Four Seasons Fairways Algarve review

Looking for a holiday in Portugal where you can explore all the great facilities and still be in a location where your kids are well looked after? Read our Four Seasons Fairways Algarve review for inspiration

Four Seasons is one of the Algarve’s most popular villa resorts, with a range of two and three-bedroom Portuguese style villas set in tranquil countryside. We visited in January and it’s truly a place where you can find some sun all year round. Bear in mind that some restaurants outside of the resort may not yet be open.

Furnished and equipped to high standards, each villa has a private pool or jacuzzi on a private terrace, complete with your own barbecue and a little garden and the accommodation is all set in gardens, so you feel as if you are in a traditional Portuguese village. A two-bedroom villa with a pool has a first floor bedroom with an en suite bathroom, a ground floor twin bedroom and separate bathroom plus fully fitted kitchen, lounge and dining area, all beautifully furnished in bright colours. There are several types of apartment or villa to choose from, each with a quirky and unique look.

Four Seasons Fairways Algarve

At the very centre of the resort, The Clubhouse, which is just off Reception and beside the pool, has recently been refurbished by interior designers Quinta Style, blending contemporary design with a Portuguese twist. It’s light and airy, with tones of turquoise, cream and pink with bronze accents and all feels relaxing and full of light. Here you can sit at the bar and sip a gorgeous cocktail, or relax on the sofas and armchairs with a book, a glass of wine and a bowl of freshly made popcorn or crisps. Alternatively, you can wander through into the dining area and choose something delicious from the menu. Breakfast is also served here, with everything from the traditional Portuguese custard tarts, pastries and home made granola, to eggs cooked you way and other hot breakfast dishes.

There are numerous one-off handmade decorative pieces throughout the resort, wherever possible locally sourced, with fabrics and furniture all made in Portugal. Light shades are fine spirals – a shape you will find mimicked in a fried potato dish when you go for dinner!

Crittall windows have a brushed copper effect to reflect traditional Portuguese cooking pans, there’s a glass-walled wine cellar, a stunning indoor-outdoor bar and two heated swimming pools.

The intimate Amara restaurant serves contemporary cuisine with a Portuguese twist, or try the VIVO Bistro & Cocktail Lounge for more relaxed dining.

Amara

The newly opened five star dining experience in the resort, Amara is in demand not just from residents in the resort but from people all around the Quinta do Lago area too. It has a relaxed and comforting decor and well-spaced tables meaning you feel private even though it seats quite a few. The food is the star here and we tried a seven course tasting menu, paired with wines that complemented each dish. Plates of local delicacies and locally caught fish were served with flair and an eye for beauty and the vegan among us did not feel at all left out, as the chefs matched each course with an inventive and delicious plant-based option. They can be equally creative for those with other dietary needs too. Service was excellent – friendly and assured and glasses were topped up frequently. In fact, the team at Fairways needs a special mention overall. Friendly from the first, by the end of our three days, they felt like old friends.

With over 3,000 hours of sunshine in the Algarve each year, the resort is great for golf fans and there are more than 30 courses nearby with reduced green-fees for Four Seasons guests – great whether you’re a semi-pro or a keen beginner.

The spectacular ‘Upside Down World’ Kids’ Club is a real gem. Set in a light and airy building on the resort, it has an inventive decoration scheme with the sky on the floor and the ground on the ceiling. There are animals and other items on the ceiling too, to enhance the theme. The club has a range of activities for children aged from four to 12 years, with a programme including art and craft, face painting, cooking, movie time, tennis, swimming, excursions to the water slide park, mini golf and karting. There’s a mini ball park for them, a quiet corner, a mini library and of course lots of facilities for being creative.

During the day there’s also a rage of fun outdoor activities including visiting the water sports academy, playing miniature golf and doing a little go-karting. Your little ones can also learn to swim.

For parents wanting to relax and take some time out on their own, there’s a babysitting service available, so you can dine or head out to a local attraction knowing your child is in safe hands.

Alternatively, enjoy a relaxing treatment or sauna in the on-site beauty room and hairdresser or head out for outdoor activities.

Four Seasons Fairways; the best bits

  • Only three hours from the UK and then just under 25 minutes from Faro Airport to the resort
  • The area has warm, mild winters – this means it’s ideal for family outdoor activities and ensuring that the kids have lots of fresh air and that you can get out and about as a family
  • Car hire can be arranged with age-appropriate car seats
  • Highchairs, strollers and cots can all be provided upon request
  • The new creche is ideal for your little ones and there are great facilities including heated indoor and outdoor pools
  • Staying here is stress free – you have a whole team at your disposal for any requirements you might have, plus a small wellness centre for a spot of pampering
  • Babysitting can be arranged on request
  • You will find suppies in your villa on arrival, so there’s no need to pack nappies or other baby essentials; a shopping list is sent to you to order in advance so it’s all there ready waiting for you when you arrive
  • Make it a whole family affair and bring the grandparents along for even more of a holiday. They can come too for 105Euros per person when booking the villa

Book it: Two adults plus a child in a two bedroom villa/apartment for seven nights, daily a la carte breakfast for the parents, free access to Kids’ Club for the child and return Faro Airport transfers, from £839

Dec/Jan, £1215

Nov/Feb/Mar, £1582

Oct/May.

Visit Four Seasons Fairways

For more information on tourism in the Algarve visit the official website