Just back from the Vilanova and in two minds with this review.

The Vilanova is placed right in the heart of the action at the resort on what is known as 'The Strip', this is a road packed with bars, Restaurants and shops. It is very lively day and night , things quieten down at about 3am.

We stayed in an apartment in block 4 and our balcony faced the strip. This was not a big problem if the doors and shutters were closed as very little noise intruded, but beware, these apartments have no Air Con, and could become very hot with the doors shut. We took our own Fan with us which kept us cool overnight, and fans are available to purchase or rent in the hotel or town.

Safe deposit boxes were available for £3 per week, although we had no problems with pilfering, or lads left mobile phones and cash out a number of times, all untouched by the maids

The Apartment was large and was well stocked with utensils. The complex has a lovely pool area with a kiddies pool as well. There are no life guards so parents with young children need to be aware.We had no problems getting a sunbed at any time of day, as the pool is located in an extensive grassy area which many people preffered to using sunbeds.

There is a snack bar at the pool half litre beer £1.60, coke £1.40 bacon and egg sarnie £1.60. Cheaper than spain. There is no problem in taking your own stuff down in a coolbox but no glass allowed. There are 2 supermarkets within 4 minute walk, both well stocked with Poruguese and Enlish products (Pukka pies!!!)

As a Superfamily holiday we were expecting very good entertainment, but felt let down by the evening productions. We were there for 2 weeksand the second week was almost a mirror image of the first - Parrot show,Drag act, Pink Cadillacs band, the best nights were two comediens(although they struggled to make themselves heard amongst the noisy brats uncontrolled by their loving parents), and also a dance act which sounds yawn inducing but was actually very good.

Parents with children below 10 will like the range of entertainments during the day. Older children may get bored

There are numerous other acts going on in Bars along the strip. Coconuts 2 seemed to be popular with parents and smaller children. They had a hypnotist and other acts like a Brazilian dance troop and michael Jackson lookalike. A lot of the acts though, spend their time going from Bar to Bar on different nights so you tended to bump into them in a depressingly regular manner.

The 'Ricky Martin' act at the Bar over the road below the Top Deck steakhouse was very entertaining. Imagine a younger Peter Stringfellow but with a massively more inflated ego. We could only stand him for 2 songs and in that time 2 families left with the wife in Tears (of laughter).....he really loved himself.

Reading the comments above about being accosted by beggars, dealers and timeshare touts seems incredible to me. I was in exactly the same hotel and was not accosted once, nor were the kids who were out and about without us for a lot of the time. Maybe the police have cleaned the area up , so don't be too put off by those comments. The only 'violence' we heard of was that a 14 year old had been mugged for his phone. They used the scam of having one of the gang lie on the floor and asked him if he had a mobile so they could call an ambulance, when he produced it they took it and ran off....g*ts!

I only saw 2 beggars, one sitting in the street and the other was a little girl going from table to table , although she provided some entertainment when the waiter whacked her around the head with a rolled up menu.

Don't go to this area for the Potuguese charm and scenery, it is by far and away the most built up location I have ever visited. Thousands and thousands of bland apartment blocks everywhere. I loved the people and the food, but so overdeveloped!!

FOOD: Best restaurant for us was the Tres Palmeras. Down the strip and turn right at Cardiac hill, walk 5 mins and it is on the left. Full of Potuguese, very good service. We had a traditional Cataplana Clam and Pork Stew. £20 for 2 and excellent (but it does take 25mins to cook).

We also enjoyed the Koala Garden turn right at the first crossroads towards cardiac hill and again about a 5 mins walk. I had Ostrich Piri Piri, brilliant!!

Liza's restaurant in the complex below the Vilanova very limited menu but excellent at what they do, very clean and very popular.

AVOID: We tried the Paella restaurant once, even though it was very quiet it took an age to get the food and tyhe service was sloppy.

The Top Deck steakhouse was very popular but on our visit the staeks were tough and service slow.

EXCURSIONS: The kids enjoyed Aquapark, and the boat trip and BBQ was quite nice but not much entertainment for adults or teenagers.

The ride to Albufueira 'Old Town' on the road train was fun but like the rest of the area, the town itself was depressingly over developed and I couldn't find anything that looked 'Old' at all- very dissappointing.

There was a square with various street entertainers including those ridiculous south american pan pipers....has anyone ever seen them actually play???, we were there for an hour and all they did was ponce about in their hats trying to sell their CD's.

MONEY: we generally take a bit of cash and then use hole in the wall dispensers (TIP: Open a Nationwide account and use their card on holidays - very cheap), however the Portuguese dispensers would often refuse to work with UK cards, so if you use this method, get the maximum out whenever they do work!!

Weather very hot, beach very nice, area - a bit like blackpool but very lively if drinking and karaoke is you 'thang'. Restaurants generally good. A 'medium' holiday for me. Hope this helps!!

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Vilanova Apartments - Sao Joao

Operator and Date: (Thomson Holidays Direct) Thomson Holidays - June 2006