In partnership with Octant Hotels

Our little one turned two a couple of months ago and we thought it was the right time to plan our first child-free escape. We could take only a few days so had to choose the destination wisely. Sunny but not too far from London. Portugal was an ideal option. Two hours from Stansted to Faro and 20 minutes taxi ride later we were checking-in to our sun drenched villa.

Octant Vila Monte

The very first thing that you notice when taxi drops you off at Octant Vila Monte is the orange blossom perfumed air. The beautiful lobby leads to the stunning terrace restaurant and one of the two pools. The hotel is extremely child friendly but has an adult-only part and we were excited to spend the following few days there. Our villa had a private swimming pool, solarium, gardens and specious rooms.

The hotel’s architecture is inspired by traditional Algarve architecture, with whitewashed walls, wooden trusses, and rustic roof terraces, but with the inclusion of some contemporary elements that increase the functionality and comfort of the space. The villa was ideal for us who craved that extra privacy from children.

We straight away fell in love with one of the table under the Carob tree at the A Terra restaurant and this is where we had all our lunches and dinners.

The hotel had a generous offer of experiences during our stay but to be honest all we wanted to do is rest by the pool and do as little as possible. On one afternoon we however took an opportunity to take a boat tour around surrounding islands. Lovely day spent meeting local fishermen and soaking in the Portuguese culture.

I had a feeling that Octant Vila Monte is a space that is truly in harmony with southern Portugal’s traditions and aesthetics and I can’t recommend to experience it more.

Octant Praia Verde

For our second part of the holiday we decided to change the scenery and moved to the coast at Octant Praia Verde. Another stunning property from Octant Hotels but so different from Vila Monte. If in the first one you’re surrounded by orange blossoms, here you are in the pine paradise. Our room on the second floor overlooked the seaside and endless pines - a combination of forest and ocean is truly magical.

Between spending days by the pool, walks by the beach and enjoying food at the A Terra we booked a lovely experience of a tuk-tuk ride to Cacela Velha village and a picnic by the lagoon.

Although holidays always feel like it wasn’t enough Octant made our short escape to Portugal truly unforgettable. Attention to the details made us forget about hustle of ‘keeping everything under control’ and this is the main thing that new parents need.

Thank you for the memories, Octant Hotels!