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Vila Joya – reviews, photos

4.0 of 5
Praia da Gale, 8201-902, Portugal
Hotel amenities
Vila Joya
Ranked #11 of 167 hotels in Albufeira
4.5 of 5 stars 55 Reviews
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55 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveller rating
    42
    5
    7
    1
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Date Rating
Lisbon, Portugal
Senior Contributor
40 reviews 40 reviews
Reviews in 26 cities Reviews in 26 cities
62 helpful votes 62 helpful votes
“Special ambience, wonderful food”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 12 September 2011

Vila jóia is An experience.
We Stayed there for the 3rd time . We were given a brand new suite that was astonishing.
Most beautiful furniture and decoration, open bathroom in the bed room, balcony overdose the sea.
Service is perfect as usual só is the food. We missed the always present butler wellcoming you To paradise but he retired. He was relaxes by a peculiar spanish caracheter .
Vila jóia is An. Experience of a lifetime.

Room Tip: The regular rooms don't meet expectations The new suites are smashing
See more room tips
  • Stayed August 2011, travelled as a couple
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask clamg about Vila Joya
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Alkmaar, The Netherlands
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
10 helpful votes 10 helpful votes
“Not For Us”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 19 June 2011
2
people found this review helpful

We stayed here for one night in June and ate at the restaurant. The spa, grounds and view is incredible but our room was very basic. The food in the restaurant was very good but in comparison to other similar restaurants not particularly memorable. The atmosphere for us was too stuffy and quiet and the staffs were a bit too discreet. No offer of placing bags in room/car was a bit of a disappointment.

Generally speaking not the experience we expected but we are probably not there target customer.

  • Stayed June 2011, travelled as a couple
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Bertolucci77 about Vila Joya
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Hong Kong
Top Contributor
100 reviews 100 reviews
Reviews in 76 cities Reviews in 76 cities
268 helpful votes 268 helpful votes
“Never on a Wednesday...”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 13 May 2011
5
people found this review helpful

A change in our booking dates meant that the hotel accommodated us by upgrading from the Royal Suite 2001 to the Alegria Suite. Whilst large, the quality of the suite was really lacking and I would have been very upset had we been paying the appropriate room price.
With a late arrival on the first night, we had booked the inclusive dinner for the second and third nights. In truth, the first night we were provided with some excellent tapas style dishes which whetted our appetites for the coming dinners.
The second night, Tuesday, dinner was excellent. A 6 course tasting menu adapted to suit our no meat diet. However, the following evening can only be described as appalling.
First course, salmon tartare and smoked salmon which, whilst freshly smoked, was home cooking at best. Second course, chicken curry and rice (in our case, adapted to spaghetti with prawns, fresh pasta but way overcooked). Third course, ice cream with something, by that time we had given up. And this is claimed to be Michelin star cuisine.
Our (very good) waiter quietly told us that this it what chef does every Wednesday. Why, nobody seems to know. However, the only certainty is that book a Wednesday and you will not get the standard of food of other nights. I do not know of another Michelin starred establishment that would deliberately lower standards in this way.

  • Stayed May 2011, travelled as a couple
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask HongKongMember about Vila Joya
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
London
Contributor
17 reviews 17 reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
17 helpful votes 17 helpful votes
“A wonderful gem - fantastic restaurant with beautiful, small, intimate hotel and gorgeous spa- and lovely beach”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 28 December 2010
2
people found this review helpful

Stayed here for 2 nights after having had a rather indifferent stay at the Vilalara a few miles away... The Vilajoya is a real gem - ticked all our boxes.. The restaurant (2 Michelin stars) is extraordinary, some of the most inventive and exquisite food we've had anywhere, and on a teraace beautifully overlooking the plush grounds sloping down to the sea below, with the waves often crashing.. quite a unique setting to savour some very great food, presented with much style..

The hotel is very beautiful - small and full of detail. The grounds are adorable, I spent some wonderful hours lying on a deckchair under the trees, listening to the waves crashing below, occasionally popping over to the beach (30 seconds walk) for a dip. The beach is public, with a really delightful beach-cabin style bar- hard not to love it.

Our (standard) room was really simple, which some people may find a smell drawback, but we loved the way the doors opened to the garden with the sea just beyond

The spa is a delight, small and very atmospheric, overlooking the ocean.

Generally great service - a pricy and memorable place, to return to whenever one can.

  • Stayed September 2010, travelled as a couple
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask violinistlondon about Vila Joya
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London, United Kingdom
Senior Contributor
22 reviews 22 reviews
Reviews in 17 cities Reviews in 17 cities
12 helpful votes 12 helpful votes
“Nice but expensive”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 14 October 2010

We stayed here for just two nights for our 30th anniversary (I know, I know....). Anyway, we were greeted warmly but I'm not sure the room was ready because they were very insistent on the welcome drink on the terrace. The grounds were beautiful with a lovely view of the sea and a pool in a garden like surrounding. The room was basic but they gave some really nice touches like rose petals in the shape of a heart on our bed to acknowledge our anniversary. We did opt for the gala dinner which was delicious but be prepared for a long evening and lots of food. The restaurant sits on an open terrace with a fantastic sea view. The hotel is obviously a favorite with the Germans. We saw one or two other couples from somewhere else but being or speaking German clearly makes you an insider. The spa was nice but there seemed to be some confusion about tipping. The hotel wants tips collected centrally but I'm not sure the staff are on board with this. The access to the beach was easy and fun. Some nice beaches and little tidal areas to explore. We were driving and I think we would have felt a bit trapped without the car. One night we drove in to Albufeira which was fun but basically a place for beer, jeans and English/Irish singers. All in all you pay a premium price to stay at this hotel and it largely lives up to the cost.

  • Stayed September 2010, travelled as a couple
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask TravellingColoradans about Vila Joya
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Additional Information about Vila Joya

  • Vila Joya Albufeira
  • Vila Joya Hotel Albufeira
Address: Praia da Gale, 8201-902, Portugal
Price range (per night):* INR5,153 - 9,970

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