sandyblue

Just back from a great holiday break

2011-10-12T10:47:00.002+01:00

Hi Donna

Just back from a great holiday break. Just to let you know the knob on the small sugar bowl broke off. with regard to our booking - the apartment was exdellent both in amenities and location. The service provided was second to none. We would recommend Sandy blue to anyone and look forward to booking with you again in the future. If you have a mailing list please put us on it.
Regards
Reg

RWCrowther

Thanks Donna for all your help - we hope to come again!

2011-10-12T10:44:00.002+01:00

We had a lovely relaxing holiday at Jardins de Golfe and everything was arranged for us on arrival - which was reassuring as it was our first trip abroad with our baby. Everything we needed for the baby was provided. We visited out of season and it was so peaceful. We took full advantage of the pools, tennis academy and lovely play area for children - and also had a superb meal at Paixa just next door.

Thanks Donna for all your help - we hope to come again!

Abbie

thank you for what was a truly wonderful holiday....

2011-10-07T09:50:00.000+01:00

Hi Donna,

I just wanted to thank you for what was a truly wonderful holiday for my wife and myself.

The apartment was lovely, far more than what we imagined and loved the location especially waking up to look over the 12th hole on the royal course!

Your information pack was very thorough and your personal help when we required a hire car was perfect.

This was our first visit to Portugal and it has touched our hearts so much that the wife now wants to buy a property there!!!

Looking forward - we will definetely look to rent from you again hopefully sooner than expected and will certainly recommend you to friends and family.

Best wishes

Mark Knolles.

We felt incredibly spoilt......

2011-09-26T12:57:00.000+01:00

Hi Donna

We had a FABULOUS time at Robins's Nest and Armona!

We felt incredibly spoilt loving both the inside and outside spaces. September was a great time to relax on the island as there were enough people around but it never felt crowded. After 10 minutes walking, the Atlantic side beaches were virtually empty so we had some great sunbathing and swimming. Olhao market is definately worth a visit to stock up on fish, fruit and veg.

Good to hear about the 10% discount for second time bookings!

Alex and Steve.

Definitely interested in using you again

2011-09-15T10:39:00.000+01:00

Hi Donna,

I am sure Fiona will forward her own comments….

I thought the experience was great:

· The level of service from you and your colleagues was very good – quick responses and with the right level of information

· Had a slight delay with the pick up from the airport (Luis) – made a call to the SandyBlue mobile number you provided and someone contacted Luis, who was there within 30mins

· Villa information was great – all we needed to know and at the right level of detail

· Car hire worked a treat – so nice to have it delivered and collected from the Villa

· The Villa was very good – well appointed/furnished

o Really liked the WiFi and TV’s

o High quality décor/fittings

o Good location

· Definitely interested in using you again

Great to do business with you….

Regards

Austin

Thank you to the team.

2011-09-15T10:07:00.001+01:00

We have recently returned from a 7 night stay at Jardins do Golfe, Vale do Lobo staying in a 2 bedroom apartment. I would like to say a huge thank you to 'Sandyblue' for their excellent service with booking, the quality of the accommodation and the service whilst in the resort. The apartment was extremely spacious, clean and had all the facilities we needed for a family with 2 young children - nothing was too much trouble. I would particularly like to thank Donna Vale who provided exceptional service whilst we were planning and selecting our holiday. The help and information she offered ensured that our holiday was first class from start to finish. I would have no hesitation in recommending Jardins do Golfe and 'Sandyblue'.

Thank you to the team.
Kate Griffin

We really enjoyed the holiday.

2011-09-12T12:40:00.002+01:00

Donna

Sorry for the late reply.

We really enjoyed the holiday. Vale do Lobo is a beautiful holiday location. The apartment was very comfortable, clean and spacious. The apartment complex was in a nice location, it was very quiet and we enjoyed the facilities, especially the pool and poolside bar. We also enjoyed the short walk to the Praca and the beach.

Thank you for your help in booking the apartment - you provided a very efficient service.

Regards

Suzanne

thank you and the Sandy Blue team for a great holiday

2011-09-01T16:03:00.000+01:00

Hi Donna,

Just a quick note to thank you and the Sandy Blue team for a great holiday in the Lakeside apartment. I would be happy to pen a note for your blog if you wish.

We are keen to return again next year in August around the same time - please let us know if there are any availability issues.

Speak soon

Kind regards,

Andrew & Katie

Thanks a million for pointing us at Vila Violeta.

2011-09-01T15:28:00.000+01:00

Hi Donna,

Thanks a million for pointing us at Vila Violeta. It is a beautiful Vila, very very comfortable, great sized rooms, air con brilliant, really well furnished, everything we needed was there.

We had a great break. The weather was perfect, 27 degress with a lovely breeze. We all got great fun out of the pool. Cant wait till next year to get back.....

fabulous pool and bar area serving delicious food

2011-08-19T12:40:00.000+01:00

Great apartment with lots of space, fabulous pool and bar area serving delicious food (we recommend the homemade curry & chilli). Friendly and helpful staff. We love Jardins do Golfe and will definitely be back!

Anne Norris

Casa Jacaranda

2011-08-19T12:15:00.002+01:00

Our first trip to Algarve, Portugal and wonder why we hadn't been there before. Jacaranda is a children friendly villa that offers everything a family needs.

Sandy Blue, (read Donna Vale and Ana's Team) did everything to make us feel at home and important. Every request was attended to with a smile. We haven't met Donna, or seen her picture, but we did see her smile even without the videophone.

During our 8 days, we were 8 adults and 2 kids and we were very comfortable. Our friends joined us for some of the days we were there. A couple from Marbella, Spain and another from St Gallen, Switzerland for a few days each. Ana's team serviced the villa thrice a week and kept in great shape.

Casa Jacaranda is a three minute drive from Almancil centre in a semi-rural setting. It is 25 minutes away from the busy 5* resorts, Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and other wonderful beaches.

A one* Michelin restaurant is a 5 minute walk from Jacaranda besides other excellent ones on foot around the corner or by car in Al Mancil or 20 minutes away in neighbouring towns you can eat fresh sea food.

There is a lot to do depending on your interests. One day we (4 adults) drove to Praia da Marinha, parked our car and hiked to the beach Praia de Benagil along the cliffs. Swam in the chilly waters at Benagil then took a launch back. Enroute we saw some fabulous natural rock formations - picturesque is a mild expression. With the kids, the resorts beaches were easy to manage.

Faro, old town is worth a visit. We will be back not in the too distant future.

Sandy Blue Team delighted us by treating us like family, a challenge during the busy holiday season even the staff at a St Regis or Raffles find it difficult.

Haamid Jaffer.

Staying at apartment 14 Jardins do golfe

2011-08-17T12:16:00.001+01:00

Hi Donna
From my very first enquiry to Sandy Blue office to my last minute of my holiday everyone has been really helpful and efficient.Our detailed instruction for journey from airport to appartment were amazing with pictures of sign roads and land marks.Plus all other instructin and information you forwarded to us the same like access to appartment security
walk to beach things to do and places to go in the surronding area of Vale Do Lobo. The appartmen was spotless clean had everything we could need and more The welcome basket of food and goodies was a really nice and welcome touch even down to the dishwasher tabs.and also the beach towels you thought of everything.The food and service in the bar by the pool was very good staff there were very friendly.The grounds and pool area were really nice and well maintained daiy the hammocks in pool arae lovely touch.Lastly the beaches
near the appartments were picturesque.We got 2 parking tickets only negative thing about holiday and even that one of the sany blue staff helped us to ort them out
Thanks again for everything looking forward to using sandy blue again and recomenig your services to my friends
Bernie

We will definitely be returning

2011-06-03T15:44:00.000+01:00

Dear Donna, we have just returned from our first holiday to Vale do Lobo, and have had an absolutely fantastic time. The apartment was perfect for us - very clean, spacious and modern and in a really great location. The information pack that was in the apartment was brilliant and helped to make sure that we made the very most of our week there. Thank you also for your professionalism in helping us to arrange it all. We will definitely be returning and will certainly recommend SandyBlue to our friends.

Kind regards,

Elizabeth

All Excellent!

2011-05-20T16:40:00.001+01:00

Donna was wonderful, the property was more than lived up to expectations, the folder was useful and everyone was amazing. Thank again for everything!

Blackburn

All the little extras you provide are very generous and are greatly appreciated

2011-05-20T09:48:00.002+01:00

Hello Donna,

Just a brief note to say that we had a fantastic time in the Lakeside apartments. The accommodation is of a very high standard and the location is wonderful and great for children. Thank you very much for the excellent service you provided while making our reservation and during our stay, you could not have been more accommodating.

All the little extras you provide are very generous and are greatly appreciated and sets you apart from other accommodation providers. Anna and her team were a pleasure and could not have been more helpful. I certainly will recommend SandyBlue and the Lakeside apartment to friends.

Many thanks again Donna and hope to book through you again in the future.

Kindest regards

Hilary

What a brill 5 days!

2011-05-04T11:01:00.000+01:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you, what a brill 5 days and all because of you and kindness.

The villa was amazing especially the feather pillow! Thank you again SandyBlue.

Suzanna Wright

BIG BIG THANK YOU

2011-05-04T10:55:00.001+01:00

BIG BIG THANK YOU for making our holiday fantastic. Villa was out of this world, you thought of everything to make it perfect.
Thank you Erika, Donna, Anna and everyone at Sandy Blue xxx

Lisa Reynolds

I still think it was all a dream!!

2011-05-04T09:19:00.001+01:00

Thank you so much for such a fantastic few days in Portugal.

Everything was just so perfect I still think it was all a dream!!

See you all again - same time same place next year.

Lots of Love

Debbie Bushell

Go Extras!!!

2011-04-24T09:17:00.003+01:00

We would really like to thank SandyBlue again for our second stay at Jardins do Golfe in Vale do Lobo. The apartment had an amazing sunny balcony which we enjoyed until early evening and then had the advantage of having a private area at the front of the apartment to enjoy the evening sun too...perfect ! The accommodation was really comfortable and we again were spoilt with the lavish furnishings and home from home accessories. Even down to the Tupperware boxes for taking a picnic sown to the beach you seemed to have thought of everything we may have possibly needed and will be definitely coming back :o)

Katie Hodgson

"Was always reliable and very helpful"

2011-04-04T13:47:00.002+01:00

All compliments to Dima, the driver off the courtesy bus, he was always reliable and very helpful with children, bags, plushchair etc, he was always on time.

Burrons

SandyBlue is by far the best!

2011-03-30T11:24:00.001+01:00

Hi Donna,

I would like to thank you and your team for the excellent customer service we received. We have used several property agents in the past but Sandy Blue is by far the best, everybody is very helpful and friendly.

I would definitely recommend you to friends and family.

Best wishes
Linda

"Those extra SandyBlue touches made the stay even more enjoyable"

2011-03-22T09:43:00.001Z

Hi Donna,

Just a quick mail to say we enjoyed our stay in Jardins do Golfe and we will be returning again.

Thanks to you & Ana for your help & assistance, you couldn’t do anymore really, the apartment fitted our requirements exactly and those extra SandyBlue touches made the stay even more enjoyable.

Keep me updated through the season & thanks again.

MICHAEL COSTELLO

Fantastic apartment and Service!

2011-03-13T21:33:00.001Z

My partner, baby (9mths old - her first holiday abroad) and I visited Sandy Blue's Jardins do Golfe (apt 35) at the end of Feb and was absolutely thrilled with the whole experience from start to finish. They really have thought of everything. The apartment was super, well-equipped (microwave, all the kitchen gadgets etc, kids toys, some warm blankets and heater since it was a bit chilly at night as we expected at that time of year) and the welcome pack was a nice gesture, especially since we arrived on a Sat evening and hadn't got anything to eat or drink!. The thing that stands out most is the exceptional customer service experience. Donna the Reservations Manager advised us beforehand about everything and sent all the necessary details about getting picked up at the airport, access codes, Vale do Lobo etc etc (if you've never been here you'll be blown away - especially if you play Golf!) and she put our mind at rest since the apartment was being refurbished and we would be the first to stay in it since. She even sent loads of pics of the apartment to see before we flew out and kept us up to date about the weather. She also brought me a bottle of wine to the apartment for my birthday - a thoughtful surprise, that I can't imagine happening with any other company. The wireless access was also useful since I needed to check my business emails every day. She arranged cheaper hire car for us for the week which was great. We met the whole team during our stay and they were all lovely. The apartment itself is in a nice block of other well kept apartments, the cleanliness, equipment, facilities all excellent. We all had a great break and will definitely be returning here soon through Sandy Blue. It's not very often you come across an exceptional company such as this (we found them through a simple google search!) but now we have, we wouldn't use anyone else to come here again.

BigBuck & Miss Sween

Excellent

2011-03-11T10:45:00.002Z

I stayed in Jardins Do Golfe in March 2011 and found the apartment met our needs spot on, we are two adults & two children (2yrs & 4yrs). Sandy Blue could not have been more helpful and the little touches they bring really add to the enjoyment of your holiday. The apartment was full of those comforts of home, candles, magazines books & toys for the kids & the welcome basket was a great bonus. In short we'll definitely be back.

Michael Costello

Fantastic Apartment

2011-03-06T14:02:00.005Z

Fantastic apartment - staff were really helpful and friendly! Thank you.

Goodwin

SandyBlue is an EXCEPTIONAL company.

2011-02-26T10:09:00.004Z

The customer service experience and a personal approach from start to end was simply fantastic and made our stay even better. I’ll certainly be raving about the property and company generally, to my family and friends.

Many thanks, Neil, Dawn & Sophie

xxx

A great Winter break

2011-02-21T10:39:00.001Z

The apartment is sumptuously appointed in a private holiday complex, close to a communal pool and large lake. We are a 60's couple, looking for a break from UK February dreariness, we got a week of wall to wall sunshine (we were lucky, Jan/Feb is their rainy season and it had rained the week before) and came home tanned and refreshed. This apartment was an ideal base for long walks through the adjacent Ria Formosa coastal marshland reserve, a birders paradise, and within walking range of sandy beaches and good restaurants.

Swindon

Cheap flights | Free flight comparison at skyscanner.net

2011-02-11T10:35:00.000Z

Cheap flights | Free flight comparison at skyscanner.net

"A fabulous escape!"

2011-02-10T10:56:00.000Z

If you want to get away from it all this is the place! Even in the height of summer it was quiet which is amazing when you see the beaches. We spent a week here in Sept. 2010 with 2 young children and they loved every moment. The villa is fabulous and lacks nothing. We had a BBQ everyday on the terrace behind the villa and chilled every night on the roof terrace while the sun went down. Truly relaxing and we will be back!

Matt & Kayley

"Friendly staff"

2011-01-29T11:21:00.001Z

Lovely villa, friendly staff, good information folder about local area and good amenities.
C. Taverner

Recieved by SMS

2011-01-21T13:08:00.005Z

Mr Hussein - December

Villa Areia Azul - by text

Thank you for providing us a great villa. Ana the Villa Manager was a great help and very professional.

We hope to return in the new year.

Thanks

Mr S Hussain

Lakeside Garden apartment

2011-01-21T10:35:00.002Z

Our visit to Lakeside Village Apartment was most enjoyable; we found Sandy Blue excellent and would have no hesitation in recommending them. Our accommodation was excellent, the instructions and communication before we departed for Quinta were very helpful and the welcome pack was a very nice touch.

We will definitely use Sandy Blue again, and will be recommending them to our friends and family.

Karen Burke

Relaxing winter break for family & friends

2011-01-20T14:34:00.003Z

I stayed with a group of family and friends at Segredo over New Year and we had a truly memorable holiday.

The pool was welcoming and warm, the accomodation was clean and extremely spacious. What was great about the villa was that it was really geared up for making a family holidays relaxing.

The kids were kept amused playing hide & seek in the gardens, playing on the swing set or chilling out in the bunk bed room watching Dvd's. Which left the grown ups with time to relax...and enjoy the cocktail bar! Can't wait to holiday there again!!

Baker family, Watford London

Lovely break in the sun!

2011-01-20T14:16:00.001Z

My husband and I stayed in apartment 26 with a friend for an extended long weekend and were really impressed with what was included - the kitchen has everything you could need for a good self catering break, there is free Wi-Fi and the welcome basket is a really nice touch, especially when you first arrive and haven't had time to pop to the shops (though there is a supermarket very close by as well).

There was plenty of space, the apartment was clean and the beds comfy. Having 2 bathrooms also made life easier. There was a really large balcony with a table and chairs - though it was still a little cool for us to eat outside at night time so we used this during the day.

The holiday book left by Sandy Blue with lots of handy tips and holiday suggestions was great when you arrive like we did without any particular plans. The walk to the beach is very easy and goes past some of the huge villas on Vale do Lobo. We had a lovely few hours on the beach at Vale do Lobo, followed by a glass of wine at Sandbanks, a bar/restaurant that is right on the beach and a good place to enjoy the sun. Faro is very easy to get to (we got a cab) and is also worth allowing half a day or so to explore.

I would definitely recommend Jardines do Golfe for a nice relaxing break.

Unbelievable Customer Service

2011-01-20T14:15:00.000Z

I visited Sandy Blue's Jardins do Golfe with my Wife and little girl (5 years old) and was absolutely thrilled with the whole experience. The apartment was lovely, well-equipped, clean and had a very thoughtful welcome pack.

For me, what makes this a truly special place is the wonderful customer service. The manager advised me on flights, activities for my daughter and even arranged a cheap hire car for us. Everything was perfect! I would highly recommend this to any couples or families, and we will be going back soon!
Thanks for a great holiday.

"I would recommend this accommodation to my best friend!"

Gorgeous, clean and relaxing break away.

2011-01-06T14:17:00.000Z

Excellent complex. Always spotless.

Apartment was pure luxury. All recenlty renovated and furnished to a very high standard.
Loads of toys and games for the kids, even pool toys too! Every last detail to enjoy our holiday had been thought out. Pool towels that were provided were a fantastic touch and saved us on our luggage allowance, esp when travelling with a toddler!

We didn't have a car but found the walk to the Praca was not a problem for us. Quite enjoyed looking at all the fabulous villas on the walk there and back.

Used the snack bar on the complex too and found this to be lovely too and useful for the kids ice-creams!
Erika and her staff work so hard in order to make sure you have the best holiday and can't recommend her highly enough if thinking about travelling to this area of portugal. We have travelled extensively and have never come across such a fabulous team before. Fantastic!!

"The kids were kept amused playing hide & amp"

2011-01-04T13:44:00.001Z

I stayed with a group of family and friends at Segredo over New Year and we had a truly memorable holiday. The pool was welcoming and warm, the accomodation was clean and extremely spacious. What was great about the villa was that it was really geared up for making a family holidays relaxing. The kids were kept amused playing hide & amp; seek in the gardens, playing on the swing set or chilling out in the bunk bed room watching DVD's. Which left the grown ups with time to relax... and enjoy the cocktail bar! Can't wait to holiday there again!!!!

Lotty Jingles

We really enjoyed out stay at Robbins Nest.

2010-10-20T11:08:00.002+01:00

We really enjoyed out stay at Robbins Nest. The accommodation was brilliant. As you know there was 5 adults and my little girl and we did not feel at all like we was getting under one another's feet. Lots of space fab!

Both Armona and the main town was brilliant value for money on food and drink, not only in the supermarkets but also in the restaurants. This dose make a nice change as usual when holidaying you do tend to get ripped off.

I think I would like to go back to armona but may be a little earlier in the year august September time when all of the bars/restaurants are open, and the ferri runs more frequently. We absolutely loved it in the day time my little girl had the run of the beach witched she loved. As did I because it made her shatted and she had a lovely long nap late afternoon giving mum and dad 5 to get some sun.

Overall a really nice holiday.

Thanks Again

Laura

The toy box was a great hit with my Son!!

2010-10-20T10:57:00.000+01:00

Hi Donna,

We had a wonderful stay. The apartment is well situated and has been beautifully refurbished. The welcome pack and holiday starter pack is such a good idea and came in handy . The beach towels you provided were also very useful and again a great extra to enjoy. The toy box was a great hit with my Son, “new” toys always are. “

Regards

Madeleine Williams

Sandy Blue cover all the little details and you don’t want for anything other than a longer stay!!

2010-10-11T13:50:00.001+01:00

Great house with so much space and outdoor area to enjoy, even if it’s raining the alfresco dining continues under the great covered veranda lovely large pool, and plenty of sunbeds.

Totally secluded and yet close to all amenities.

I have to say the photos really don’t do the property justice. So often you see photos, turn up and the place is much smaller….. this was totally opposite and the Bar in the lounge a great bonus as not mentioned on the web site.

We don’t have children but would recommend it to families as the kids get their own room with bunk beds and big TV, plus swings and slides outdoors.

You Must have a steak at the Gourmet Natural restaurant within walking distance of Casa Segredo

Sandy Blue cover all the little details and you don’t want for anything other than a longer stay!!

Kind Regards

Nikki Hayter.

Thanks to everyone at Sandy Blue for a memorable and relaxing break in Quinta Do Lago.

2010-10-01T11:37:00.000+01:00

We stayed at Sandy Blue's Lakeside Garden Apartment in early September 2010 and had a wonderful experience from arrival to departure.

In the past, we've been generally disappointed with the standard of accommodation we've reserved online. All too often the website images we base on decisions on differ greatly to what has greeted us on arrival.

This did not happen at Sandy Blue's Lakeside Garden Apartment. What you see is what you get. The apartment (recently refurbished) is a fabulous space with some lovely interior decor touches and equipped to a really high standard. We arrived with an energetic toddler in tow and found the apartment to be really child friendly too. The local information provided was very comprehensive and up-to-date.

Communications with Donna at enquiry and reservation stages were of the highest standard - all our (many) queries and requests were dealt with promptly and efficiently. Anna and the cleaning staff visited each weekday - and were an absolute pleasure - energetic, friendly and personable. Nothing was a problem.

The rental of a car is essential for daytime excursions and evening trips asthere are so many recreational and dining options within a few minutes drive - such as the nearby resort of Vale Do Lobo - a fantastic place to spend the evening time.

Thanks to everyone at Sandy Blue for a memorable and relaxing break in Quinta Do Lago.

See you all again soon!

John, Aislinn & Peter

Lovely villa in a great location

2010-09-13T12:09:00.000+01:00

We've had a fantastic week - Mornings at the beach, afternoons by the pool and perfect weather every day have made this a holiday to remember. Having Sky Sports was the icing on the cake;-)

We'll definitly be coming back to the Algarve so hopefully we'll have the opportunity to stay at Villa Gela-Mar again.

Kevin, Nikki, Zachary (2) Trish and Colin. Hampshire/ Hertfordshire.

"We highly recommend it"

2010-09-13T09:57:00.018+01:00

Fantastic Villa! Spacious, beautifully decorated, immaculate clean, everything provided for.
We highly recommend it, MANY THANKS!!

Goodwin + Wrigley families

"The description does match expectations"

2010-09-08T11:28:00.002+01:00

Hi,

Donna is very professional, prompt and helpful, so the description does match expectations and this was very important to us. About cleaning, Ana and her team were excellent, very professional, friendly and quick cleaners!

John Herlihy

We had a very relaxing and enjoyable stay at Casa Segredo

2010-09-06T15:47:00.000+01:00

We had a very relaxing and enjoyable stay at Casa Segredo - great location, lots of space and well equipped. The service from the Sandy Blue team was excellent and any small problems were soon sorted.

Would definitely recommend to anyone wanting a tranquil setting but near all the major beaches and towns of the Algarve. Thanks for a great stay"

Regards
Daniel

this one is by far and away the finest.

2010-09-06T15:39:00.002+01:00

Dear Donna

We would just like to say that the family had a great time at Villa Gela-mar the quality and the maid service was first class. I appreciated how you kept us informed on how you were renovating and updating the villa and the final finish is outanding. As you are aware I have stayed in many properties In the Dunas area since the early eighties and this one is by far and away the finest.

For any one staying with young families the advantage of being able to lock al the gates with no fear of the young children wandering off why one sunbathes by the pool is a benefit all of the family appreciated. The hammock and sofas on the on the upstairs terrace is very relaxing and a nice touch superb place to read a book. The villas location is lovely and quite and yet so handy for the beach.

It was nice meeting you and again many thanks the villa and service surpassed all expectations.

We will be back

Kind regards
Mel and family

Heaven-sent, the place to go...

2010-09-06T10:19:00.001+01:00

Villa Gela-Mar was the perfect place for a family holiday with two children but would lend itself perfectly as a villa to holiday with friends. It affords total privacy from the outside world but the design of the interior also lends to privacy if holidaying with friends or family. There are several 'outside spaces' to enjoy within the grounds - the part-shaded roof terrace with hammock and far-reaching views will remain in my mind for a long time to come. The bedrooms are beautifully furnished, spacious and light and the kitchen/dining room perfectly sociable and inviting! My children adored the playroom - I had to coax them out to play in the pool! We walked daily to the beach from the villa - it took around 15 minutes (with a 3 year old on foot!) and was a pretty walk. The housekeepers were very reliable, friendly and unobtrusive. There was nothing we didn't like about this villa or it's location. I couldn't recommend it highly enough.
Caroline

We hope to return....!

2010-09-02T14:36:00.002+01:00

The Lakeside apartment is situated in a beautiful location in well maintained gardens next to the lake. We were able to relax on the patio and watch the children playing in the pool or paddling in the lake. As well as the pool, we had great fun sailing on the lake and playing tennis- all within a short walk! The beach was also reached by a short walk across the bridge to Gigi's beach.

The apartment has been refurbished to a very high standard with the luxury of a jacusi bath! Anna serviced the apartment and made sure that we had everything we needed, backed up as ever by Donna.

We hope to return....!

Katie and Andrew Fitchford.

we have returned for a week now following our lovely holiday at Robins Nest.

2010-09-02T12:12:00.000+01:00

Hi Donna,

Well we have returned for a week now following our lovely holiday at Robins Nest. The setting, the villa, Luis and Anna were all great and we had a fab holiday.

We were all very rested from our holiday and found the information pack very helpful. We easily found our way to the supermarket in Olhao and took Anna’s advice and ate many meals at the restaurant at the top/far end of the island near the boardwalk. Both the property and setting gave us a lovely week’s holiday and we would happily return and have told friends and family all about it. The holiday was very relaxed from the moment we arrived at Faro and Louis took us to the port of Olhao where we met Anna after the 15 minute ferry ride to the island. Anna is a credit to your set up and was fluent in English and very helpful and we hope we saved her some time by washing the towels and some of the bedding before we left. :-)

Thanks

"A realidade corresponde às fotos"

2010-09-01T10:17:00.003+01:00

Casa muito bem decorada, espaçosa e bem localizada.
A realidade corresponde às fotos, é muito agradável.

Carla de Sá

Although it was only a short break we had a wonderful time

2010-08-30T12:40:00.000+01:00

Hi Donna,

Although it was only a short break we had a wonderful time. The apartment was very comfortable with every possible need taken care of; the extra toiletries in the bathrooms were a lovely touch. We do hope to come back in the near future and although there was everything we needed within a short walking distance I think we will probably hire a car next time to give us the opportunity to explore the Algarve properly.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards, Charmaine

"We had the best holiday"

2010-08-28T13:33:00.002+01:00

Donna was very responsive and helpful, in general we were pleased with the property and we had the best holiday for a very long time and would recommend you.
Hope to stay next year.
Thanks.

Ordism

We are indeed home safely and well relaxed after a lovely holiday at Villa Violeta.

2010-08-26T13:59:00.000+01:00

Hi Donna

We are indeed home safely and well relaxed after a lovely holiday at Villa Violeta. We were thrilled with the villa and all its luxuries. The marble floors throughout and ensuites in almost all the bedrooms were a real luxury for us and one we could have got used to! The pool was beautifully clean and the kids enjoyed many hours of fun there. When it got too hot they were able to relax in the shade playing games or inside watching a DVD. The kitchen was well equipped and the gas barbecue was well used every day.

There is something very relaxing about cooking a steak on the barbie with the sun on your back and a beer in your hand!

Santa Barbara de Nexe is a sleepy little town, but we managed to easily find all the amenities. The local supermarket was well stocked and there was a butchers in the supermarket as well. We did tend to use the Continente in Loule (about ten minutes drive from the Villa) for groceries and the market on Saturday there is good for fruit and vegetables.

We found it difficult to find somewhere typically Portuguese to eat. We had two beautiful meals in Terra Nova which is a five minute drive away, but the food was more Italian influenced than Portuguese. This restaurant is English speaking and has a lovely ambience and friendly owners. Loule also had several nice restaurants, but we tended to stay close to the villa and really enjoyed nights at the villa relaxing outside with a bottle of rose wine and a selection of barbecued meats.

Thank you Donna for all your help and assistance. We had a lovely time and would love to return to one of the coastal resorts maybe next time.

Our only complaint, which is a very minor one, was the price of the airport transfer which was much higher than any of the online quotes. However, Luis was most helpful and even waited for me to get the hire car and follow him to the villa. Some more detailed directions to local restaurants would help but all in all, Sandyblue helped our two families enjoy a brilliant ten days in a wonderful villa - accommodation we just didn't want to leave.

The Cuddy/Mitchell families

SandyBlue comment: We only reccomend Luis and his company for transfers as they are a reliable and freindly team of drivers. A transfer for 6 plus adults only works out to be around €10 each, we believe this is a small price to pay to arrive safely and in comfort to your holiday destination.

I suppose all good things must come to an end!

2010-08-26T13:51:00.000+01:00

Hi Donna,

Yep, we're home (sadly) & can't believe only yesterday we were sunning ourselves around the pool. I suppose all good things must come to an end!

We would like to thank you and the SandyBlue team for making our holiday so enjoyable and stress free. You offered an excellent personal service and were always on hand to answer any questions. The accommodation was extremely comfortable and stylish and the little extras you provide make all the difference. We'll definitely be back and would thoroughly recommend SandyBlue to friends and family.

I hope you enjoy your holiday on the island - now who's jealous!!

Thanks Donna, Kind regards

Kate & Family

2010-08-26T13:50:00.000+01:00

Hi Donna,

yes we arrived back home safe and sound after a lovely holiday, thank you so much. The apartment was great and thank you for organizing the “welcome gift” pack which indeed was very welcome.

The location was lovely and quiet with the bus to the praca and barringtons each morning very useful. I did find though that you are restricted to praca for dining out each evening unless you have your own transport. We did try some other restaurants eg. Julias – but found the private taxis quiet expensive compared to regular taxis. Eg. Took a private taxi to aquapark – cost 18 with private taxi and 8 euro with regular taxi for return journey!! Anyway – this is out of your control but just a comment.

Appreciate the discount for returning guests – would like to think we would have a look at some of your other properties for our next trip away.

Regards and thanks again,

Colette.

better than the photos you provided!

2010-08-26T12:39:00.000+01:00

Dear Erika and Donna,

We just wanted to express our gratitude to you for providing such a great apartment at Lakeside. We have to say that it was even better than the photos you provided!

You have refurbished it to a high and tasteful standard. The location and facilities were perfect for all our needs and Anna really looked after us. Thank you Donna for dealing so effeciently with the small issues that inevitably arise.

We would very much like to return at the same time in 2011, may be for 17 days if possible.

We would be happy to provide some suitable wording to go on the webside if you require.

Kind regards,

Katie and Andy Fitchford

"We have never stayed anywhere better"

2010-08-26T11:20:00.000+01:00

Having stayed in many rental villas and apartments over the years, I can honestly say that we have never stayed anywhere better, everything about the place is top notch.

The apartment has recently been completely reburbished to a very high standard. The open plan kitchen area has everything that one could want including fridge, washing machine, dishwasher and all cooking utensils. The two bedrooms are both ensuite with walk in showers and baths. There is a plasma TV as well as playstation for those who like such comforts on holiday. This is a place that we will hopefully return to time and again. Thanks to everyone at Sandyblue for all your help in making our holiday truly memorable. When our little one gets a few years older we hope to stay at some of your beautiful villas!

Alderley Edge

"We've had a great first visit to Portugal"

2010-08-23T14:00:00.000+01:00

The extra towels, sun cream, etc, were a lovely touch, overall, a lovely apointed apartment - we've had a great first visit to Portugal.

Docherty

We are already thinking about next summer’s holiday.

2010-08-20T13:47:00.000+01:00

We had a wonderful holiday at Villa Gela Mar. We have stayed in the area several times before and this was by far the best villa we have stayed in. High quality furnishings and equipment make all the difference; the kitchen equipment was extensive and the welcome basket contained everything we needed to get started, SandyBlue have thought of everything! The villa was spotlessly clean and the staff we met were lovely, nothing was too much trouble. Thank you SandyBlue, we have already recommended you to lots of friends!

We are already thinking about next summer’s holiday. Can you please let us know what you would charge us to rent the villa again, from Friday 8th July for 2 weeks.

Thanks
Alison

"We have enjoyed a very relaxing week at Robins Nest"

2010-08-19T13:54:00.002+01:00

Ana was lovely and very helpful in pointing out different areas of the Island which was great and helped our first day. We have enjoyed a very relaxing week at Robins Nest and would recommend this to our friends & family. The ferry is very reasonable too & the supermarket easily found via your instructions.

Tony & Diane Shepherd

"We have had a lovely holiday"

2010-08-19T11:33:00.000+01:00

We have had a lovely holiday and will come again with SandyBlue and we would need Barrington's Membership again. We have been coming to Vale do Lobo for 30 years + plus this apartment compares well to others.
Many thanks.

Tania Botting

Many thanks and would definitely come again...

2010-08-16T16:00:00.000+01:00

Hi Donna

Off the boat we were greeted by Anna who was lovely, she took us to the villa and walked us through the villa, explaining all the functions, she answered all my questions, I found her very personnable and professional.

We all had a lovely time, the villa was perfect for us all, clean, spacious with all the mod-cons, it was great for the kids to watch DVDs after a day at the beach, and great for the adults to sit on the roof terrace watching the sun go down with a few drinks. The BBQ area worked well and was used daily. The beaches were clean and spacious, and not packed with people! We all felt we were away from civilization, a great place to totally relax and enjoy nature. Many thanks and would definitely come again...

Michael Banburry

De facto, para o ano voltaremos, com certeza a contactar a sandyblue.

2010-08-16T11:58:00.002+01:00

Bom dia,

obrigado pelo seu cuidado em enviar-me o email.

De facto, para o ano voltaremos, com certeza a contactar a sandyblue.

Com os melhores cumprimentos,

Miguel Lume

we are already missing the sunshine and heat of the Algarve

2010-08-16T11:57:00.001+01:00

Hi Donna,

We are back home and we are already missing the sunshine and heat of the Algarve, in special Vale do Lobo.

We would like to thank you for your services and kindness in regards to the birthday gift to Julia. She really loved it and is very fond of her new diary.

Anyway, we had a wonderful time, the apartment was great and if don't mind a small remark, the curtains of the master suite are too thin that allows the lights to pass through in the morning. My wife loves total darkness and I do believe that some people are like her. Overall, we had an awesome holiday and you can count on us that we will mention Sandyblue whenever we have a chance.

Thanks from all of us.

John Magalhães.

SandyBlue Note: thank you about the curtains, they were brand new and were promised to have 100% blackout. We have now replaced them with a different brand and been tested to ensure that the bedroom is now much much darker. Thanks for the feedback.

Thanks again and I will call you to book again ,

2010-08-16T11:52:00.002+01:00

Hi Donna

Thank you so much for the great stay at the villa, everything was perfect. We were delighted with how easy our stay was because it was like home.

I have shown the villa to lots of friends and we will go back for sure.

Thanks again and I will call you to book again ,

Love

Linda

2010-08-14T11:53:00.000+01:00

Hi Donna,

Everything went very well, the apartment was great and we enjoyed Vale do Lobo a lot. My teenage daughter met with friends here and had a great time.

I am quite sure that we will return at some point and will definitely contact you again.

On a personal note, I just wanted to say to you that you have been absolutely amazing in every aspect of our booking. You responded to my every query in a very timely fashion (even outside office hours) and you were a saviour when it came to booking our rental car.

My only regret is that I didnt meet you face to face to thank you personnally. Be assured that I will have no hesitation to recommend you to any of my friends and familly.

Thank you again.

Claude Mariaux

everything was perfect...

2010-08-13T13:47:00.002+01:00

Hi Donna,

Thank you so much for the great stay at the villa, everything was perfect. We were delighted with how easy our stay was because it was like home.

I have shown the villa to lots of friends and we will go back for sure.

Thanks again and I will call you to book again ,

Love

Linda

Sandy Blue offered a friendly and professional service from start to finish.

2010-08-13T13:46:00.002+01:00

SandyBlue offered a friendly and professional service from start to finish. On arrival it was nice to meet with Donna and have a helpful and friendly person, not just a phone number, for the duration of our stay. The mini bus was a great help, especially transporting such a large party and the driver a perfect gentleman. All in all we will be back next year.

Chris and Sue Canty.

Casa Segredo was a wonderful place to stay

2010-08-11T15:53:00.002+01:00

Dear Donna

A quick note to let you know that Casa Segredo was a wonderful place to stay and we had a very relaxing and enjoyable holiday. I have to say that Anna and her team of girls were excellent and some of the small problems we encountered were dealt with promptly and very efficiently, which is as much as you can ever ask for.

Regards
Daniel

2010-08-11T15:34:00.001+01:00

Erika/Donna
We finally made it home late this afternoon! No delays today thankfully.
Thank you for being so understanding in the context of Volcano-gate! We had a really good time in the second week and even managed to pop to BJ's Oceanside for lunch on our last day - wow!

The Villa was fantastic and we'll definitely be back to Vale do Lobo in the future. Hopefully our friends will have as equally as good a time in the Villa in May as we did.

We have also recommended Sandy Blue to some other friends of ours , who may come out in the Autumn.

Thanks again

Andy

we can't wait to come and stay with you again!!

2010-08-10T15:38:00.000+01:00

Hi Donna,

You were so kind while we stayed with you, and we had such a lovely holiday, in spite of everything!!! It was all hugely appreciated, and we can't wait to come and stay with you again!!

Thank you so much for your incredible hospitality when we stayed with you in Vale de Lobo. The apartment was absolutely beautiful, spotlessly clean, and perfectly equipped for us, with everything we and our toddler could possibly need. Being able to travel without a ton of luggage was a huge bonus, and the warm welcome and ready assistance we received from you and your team made for an incredibly relaxing break. What is more, your understanding and flexibility during the volcano incident made what would have been an incredibly worrying and stressful experience (given the time pressure we were under, with our second baby due just a couple of weeks later!) really quite pleasant! We were so incredibly touched by the delivery of games following the realisation that we wouldn't get home as planned! Thank you so much for everything - we can't wait to come back!

We will indeed be in touch - probably next summer - to see if we can rent one of your villas, given our expanding brood!

Thanks again for everything - and once again, huge apologies for not replying sooner.

Kindest regards

Hatty.

We didn't think that a relaxing holiday could be possible..

2010-07-30T14:26:00.001+01:00

We didn't think that a relaxing holiday could be possible with our 17 month old twins, but Sandy Blue made it happen! The apartment at Vale do Lobo was simply perfect for us and very baby friendly. Donna and the other staff were responsive to all our needs and an absolute pleasure. Every recommendation they gave us was excellent. We can't recommend them enough, particulary for families."

Th, Jen Pink

Thnkyou SandyBlue

2010-07-30T12:03:00.000+01:00

Thankyou SandyBlue for a wonderful holiday. Service has been excellent.
Thankyou Donna for all our last minute requests, will definitly be back again. Tried all your reccomended restaurants and loved them all!!

Derval, Nicola, Colin, Ray, Tonya, Eddie and Diarmud.

Our favourite time in Portugal this year was at Robins Nest!!

2010-07-28T13:25:00.000+01:00

Our favourite time in Portugal this year was at Robins Nest on the island and would like to thank you very much. We really loved it and felt so at home staying there - the house is beautiful. We instantly relaxed and if we weren't walking along deserted beaches we were barbqueing outside on the terrace. Our teenagers loved the mezzanine floor with comfy seating and of course TV and DVD's! We are already recommending it to friends and will certainly be coming back.

Thanks again

Tracey

Really enjoyed our holiday

2010-07-23T11:53:00.001+01:00

We have really enjoyed our holiday here, the villa is fabulous, we have stayed in a few in the area and this is by far the best. Good quality furnishings and equipment really make the difference.

Ana has been lovely, freindly and efficient and nothing has been too much trouble.

Our children really enjoyed the junior tennis workshop at Dunas douradas courts and also the great pool area. They have alos really enjoyed the pool here and we have all had great fun relaxing on the roof terrace.

As for restaurants Alambique was fabulous as usual, the prawn curry is to die for! We alo ate at Xenia amd Sandbanks at Vale do Lobo is also a favorite.

We did the day trip to Armona, which was great. Trafal beach is undergoing a lot of work with the buldozers at the moment.

Thankyou to SandyBlue for offering such a lovely villa in a great location, We'll be back!!

Alison, Roger, Edward (9) Francesca (6) Beech. - Cobham Surrey.

Fabulous holiday in a wonderful villa

2010-07-15T14:22:00.000+01:00

Villa Gela Mar is in a great location, within walking distance of the Dunas Douradas tennis courts, the beach and some great restaurants. The villa is newly refurbished, extremely well kitted out, has top quality equipment, and furniture and the welcome pack was perfect for things you need for the first 24 hours.

It was spotlessly clean, and all the staff we met from Sandy Blue were lovely, nothing was too much trouble. Having stayed at a few villas in the area this is by far the best and we loved it so much we have booked again for next year.

·By The Beech family.

I just wanted to thank you and the entire team for the great apartment for our holiday.

2010-07-13T11:59:00.000+01:00

Hi Donna,

I just wanted to thank you and the entire team for the great apartment for our holiday.

It really was fantastic in terms of location,decor with all mod cons (the kids said it was better than home!) and the fabulous pool and lake views.

We had a truly relaxing break and the apartment was a big part of that - lovely and comfortable wih everything we needed on hand.The welcome basket, toiletries,provision of beach towels and the big hit with the kids the whirl bath with coloured lights - everything was perfect.

Many thanks again and we may be in touch to organise another break at some point in the future.

By the way the cleaning team were also fantastic - we did our best to keep the place tidy but they returned to it to gleaming after every visit.

Loved the Island...

2010-07-01T14:22:00.002+01:00

Thanks donna loads of very nice comments about the house, it was nice and well equipped it was it was much better in reality then the photo's the island was great for our kids loads of freedom and pier jumping!!

Eoin O'Connor

We had a fabulous time and the apartment was really lovely!

2010-07-01T14:21:00.000+01:00

Exceptionally helpful and reassuring in all correspondence. Beautiful apartment - a real home away from home. Have visited Vale Do Lobo before and hope to return again soon".

The House family, Derbyshire

Just to let you know that we all had a fabulous time in the villa.

2010-06-29T15:37:00.001+01:00

Hi Donna,

Just to let you know that we all had a fabulous time in the villa. The holiday went without a problem, just a dial on the cooker, and we had a great week in Portugal.

We have nothing but positive comments to make about our stay and we look forward to booking a villa through you again. The villa was very well appointed and the added touch of extra bits like toiletries, toilet rolls and provisions was fabulous. We all enjoyed our stay and no-one wanted to leave.

Kindest Regards,

Tracey North

I can honestly say that we have never stayed anywhere better

2010-06-21T15:39:00.001+01:00

Hi Donna

I just thought I'd drop you a brief line to say how much Jill, Cora and myself enjoyed our stay at your lovely apartment last week.

Having stayed in many rental villas and apartments over the years, I can honestly say that we have never stayed anywhere better, everything about the place is fabulous.

Thanks to you and your team for making our holiday so memorable........hopefully my wife will let me bring my golf clubs next time!

Thanks again.

Steve, Jill and Cora Savage

SandyBlue Note: The Savage family have re-booked and will be enjoying the property again in September 2010 - great stuff !!

Fantastic apartment

2010-06-20T14:29:00.000+01:00

Having stayed in many rental villas and apartments over the years, I can honestly say that we have never stayed anywhere better, everything about the place is top notch.

The apartment has recently been completely reburbished to a very high standard. The open plan kitchen area has everything that one could want including fridge, washing machine, dishwasher and all cooking utensils. The two bedrooms are both ensuite with walk in showers and baths. There is a plasma TV as well as playstation for those who like such comforts on holiday. This is a place that we will hopefully return to time and again. Thanks to everyone at Sandyblue for all your help in making our holiday truly memorable. When our little one gets a few years older we hope to stay at some of your beautiful villas!

·By Steve Savage

Fabulous

2010-06-20T14:28:00.000+01:00

Casa Julima could not be faulted it was exactly as advertised. Linen and towels provided were of a good quality, plentiful and clean and the villa was presented in a spotless manner.

Sandy Blue do think of everything even to toys for the children to use in and out of the villa.

This rental comes with our highest recommendation

·By Mike & Val Sparrow

Outstanding from start to finish!!

2010-06-20T14:26:00.000+01:00

Cannot recommend highly enough the staff at Sandy Blue, who look after this villa and a number of other properties in the area. From the moment of booking to the end of the holiday it was a smooth, efficient and very friendly service.

The villa was of a very high standard and exactly as pictured in the photos. It was absolutely spotless and full of lots of lovely fixture and fittings. It had lots of things for children too including pool inflatables, lifejackets and toys and games. Very family orientated. The pool heating was suberb (as we went in May when weather not at it's hottest). Good laptop and internet provided in the villa which we found extremely useful during our stay.

In a lovely quiet location. Didn't experience any noise disturbances during our stay and had a very relaxing time.
I would not hesitate at recommending both this company and this property to anyone, as the service we received was first class, which is rare in this day and age!

we thoroughly enjoyed our holidays - June 2010

2010-06-02T22:01:00.001+01:00

Hi Donna,

Yes, we thoroughly enjoyed our holidays. With regards to the apartment we felt very comfortable and it was lovely to meet Ana.

Thank you so much - and we will certainly look at your other properties in Sandyblue.

Regards,

Beth Cobner x

June 2010

Fabulous Villa

2010-05-31T11:51:00.000+01:00

Fabulous holiday, wonderful villa.
You must go to the thai garden restaurant, BJ's on the beach is stunnning and quinta do lago's opulence has to be seen.

Chris, Sandra, Val, David and kitty.

Thankyou for making our holiday special!!!The villa was fabulous!!

2010-05-28T15:32:00.000+01:00

Hi Donna,

Thankyou for making our holiday special!!!The villa was fabulous!!The photographs really do not do the property justice.

The villa was furnished and presented to a very high standard .Housekeeper Anna was very particular and the standard of cleanliness was exceptional.She even gave us some tips for shopping and eating out.

I have already recommended you to friends and family and hope to return to the Algarve soon.

Many Thanks for all your help and advice.

Maria Brown

A fantastic find!

2010-05-20T14:31:00.000+01:00

From my first enquiry through owners direct to the day we checked out of the villa the service we received was faultless.

I really cannot rate Donna and her team highly enough, even our maid was a hit with the whole family.

Thank you so much and we just hope you will still have dates free for us for next year!

·By Mrs Charlotte Martin

Gorgeous holiday property in a great location - highly recommend

2010-05-20T14:20:00.000+01:00

We stayed in this gorgeous villa in May last year. Looked as though it had just had a refurb - lovely new kitchen and lux bathrooms. A great place to stay with kids, the property has everything. Large heated pool, outside seating and built-in barbecue. Cute roof terrace with squashy sofas and hammock, lovely to sit with a wine and watch the sunset.

Fully fenced so the kids could escape, though road is a very quiet culdesac so not really an issue. Pool isn't fenced so might be harder work with a small baby, you would need to keep an eye on them.

Fab den with huge plasma telly, drawers of Dvds and playstation - great when you needed half an hours down time. Also lots of games and beach toys for kids. Very thoughtful owners!

About a 10 min walk to the beach, very pretty across boardwalks. Lovely clean sandy beach with safe swimming. Found some beach bars called Julias 5 mins wander up the beach, amazing for sunset and seafood. Quite pricey but found eating out in general here expensive.

Staying here also gives entry to the Dunas Douradas communal pool but didn't really see the point as we had an amazing pool of our own! Wandered up here for breakfast at the cafe for a nice frothy coffee.

Highly recommend this place for a couple of families sharing.

Many thanks Geri.

A fantastic find!

2010-05-14T10:27:00.002+01:00

From my first enquiry to the day we checked out of the villa the service we received was faultless. I really cannot rate Donna and the team highly enough, even our maid was a hit with the whole family. Thank you so much and we just hope you will still have dates free for us for next year!

Leamington

Outstanding from start to finish!!

2010-05-14T10:25:00.003+01:00

Cannot recommend highly enough the staff at Sandy Blue, who look after this villa and a number of other properties in the area. From the moment of booking to the end of the holiday it was a smooth, efficient and very friendly service.
The villa was of a very high standard and exactly as pictured in the photos. It was absolutely spotless and full of lots of lovely fixture and fittings. It had lots of things for children too including pool inflatables, lifejackets and toys and games. Very family orientated. The pool heating was suberb (as we went in May when weather not at it's hottest). Good laptop and internet provided in the villa which we found extremely useful during our stay.
In a lovely quiet location. Didn't experience any noise disturbances during our stay and had a very relaxing time.
I would not hesitate at recommending both this company and this property to anyone, as the service we received was first class, which is rare in this day and age!
Tay

A Huge thankyou to SandyBlue for such a brilliant holiday villa.

2010-05-03T11:35:00.000+01:00

A Huge thankyou to SandyBlue for such a brilliant holiday villa. Lovely to have the flexibility to stay 8 days rather than 7. so few holiday companies offer this and it made a huge difference to our holiday :-)

Highly reccomend lunch at BJ's Oceanside. top food on the terraceand the kids can play on the beach we were there for hours. Closer to home the restaurants along the beach were fun and great for the sunsets. Izzies has a nice laid back vibe and great seafood - walk to the beach and turn left, 5 mins up the beach and a bit of sand dune climbing gets you there.

We spent a gorgeous day on Armona island - get the ferry accross from Olhão. Café to the right of the jetty does amazing sticky cake with almonds - this is worth a journey alone. There is a flat path to the other side of the island (Just keep walking straight) which leads to amazing unspoilet beach. Shallow water, great for childern and a little restaurante for lunch.

Also visited Tavira Island, Ferry from Tavira dock, well signposted. Reccomend taking the mototrway (A22) halved the journey time on the way back. Tavira was lovely but not quite as magical as Armona. Lots of restaurantes and long beaches with amazing shells. Ferry very sweet for children - you could probably swim the distance quicker!

A drive through Quinta do Lago is entertaining to look at the amazing houses - each pad is bigger and more bling then the next!

All in all a fantastic week, thankyou Erika and family for making us welcome :-)

Geri, Steve Zoe and Tabitha Crabb(4 year old twins) - London

The apartment was fantastic and lived up to expectation and more.

2010-04-28T10:53:00.001+01:00

Hi Donna,

Once we knew we would be able to get home we were able to really enjoy our holiday and the weather turned good for us as well.

The apartment was fantastic and lived up to expectation and more. It was great being able to travel light and have everything we needed already there. It was also great having internet access and skynews so we could keep up to date and make plans during the volcanic ash flight ban.

My 5 year old son enjoyed everything! :o) The kangaroo kids club, tennis lessons with Mark next door, the beach and even the kids pool at Barringtons. Next time we will stay for longer so we can have a chance to do some day trips and explore more of the Algarve!!!
Everyone back home has been asking about our trip and our accommodation and I've told each and every one of them just how good it all was. I've already passed on Sandy Blue's website details to a couple of people who are thinking of coming out there.

We will be out again in the autumn and we'll be happy to stay in No.8 again although my son's been asking if there's a top floor apartment to try!

Thanks for a lovely stay and all your help.

Kind regards,

Laura

Great holiday Villa, fantastic service

2010-04-22T10:49:00.000+01:00

Stayed here for a week with a family group. The location, which is a shport drive to the beach, shops, restaurants and golf courses suited us - it's quiet and peaceful. Erika and her team were first class - from the moment we arrived they did everything they could to accomodate us as best they could - nothing too much trouble. Will be back.

Chris Evans

WOW! Fabulous Villa....

2010-04-16T11:25:00.001+01:00

Fabulous villa and a privilege to be the first guests. Even better when the islandic volcano erupted midway through our holiday grounding all flights and resulting in us "having" to stay for another 6 days. Many thanks to Erika and Donna for aranging this at such short notice and at a generous rate.

As we know from our visit last year, the surrounding area is wonderful, great beaches, lovely restaurants and immaculate golf courses. Playing the latter was made even more enjoyable by Andy's thrashing of his parents three times in a week!

Evie (our 7 month old daughter) really came (father) out of her shell over here and suddenly took to the sand and the sufr like a real little beach bum!! Much longer a stay and her grasp of Portuguese would have been better than her English.

Some fantastic restaurants too - Julias, Xenias, BJ's Ocean side and Albatroz being particular favorites but these looked to be many more.

Manyt hanks to SandyBlue for another great holiday. We'll be back!!

The Miller / Hills Clan - Leeds/ Huddersfield/nottingham. - April 2010

Ps: Chris Sandra, Kitty - ENJOY

Hi, yes all home, had a great 9 days thanks!!

2010-04-16T10:50:00.002+01:00

Hi, yes all home, had a great 9 days thanks!!
Mum and step dad are planning to come back (they loved it!) and are after a villa for the last 2 wks of september. How much would Gela-Mar be then pls? It looks lovely, just what they are after (i may come over with the kiddies for a wk with them). Is it in Vale do lobo area? Thanks x

Ginny.

comfortable in our apartment and well looked after by the SandyBlue team.

2010-04-12T16:04:00.000+01:00

We had an extended holiday in apartment 27 in Jardins do Golfe. Sometimes an extended holiday can throw up shortcomings in a holiday home but we were very comfortable in our apartment and well looked after by the SandyBlue team. Just a wave of Donna’s magic wand and any problems vanished.

The apartment is well situated for many types of holiday: walking, golfing, tennis and of course there are miles of beaches to explore – near and far. There are many excellent eateries all within easy reach of Jardins do Golfe and at prices to suit most purses.

We have already mentioned all of this to friends and family and have no hesitation in recommending Jardins do Golfe.

A special mention to Joe and Lita who looked after us very well.

Ann and Russ

We Can't Wait for the next one!!

2010-04-08T15:35:00.000+01:00

Delighted to hear about discount for previous visitors and I have already passed on details of your website to family and colleagues.

Please feel free to use my name on recommendations page as we were very impressed with standard of accommodation and the manner in which all extra requests were promptly and pleasantly dealt with during our stay .The companies you contacted for us to organise airport transfers and car hire were also a pleasure to deal with.Your very informative and impressive website certainly lived up to what it offered. Thanks for providing us with a very relaxing and enjoyable holiday. We can't wait for the next one!
Thanks again,
Assumpta, Gerry, Michael and Róisín Lavelle.

I'll be recommending Sandy Blue to all of our friends

2010-04-06T10:58:00.000+01:00

Morning Donna

I just wanted to say thanks for all your help in making our recent stay a very happy one. The little attentions to detail (toiletries, kitchen essentials, etc.) really helped to make us feel instantly at home and arranging the car hire was much appreciated. It was also great to know that there was a helpful voice at the end of the phone to support us when we needed it. It really was superb customer service and I'll be recommending Sandy Blue to all of our friends.

Best regards

David

Just to say thank you very much

2010-04-06T10:52:00.001+01:00

Hi Donna

Just to say thank you very much for the rental of no/24 Jardins do Golf in February.
We enjoyed our stay there, it was a very clean and well kept apartment,

Portugal as always is one of our favoured countries to be in through our uk winter, who knows we may meet again in the future.

Kind regards

Celia/Mike Jarvis