AP Victoria Sports & Beach

The property boasts spacious, quiet rooms with excellent air conditioning and ample storage. Guests lauded the friendly staff and convenient location near Falesia beach. Breakfast variety and quality were also highlighted.

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.