We spent a week at Colina da Lapa at the beginning of October. The weather was wonderful we never saw a cloud all week. We booked this from a Travel Zoo offer and paid less than £400 for Flights, Accomodation and transfers, what a bargin it was! We had seen the Hotel on Tripadvisor and it looked just what we wanted, quiet, relaxed and lovely accomodation. Check-in was late, 1am but the reception staff were helpful and friendly. Our apartment number 71 was very large with typlical Portugese style furniture, a big well equiped kitchen, large bedroom with twin beds and air-con. Every thing we needed.
Some reviewers say a car is needed but we were fine without. We walked to the local supermarket (left out of the entrance and follow the road) which sold everything we needed apart from fresh meat. Its a 10 minute walk and was reasonably priced. Then we got the free shuttle bus (runs at 9:45 and 11am) into beautiful Carvaeiro town about 3 times and returned on it at 4pm. The other days we chilled out round the pool, which was very quiet with plenty of sunbeds. The shuttle also went to the local beach at 10am and returned at 3pm if that's what you wanted. We taxied into Carvaeiro one night and had a fantastic meal at Happy's restaurant, the taxi was 14 euros return so not bad at all! On our last night we went to the Island Cafe, just outside the Hotel entrance and had the best meal we have had for some time. (See my seperate review).
All in all this is a great resort and we have already booked a week in March next year as we enjoyed it so much. Thanks again to all the staff who made our stay perfect.

We just got back from a holiday in Ibiza where the hotel was awful so I thought I would write a review about the Colina which we visited in July as everything was really nice and relaxing here. The complex itself is like a small neighbourhood with a quiet street at one end where the villas are and a relaxing pool area at the other. We stayed in a one bedroom apartment not far from the pool area, the apartment itself was really spacious, clean and had everything we needed. The staff at reception where very friendly and helpful and the pool area is lovely and clean. The best thing for me is the complex is nice and quiet. You do need a car really to get about but as long as you know that before then it's not a problem. There is a lovely Italian restaurant about 15 mins walk in Sesmarias which I would recommend.

Have just got back from a week at the colina da lapa and for what we paid last minute it was well worth the money !

Firstly the one bedroom aparment we had was massive.. ( ive seen smaller one bedroom flats in this country lol ) we had a balcony back and front which was ideal for the sun ! the kitchen was we stocked with pots and pans ect for selfcatering over and hob worked fine, i see in some reviews they saw there was no KETTLE.. there is now as well as a toaster ! there is also a washing manchine plus iron, and a massive fridge with a proper frezzer not just an ice box

The living room was big with a table and 4 chairs, plus a sofa and arm chair, Tv with 3 uk channels + Eurosport in some random language

bedroom was ok, 2 x single beds.. and decent pillows now as see some people moaned about them b4. whole apparment very clean. i see people moaning about the smell in the bathroom, this is just you typical "abroad" smell u get in most palces and nothing to worry about

The pool and bar area where nice with plenty of sunbeds ( owners of colina if your reading this time for new sunbeds,,, to many fat bums been on those ones and they are a bit saggy in the middle lol )

The complex its self is quite far out from anything but this is what makes in nice and quite, there is a resturant oppsite which i think has changed hands from previous reviews as its now quite posh, but very nice and good value. There are two others when you turn left outside the main entrance and walk for about 10mins.. there is an itialan next to the water tower which was nice (closed on mondays out of season) apart from that the other places are all in the town.. Which is a very very long walk and for the sake of a 6 -7 euro taxi ride is not worth the effort

we walked to the beach one day that was a good 30mins so take a drink with you ! the beach was nice with sunbeds toilets showers ect ( abt 25wooden steps down to the beach no ramp ) very sheltered with nice sand and sea

All in all these are nice apartments if you really wana get away from everything, would prob hire a car next time. I would class myslef as fussy traveler, but really loved this place !!

**if you dont get on with steps or walking this may not be for you.. it is possible to get around, but aparments ect do have alot of steps to them so go for a 2 bedroom aparment as they are all ground floor (i thinnk)

If you want a lovely quiet retreat that is spotlessly clean and well maintained then this is it. The staff are absolutely wonderful, friendly and helpful - even when a problem arose with our hire car, which was nothing to do with them, they did everything they could to help us sort it out.. The whole site is kept immaculately maintained and is just beautiful to stay in. We'd definitely go there again.

The apartment kitchen has just about enough cooking equipment and utensils for everyday cooking but if you feel like preparing gourmet meals you will struggle. We also found that there can be some sound travel in the apartments - then again we were unlucky in that we had a very noisy family below us for part of our stay.

The only things to bear in mind are that it is a little away from the local centres so a car is really needed. The restaurant is a bit basic in it's cuisine. What is offered is well cooked and very tasty but there isn't a great deal of variety and they do start to wind down in October which further reduced some choices (no full English breakfast on offer if you are staying B&B). The mini market was shut from the 2nd week onwards because the site was close to the winter shut down but that didn't cause any issues as there is a small supermarket about 10 minutes walk away.