Per week
from 3353.00 to 11459.00 EUR
If Baby-Friendly Boltholes could design resort holidays, Martinhal is how they would look. Having opened in summer 2010, this
fabulously well designed villa and hotel resort boasts both sophistication and
family-friendly appeal in spades. Plus it is pretty reasonably priced too.
The new resort is a smattering of funky cubist villas, a modern take on a
village square, a spa and a hotel set on the edge of a nature reserve near the
charming town of Sagres on Portugal's Algarve coast. It's contemporary but
comfortable feel is, in places, somewhat reminiscent of a Heals catalogue set
with high quality retro-modern furnishings set in front of huge picture
windows, often framing views of the unspoilt coastline.
From tots to teens, there's something for everyone in the wide ranges of
facilities on offer, which are carefully blended into the landscape so it is
easy to holiday in a chic villa by a beach and relax, but also seek out
activity or sociability as and when you want it.
Its heaven for parents with a fabulously funky kids club and crèche, water
sports school, a football academy, excellent tennis centre and good selection
of restaurants. The chic but family friendly pizza and pasta place also offers
take-away, whilst the glamorous sea front cocktail bar and formal restaurant is
perfect for 'date nights' with the help of on-site babysitters (book 48hrs in
advance).
As well as the brilliantly designed and well-staffed crèche and kids club,
there's an excellent gated play area and a trendy games room stuffed with bean
bags, games consoles, table tennis, air hockey etc. Two of the communal pool
areas have separate toddler pools which are scattered with huge 'Fat Boy' bean
bags that are perfect for snuggling up for a shady snooze, and chests stuffed
with kids toys. Plus there's a long list of baby gear available on request (see
grey box).
The village square comes alive with families in the evening when parents sip
drinks and nibble on dinner whilst little ones make new friends and play on
bikes provided in the central area. Most evenings there's either live music or
the kids club staff offer impromptu games and face painting, so the usual
struggle to keep kids entertained and relax over dinner is totally absent.
Plus, if you feel like a night in, there's a reasonably priced meal delivery
service, take-aways from the pizzeria or deli, plus handy groceries in the
village store.
The stylish but unfussy spa is the icing on the cake and the perfect way to top
off a holiday that somehow manages to make parents feel like they can enjoy the
kind of sophisticated and chic break they dreamed of before kids, but also take
the little ones along and have fun with them too. Plus there's no need to take
out a second mortgage to do it!
Martinhal is set just east of the slightly windswept but charming town of Sagres
on the Algarve's westernmost tip. It is an impressive landscape where
the wild Atlantic and the warm calm Mediterranean meet, backed by a
Biogenetic nature reserve and is wonderful in autumn when the winds drop
totally and migrating birds make for spectacular sites. The fact the
region is renowned for wind has the benefit of keeping it unspoilt and
rarely seems to bother the families soaking up the sun around the pool,
many of whom welcome the cool breezes. The nature reserve is largely
flat which invites exploration by bikes, which can be hired, with or
without child seats and trailers, from the hotel, as well as by jeep
safari which can be booked via the 'village square' reception.
The
beach at Martinhal is made up of lovely smooth sand and backed by a
handy beach bar with toilets. There are small dunes that little ones
enjoy rolling down and great opportunities for shell collecting whilst
the sea is handily shallow to some distance. Kite surfing and eco
buggies abound, but there's plenty of space for sandcastle building and
it’s just a short stroll to the hotel's pool, beach bistro and
trampoline area if the wind picks up. A nice alternative beach a short
drive away is Praia Castelejo, which is largely sheltered and offers
lovely rockpooling opportunities, as well as soft golden sands and
shallow seas. Also nearby, Praia da Salema is backed by a pretty fishing
village with restaurants and cafes offering lovely sea views. Just to
the east, in the rocky cliffs, there are 140 million-year old dinosaur
prints, which provide much fascination for little ones.
Sagres
itself is within a 5-10 minute drive/taxi (do book a return as taxi a
few and far between) trip from the hotel and boasts a handy supermarket,
pretty square and a cluster of decent seafood and Italian restaurants.
Getting There:
The airport at Faro is approx. 53 miles (75minutes drive). Taxi transfers can be arranged for an additional cost ( varies with size of party). Faro is served by low-cost airlines from most UK regional airports. Try www.skyscanner.net, which BFB finds is a handy reference guide to who flies where and when.
Click to enlarge
Check-in time: 14:00
Check-out time: 11:00
Reservation Deposit: 0%
Balance: 21 days prior to arrival
Check-in time: 14:00
Check-out time: 11:00
Reservation Deposit: 0%
Balance: 21 days prior to arrival
Check-in time: 14:00
Check-out time: 11:00
Reservation Deposit: 0%
Balance: 21 days prior to arrival
click to view full-size image
Martinhal is not a chain or part of a faceless corporation, it has been developed by Roman and Chitra Stern, who have young children themselves. Their first hand insight is reflected in small but sensitive touches such as the trampoline placed beneath the beach restaurant terrace, which allows parents to enjoy an evening drink without having to entertain bored little ones.
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Luxury Villa 21 sleeps 10+cots in 5 x double bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, plus an upstairs study and walk-in wardrobes. The villa has two lounges and a huge garden with private pool (heated and fenced) |
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 | Faro airport is 90 minutes drive away. |
| Faro airport is 90 minutes drive away. |
 | Many beaches are within a short drive |
 | The resort is set on the beach (5-10mins walk) and the resorts Beach Club is where guests can hire equipment for windsurfing and other watersports. |
 | The shops and restaurants of Martinhal resort are within 5mins walk |
 | The villa itself has private swimming pool. There are also five swimming pools set around the grounds of Martinhal Beach Resort & Hotel. The two swimming pools which grace the Village Square and are ideal for families. One generously sized pool spans indoors and outdoors. Adjacent is another smaller pool designed for toddlers. A juice and snack bar offers poolside service. Each of the pools are safely gated and their are beanbags for little ones to rest on and chests of pool toys. |
 | There is a spa at the hotel with a wide range of services. |
 | Martinhal offers a section of kids clubs for ages 2.5-18 comprising 'Raposinos' for 2.5-4yrs olds, 'Foxes' for 6-8yr olds, Explorers & Adventure Club for 9-18 year olds. Raposinos is open year-round with sessions 9.30-12.30/12.30-14.30/14.30-17.30. Prices start for 15 Euros per session for the morning sessions. For 2015 the afternoon sessions are free. Subject to availability. Prebooking is recommended. |
 | A babysitting service is available. |
 | The hotel can provide a cot, sterliser, bed guards and highchairs. |
 | All village houses have 32 satellite television with multi-channel selection and video on demand, wireless internet access and an MP3 docking station. Modern conveniences include designer kitchen and washing machine and dryer. |
 | There is a take-away service available from the village square (5mins walk) |
 | For children aged 6-30 months, there is a dedicated crèche offering 1:3 childcare by a team of qualified child minders and managed by a native English speaker. The creche is open year round with rates from 15 euros for the first hour and 10 euros for every hour after. Discounts may apply for sibling. rates are subject to change. |
 | There's a selection of restaurants onsite. |
 | Stairgates can be provided on request |
 | The villa has its own safely enclosed lawns and pool. |
 | Wifi is available |
 | The hotel is equipped with two high-grade artificial grass tennis courts and two glass-sided PADEL courts |
 | A fully equipped gymnasium is located in the Village Square. |
 | Multiple cots and highchairs are available on request |