Booked these apartments only 6 weeks before going, was a bit disappointed as we wanted a sea view apartment and could only get a garden view apartment but was really pleased when we arrived! The Garden View Apartment was on the ground floor and you opened the patio doors onto a lawned area outside which was great for the kids to play on in the evening. We met friends who had a sea view apartment and they only had one bathroom whereas we had two so the garden view seemed to be bigger. We booked a one bed apartment for a family of 4 and that was plenty. We had two bathrooms, one with bath and shower and one with just shower in, a separate kitchen fully equipped with dishwasher, cooker etc which was great as my son is a Coeliac so it meant I could prepare all his food and not wash up!! The hotel facilities were good, the breakfast was fine, just don't eat outside if you don't like flies! The main pool area was salty water whicih the children didn't like so we used the pool by the apartments which was great, never a problem getting a sunbed and you can use the hotel towels, even better. I would definitely go here again, you need to use a taxi or hire car if you want to go into the main resorts as it is out of the way but for a quiet, relaxing family holiday it was superb.

We have just returned from a weeks stay at the Pestana Porches Praia Apartments. The holiday was booked at the last minute and as such we were not expecting much. However we were surprised at the high standard of the accomodation and the grounds in which they were situated.

As a family of 4 we usually end up in a small appartment with one bedroom with the kids sleeping in the living room on a pull out bed and with us all sharing a bathroom. Imagine our surprise when we found not only did we have a large living area but also 2 large bedrooms (with kingsize and twin beds) 2 bathrooms (one ensuite) and a fully equiped kitchen. The appartment was modern and cleaned daily.

As appartments are part of a hotel complex and therfore we had access to all their facilities including 4 swimming pools (which were never busy and the kids enjoyed), a gym and tennis court and a small but beutifully sandy beach. There was always enough sun loungers around the pools what evertime of day you turned up (with free towels).

The staff were very helpful and spoke excellent english.

As we were a self catering holiday we ate out a lot of the time and this if anything was our only issue with our stay. The complex is located in a quiet area of the coast and as such there are few resturants in the vacinity, although as were only staying a week we were able to find enough variety to keep us happy. I would recommend paying a little extra for half board if you want consistantly good meals. There is a well stocked supermarket about a 10 minute (up hill) walk away.

Not having been to Portugal before we were unsure what to expect but glad that we went and would recommend these appartments for a quiet and relaxing holiday.

We have just returned from these apartments and i have to say that it was by far the best apartment we have ever stayed at .
The apartments are next to the Pestana Viking Hotel where you check in , ours was a 2 bedroom apartment on the first floor with a partial seaview, it was very very spacious and really modern with a nice fitted kichen and 2 bathrooms (one was en suite) and also a large balcony and 2 very effective air-condition units which can if required make the whole apartments really cool even when the temperature outside hit 37c one day .
The area behind the apartments is not really attractive being quite built up but don't worry about this as the whole area to the front hugging the sea is really very beatiful with great beaches, garden, shrubs and quite dramatic cliffs with some stunning views, there is a small amount of restaurants within walking distance of the apartments our favourite one was down by the beach with great seaviews while you dine and and have a little tipple!

We were there just after the summer, great location near the beach, brand new apartments with great kitchen facilities and very good staff.
That´s a PESTANA resort, perfect.