Octant Vila Monte

Location

Despite being conveniently located within easy reach of the main motorway, Octant Vila Monte is hidden among rural olive groves and glossy-leaved orange trees. The nearest town, Olhão, has a wonderful fish market and lively shop- and restaurant-lined waterfront. The proximity to the motorway, which cuts through the Algarve, puts Faro airport just a 25-minute drive away.

Style and Character

Simple, clean interiors by Vera Iachia emphasise the beguiling quality of the light in this region of Portugal. Authentic Moorish details are found in the high ceilings lined with straw reeds and characteristic chimney pots. Driftwood or terracotta lamps frame white sofas, and fresh flowers, cut from the garden, are found throughout the rooms and restaurant. A spacious lobby has large windows so you can see into the buzzing kitchen, which is situated next to a deli brimming with local salts and olive oil. An open fire at its centre is a welcoming feature. This hotel manages to appeal to both couples on a romantic escape and families alike, with careful clusters of rooms and suites separating the two. Pool suites have the added luxury of a dedicated member of staff looking after you.

Service and Facilities

One of the pillars of Octant Hotels is the aim to provide 24-hour access to the gym and swimming pool. So there's a feeling of wellness to the hotel - but for those uninterested in the gym, there's plenty more to entice. Placed among the nine-hectare garden are two swimming pools, one heated for families, the other adults-only. Also in the garden is a tennis court and a chef's table, where dishes can be prepared and enjoyed in the shade of fig trees. Summer evenings are given over to al fresco cinema, with classics such as The Sting or Out of Africa playing, while days can be spent on nearby Fuseta Island beach, which can be reached by the shuttle bus in high season or a hotel boat that whizzes you across to the golden sands.

There's a range of activities for guests throughout the week, from yoga classes every Monday morning to cocktail making or port tastings. Bicycles are free to borrow. The team is mainly made up of locals, knowledgable on the area (best place to go to buy olive oil, for exmaple), and are all enormously friendly.

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• Bar
• Golf course
• Laundry
• Parking
• Pool
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Tennis court
• Wi-Fi

Rooms

The 54 rooms and suites are divided into different whitewashed Moorish buildings within the garden, with many clustered around a fountain-filled, bougainvillea-clad courtyard or off an avenue lined with orange trees. The Suite Collection contains five suites with generously sized, heated plunge pools, outdoor dining areas, Dyson hairdryers and a dedicated member of staff for each one, ready to take care of the wishes of their respective guests.

Other rooms have huge beds with canopied mosquito nets, and many come with private balconies. Showers and Oliofora bath products feature in white-on-white bathrooms. Various in-room extras are provided such as cork yoga mats and, for trips to the beach or the pool, wraps, panama hats and locally made wicker baskets. 

Set in the hotel grounds is the three-bedroom Villa Indigo - one of the loveliest villas in the Algarve - which offers guests total privacy. Décor is similar to the main hotel, with whitewashed walls, driftwood and a generally coastal atmosphere. There is a large swimming pool, indulgent tubs in the three en-suite bathrooms and a well-equipped kitchen with dining spaces both indoor and out. 

Food and Drink

Pride of place in À Terra restaurant is the wood oven and Josper grill. Don't miss the roasted chicken with lemon and piri-piri or the roasted garden vegetables. Many dishes draw on the region's bounty, such as Santa Luzia octopus cataplana (Portuguese fish stew) with sweet potato or a mixed seafood rice. 

In Laranjal restaurant, a space of white walls and wicker accents, a buffet breakfast of pastries, fruits, cheeses and hams is provided, alongside eggs available to order to your preference.

Value for Money

Double rooms from €200 (£171) in low season; and from €380 (£369) in high. Breakfast included.

Access for guests with disabilities?

Yes. There is one adapted room.

Family-Friendly?

Yes. There is a heated pool dedicated to families and an impressive range of children's welcome gifts - such as a teepee in their room upon arrival. The kids' club is defined in three different age brackets and organises activities such as pyjama parties. There's also a play area in a model Algarvian house set within the gardens.