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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Anyone been to Pine Cliffs, Algarve?

13 replies

spinningplateslady · 18/03/2009 00:15

Hi

Thinking about booking a villa / apartment here in the Easter Hols. Just wondered if anyone had been out of peak season... mixed reviews on Trip Advisor...

Anyone any experience?

Many thanks

OP posts:
bellavita · 18/03/2009 00:36

We have been to the hotel part of this complex - it was really really lovely. We had a junior suite. The maids came every evening to turn down the sheets etc and leave chocs. We also managed to wangle free breakfast at the hotel - you could have anything you wanted even champagne.

The villa's/apartments are actually timeshares - we got talking to a couple with children who were in one of the apartments and they said that they were beautiful.

Tis a bit of a trek down to the beach, but there is a lift to halfway down and then wooden steps - these are not steep though just lots of them.

My DS's loved going down to the beach every day as they have boogie boards etc that you can rent at the hut that supplies the towels. There are little rock pools where the kids can collect star fish and crabs.

There are restaurants on site - there was one we really liked just inside the complex. Across the road there are a number of cheaper places to eat and there is also a small supermarket which you could use to stock up on provisions if needed - they do freshly baked bread etc.

We would certainly go back (we went Oct 2007 half term).

It is a golfing complex though so expect to see lots and lots of them about.

shangrila · 18/03/2009 11:26

Hi. We are looking at this too, my only concern is the weather at Easter. Can I crash and ask if outdoor swimming will be possible?

We have done the Algarve before mainly Vila Vita - but mostly high season. Vila Vita is lovely but disappointing pools and DD is now a mermaid, so swimming is top priority!

bellavita · 18/03/2009 12:57

The pool belonging to the hotel was very cold even though they were experiencing a heatweave when we went in the October. The sea was far far warmer and as I said the boys loved it.

Now, I am sure that the pool or pools (not sure how many) that belong to the villas/apartments were a lot warmer as my boys made friends with others who were staying in the apartments and they used the pool and said it was a lot warmer.

loobylolly · 18/03/2009 13:14

Just a little note of caution - I wasn't that impressed by the Sheraton Algarve (the hotel bit). We stayed in one of the duplex suites which was very very tatty and tired, not 5 star standard at all, and overall I found the hotel vastly overpriced and service average to poor. Can elaborate if required!

The kids club area was dirty and the staff unenthusiastic.

Overall this place is not a patch on Vila Vita, and the pools are not sufficiently better to make that a valid reason for switching. I would go back to VV but not here.

HTH.

bellavita · 18/03/2009 13:49

looby - we found the staff to be lovely and apart from one little mix up on one of the activities - my children and some others were waiting in one place for the activity leader and apparently she was waiting in another location, however the activity did go ahead later in the day and again staff lovely. I did not see a dirty kids club area as all activites were done on the grass or under the trees for shade. Do you mean the creche bit near the mini golf thing?

spinningplateslady · 18/03/2009 14:42

Thanks so much for your replies everyone... these are my concerns - will the pools be warm enough to swim in at Easter?? Will so many of the restaurants / cafes be closed out of peak season that it feels a bit like a ghost town... Going to post about another option in Cyprus...

In the meantime, please keep these replies coming - I'm especially interested to hear more about the childcare...

And Vila Vita - pros & cons of that for a week at Easter??

Many many thanks.

OP posts:
ZandMsmum · 18/03/2009 15:08

I've been to Pine Cliffs every year for the last 5 and we've had a great time. We always stay in the town houses which are spacious and near the hotel (though a bit tired in places). The complex has grown vastly over the years and some of the newer bits are miles from the hotel and the beach. A note of caution though, PC attracts lots of repeat clients and last year we were a moany bunch - mainly cost of food and drink ( and this was before the pound crashed!) and how busy it was. The people in the new apartments tend to come and use the hotel pools but no one is tempted to go the other way. The kids club is very expensive these days though they discount if you block book, its general pretty good and the staff are nice. There are several good supermarkets and restaurants in walking distance outside the hotel so that helps with the cost. We are not going this year I think- decided it is time for somewhere new.

VickyA · 18/03/2009 16:34

Right. We've been to Pine Cliffs about half a dozen times, at various times of the year (we own a golf suite timeshare, although we're planning to sell it) so hopefully I can help - apologies if I ramble on but I do love the place and think it's a fab place for families.

First of all, one of the pools is heated, although not excessively - the one by the golf club house, which also has a small kids paddling pool next to it. In my experience the sea's usually cold, as it's the Atlantic - we haven't been in the summer hols though and I am a bit of a wuss...
The Beach Club should be open for the Easter Hols - ie. there'll be sunbeds and shades, towels, and the Beach restaurant. There won't be water sports on offer I wouldn't think, although you can always ring or email and ask. The Kids Club will also be open - the Porto Pirata. You can access the play facilities with your kids or book them in on their own into a supervised session - although the rates are quite pricey.. The kids club area has a race track with scooters etc, swings and slides, a sand area, crazy golf (at extra cost) and there used to be a bouncy castle, although not for the past year or so. There are some pictures of what there is here, along with links to the official sites, and if you'd like pics of anything in particular let me know, I've probably got them stashed away somewhere!
Restaurant-wise, everything'll be open I'd imagine- there are some nice restaurants just outside the gates, as another poster has mentioned. Inside the resort you'll pay 5* prices but again it should all be open.
It can get busy in the main buffet restaurant during school hols so beware - that's the beauty of the golf suites, having a full kitchen, even if it's just to unpack a chinese takewaway (which is fab and close by, and they even give you a free beer or port while you're waiting!) A good place to book is Supertravel Golf - they have access to the golf suites (sleep 4/6) as well as the hotel, and have good rates, although you do have to phone them, they don't have online prices. Again, let me know if you'd like to see pics of the suites etc - they really are a home from home, albeit a little bit nineties decor..
The bonus for us over somewhere like Cyprus is the frequency of flights and the short flight time, and also the fact that DH can play 9 holes of golf in just under 2 hrs door to door, as the suites overlook the golf course. There's plenty of shade from the sun in the pine trees on top of the cliff (hence the name..). The weather should be good, although can't be guaranteed obviously - there is a huge indoor pool and games room if you get the odd period of rain.
Finally (phew!) I think Vila Vita is quite isolated, whereas you can get to Albufeira and Vilamoura quite easily from Pine Cliffs.
Let me know if you need any more info - I'm sure you'll have a good time if you decide to go. Hope this helps!

bellavita · 18/03/2009 16:40

oh yes Vicky, I forgot about the indoor pool - one word of warning though, you have to wear a swimming hat for the indoor pool. We did not know this beforehand otherwise we would have bought them here at a fraction of the cost, but they have plenty at the reception area to the pool.

As I said before, we really enjoyed staying at the hotel.

Ivykaty44 · 18/03/2009 16:42

My dad is in the algarve and the shops and resarants are all open crying out for some trade, it is quiter than normal down there.

the weather this year has been a little poor for the time of year but has picked up rapidly in the last few weeks and they had one clud come over on friday for ten minutes. Swimming in a heated pool would be fine but still a little parky, if unheated then you will need to be brave!

picklesmama · 30/03/2009 14:41

I've been - echo what everyone says really - though was at busy time, huge morning scrap for loungers on the beach (tedious) and weird system of checking in your towels which irritated me.
If you are going for apartment make sure it's closer to the hotel as the walk to the beach is a trek even from there, even further from some of the aparts.
We were there in Aug and the pools were pretty chilly then so will be freezing other times I'd say.
We had a good time but wouldn't hurry back.
Tempted to try Vila Vita next time.

Page62 · 31/03/2009 13:26

lovely place
went in oct last year - heated pool by golf club in the morning, tennis before lunch, beach in the afternoons
v chilled
we had a 3 bed apt in front of porto pirata (chidlren's club)
didn't use children's club so no view on that
dcs were 4 and 2

singersgirl · 31/03/2009 13:34

We went in May a few years ago and stayed in the hotel. It was too cold to use the outdoor pools, but we used the indoor pool and the beach. Mine were quite little then and were happy with pootling about in the sand.

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