Vale d'Oliveiras, Portugal

[MeadowHay]

Hi, just saw this resort on Tots To Travel. Considering holidaying there in May 2020 with DH and DC who will be nearly 2 yrs old. We can get cheap flights and the accommodation looks well priced considering it's a 5* star resort, although I'm not sure on what the difference is between booking with Tots to Travel and booking direct with the resort? As it looks like you can get much better rates through booking direct.

Has anyone stayed here before with a similarly-aged toddler? How was it for you? What did you do in the daytime, is there anything nearby that you can go out and about to do with the DC? I see mention of Aqualand and Zoomarine and of course the beaches. Also what are food options like both on the resort and in the nearby villages etc? We are vegetarian and a low-income family.

Main things to do are the beaches (Don't forget as it's the Atlantic the sea will be cold in May - Ferragudo is the best locally) but there is an indoor heated pool - and visit some lovely local towns like Carvoeiro.
A hire car is a must.
Lots of places to eat in Carvoeiro.

At the resort there is an on site snack bar and restaurant. The resort is a very good deal because it’s inland a bit - but very peaceful and beautiful as a result.
If you are looking at exactly the same type of room or apartment and find it cheaper elsewhere Tots do a price match thing - so take a pic of the other and send it to them with your email.
The best things about Tots are that the holidays are checked for safety. Toys are provided, so you'll have less to carry and think about. There's a toddler pool so you don't have to hold DC all the time in the water! There are free buses to nearby beaches.

Didn't realise hire car would be a must have...what do you do about car seats in that case? Would we have to bring one?

I went here with my kids in October and we loved VDO. We are vegetarian as well and the breakfast was brilliant, there were lots of options. I think you definitely need a car there, it is out of the way, but the resort is pretty, relaxed and very chilled out. it is only 10 mins from the beach. There is a Lidl near by and we brought food from there and cooked a few times in the apartment. You do need swimhats for the indoor pool. There is a little playground which is cute. pools aren't heated, but I took wetsuits for my kids and that was fine. We loved it so much we are going back next year!