"The hotel is spotlessly clean. The staff work endlessly to make your stay amazing. There are always plenty of Sun loungers, whatever the time of the day, The gardens are immaculate, just as the rest of the hotel. The food is amazing with plenty of vegetarian options. Comfortable beds and big rooms. There really is nothing that’s not to love. Everybody is so friendly."

"I cannot speak highly enough of how wonderful this place was. From the moment I arrived until the moment I left. The apartment was lovely, air conditioned, had everything I needed. There was a little sandy garden that was mine, which was great for privacy and backed onto the most glorious, quiet beach. The nearest town is a short cab ride away but I ended up walking there and back most days along the beach. The breakfast box arrived every day with delicious food and a huge pot of delicious coffee. Everyone was so supportive and helpful and kind; respectful of space but also kept the apartment cleaned regularly. Leonilda and Fabienne were both there whenever I needed them and provided all the best contacts - reliable cabs, ethical boat tours (so important as there are some awful ones), the wonderful barbeque and local music nights just a little walk away up the beach. In 10 days I went from highly stressed, chest pains, dysregulated human being to completely calm, at ease, able to cope. My sense of self returned. That was not just because of taking a break. That's because I was at Vila Cristina. Wonderful. Just wonderful."

"Repeat customers, and we will be back again! Food: Fabulous, plenty of variety still at the buffet. Fries no issue at all, we had fly fans and didn’t use them. Used them more at home in the UK! Noticed a slip in standards when the place staff started to go on holiday, and Touareg staff started coming over to work. Evening waiting staff stood around chatting at the buffet tables rather than clearing tables, and preparing new tables. The chefs on their phones. Drinks: Slight change since we visited 3 years ago. Sadly can’t make particular drinks anymore due to time and cost efficiencies. Still good and plenty of choice. But top service and hospitality from Anderson, Bruno, Hernany, Rito on Grogue. And thank you to Natzia, Rovaldo, Bruna and Kristian in Ponche. These guys keep the atmosphere upbeat and work tirelessly in the heat to make sure you have a good holiday. Rooms: Typical Riu Palace, large shower, same layout. Sparklingly clean. Just noticed some wear and tear with furnishings looking tired in some places (arm rests/tiles/grouting). Not sure if short staffed or the maids need to fit more into their shifts, but we did find the maid didn’t leave towel art or flowers on the bed compared to our prior visit despite tipping and giving chocolate. Great sleep and felt refreshed! Grounds/garden: Spotless, well kept and pristine. So much hard work goes on behind the scenes. Lobby area/coffee bar: Very clean still, and same layout. Very friendly reception team. I would just encourage that the rugs in the reception area get replaced, they are quite old and are starting to smell, which was noticeable whilst having coffee on the sofa and arm chairs. Glad that we timed our trip to see friends who normally work here. Shout out to Vania for her amazing hospitality, and bringing such joy and care to her work, ensuring everyone has a fun holiday. The customer is at the heart of everything she does. We will be back, and hopefully leave it not too long this time!"

"Bathroom stank of sewage and shower mouldy/very dated. Room basic and very dated. Lots of noise from room above. Hotel public areas very "tatty". Pools not heated. Food very average, no a lacarte options although advertised. Rude reception staff on checkout. Only saving grace was the Chaves beach which was stunning and very clean."

"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."