice yiu have crossed when you drive over the bridge and see the España sign. As for after Brexit who knows? if you drive you May need 2 international driving licences for example
Feel free to ask anything else, I’m very familiar with Isla Camela and had lunch near The Barcelo yesterday !

In April you will need a heated pool we have liked Monte Santo in Carvoeiro for the heated pool (you can see the pool while you sit outside ). Carvoeiro is also a good lively resort in April, restaurants are good.

Thanks all. Your description of the Barcelo kind of confirms what I was thinking.
Looked up Pine Cliffs and it does indeed look fab. Monte Santo also but some reviews say there are issues with the kids club.
I think the mire I look, the more confused I get. I think what I'm looking for is the following,
Good kids club
Good facilities
Beach front not necessary
Walking distance to restaurants and shops
And all for next to nothing! Anyone have experience of the Hilton Vilamoura? It's coming up as quite reasonable. Is Vilamoura a good place?

Never been to Vilamoura but I’ve heard it’s nice

I live in the Algarve, I wouldn’t recommend Vilamoura

Quinta do Paraíso in carvoeiro has a kids club and is walking distance of the village. I’m not sure when the kids club starts though

Vilamoura is lovely

Vilamoura is nice for a walk around one afternoon. I wouldn't want to stay there though. It's basically just a big marina full of shiny yachts and over priced eating places.

Carvoeiro is much nicer. It's more real! There are some nice eating places too and they mostly aren't a rip off.

Pine Cliffs is very nice but I don't know about the kids club there as I haven't used it. The resort is nice though and there are some good places to eat locally. Food in Pine Cliffs itself is of good quality but overpriced, in my opinion. The accommodation is nice if you're in the Ocean Suites or Golf Suites but avoid the townhouses. Those are privately owned and standards vary a lot. Many of the townhouses aren't of the same standard as the other Pine Cliffs accommodation.

If you are hiring a car from Faro airport be careful. Take a look on the Faro boards on Trip Advisor for some threads about why. I've hired from Faro just recently and did quite a bit of research after some bad experiences in the past at Faro. I'd recommend Drive4Fun. No, I don't work for them but yes I have just had a hire car from them and it was problem free.

I should have said I'd recommend Drive4Fun. No, I don't work for them but yes I have just had a hire car from them and it was problem free despite the crappy name!

We've been to Monte Santo, and loved it. But didn't use the kids club, so can't really comment. Lovely apartments. Great choice of restaurants in the town

Definitely worth checking out Pine Cliffs, never been in April though, but is great in the summer hols.

For car hire look at Zitauto.
Cheap but good and they hang out in the carpark so no need for shuttle bus or Queues at the usual car hire kiosk. Looks ropey but we’ve hired from them for almost 10 years with no problems at all

Thanks all. Still confused!
At the moment it's between Pine Cliffs and Epic Sana. I'll take a look again at Monte Santo. I also havent completely discounted Martinhal Sagres but it seems so far from Faro airport?
I think for us it's not so much the things offered by a kids club (I understand that for most resorts these don't really kick in until the summer anyway) but I'd like to make sure where we go has children for my son to hang around with.
I also found Praia Verde yesterday and that looks lovely.
We weren't planning to hire a car. Do you think we should?

And thanks for the tip re. the townhouses at Pine Cliffs. From the photos, they certainly don't look as nice as the suites.

Car hire will really depend on where you end up staying and whether you are happy just to be in the hotel/resort or whether you will want to explore