Albufeira Sol Hotel & Spa

Firstly, check in was quick and easy. €17.50 for the safe for a week. No issue. They take a €100 card reserve for any damage caused to the room when they have cleaned. It doesn't actually leave your account, more of a reservation fee so if you don't cause damage, you will be fine. Restaurant is quite small for the size of the hotel. However there was never an issue with getting a table at either breakfast, lunch or dinner. Always plenty of selection at all times. Rooms are geared for self-catering (or at least ours was) with separate kitchen (including fridge), bedroom and lounge/diner. Lounge had pull out sofa bed which was fine for my 11 year old. Plenty of storage space for clothes and the like. Flooring numbers may confuse you. Reception is on floor 1 with the restaurant/bars and pool on floor 0. We had room 223 which was on the first floor from reception. Pool was good, never overcrowded and never had any issues with getting sun loungers. As per previous comments the 2 drinks per person can be quite annoying, especially when you are in a party of 3 or more. Had to always go to the bar with either my 11 yr old or wife to get us all drinks. There is a water machine which is free and you can use this, get 2 drinks from the bar and you will be fine. But if you want 3 soft drinks for instance, computer says no so either take the 2 away to your family/friends and then have to go back for the last one. Rooms cleaned daily and the overall complex is lovely and kept really clean. No issues with any of the staff whether that be maids, bar, restaurant, animation or reception. Location is ideal. Can walk to the New town ***** in no more than 10mins. Old town is around €4 to €6 in a taxi. One tip, download Uber, service is fantastic. Never waited more than 2 mins for an Uber when confirmed. Marina is around €7 to €8 in an Uber where there are lovely restaurants and bars. Old town can get a bit noisy and wild. Certainly was on the couple of nights we ventured there. All in all, Hotel is lovely, clean and in an ideal location. Staff all friendly and accommodating. I'd you want good value for money, this is absolutely ideal and I would say, go for it. Ubers from the airport to the hotel are around €40 to €45.

Just got back from this hotel, a week in the sun with family. Overall our experience was really very good. Clean, great team, nice food/drinks, easy to get around, complimentary shuttle bus in to old town, lovely pool area. Our only gripe & sadly for us its a big deal is that we were assured when contacting the hotel that they are 'Gluten Free ready'. Well they arent. Not even close. My 3 year old has Coeliac Disease & other than some stale bread, piece of cake (which he was only allowed at breakfast times) & 1 type of stale cereal...there was no other option for him. Yes there was your naturally GF items but no alternatives. Ive been to hotels prior to his diagnosis & noticed a whole array of GF & DF items, even a seperate toaster but here there was nothing out unless you asked for it & as i said options were poor. I did discuss it with the reception who passed me on to the lovely Cristianos in the restaurant but obviously nothing could be done because thats all they had. If i was a paying adult with Coeliac Disease & that was all i was given, id have made a complaint. So basically just a heads up for anyone with CD, please seek an alternative hotel. We absolutely loved staying here, i cant fault it other than this but sadly we wouldnt be able to go back purely based on this 😔

Great hotel