That really does help - thanx!

WOuld you recommend the waterpark or any other trips?

Went to Aqua Show water park and Zoomarine, both very good. Pick up right outside vilanova.
Will try Slide and Splash next year, all are within 1/2 hour bus ride depending on pick ups.
Are you staying in a studio or 1 or2 bed apartment?
Some blocks are quieter than others and closer to pool. whats your preference?

We are staying in an apartment. We booked this because from previous posts on this forum I noted that the strip can be a bit on the noisy side late at night. Hopefully will be close-ish to the pool - but whatever will be will be.

Out of interest did you book the Aqua tickets through the Rep or independently and how much did they cost?

we booked through the reps, roughly 90 euros for 2 adults and 3 kids for each trip. probably cheaper from ticket shop around the corner but never checked to see.
Blocks 1,2 and 3 are the furthest from the strip, we were in 1, ground floor. (2 and 3 have better view of the pool)1 is Furthest away from pool etc. but very quiet at night. there is a main road behind these blocks but its a high wall up to it.
Block 4 ground floor looked best place to be, right next to pool and pool bar with small terraces. other side of block 4 overlooked the strip.
There is a website with interactive map that shows the layout but forum wont let me write it yet due to me being new on here.
You can also phone the vilanova a few days in advance to specify roughly where you want to stay, I'll be doing this next year now I know the layout.

Iain(Robo20)

Hi Robo, you could always send Megbex a private message with the website information so she can have a look at it, just press on PM button which is just under her post and type your heading subject & message as you would normally do on the forum. Cheers Jayjan

That would be GREAT!

If Robo20 or anyone else who knows could PM me with the website mentioned and contact number for the Vilanova I would be so grateful.

MegBEX

Thanks Jayjan, I'll give it a try just now Megbex

We emailed the hotel before we went this year in may and requested a particular block/floor/room and when we arrived we got the exact room we had asked for! We had a pool/sea/mountain view perfect!

Anybody going there will have a brilliant time

Which block was that in?

it was in block 4, room 4001.
Don't be put off by block 4, this is the block that on one side over looks the strip but the other side of it is quiet with all the best views.

Is that the room at the end of the block on ground floor, nearest the pool?

Robbo20 Wrote: "we booked through the reps, roughly 90 euros for 2 adults and 3 kids for each trip. probably cheaper from ticket shop around the corner but never checked to see."

Definitely cheaper from any ticket shop than it will be from the reps for any daytrip.

On the subject of the dodgy steak at Ancora, not the first time I have heard complaints about the place, it looks great, but it's "all fur hat and no knickers". Every establishment in Portugal has a complaints book, which they have to give you by law if you ask for it. I have heard that some places on the strip have been asked for it, and refused to pass it over. Call the police straight away if this happens, and the restaurant will be in serious trouble.

Robo,
Same Block but on the 4th floor room nearest the pool, room has got 2 balconies.

We stayed in 1001! On the ground floor and was quiet.
The end 2 bedroomed apt had a very large balcony that caught the sun for nearly the whole day! Kids were able to climb the wall to go to the park and we could still keep an eye on them.

Did try a few of the resturants but found the best one down towards the beach on the right before the island-can't remember the name but next to a tabac, drinks place.
The best place for snacks is in the block just as you go out the entrance onto the strip and on the left. Back entrance into the precinct. pizzas were stunning!
Don't recommend the one straight across the road with orange seating. found the staff very ignorant! So ignorant that we walked out!!

We did feel a bit lost when we arrived as we were just dropped off on the strip! No rep, no signs to the entrance-ended up asking some passing people who pointed us down a drive with a barrier. A rep was then on his way up and gave us the news of a room deposit!!
I had forgotten all about this!
Think we paid 50 Euro's which we got back at checkout.
I think all the villas are pool views aren't they?

Did complain about one of the entertainment reps as we were told to get out of the pool for 8 adults to play waterpolo.
I wouldn't have minded being warned that the ball may have landed on or near us, but not to be told to get out of the pool!!!!!
I did remind the rep that this was a Thomson super family holiday, not an 8 adult holiday
Got a Thomson bag, towel, free cocktails and an apology. I'm not against fun but the families using the pool at the time were very angry.
Kids clubs were good, face painting and model making.

Went to the slide and splash through the reps, cost about £45 for 2 adults, 2 kids (1 x 5yr old so free) Picked up from outside the hotel, but forgotten on the way back, had a very nice tour of the Algarve. Wed been crossed off the list for some reason-could only happen to us!!!
There was alot of the slides the 5 yr old couldn't go on but a very nice play splash area for little ones. we put our bags here on the grass after putting valuables in locker which i think were deposit only. Sunbeds could be hired.
Very good day, but take lots of suntan lotion.

we stayed in block 4 too,but we were on the side that faces the strip. it was noisy but hey! who cares when you have been quaffing down the Super Bock !

I Have always thought the Vilanova Apartments & villas are in the right position for family holidays for those who don't wanna travel too far,they have a really nice resort there but it has changed over the past 20yrs maybe for the better,but not sure. I can remember sitting in front of a log fire in the bar with entertainment (Maybe A Guitarist or group) which was then situated right on the strip, with a chicken barbecue shop next door where you could buy a spit roast chicken for dinner, tea or what have you. Then all the bars in front of it & above it were not built but it was still quite noisy . One thing that always gets me is how do people sleep with young children. especially when they are situated in the apartments on the strip (Situated over Liza's Pizzas place & the square insitu), it would do my head in, but sayin that have sat in bars with all the noise going on with kids in buggies fast a sleep and they are oblivious to it, they carry on sleeping. Good luck to you all who have holidays in this resort & bet you all enjoy it. Me i go home just up the road approx 1.5kms to piece and quiet, maybe now its an age thing.Cheers Jayjan

Going to try Majorca next year, just to compare the 2(another Thomson hotel with Kidzone!). Definately will come back to the Vilanova some time in the near future.

Hi,

We have been back for a week, having spent 2 weeks at the Vilanova.

It was fantastic!!!

I would highly recommend to any family. The complex is super, and the location couldn't be better.

We went to aqualand and zoomarine but the highlight has to have been the Tompson beach and bbq cruise, lovely day.

We didnt have a bad meal and loved the old town.

Beaches really nice and weather was hot hot hot!!!

Will post a review later.

We had 2 x studio apartments facing the pool in block 4, rooms 4104 and 4105. Huge balconies, lovely rooms and silence at night!!! We thought that the pool facing rooms in block 4 looked the best placed by far.

We would certainly go back, both to Vilanova and The Algarve, we loved it there!

Take care,

kelly

Hi does anybody know if the villa nova has its own website and can you book it direct many thanks in advance