VidaMar Resort Hotel Algarve

Anita P8 months ago

This hotel is not within walking distance of many places so, if your booking includes breakfast/half board, be prepared to get bored very quickly of the food offerings in the Ocean Restaurant! |As a vegan, I was handed a list of available food each evening which highlighted what I was able to eat from the buffet. To say that there was a lack of choice/variety would be a massive understatement (one soup option and cake option was the general pattern for vegans, whilst the options for meat/seafood diners was much larger, although not very varied from one day to the next) and this is despite the fact that I had let the hotel know of my dietary requirements and they said they would email the kitchen to make them aware. |No non dairy milk alternatives were available ANYWHERE in the hotel, not even at the Nespresso cafe! Many of the restaurant staff looked at me with a blank expression when I said that I was vegan (you would expect that they would at least know what a vegan diet is but this was not the case and I found myself having to explain). |I have to praise one member of staff who made me feel less of a burden during breakfast. Meliza Mendes went above and beyond for me and asked the kitchen staff to prepare some sautéed vegetables for me (as the vegan options were almost non existent). She even clarified which bread I was able to eat from the buffet, as the signage said that the bread selection contained milk - not helpful when only some of the bread had milk in it, not all!|I travelled with my non vegan family members who were equally disappointed with the food available (particularly at the evening buffet).|The rooms at the hotel are spacious. The lack of water is not ideal (there is one bottle provided but this is not replenished when it is finished). The spa looks nice but during our stay there was nobody available to do a pedicure treatment - only massages and facials were on offer. |The ‘free’ gym is ok but it is disappointing that the hotel charges guests who wish to use their nicer gym. |The indoor pool was a welcome feature, particularly on the days when the sun was not shining. The outdoor pools were ok. The main pool is not heated so this was not being used by guest when we were there. The kids pool was heated so guests seemed to prefer that pool during this cooler time of year.|I would not return to this hotel and would not say that it is anything close to a 4* establishment. I will definitely return to the area as the beaches are lovely.