When we travelled to Portugal last autumn, we decided to treat ourselves to a luxury resort for the last few days before heading home. We wanted somewhere we could fully unwind—lounging around with nothing to do, yet with plenty of treatments and facilities on hand if we fancied them. And when I spotted the Private Jets tab right next to SPA & Wellness on the Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort website, I knew we were in for a level of luxury we hadn’t experienced before.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know I’m very much a “go, go, go” type of traveller. I’ll always choose an active holiday over a beach break, so the only way I can truly switch off is by booking a resort far enough away from museums and other distractions. After testing this approach in Tangier the year before, we decided to try it again in the Algarve.
We booked the Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort for three nights to see if it was somewhere we’d want to return to for a longer stay. Here’s my honest review…
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Overview
The Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort* is the Anantara group’s first property outside of Asia.
It’s located in Vilamoura, a man-made resort town dating back to the 1960s. Over the decades, it has grown into one of the largest tourist complexes in Europe, home to Portugal’s biggest yacht marina. The town is built entirely around tourism, meaning there are no actual residents—the closest place where locals live is the neighbouring town of Quarteira.
That, along with the fact that the Algarve is one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations, makes standing out a whole lot trickier. But the Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort pulls it off effortlessly.
This five-star resort was named Best International Resort 2023 by Condé Nast Traveler Spain.
Inside, there are 260 rooms split across two zones.
There’s an adults-only wing where you can indulge in some pampering, sip champagne by the pool, play a round of golf, or hole yourself up and enjoy the privacy of the very spacious rooms (sorry for the awful pun).
Then there’s the family-friendly zone, with a pool, a bar, kids’ and teens’ clubs, a baby concierge, and babysitting services available for an extra fee. It’s also home to the region’s first swim-up suites, meaning you can jump straight into the pool that runs alongside the wing right from your room.
The resort combines the sleek modernity of a world-class hotel with the best of what the Algarve has to offer—local flavours, immersive experiences, and Portuguese-inspired decor. Even the artwork in the common areas is from local artists, and if something catches your eye, you can buy it to take home.
Location
The Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort is in Vilamoura, just a 30-minute drive from Faro International Airport.
If you’re using the Algarve as either the starting point or final stop of your Portugal trip, the nearby Quarteira bus station offers connections to other parts of the country. For more routes and higher frequency, you can take a 20-minute drive to Albufeira’s bus station. The nearest train station is in Loulé, also about a 20-minute drive away.
We took a bus down from Lisbon, and with the same ticket, we could also use local public transport on the day of arrival. Alternatively, Uber rides are widely available and affordable—we usually paid around €6 for a 15-minute ride between the resort and the marina. A taxi to Albufeira’s bus station cost us €11.
Once you’re at the resort, there’s a free shuttle service to Vilamoura Marina, but you’ll need to book it the day before.
As a nod to the resort group’s Asian roots, there’s also a tuk-tuk available on a first-come, first-served basis. When we visited, it ran seven times a day between 10:30 am and 6 pm.
Room types
We booked a deluxe room with a garden view in the adults-only wing, which cost us €843 for three nights, including breakfast. However, when we arrived, we were upgraded to a pool-view room in the family wing.
I imagine this was because we visited in the shoulder season—there were plenty of vacancies, and we didn’t see many families with children. Plus, the hotel had started maintenance work in some areas, so it made sense to move guests to the renovated wing in case they wanted to work on the other.
If you go to the Anantara Resorts homepage, you can select your preferred wing in the Destination tab and see the available rooms.
We booked through Booking.com, where two listings popped up—one family-friendly and one regular. We chose the second option, but all room types were still available, and the wing wasn’t mentioned in the room names. So if you have a preference, it’s worth double-checking before you book.
There are also several suites to choose from, some with concierge service, separate living and dining areas, and, in the case of the presidential suite, a private rooftop jacuzzi.
Inside our room
At 48 square metres, the Deluxe Family Pool View Room was much larger than your average hotel room—it felt more like a suite.
As you walk in, there’s an enclosed toilet with a bidet, followed by an open-plan bathroom featuring a spacious soaking tub and a separate walk-in rain shower. The layout created a beautiful, airy feel, but if you preferred more privacy, you could easily close it off by sliding the doors shut.
The room came with a complimentary robe, slippers, and toiletries from a Portuguese brand called Claus Porto. The packaging had a gorgeous traditional design, and the lemon and verbena scent was lovely.
In the bedroom area, there was a large king-size bed, a table with a Nespresso coffee and tea station, a selection of magazines, and a minibar stocked with additional snacks for purchase. By the window, there was a cosy lounge area with a table and two chairs.
My favourite feature was the small walk-in closet, cleverly hidden behind wooden panels—you had to press them to reveal the door. I always find that suitcases take up too much floor space and create unnecessary visual clutter, so being able to tuck them away was such a smart solution.
The room also had a private balcony with a big daybed—perfect for relaxing with a book or a glass of champagne in hand.
Another detail I loved was that each room had its own doorbell and a button by the door to indicate whether you needed housekeeping. It felt much more convenient than the usual Do not disturb signs.
Food and drink
When it comes to food and drink, you’re spoiled for choice at the Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort.
Unfortunately, when we visited in October, we found that most of the resort’s restaurants close in the off-season. One was open for breakfast, and another for lunch.
That said, there’s an Italian restaurant just outside the hotel, and plenty more dining options at Vilamoura Marina or in the neighbouring town of Quarteira. I’ll be sharing my restaurant recommendations for Quarteira at the end of this post—including why I preferred eating there over Vilamoura—so keep reading!
Breakfast
Breakfast is served at Victoria Restaurant, where waiters greet you at the entrance, lead you to your table, and take your coffee and juice order. There’s also a self-serve station with water, various juices—including a different detox smoothie each morning—and even sparkling wine if you fancy it.
The main breakfast spread is a large buffet with several food stations, including one where you can get eggs cooked to order in different styles. You’ll find all the usual options: fresh bread, a selection of cheeses and cold cuts, vegetables, grains and cereals, and a section dedicated to sweet pastries.
As with the rest of the hotel, there’s a local touch here too. The egg station offers Portuguese-style eggs with sausage and potatoes, you can top your porridge with Algarvian almonds, and for dessert, there are classic Portuguese custard tarts (pastéis de nata).
Wandering around the resort, you’ll even spot a small herb garden—so you know they’re using the freshest ingredients. There’s also a fresh honeycomb if you fancy drizzling some honey over your breakfast.
Personally, I prefer picking my own table and making my own coffee (ideal for quick refills). So while the waiter service was a nice touch, I didn’t love it—though I have to admit, it was impressive when they remembered exactly how we take our coffee.
The only other thing I wasn’t keen on was the little jars of condiments. They looked aesthetically pleasing, but they felt wasteful—it’s tricky to finish a whole jar of mustard or mayonnaise on your own. That aside, I really enjoyed the experience!
Lunch and dinner
For lunch and dinner, you have several options:
- Ria Restaurant – A seafood-focused restaurant where you can enjoy the freshest catch of the day by the pool. This was the only restaurant open for lunch and dinner during our October visit, but we didn’t try it since I’m not big on fish or seafood.
- Victoria Restaurant – An international restaurant with a different all-you-can-eat buffet theme each day, including one featuring Portuguese dishes and another dedicated to Algarvian cuisine.
- Sensei Restaurant – A high-end Asian fusion spot on the first floor of the hotel. Last summer, they hosted a Thai takeover featuring a chef from the Anantara Bangkok resort.
In addition to these, you can grab light bites from Le Palms pool bar or the Anantara Lounge Bar by reception. For drinks, there’s the adults-only Botanic Bar. You can also opt for room service or book a private dining experience in a location of your choice.
If you fancy something more hands-on, there’s also Spice Spoons, the hotel’s on-site kitchen, where you can learn to make traditional Algarvian dishes with an expert chef. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to book at least 24 hours in advance.
SPA facilities
The Anantara Spa features a vitality pool with built-in water jets (though it wasn’t quite warm enough for my liking), a sauna and steam room, heated stone beds, and experience showers that mimic a rainforest or a thunderstorm. On warmer days, you can also relax on the outdoor terrace with sun loungers.
If you’re staying in one of the adults-only suites, you get complimentary access to the spa facilities. Otherwise, you can enjoy one hour of access for free when booking a treatment—or pay €25 per hour if you just want to use the facilities.
I have to say, I was surprised by how small it was, especially for a resort of this size. As someone who isn’t a swimmer or a sauna-goer, I would have loved to see a hot tub. I spent my whole hour before the massage lounging on the heated stone bed, which was fine, but I think I’d have been a little disappointed if I’d paid for it separately.
Inside the spa, there are six treatment rooms offering a range of treatments, including massages designed specifically for golfers and personalised facials.
We chose the signature Anantara massage, which was on the pricier side at €135 for 60 minutes but absolutely worth the splurge. Before your treatment, you fill out a form detailing your skin concerns, expectations, allergies, and, for massages, which areas to focus on or avoid.
The experience starts with a foot ritual using milk and a sea salt scrub, which was a lovely touch. Afterwards, you can relax in the lounge area with a cup of ginger tea.
Next time, I’d love to treat myself to one of their facials—they use Biologique Recherche products, which have been high on my beauty wishlist for ages!
Sports facilities and golf
If you’re looking to stay active, the resort has a 24-hour fitness centre, complete with a fridge stocked with water and chilled towels for a refreshing post-workout cool-down. There’s also a tennis court, and if you fancy a more structured session, you can book a yoga or Pilates class or a personal training session for €89 (just under an hour).
One of the biggest draws of the Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort is its world-class golf facilities, catering to players of all skill levels. It has Portugal’s longest 18-hole course and is home to the Portugal Masters tournament.
When we visited, parts of the course were under renovation (due to be completed this year), but that didn’t stop plenty of golfers from getting out on the green. If you’re keen to play, the resort offers special golfing packages.
Leisure and other experiences
If you’re after a more relaxing holiday, the resort has both family-friendly and adults-only pools. They didn’t mention this to us at check-in, so we spent our first day by the Cascades pool in the family zone. It probably didn’t make much difference, as there weren’t any families with kids around, and the kids club was closed. However, on our second day, they removed all the loungers from that area, leaving only the adults-only Palms pool open.
The hotel’s website says you need to pre-book a cabana for an extra fee, but we didn’t have to do either. I’m not sure if that was because of the low season or if the info was outdated. Honestly, if I had to pay extra just to sit by the pool each day (I think it was around €50 per day!), it would have put a damper on the experience. That said, they did have a selection of SPFs available to use, and a butler service to prepare the cabanas. You could also order drinks and snacks to be delivered straight to yours.
During our stay, the hotel was running a few special events, including a sip and paint class and an afternoon tea and charity auction for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If you fancy exploring more of the region, you can ask about workshops or excursions at the lobby. I’d imagine they’d also be happy to organise a private trip for you—at a premium fee, of course.
Value for money
Visiting in the low season, the Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort offered good value for money—€280 per night felt fair. We also appreciated how private it felt. With fewer guests around, they were able to space people out throughout the wing. We also had the indoor pool to ourselves and rarely saw anyone else in the gym.
I have mixed feelings about most of the restaurants closing in the low season. I get that it helps avoid food waste, but I feel like there could’ve been a better approach. Maybe they could’ve asked guests beforehand if they’d be interested in the dinner buffet and planned around that.
If you don’t want to leave the resort, eating at the same seafood restaurant every night would get repetitive. For us, it wasn’t an issue, as we found equally amazing restaurants in Quarteira that cost far less than the resort’s.
I also don’t like the idea of potentially paying extra for pool access—especially when you’re already paying so much for the room. If you’re staying for a week, that could add up to €350 for something that’s standard elsewhere!
One other thing that left a bad taste was the lack of transparency with extra charges. Our room didn’t have wine glasses, so we asked at reception if we could pick some up from the restaurant. They offered to bring them instead, which seemed great—until 2 people showed up and charged us €7.50 for room service. Not a two-person job (one just held the bill!), and we had no idea there’d be a charge. A small thing, but still frustrating.
Overall, I’m happy with the value we got for our money, but I wonder how staying in the high season compares, when rooms can easily cost double the amount we paid.
Final verdict
So, would I return to the Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort after everything I’ve just shared? Yes, I would. Staying in a high-end resort is more of a treat for me than the norm, so I was definitely more aware of extra charges, like paying for wine glass delivery or spending €50 on dinner or pool access.
But honestly? I can’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed. I was more than happy to switch between the sunbed on the balcony and lounging by the pool all day. And that’s not like me—I’m usually the first to say, “Can we go now?” after two hours at the beach. That alone says a lot.
I also don’t usually work out on holiday, yet here I was, starting my day with a detox smoothie and hitting the gym—even at 11 pm (who is she?!). I felt so energised and motivated, and we were only there for three days!
I’d happily return to the Algarve in high season, when the city is more lively and more restaurants are open for summer. Plus, I’d love to explore more of the region… though let’s be honest, leaving that room isn’t exactly easy. 😉
Bonus: Where to eat in Quarteira
Now that you’ve made it to the end, I thought I’d share some restaurant recommendations in case you’re also thinking of eating outside the resort.
We checked out Vilamoura Marina, but to be honest, we didn’t love it. A lot of places closed for winter, and the ones that stayed open mainly catered to British and Irish tourists. I’ll be brutally honest—if I’m in Portugal and a restaurant has live music, I want to hear Portuguese music, not a crooning Irishman.
Quarteira, the next town over, has a completely different vibe. The main beach is about a 30-minute walk from Vilamoura Marina, but once you’re there, it feels like a different world—no fancy resorts, lots of locals out and about, and a bit of a 90s feel in some areas. It’s definitely more authentic, which is why we ended up heading there for dinner.
Here are the places I can wholeheartedly recommend.
Social. Vinhos & Petiscos
This was the first restaurant we visited, and we got very lucky—somehow, we managed to get a table without a reservation.
It’s a tapas spot, so you can try a variety of local dishes. We ordered pica pau (seared chunks of beef in a rich, garlicky beer- or wine-based sauce), fried polenta, garlic prawns, sweet potato chips, and a salad to share.
They also specialise in wine—if I remember correctly, they had over 300 different types to choose from! They even have a dedicated sommelier who helps you pick the right one based on your personal preferences, which was such a surprise for a small restaurant like this.
Plus, for everything we ordered—along with a glass of sparkling wine and a big glass of poncha (a Madeiran cocktail made with sugar cane spirit, fresh citrus juice, and honey)—we only paid €65, including a tip!
Restaurante Azeitona
The second place we tried was Restaurante Azeitona. We wanted to explore more Algarvian specialities, and we loved that most of the menu focused on exactly that.
I went for an Algarvian-style tuna steak, while Mac ordered a Portuguese-style steak topped with a fried egg and served with potato crisps. We also shared a Montanheira tomato salad and had a glass of sangria each.
If you’re looking for authentic local dishes, it doesn’t get better than this. The menu was so extensive that we could have eaten there every day for a week and still struggled to try everything we wanted.
On top of that, the owner personally checked in on every guest and collected feedback, which was such a lovely touch. Both this place and the first restaurant felt like we were eating among friendly locals.
For the entire meal, we paid €68.50 plus tip, which was an absolute bargain!
DuoDoce
Now, I couldn’t leave you without dessert, could I? Close to Quarteira’s main beach, you’ll find this local bakery with an almost overwhelming selection of cakes and pastries—I honestly wanted to try one of everything!
We stopped by twice, and no matter the time of day, it was always packed. You need to grab a ticket when you walk in and wait for your number to be called.
My favourite part was seeing elderly locals hanging out there for hours. That’s such a rarity where I’m from, so it always warms my heart when I see it. Oh, and the pastries taste just as good as they look!
Plus, if you’re by the Quarteira beach, I’d definitely recommend stopping by the Aloegarve shop to pick up beauty products made with aloe vera from the Algarve. When we visited, they offered free shipping to your home address on orders over €80, which was such a nice perk!
So, that’s the end of my review and mini guide! Would you consider booking the Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort?
