Vila Joya, Algarve

A Hotel For a Marble -Top Table

In the year of 1978, when the Jungs visited the old, abandoned house for the first time, what seduced them was not the scenic view, over the ocean, nor the proximity of the peaceful Praia da Galé - not even the privileged path leading to a secluded beach captivated them into that strange place.

The big house erupted in the middle of a void, inhospitable clearing. Ahead of it the see was limitless; behind it a wasteland stretched, it´s monotony broken at points by heads of ruble. Empty, at rest under a thick layer of dust, a long heavy table with a marble top unexpectedly broke the silence of the house. That was the reason that made them want to stay; it was over that table that Vila Joya was founded.. Two majestic silver candelabra are now set on the marble-top, side by side with a vase of fresh flowers , around the table, the waiters busy themselves in studied and exact gestures. Stories tell of how the engine of a bulldozer and the arms of more than twenty man were needed to placed there - with the stubbornness of a bull, the table remains impassive and indifferent to the parade of time, as to the periodic organization of the Vila Joya dinning-room, it is the ex libris of the hotel. 

The Jungs had found their holiday haven, despite the hesitations of Claudia, who would have preferred a smaller house over that eight-room mansion. Klaus bought it and Claudia had thought of creating a small hôtel de charme, with thirteen rooms. She made a point of taking care of everything personally. In the winter of 1982, the Vila Joya Boutique Hotel was opened, with some friends and acquaintances of the Jungs . None of the two had had any previous experience in the hotel business. But that precisely set the freedom they felt as to the rules of the hotel instruction manuals, and made Vila Joya what it is today. Silently wandering the rooms of the house, meticulously observing the common areas and the large suites, Claudia measured the true potential of her small hotel - its quality has been often recognized and awarded, both in Portugal and abroad , and it comprises the only restaurant in Portugal granted two Michelin stars. The space is open facing the sea; the decoration is sober and minimalist, yet cosy and warming.

All aboard for the Algarve: Fine wines and family fun at the perfect Portuguese resort

By HUGH GORDON, Dailymail

Everyone has their least favourite holiday phrases. Mine include 'international cuisine', 'rail replacement bus' and 'the cost is not included in the price of your package'.

Phrases that I do like to hear are 'free taxi service between the resort and the airport', 'a maid will turn down your bed, light candles and put a complimentary chocolate on your pillow' and 'we offer a five-star eat-as-much-as-you-like breakfast buffet'. Ah, those five-star, posh hotel/resort breakfasts! How can the rest of the day go wrong after one of these cornucopian blow-outs?

Breakfasts at the Vila Vita Park resort on the Algarve are a perfect example of this noble culinary art. There are ten kinds of freshly-squeezed fruit juice. Throw in 20 types of tea (but beware the unpalatable English Breakfast which is, in fact, German-made schwarz tea), an endless relay of waffles, charcuterie, more than a dozen styles of eggs... and you get the mouth-watering picture.

There are even bottles of sparkling wine - the ideal morning sharpener for the couple who sat next to us on our Monarch flight from Gatwick. 

Just after the plane took   off at 6.50 am, they ordered his 'n' hers tumblers of Jack Daniels and Southern Comfort.

Breakfast is also the best place to buff up your buffet etiquette. Remember the golden rule: those people (usually Belgians) who sit closest to the food counters seem to prefer white bread, copious amounts of meat and cakes - and over-fill their plates.

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the Algarve's seemingly guaranteed all-day sunshine makes the hotel's daily weather bulletin leaflet - which shows the same bright yellow sun symbol - as pointless as a speech by Nick Clegg.

For those wanting more strenuous activity, you can take tennis lessons. By now, that bacchanalian breakfast might be starting to wear off. Lunch everyone?

Naturally, Vila Vita has eight restaurants - one Michelin-starred. A sample menu: 'Squid ink risotto, bell peppers, watercress and garlic foam.' Puddings cost £8 and house wine is £17 a bottle.

Much of the food comes from the hotel's country estate, Herdade dos Grous, an 80-minute drive north in the unspoilt Alentejo region. Named after the area's majestic cranes that build giant wedding cake-style nests on top of chimneys round here, you can visit for a morning of horse-riding followed by a four-course lunch and wine-tasting.

The riding instructress was multi-lingual Anna ('I'm German but consider myself modern European.')

If you want to escape the encroaching concrete of the Algarve coast and stay somewhere which focuses with a passion on its wine, food and equestrian pursuits, this is an attractive, good value retreat. Double rooms start at £162 and half-board £32 per person.

The estate's signature wine is something special - made from grapes that are harvested during a one-hour period under a full moon in August. Thankfully, after several glasses, there was a minibus shuttle back to the coast.

But the delights of Portuguese wine didn't end there. Next to one roundabout on the old N125 coast road, we spotted an advertising hoarding with a huge picture of Cliff Richard leering down. It directed customers to the nearby shopping mall where you can buy bottles of Cliff's own - non-moon harvested - award-winning local vintage.

If the singer can keep looking so young at the age of 72 on a daily bottle of his Vida Nova red, an active sports life and a diet of cuttlefish, mussels and prawns, flights to the Algarve from Britain will be packed for years to come.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2260979/Algarve-family-holidays-A-little-slice-heaven-Vita-Vita-Park.html#ixzz2I8wPrhnf 

Natural Hidden Treasures

Ilha Deserta (Algarve/Portugal)

 

A Perfect Day

Access is exclusively by boat from the city of Faro. During the short trip (30/40 min) will go through a maze of channels in a natural sanctuary (Ria Formosa). Along the way watch the various birds that live here, like the graceful flamingos.

On the beach, the sand, no end in sight, is about 10 miles of silence and pure nature. This is a completely uninhabited area of the Ria Formosa. The dunes has preserved its original vegetation as well as the ability to accommodate wildlife. From the jetty is possible to do a walking route on a wooden footbridge.

On the island there is a fantastic restaurant: The Estaminé - the owner  Jose Vargas, is an excellent host.

Apart from the restaurant, José is also the owner of a magnificent boat, the "Jamanta" or the "Juggernaut" perfect for exclusive events for small and medium size groups throughout the year.