AP Victoria Sports & Beach

We just travelled as a big family group of 16 and had a really positive experience. Positives: - The entertainment staff were excellent running the kids club, pool and evening activities. The kids loved Marta, JoJo, Arthur were all great and the children haven’t stopped talking about how much they loved kids club! Plus the waterpolo and water sessions were great for adults. - The size of the hotel was really nice while still offering kids activities and multiple pools and lots of food options. - The room sizes were great, the addition of the kitchen even with all inclusive is super helpful for being with children. - The entire hotel always felt very clean. - Great location very close to the beach giving more options to explore. - When we left our pushchair accidentally in the hotel they were really helpful in getting it picked up by a local taxi and brought to us at the airport. Negatives: - Check-in took a long time - one of our group was unwell from the food at the hotel (I’ve seen other reviews saying similar points as well).

I’ve been coming to this resort since it was Stella Maris through First Choice—over 16 years now. Like many places, it’s had its ups and downs, especially with company takeovers. However, the past two years had really brought it back to the high standard it deserves. The entertainment team was fantastic, and there was a great family vibe around the pool—staff were visible, engaging, but never pushy. This year, while the hotel itself remains up to its usual good standard and most staff were generally friendly, I noticed a few changes that made the experience feel a bit different. Firstly, the entertainment team didn’t feel as present or engaging. There were no pool games or fitness classes—just a few dance moves now and then. Nothing against the current team, but they didn’t build the same friendly rapport with guests we’ve experienced in previous years. It could be that they’re new and still settling in. It was fine for me and my husband, but my children were often bored, which hasn’t happened before. Another noticeable change was the atmosphere around the pool. There used to be soft background music during the day, which gave a nice vibe without being intrusive. This year, there was no music at all, which made it feel a little flat at times. Bar service was also a bit more challenging than usual. Without meaning any disrespect or discrimination, we found the language barrier more difficult than in previous years. There were a few occasions where we had to walk away without drinks, simply because the communication became too tricky. We also felt that some of our friends, who were staying in privately owned apartments and didn’t have all-inclusive wristbands, were dismissed a bit abruptly by bar staff. This is something we’ve never experienced here before and found disappointing, as it didn’t reflect the friendly and welcoming atmosphere we’ve always known this resort for. Despite these points, I don’t want this to come across as a complaint—more just honest feedback. This is still a great little place in Portugal, especially if you're looking for a smaller, all-inclusive, homely-feel holiday in a perfect location close to the beach and a family-friendly square with great restaurants and bars. I truly hope these issues are just a one-off, and that the resort returns to its usual warm and welcoming best soon.