Hi we were about to book a villa in Villa Sol golf area for a family holiday but I've been reading both here and on another forum about prostitutes and drug dealers, kids are ranging from and it's not something I want any of them exposed to, especially the 15 year old who would understand.
Is it a good safe family resort? We would have the villa but were hoping not to self cater, we would have liked to eat out and gone for a few drinks each night. Viamoura is a big enough place that you can avoid anything you don't wish children to see.
Having said that, most of the 'drug dealers' are fraudsters selling harmless white powder to gormless individuals and there is only one place in the Algarve I have ever seen prostitutes plying for trade and it's not in Vilamoura. I have been visiting Vilamoura for 17 years firstly as a family and now as a couple. I've never experienced any of the above mentioned in resort. IMHO it's one of the safest resorts you can visit.
As the above posts state there will be a small element in all resorts but nothing I have seen in Vilamoura. Yes there are call girls in vilamoura but you would have to go looking for them to find them , there are at least 3 gentlemens clubs but girls don,t promote themselves outside or anything like that , like Steve B , I have never been approached by such girls or drug dealers in over 12 years of visiting and have never had a report of such activity from friends and family who are also regular visitors.
Which is a shame , as the bars and restaurants are really good, as so is the beaches. Cubsur believes these 'dealers' are in fact just con men. I would also like to think that's all it is , and he rarely gets things wrong. Google translation of the last post, the chap has concerns When you wake up, it's going to be late. Had a great weekend,brilliant golf courses , and bars and restaurants and weather and locals. Will return ,just not with my family,and not just because of the hassle, I do not believe it is a great family resort in my opinion.
