Villa Isabelle by Algarve Holidays - Loule

check-out

upon arrival the place was not prepared- cobwebs, fallen stucco, rusted shut iron gates on doors, broken window shade that kept master bedroom dark, generally not cleaned up in outdoor area with old, broken patio furniture in back and plastic candles left around - burnt out. Generally extremely disappointing for this price. The Seashell management company was less than polite on the phone, and after day two would not answer our calls. Eventually a handyman was sent out to clean up, but our trip was already half over. The small pool is plastic and not deep enough to cover one's shoulders. This was listed as a "luxury property", which is someone's bad marketing ploy. False advertising!

Great rural location. Lovely having everything on one level. No neighbours. Complete peace and quiet. Beautiful big garden. Easy access to the pool area from the kitchen. Comfortable beds. Great air conditioning in the bedrooms and really quiet too. Inadequate in the lounge area. Great utility area. Excellent cleaning service and so fast.

Priced and photographed as a luxury property similar to others in the area in which we have stayed in many over the years. It is most definitely not! Feels very much like the owner has “allowed” you to stay in their home. •Our first night woken by the house alarm going off. Very frightening and no idea how to turn it off as wasn’t instructed on arrival. We phoned the 24/7 emergency phone and no response til the following morning as they were tired. •Ants and mice everywhere outside. It is a rural area so just be warned! Not once did we see them in the house so that was a big plus. •Pool itself is very small and basic. Not tiled. Given the enormous garden/plot size, the pool is inadequate. I asked for dimensions before arrival and was advised it was 8x4 m. Maximum depth 2m. I very much doubt these measurements! I’m 159 cm and it only came to my chin. It feels like a big narrow bath. Dirty scum just like an uncleaned bath from when we arrived. Heating was left on by mistake from previous guests. We arrived during a heatwave. Was quickly remedied though by a lovely maintenance man. • Only one large cumbersome pool parasol for 8 loungers. Very difficult to manoeuvre and partially broken. In a heatwave this was crazy. •Basic mismatched hand me down indoor furniture or ikea not in keeping with the price tag. Broken zip on lounge furniture. Cushions on outdoor lounge set not the size for the seats so very uncomfortable. • very little storage for guests- only a wardrobe in main bedroom (largely filled with owners bulky blankets) • main gate is not electric. If left open it can feel very vulnerable in such a rural area. •no safe for valuables • the sound of a pump going on and off all night ( presumably to water the garden) is quite loud in the 2 bedrooms on the right. • the pump failed at the end of the holiday so we woke to no water. Again quickly remedied. •No mattress protectors on mattresses with some stains. This is unacceptable in a rented property.

decor, pool, garden , beds , bathrooms kitchen

nothing , excellent property, beautiful and interesting garden very private

The peacefulness and great for chilling out! Loved the heated pool.