We stayed at Balaia in early March 2008 and we were very happy with it. We got a late deal through Easyjet and given the high standard of our apartment and the overall complex we felt we got a great bargain. The weather was lovely- about 20 degrees most days, which was a bonus.

The apartment was spacious and clean, and we liked the fact
it had 2 balconies (for table & loungers) and also the dishwasher in the kitchen!

The facilities within Balaia were excellent - lots of outdoor pools around the resort, and you also get free use of a small heated indoor pool, gym and jacuzzi in the Health spa. You also can pay a reduced rate for the sauna, massage, access to 4 tennis courts, golf facilities and even croquet! My partner did think the 9 hole golf course looked more on the lines of a pitch & putt, but it was well maintained. The Veranda restaurant was lovely - quality
food and service and very reasonable. The golf clubhouse also served good food (but only open during the day), and we found it was nicer and cheaper than the eateries outside the complex.

I'd recommend Balaia to anyone, but we were glad we hired a car. The complex is quite a way from Albufeira and other commercial areas, and while the Maria Luisa beach is the close by, the hilly access route (via Club Med complex) can be tricky by foot. The Santa Eulalia beach is also in the vicinity and has good parking facilities. The car was also useful just for getting around Balaia itself - there's quite a walk between the tennis courts and golf area.

Overall we had a great stay at Balaia and would consider going back.

Upon arriving we were greeted at reception by very polite pleasant staff who gave us all the details needed for our stay, when we arrived at the apartment it was clean and functional. The Par 3 golf course is quite tricky and needs concentration, if you think this will be easy then think again. Balaia is located close to Albufeira, but this is more like a cheesy seaside town then an exclusive Algarve location.
The food at both restaurants was good and staff were attentive, my only reservations would be the age of the properties and that they do not seem to have been updated since they were built, hence fixtures falling of the walls in the bathrooms and beds very poor, but for the price it is hard to beat in the Algarve

My boyfriend and I stayed at Balaia Golf Village in Early October 2007, we booked a last minute holiday through Expedia.

It was a really relaxing holiday and I would Highly Recommend Balaia.
The grounds were lovely, a very peaceful place.
The apartment was very spacious and well kept you could quite easily fit 6-8 people comfortably, the kitchen was fully kitted out with everything you cold possibly need, the was maid service so clean sheets and towels were always available, we had a lovely view from our baloncy of one of the 6 pools on the complex. All the pools had plenty of loungers.
My boyfriend took his olf clubs with him on holiday and he played a few rounds of golf on their well looked after course.
There was a supermarket on the complex which was really handy it always sold fresh fruit and vegetables and was not to expensive, although there was a larger supermarket just down the road.
The beach was in easy walking distance, and was never over crowded.
It was always easy to book a cab into Albufeira or Vilamoura (Great harbor with lots a great restaurants) with the friendly Reception staff, where you could also book day trips too.
My only problem with Balaia was the temperature of the pools they were quite cold, but when its hot day its lovely to cool down in.
Please don't have any doubts with Balaia its a lovely sweet place for a quiet relaxing break...

stayed for 12 nights on our first christmas away from home with our 3 children and had a great time, so much so we have already booked our summer holiday there in june. apartments spacious, clean and in a great location to beach, shops, resort centre, bus and albufeira town. hi to all who had christmas dinner in the veranda restaurent on the 25th. cant wait until june.