Quinta da Horta Self-Catering Holiday — Hotel in São Brás de Alportel

Quinta da Horta's Unacceptable Service Nearly Derailed Our Wedding

In February, we secured a four-night reservation at Quinta da Horta, with our wedding scheduled for Saturday, the second day of our stay. However, two days before our departure, we received an unexpected message from Quinta da Horta informing us that our entire booking had been canceled without any prior notice or refund.

They later claimed the issue had been resolved, only to inform us again that it hadn't. Booking.com offered little assistance and directed us to book alternative accommodations at a higher cost. On the eve before our wedding, with our family already in Portugal, the new booking also fell through, leaving us stranded.

Quinta da Horta's negligence and lack of communication caused immense stress and inconvenience. We were forced to frantically search for new accommodations each day, exhausting ourselves and our family. This unfortunate situation cast a shadow over our wedding day, leaving us and our 80 guests disappointed.

Based on our experience, I strongly advise against booking Quinta da Horta. Their unreliable service and lack of professionalism nearly ruined our special day. I also recommend reconsidering the use of Booking.com, as their customer service proved unhelpful in this critical situation.

Though we eventually received a full refund after involving Mastercard insurance, the damage had already been done. Thankfully, our wedding reception was held at a different venue, preventing further disruption to our guests' travel plans.

This experience was incredibly distressing and should serve as a cautionary tale for other couples planning...

We are seasoned travellers in Portugal having holidayed in the Algarve many times, normally near the cost around Vale do Lobo. This year we thought we would try Quinta da Horta Holiday Village nestled further back in the hills of Sao Bras de Alportel and what a lovely decision this was. Emma was so on the ball with her communication, and on our day of arrival, because we arrived before normal check in time, she had our Bakehouse accommodation all ready for us. She also pinged the co-ordinates of the location the evening before. Everything was very clean, with plenty of drinks available in the honesty bar, and books, and games all available. The pool was lovely with plenty of sun loungers and Emma even provides beach towels, as well as lots of useful items such as laundry area, iron and loads of stuff you can help yourself too, if you run out. We would recommend a trip to Querenca, just 20mins away. Stunning windy road up to it and a beautiful church in the square which a lady in the Aqua Museum will give you a informative guided tour of. We were lucky enough to witness a festival here and the stunning gold leafed interior of the church is amazing. The Restaurante de Querenca also does lovely meals at a brilliant price. A car is recommended, but Quinta da Horta is a lovely base in which to...

We stayed at Quinta da Horta as a family group spanning all ages, and every single one of us absolutely loved it. The accommodation is beautiful and full of charm, especially the Old Bakehouse, which is quirky and characterful. The pictures online really don’t do it justice!

Everything was immaculately clean, very well maintained, and thoughtfully equipped. The gardens are lovely, and the property provides everything you could possibly need and more. It truly felt like a home from home!

The hosts were wonderful: warm, welcoming, and always available when needed, whether it was advice on local restaurants or tips for exploring the area. The local town is just a short walk away, full of traditional charm with plenty of cafes, shops, and excellent restaurants.

The beaches and attractions are easily accessible by car or even Uber, which was surprisingly inexpensive compared to the UK. It made day trips very easy to plan.

We couldn’t have asked for a better holiday base - peaceful, authentic, and so well cared for. We would absolutely recommend Quinta da Horta and are already looking forward...