Holiday lettings, villas, apartments and cottages to let

Reviews submitted by the advertiser

★★★★★ Beautiful Sunrises
Serene in the morning especially. Beautiful sunrises, delicious bbq’s, juicy sweet oranges, spacious, memorable views and peaceful sleeps. We found a favourite pastry shop in town we visited daily. Even twice on one rainy day. Dice and Arte pastry shop. Don’t miss it. Mostly a local shop.
— Raena Hemenway, 14 Jun 2023

★★★★★Wow, this is a super place.
Very comfortable, well-managed, and private, with wonderful views. Lots of sunshine during our stay.
The Owners said help ourselves to the orange and lemon trees - a thrill to pick for the first time. Really enjoyed the area; it is a good base from which to explore the Algarve. And we loved sharing the swimming pool with the swallows!
— S & H & L & B & R & G, 04 Jun 2023

★★★★★ Most Amazing week!
We had the most Amazing week in this beautiful villa everything about it was great, the pool the views the gardens, I could just go on and on, Nigel was also very helpful before during and after our stay, I've stayed in lots of villas around Europe and this was the nicest, we will definitely be back again soon,

Ashley Vincent, 28 Jan 2023

★★★★★ As Stunning as Ever!
We have 'missed' this wonderful villa for a few years due to Covid etc, but it remains as stunning as ever, and we were very glad to return
Standards remain very high. A beautiful place to relax and chill out.

David Taylor, 10 Oct 2022

★★★★★ Loved every minute!
We spent two weeks here in August 2022 and loved every minute. We arrived in the dark so were treated to the views the next morning and spent the next two weeks drinking them in; it's hard to read a book as the view is so distracting! Everything in the Villa was fabulous and the communication from Nigel was excellent. We ate at most of the restaurants that Nigel recommends but kept returning to Luar da Foia for its amazing food, views and service. We also really enjoyed having breakfasts and lunches at the newer Velochique cafe in the centre of Monchique.

We loved seeing all of the local wildlife and spent a lot of time bird watching from in/around the pool and were also lucky enough to catch the odd glimpse of Henry the resident toad! We took Nigel's advice and did two boat trips with Seafaris from Lagos - the dolphin watching trip was amazing, really special. We also loved ZooMarine and Slide and Splash and visiting the west coast beaches. There's so much to do in the area but we enjoyed our days hanging out at the villa just as much and made the most of the space, the pools and the view. Thank you so much Nigel and Bev - we would love to return.

Naomi Jones, 02 Sep 2022

★★★★★ Brilliant place to stay
This villa is awesome, beautifully appointed and has everything you need. The pool area is lovely with views down to Portimao. Communication from Nigel was exceptional, especially with the Co-vid situation when we had to change our booking. The restaurant at the top of the hill is excellent but was busy so worth booking the day before to get a table on the terrace. We went to Alvor beach late in the afternoon so it was a bit cooler and less busy, plenty of parking and easy access to the beach. The road down to the villa is a bit steep but after the first time you get used to it. Brilliant place to stay.

The Bells, 09 Aug 2022

★★★★★ Breath-taking piece of Portugal
We returned from our second time stay at this beautiful Villa. The villa is situated in a breath-taking piece of Portugal. From every window you feel yourself a part of a painting. Furthermore, it is very well decorated, and the garden and pool make every breakfast, lunch dinner a feast. We enjoyed our time in this gated villa, highly recommend it to anyone planning a vacation to this beautiful country. We certainly will be back in the near future.

Andre and Diana, 21 Jun 2022

★★★★★ The villa vastly exceeded our expectations!

We have just returned from a four week stay at Villa Vida Nova and will start by stating that the villa vastly exceeded our expectations. The villa is extremely well decorated with high end furnishings and the amenities were endless. The housekeeper, gardener and pool maintenance was exceptional as well. The villa has an unobstructed southern exposure which provided a view of the sea plus full sun from sunrise to sunset. This provided for poolside breakfasts and dinner on a regular basis. The orange and lemons grown on the property were better than we have tasted back in Canada. The restaurants in close proximity to the villa are top notch however our favorite turned out to be A Rampa which we dined at on a number of occasions. Thanks to Nigel for recommending the different restaurants based on his personal experience. Due to the pandemic we were forced to reschedule our vacation in Portugal on three occasions and on every occasion Nigel was more then willing to understand and accommodate. We found the Portuguese people to be not only friendly but willing to assist us in a variety of different ways. Suffice it to say, we thoroughly enjoyed our time in this gated villa and highly recommend it to anyone planning a vacation to this beautiful country.

Craig Cormack, 31 May 2022

★★★★★ Would we return to this villa? Hell, yes!
Positive:
- the view is AMAZING: you can really see the sea from there and in the night you see the sparkling lights of Portimao
- the villa is very well maintained, well equipped and spacious
- the beds are most comfortable
- the pool is beautiful and very clean
- the garden around the house is nicely designed and maintained
- what you see is what you get: the pictures depict what it really looks like
- everything was in excellent condition (from bathroom to kitchen to TVs)
- did I mention that the view is amazing? ;-)

Negative:
- the winding street to the villa is an experience ;-)
- that we had to leave at the end of the week

Would we return to this villa? Hell, yes!
— Annette, 17 Apr 2022

★★★★★ Amazing views from every room!
We had two weeks at this amazing villa with our two boys (age 9 and 12).
Communication from Nigel was excellent. It was in a very tranquil area with amazing views from every room in the villa. We also enjoyed an amazing meal and sundowners at Alecrim the gastro bus at the top of mount Foia.
— Sophie, 25 Aug 2021

★★★★★ Well, where to start ?
We have been visiting Ferragudo for 12 years now but decided to go half an hour inland for a change, oh we are so glad.
Fabulous villa, attention to detail second to none.
No disrespect to the owners but the images online do NOT do it justice at all, absolutely stunning views everywhere.
Cannot really find fault to be honest, staff so helpful, communication with the owner from start to finish seamless.
Local restaurants are great Casa Vintage Tapas in town was our particular favourite but didn't have a bad meal anywhere.
So quiet and tranquil, will definitely be returning.
Thank you so much.
— John from the UK, 04 Aug 2021

★★★★★ Devastated!

That was how we felt on leaving this amazing villa and its views. We spent 2 weeks at Villa Vida Nova in July 2020 and we could not have been more content. The villa has been decorated to a high standard and we had everything we needed. We used the pool several times a day and it was wonderful. There is an abundance of things to look at – huge, beautiful butterflies gliding around, swallows, swifts and martins taking the odd, sneaky drink from the pool and geckos taking advantage of nightfall to snack on small bugs. The stars at night were breath taking.

A bonus was the lack of mosquitos and we were not bitten once.

The cleaner took covid safe precautions which meant that we could fully relax and we did!

We visited some wonderful restaurants in Monchique (our favourite was Luar da Fóia) all of which required masks when not seated and distance between tables. We also explored the west coast which has some of the most amazing cliffs and beaches.

A car was essential for us to enjoy the area. The area is hilly but we wouldn’t have had the fantastic views without it.

The only negative is that the figs on the huge fig tree were sadly not ripe when we were there!

If you are debating whether to book a holiday here, we can only say you won’t regret it if you do.
— Gerald Hyde, 31 Jul 2020

★★★★★ Very comfortable and well appointed villa!
We spent a week in November in this very comfortable and well appointed villa. The rooms were spacious and had everything you needed for a relaxing time.

The location on the hillside gives you great views which we also enjoyed on some lovely walks in the area. Going up to Foia (including the interesting local craft market at the top), Picota and also the hills above the old Convento was just what we were looking for. The old Convento above the town of Monchique is worth a visit in itself. See the Tripadvisor reviews.

The villa was very clean and well managed. The local manager and cleaner do an excellent job. Nigel was also very helpful with local tips and suggestions. We walked up to O Luar da Foia restaurant three times for their amazing local food! Intermarche also had everything we needed for our hikes and dinners in the villa. Casa Vintage in town was also very nice.

All in all, an excellent and high quality base from which to explore the Algarve, especially if you want to do some hiking.

Mike O’Dea, 20 Nov 2019
★★★★★ We spent a week in Villa Vida Nova at the beginning of October and had an overall fantastic experience.

The first thing that you immediately notice upon entering the villa are the spectacular views from every window, balcony, pool area and really just any place. They are truly breathtaking and we enjoyed them immensely during all of our stay.

Villa Vida Nova is uniquely well-located – it's a quiet spot with just a few houses nearby, and yet it's a very short (5-10 minutes) drive to all the amenities of the Monchique town, most importantly the Intermarche. As Nigel noted, the Intermarche is indeed well-stocked – we never had to visit any other supermarket. There is a wide selection of wines, fresh meat for the grill, local cheeses, sausages, olives etc. You can also walk up the road to a couple of restaurants, and the beaches are about a 30-40 minutes drive away.

We loved the design of the villa: the rooms are spacious, with high ceilings and large windows that let in a lot of light and fresh air. There is plenty of space for a big group of people, and still we as a couple felt cozy there. All the furniture and appliances are of high quality and in great condition. There is a large variety of cutlery, dishes, glassware etc, for anything you might need.

It's the perfect place to relax and enjoy everything Portugal has to offer!

Liubov, 30 Oct 2019
★★★★★ Ideally situated for peace, seclusion and adventures!
From booking to arrival, communication with Nigel was seamless and although we arrived slightly earlier than anticipated, we were welcomed by the maid and her son who were charming.
The villa and garden are beautiful, complemented by a pleasant view down to the coast. Ideally situated for peace, seclusion and adventures; we enjoyed a wonderful week exploring Western Portugal and also time in and around the pool. There is much to see and do in the surrounding area, an abundance of restaurants and beautiful beaches to explore. The sunrises and sunsets are not to be missed, preferably enjoyed on one of the balconies with a coffee or drink in hand. As dog owners, we welcomed the attention of the adorable black lab living next door, who was very friendly and often came to the gate to greet us. However, as Nigel rightly advises, do not encourage the local cat; he was quite persistent, even biting my husbands ankle!
Having stayed in many villas, we were impressed by the attention to detail in both the indoor and outdoor space. Our only gripe was the air con unit in the main bedroom but, having mentioned this to Nigel, it is being attended to. Overall, a fabulous week in a wonderful villa, to which I’m sure we will be returning in the very near future.
Owners Reply: Thank you for your lovely review, Bev and I are thrilled that you had such a good time there, despite the cat encounter. Our airco technician found a huge wasps nest in the outside condenser so it is up and running again. We hope it will not be too long before you return. Again many thanks for choosing to stay at Villa Vida Nova.

Tina Gough , 14 Oct 2019
★★★★★ Beautiful Spot!
Stayed here recently as a family and it has to be said this is a wonderful place to holiday. The Villa itself oozes quality and was a perfect place to unwind. The infinity pool and views to the coast are superb - and for us the walk into town was a good leg stretch as we attempted to burn off some of the calories. The area is blessed with nice restaurants to eat out and with scenic views to savour. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here and as the Villa is so well equipped and serviced we wanted for nothing. Thanks Nigel (and Mrs Nigel) for having us!

Shaun T UK., 25 Aug 2019
★★★★★ Beautiful and well equipped!
We had a fantastic week Villa Vida Nova. The house is beautiful and well equipped. The outside dining area with bbq is great. The most used feature for our week was the villas fabulous infinity pool, the kids really made good use of it. Highly recommend it. 5 stars

AM Fox, 31 Jul 2019
★★★★★ Villa Vida Nova is one of the finest villa's we've had the privilege of staying at.

We always thoroughly research the location of holiday villas before booking but I can save future guests the trouble; it is in a beautifully peaceful setting with wonderful views which are as impressive as the photo's suggest.

The villa was spotlessly clean and well equipped with everything you could possibly need, it's very clear that a lot of thought & care has gone into it by the owners who were lovely to deal with & made booking exceptionally straightforward. We booked a last minute break & from the initial email enquiry to receiving directions and key instructions took no more than a couple of hours from start to finish.

I'm sure we will be back when we next visit the area as I don't think we'll find any other villa that offers the same standard of accommodation for the price. Thanks once again for a superb holiday!

Matthew Nunn, 17 Jun 2019
★★★★★
It is difficult to add to all the positive comments that have been made, which are all fully applicable and with which we concur.
By way of trying to say something different, the things that impressed us was the energy and enthusiasm that Nigel and Beverly have devoted to their villa, and to their honesty about the place, all detailed in the website, which makes it a delightful change to go into a place with no hidden nasties. To paraphrase a famous advert which ran in the UK some years back 'it does what it says on the tin'.

David Taylor, 12 Jun 2019
★★★★★ 5 Star Villa!
This is a fantastic villa. Everything about the villa is first class - location, setting, views, and facilities were all flawless.
I cannot recommend this highly enough.
I've rented holiday properties for many years. This villa beats them all - outstanding in every way.

Bob, 06 Jun 2019
★★★★★ Absolutely Fabulous
Complimentary wine on arrival what a nice surprise, travelling with a toddler we needed it! The villa is superbly appointed with every detail and a lot of thought has gone into making it very special it is so well designed with nice touches everywhere. Hubby loves to BBQ so he was in his element and I love to sit with a glass of wine and watch him. We spent most of the time at the villa around the pool and only ventured out to the shops and town a few times for lunch and to buy groceries. The gardens are lovely, we had oranges and fresh figs from the garden and lemons for the grilled fish. The wifi was excellent so we could keep in touch with home and there is a TV in every room so whilst hubby watched sport I could watch more interesting things. All in all a very relaxing holiday we would recommend this villa to any one it really is first class, we were quite sorry to have to leave. We will book again for sure.

Mabby, Cotswolds UK, 06 Mar 2019

★★★★★ Lovely Villa and Perfect Location

Stayed here a week and sorry to have to go home. Cannot fault this villa and we have stayed in many far more expensive places. Extremely good value. Superbly appointed, clean and comfortable. The owners have done a great job in creating this lovely holiday home. A very peaceful, safe, private and sunny location with breathtaking views of the coast. Pool was warmer than I expected for October. The villa is everything if not more than what the website portrays. We have booked again for 2018, thank you Nigel
Sean Sedon, 07 Jan 2018



★★★★★ Wonderful, a brilliant holiday location!

Great holiday. We had 2 weeks at Villa Vida Nova. The villa had everything we needed - a fantastic location, plenty of space, tranquility, and hot sunshine. The villa was very well equipped, including everything you could need in the kitchen for cooking. It was very clean, and included a complete clean at the end of our first week and towel and bed change mid week.
We are a family of 4 with 2 teenagers, so 3 bedrooms was perfect. We rented a car at Faro and used it a lot to visit beaches - mainly west coast quieter beaches. Amoreira was great as it had both a river and beach with waves. Arrifana was our learning-to-surf and belly-boarding beach.
We had a number of lazy days at the villa in the pool, and many barbecues.
Although we speak a reasonable amount of Portuguese, we rarely needed it as most places that cater to tourists speak English.
We are keen cyclists and rented bikes twice from Musette.bike - great service and they provide a range of bikes. There were loads of cyclists going up the hill to Foia, but unfortunately we didn't manage this as we couldn't transport bikes on the car and it would have been too long a day in the heat to drive to the hire location then cycle up and down. They do deliver bikes for 3+day rentals, but we didn't need that long.
As well as the restaurant at the top of the drive, we enjoyed A Tasca just above the harbour in Sagres. Our second visit didn't work out though as when we arrived for Wednesday lunch we found that was their closed day!
Only thing we would have done different if we had our time over is to be careful over choosing inside or outside dining - some nights it was really hot in the evenings and you could eat outside. Other nights there was a chilly wind and so we ate inside at the villa - we didn't think about this when we booked a table on the terrace at O Luar de Foia!
Can definitely recommend - everything was great and Nigel was very helpful with advice etc., as well as providing a brilliant holiday location.
Review Submitted: 19 Aug 2017 | Stayed: July 2017
Clare Arch, 19 Oct 2017


★★★★★ An excellent villa and highly recommended!
We had a lovely week at Villa Vida Nova in boiling unseasonably high temperatures, 37-39 degrees which was unexpected! The villa is very comfortable, well equipped, has very good cooking facilities and first class comfortable beds. In the high temperatures the villa's air conditioning was very welcome. We visited the west coast, Arrifana has an excellent cliff top restaurant and the local restaurants O Luar Foia and Jardim das Oliveiras provided splendid meals. Our large car negotiated the bend down to the villa ok, a 3 point turn to get round, care needed. Overall an excellent villa and highly recommended.
Sainsbury family, 13 Oct 2017


★★★★★ Only disappointment was that we were only there for a week.
We stayed at Villa Nova in June with our friends and had the most wonderful time. The villa is like a home from home and equipped with all you need and is spotlessly clean. All the tips from Nigel on where to go to dine are excellent as well as local places of interest. We loved star gazing by the pool at night with a glass of wine or two! Our only disappointment was that we were only there for a week.
Ilona and Richard Bond , 04 Aug 2017


★★★★★ Awe inspiring location!
We had an absolutely wonderful time at this beautiful villa in an awe inspiring location! Monchique is a real 'hidden gem'.
Nigel could not have been more helpful in booking and the advice to make the most out of our time on arrival in the helpful 'guides' he's written really made the holiday!
Would not hesitate to recommend or book again!
Ben gilbert, 31 Jul 2017



★★★★★ Beautiful Property!
Beautiful property with stunning view. One of the most relaxing weeks we have had in a long time. Villa had very thing we needed.
J Henstridge, 29 Jul 2017



★★★★★ Friendly shops, cafes and restaurants.
A very high quality property with spectacular views. The pictures and descriptions on the website are very accurate
Monchique is a nice little place with friendly shops, cafes and restaurants, also plenty of walking and cycling routes if you want them
45 min drive to west coast and 30 min to Portimao
No hesitation to go again
July 2017
Stephen Dobinson, 26 Jul 2017



★★★★★ Wonderful villa in stunning location"
This is the third time that our family have visited Villa Vida Nova and it impresses us more each time. The spacious, light filled villa is beautifully furnished and has all the amenities expected in a luxury home.The relaxing outside space is both practical and functional with the immaculate infinity pool providing a welcome refreshing dip. The barbecue and covered seating areas are well appointed giving amazing views of the surrounding valley and down to the coast. This wonderful villa truly gives you the opportunity to relax away from it all and also the base to explore the treasures of the Algarve.
Hunterwood Callander, UK, 16 Jul 2017



★★★★★ You won't be disappointed, we couldn't believe our luck!
We have just returned from a fantastic stay at Villa Vida Nova. What a stunning location and a beautiful villa. As has been commented in other reviews there is everything you could possibly need and more. Four of us have visited Portugal many times before, staying in hotels and villas on the coast but none of them match up to the accommodation or location of Nigel and Bev's property, for us it was ideal, remote enough to be private but with facilities within walking distance if we wanted, otherwise only a short drive away. Our holiday was purely for 3 siblings to relax by the pool while two "husbands of" went off to play a couple of rounds of golf. What a pool to relax by - the spectacular view down the valley, watching the swifts, swallows, house martins, buzzards, etc. We had a scorcher of a week with regards to temperatures and the air conditioning came in handy for our last two evenings. If you are considering booking this villa, do it - you won't be disappointed, we couldn't believe our luck - I do a lot of research before picking a holiday home and even I was shocked at how lovely it was.
Deb Winkles, East Midlands, UK, 19 Jun 2017