Child Friendly Villa Algarve, Portugal
Balaia Golf Village, Albufeira, Algarve
The villa far exceeded our expectations and the kids loved the pools on the complex.
This luxury villa ticks all the boxes for families seeking that perfect child friendly holiday accommodation in the Algarve. Just imagine stepping off the plane at Faro and setting off to Albufeira with the most wonderful aroma of the orange groves wafting through the windows. Picture your family spending glorious sunny days on the nearby sandy beaches and hearing the happy sounds of kids laughing and splashing in and out of the swimming pools. Sounds good ...Yes?
The Location
The Villa is only a short flight away (to Faro Airport) and the airport transfer is conveniently just 30 minutes. The villa's owners very thoughtfully can organize a private transfer should your family need it. The luxury villa is situated on a quality low-rise complex in Balaia Golf Village. Don't let the name put you off booking, as the complex is not just for golf enthusiasts but is very family friendly with lots to do for children of all ages. Holiday chums are easily made splashing about by the swimming pools. And yes it is ideal for mum or dad to sneak off for a few hours a catch a game of golf and brush up on their handicap. Balaia Golf Village is located just 2 miles outside Albufeira in the Algarve (about 6 euros in a taxi). The villa is only a short walk from the nearest beach which takes about 10 minutes down a safe and quite road/track.
The Holiday Villa
The holiday villa consists of a large open plan kitchen/ living room with satellite TV (UK Channels) & CD player, three bedrooms (sleeps up to 7) and two deluxe bathrooms. The modern fitted kitchen has large fridge/freezer, washing machine, dryer, microwave etc. The villa has its own safe enclosed garden with gates on all exits, a patio area and a rooftop sun terrace (with safety gate at the bottom of the stairs to roof terrace access). Families have the free use of a cot, high chair and fold away pram if so needed. There are plenty of beach toys, buckets, spades, and floats for the pool, plus brollies and wind break for the beach. Although there is no air conditioning, there are fans provided in all the bedrooms, plus all windows have steel shutters or grills, so windows can be safely left open at night, creating a cooling breeze through the villa. For guests who like to keep in touch with home, wireless broadband is available in the main bar and restaurant area.
What do you get on the complex?
You have the use of six different pool areas the nearest of which is 20m away and has a large main pool, a heated smaller pool and a shallow toddlers pool. There are 4 tennis courts, a gym, indoor pool, driving range and a 9 hole golf course - one of the best 9 hole golf courses in the Algarve. The on-site restaurant is located next to the main pool near the villa and provides excellent lunches and good value evening meals. When you are self catering it is reassuring to know you don't have to travel far to get your supplies. Here you have a choice of 3 small supermarkets within 3 minutes walk and a larger one just a mile away. A small playground is located within the beautiful gardens and includes a swing, slide and sand pit. The on-site Children's Club is great fun and is suitable for children from the age of 6 months to 12 years and is open on weekdays only 9 am to 5pm (local charge applies). There is also a babysitting sevice available at night ( 10 euros per hour).
Coast/Beach
The villa is only a short walk from the nearest beach (about 10 mins down a safe and quiet road/track). The beach is clean, safe and has beautiful golden sand. There is a new beach cafe, which provides lunches, drinks, ice cream and cold bear etc. It is also open in the evening - and it is a delight to sit with a cold bear watching the sun set - or eating a meal of sardines or tuna steak etc. Kid's meals are available - and the kids can play on the beach after the meal.
Distances
The villa is about 15 minutes walk (or 2 mins in taxi) from the small but lively fishing village of Olos de Agua in one direction and an area known as 'the strip' in the other direction. The strip is an area on the outskirts of Albufeira with hundreds of friendly bars and family restaurants. The famous old fishing town of Albufeira itself is about a mile further on - about 5 minutes in a taxi.
The villa and complex is ideal for families, as the garden and pool areas are safe and have plenty of shade, plus it is only a short walk to the beautiful safe, sandy beach. The bar/restaurant at the beach is also a superb place for evening family meals - or a family BBQ.