VOI Praia De Chaves Resort

nothing outside hotel not even down the town.

We have just returned from a 10-night stay at VOI Praia de Chaves. The location is absolutely fantastic — right on the beach and only around a five-minute drive from the airport, making transfers quick and convenient. The rooms could benefit from some modernisation; however, they were kept exceptionally clean throughout our stay, which is ultimately one of the most important factors. Housekeeping did an excellent job every day. The main pool was much larger than we had expected, and both pools were consistently well-maintained. Staff were regularly checking and cleaning the pool areas throughout the day, which was great to see. The buffet restaurant was probably the weakest aspect of the holiday for us. While the food was generally well-prepared, the selection became quite repetitive, particularly at dinner, with only minor variations from one evening to the next. Breakfast remained largely the same each day, although this was less of an issue. Unfortunately, there were also a significant number of flies around the dining area, often landing on guests and food while eating. One of the highlights of our stay was the entertainment team. From the very first day, my boyfriend joined in with the morning activities and games every day without fail. This helped him build a great rapport with a few members of the team, particularly Matteo and Christian, who consistently made him feel welcome, included, and valued throughout our holiday. Before booking, I hadn’t done extensive research into the hotel brand, and it quickly became apparent that VOI hotels primarily cater to an Italian market, due to being Italian owned. While most staff made a genuine effort to communicate in English, some understandably struggled due to the language barrier. On occasion, a few members of the entertainment team would walk past without acknowledging us, although this may simply have been due to limited English rather than any intentional lack of friendliness. As an Italian-owned hotel, the vast majority of guests were Italian, with a number of Portuguese visitors as well. As British tourists, we did sometimes feel that the hotel’s activities, entertainment, and overall atmosphere were geared more towards these guests. This isn’t necessarily a criticism, but it is worth noting for anyone from the UK considering booking, as the experience may feel less tailored to English-speaking visitors.

We absolutely loved our stay. Everyone was incredibly welcoming while also being very discreet, which made us feel truly relaxed and comfortable. My son especially loved the entertainer, Matteo, who was wonderful with the children and made the experience even more special for him. We would be very happy to return