We were very lucky to have 4 nights at this lovely hotel with our 2 children in early April. The food was absolutely superb -- at least as good as the finest restaurants in London -- with amazing originality and the freshest ingredients. I have a dairy-free diet which they accomodated more than I would at home and the chef produced variations on every dish for me all of which were absolutely delicious. Our room was spectacular and a great treat for the kids with a private pool which was perfect given that it was quite cold and the large pool was not quite as warm as required! The beach was beautiful and the water was very clear. The staff were absolutely lovely to us the entire time we were there with no quibbles about special requests. Nothing was too much trouble and no guests seemed to have preferred treatment. We did see one room other than the one we stayed in and it was on a more traditional line which may not be to everyone's taste but we thought it was charming.

We were very well welcomed.
Not only very well welcomed, but as well very happy with the excellent display of food for breakfast, views, diner and room service.

They are one off.
The staff was very polite and me and my wife enjoyed it very much.

We took a half board package with dinner. We had a wonderful welcome and a fabulous room with a view over the sea leading out onto the terrace and gardens. The room was average, but the bathroom is in serious need of updating. Shower curtains (that don't fit) in 5 star hotels in Europe is an absolute no no. The staff were lovely, very welcoming and hard working but there one or two minor let downs. Missing our breakfast order on the bedroom door is a big error for a hotel of this standard. When we went to pay, the lack of prices for alcohol both with lunch and dinner revealed the gotchas. 29€ for a glass of red wine with lunch and 183€ for the pairing of wines with dinner made this overnight stay nearly 1000€.
I have to say it was a very lovely break for my wife and, very relaxing but it comes at a cost. If you're not short of money you will probably enjoy staying here. Looking at some of the indications of average prices, you might find a better web site deal than what we paid on the hotel site. However beware the hidden cost, particularly wines which are exorbitant for this part of the Euro zone. Wines and taxes do not cost that much here.

They get an "A" for effort, but you'll fall in love with what Vila Joya could be, not what it is. Bottom line:

1) The room decor is out of date and feels cheap. The bathrooms are especially inconvenient with outdated plumbing.

2) The staff is top-notch. SUPER nice and accommodating. Food is excellent.

3) It feels like they're going for a "homey" hotel, but they miss the mark because they try to mix way too many different styles in one small place and end up with a confusing ambiance.

4) The town surrounding the Vila feels like a poor Latin town from the 1980's, which is reflective of the poor economic times they are having. There's not a lot to do and we found ourselves a little uncomfortable in the area.

5) The rooms are not quiet at ALL. If the people downstairs are having any kind of celebration or talking loudly, you'll hear it all. If the staff walks the corridors or does anything, you hear it.

6) The wi-fi was pretty slow, but that may be indicative of the region.

Overall, they are making a good attempt at having a resort, but they need to invest in new decor, sound-proofing the rooms, bring some more light into the the whole hotel and offering other things to do in the area around the hotel so you're not bored.