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My experience at Pine Cliffs
Jérôme, father of Achille, 5 years old, from Brussels
19/05/2020
I spent two days in this famous resort to make sure it meets the quality standards set by Little Guest.
The Pine Cliffs Resort bears its name well: There, you will find the sublime ochre cliffs typical of the Algarve, but also pine trees. Lots of pine trees. These umbrella pines provide shade and coolness, but above all they help to create a very pleasant atmosphere. These majestic trees are everywhere: along the walking paths, on the golf course, around the swimming pool etc.
Pine Cliffs blends respectfully into the surrounding landscape. The classic Mediterranean architecture is reminiscent of the typical Portuguese villages and their white houses. The decoration is also inspired by the country’s colonial past with its marble, fountains and vaults.
The site is impressive, it is a real village composed of three types of accommodation: the villas, the ocean suites and, finally, the hotel rooms (where I stayed).
My room was large and had a nice terrace overlooking the back of the village. The bed was very wide and very comfortable, and in the living room there was an elegant convertible sofa-bed that could accommodate two children. I also thought that the dressing room could have be a little bigger, because when I travel with my family I like to have enough storage space. The bathroom had a bathtub, handy for bathing the little ones.
The resort is really, you are going to walk a lot. But it’s very nice to stroll along the traditional cobblestone paths. If you are looking for an intimate hotel, I do not recommend Pine Cliffs. But if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t want to stand still and wants a complete package, this is the place for you!
Nothing is missing: tennis and paddle tennis courts, basketball court, kids-club, golf course, mini golf for the kids, various restaurants, gym, water sports, shops, spa… the resort even has its own foundation that shelters abandoned cats. There is also a cooking academy! With friends or family, you can take traditional Portuguese cooking classes. The famous pasteis de nata will have no more secrets for you!
During my stay I only met a few couples. The majority of clients are families with children. Therefore, the Pine Cliff is totally prepared to welcome its young clients in the best possible way. I met French, Portuguese, German and English clients.
The hotel has a nursery, a kids-club and a teens-club. The children’s facilities are grouped around a gigantic playground in the shape of a big pirate ship. Mini golf is free of charge and toddlers can even play on the giant trampoline, in complete safety, as they are harnessed.
The more sporty will appreciate the football and tennis academies where they can follow discovery or improvement courses. Many children ride their bikes around the resort. Some have brought their own bike with them, others rent it on site.
The resort has several swimming pools, the depth of which has been specially designed for children.
At the beach, a lifeguard ensures the safety of the swimmers. To reach the beach, you can take the stairs or take the lift down. This is a very convenient way for families with strollers. On the same beach, there are free deckchairs (first come, first served), but you can also reserve more comfortable sun beds at a relatively low surcharge.
The water is a bit warmer than that of other seaside resorts such as Sagres because the beach is less exposed to winds.
At sunset, I recommend that you share a glass at the Mirador champagne bar, nestled on a cliffside with a breathtaking view of the ocean.
At lunchtime, I enjoyed tasting the catch of the day prepared by the Chef on the barbecue at the Pescador fish restaurant. I recommend the 6 grilled sardines, offered at the price of 24€ and accompanied by a salad and potatoes.
One evening I went to enjoy a nice piece of meat at the Piri Piri steakhouse. The food was delicious and the setting was very beautiful (especially on the terrace), but I found the bill was quite expensive (€60 for the steak and €12 for a glass of red wine).
I must admit that I was a little disappointed with the restaurant where the breakfast buffet is served. This one deserves a little renovation.
My stay at Pine Cliffs was very positive and I highly recommend this hotel for your next family holiday.
Of course, you should definitely book your stay via Little Guest to enjoy a lot of advantages such as free concierge service, the best prices on the market and a lot of nice gifts for your children!
Have a good trip !
Jerome
