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Vada visited Quinta do Lago – Europe’s finest golf, leisure and lifestyle resort in the Algarve. We expectedly encountered a lot of golf and golfers, but were keen to find out what else Quinta do Lago offers for those just wanting to enjoy the lifestyle on holiday without a set of clubs. During our stay we stayed at the resort’s The Magnolia Hotel. The resort provided the accommodation, here is our review.
The Magnolia Hotel
The Magnolia Hotel is Quinta do Lago’s boutique hotel option within the resort. From arrival, guests will see the hotel pays homage to a 1950s Palm Springs motel, with bright pink signage. Within the hotel, we were reminded of the set for the TV show Palm Royal, though without Ricky Martin as pool boy.
The hotel’s outdoor focal point is the heated outdoor pool, and inside there is a colourful restaurant, bar, cinema, gymnasium, and spa – more on those later.
Accommodation
There are 74 rooms (Standard and Standard Plus), 3 suites, and 7 cottages. We were checked in to a Standard Plus room (number 311), which we had configured as a twin room. The room sizes are cosy, meaning these are two single beds – something we’d not slept in since school trips away. Nevertheless the beds are comfy. The room does have a TV, mini fridge, safe and plenty of plug points nearby both sides of the bed to keep all devices charged. We found Wifi to be reliably high-speed throughout our stay, apart from a couple of brief downtime moments. Our main observation within the bedroom was the lack of tea and coffee making facilities by default. We understand they are available on request, but as this is such a common amenity is almost every hotel, we would have expected these to be available.
The bathroom was clean, with a large walk-in shower and large sink area, which was very useful for our many products. We found it not quite finished to the same level of quality as the rest of the hotel for example cheap shower gel, shampoo and conditioner. We would have expected the hotel to partner with a local, good quality eco-brand. So if you want quality bathroom products, don’t forget to pack your own.
Dining
We only ate breakfasts in the hotel, but all meals are served in the same room. The pink upholstery around the room and the yellow chairs bring in the same the colour scheme as by the pool, creating a sense of continuity between both spaces. Diners can select what they want from a good selection across hot and cold items on the buffet, as well as ordering an item off the menu – pancakes were a treat for us, though items like poached egg and avocado on toast are also available. We were additionally pleased to see freshly squeeze orange juice available.
Amenities
For those not heading out to explore or experience Quinta do Lago by day, setting up by The Magnolia Hotel’s outdoor heated pool is the biggest draw. There are a couple of staff continuously on hand at the bar to provide service and refreshments.
There is an onsite gym, which is well enough equipped to fit in a proper weights workout, with a little creativity, and a variety of cardio machines. This is complimented by a spa area with jacuzzi and steam rooms. For those wanting upgraded facilities, The Magnolia Hotel offers access to Quinta do Lago’s The Campus sports complex – a 15 minute bike ride away. Bicycles are available to hire for free from the hotel.
Service
From the moment of check-in, The Magnolia Hotel stood out for its friendly service. Staff are fluent in English, helpful and charming. Staff appeared at all times to have relevant stay information about guests, so were always on hand to sort out hire bikes and to sort out other bookings easily. We could not find fault with the service.
Overall thoughts
The Palm Royal vibes create an inviting and Instagram-friendly setting, very different from the other country-club style hotels in the area. This, combined the with the great service, and on-site gym and spa facilities make up for the small rooms. In any case guests will find themselves out and about most of the day anyway – read our guide on what else to do in Quinta do Lago besides golf, for inspiration.
For more information about The Magnolia Hotel or to book direct, visit themagnoliahotelqdl.com or call +351 289 005300). Standard Double Rooms are available from €111/£96 on a B&B basis. The Family Cottages are available from €185/£159 per night on a B&B basis, though rates depend on season and demand.
