Rio by Garvetur

Where do I start. Before I arrived in Portugal I phoned Rio apartments and asked for a late check out of which we agreed €30 euros which I didn’t think was that bad as would of given us the apartment for an extra 7 hours. They did say we could leave our bags in reception when we check out but there is no where to leave them as reception is mainly closed. When we arrived we were told this isn’t possible once the receptionist actually turned up. We had to phone them and ask where their staff was. They are supposed to be there till 1230 and this was 1145 so they don’t keep to their times advertised. The restaurant is by different people and they kept running out of things like coke cider and even beer. And the resort wasn’t busy. I have stayed here before and came back as the service was ok but this time has totally put me off and not sure I will Come back.

You get what you pay for. Basic but clean accommodation and restaurant alongside here is amazing food plus service. Good location for beach plus marina about 20 minute walk. Albufeira taxi about 25 euros. Reception helpful we arrived very late and a gentleman was there ready for us. Pool small sunloungers about 20 which was fine for us. Weather great spar around the corner .

I really enjoyed my entire stay at this beautiful place, staff was really very friendly and helpful during my stay, for me as a regular traveler, I am finding the real meaning of hospitality here and will definitely pay the hotel another visit in the very near future, just walking by few minutes and I am there at the Marina, thanks to all the management and hotel staff for their efforts to make my stay just joyful and nice , I highly recommended everyone to book it

This place is not as bad as people are saying. You get what you pay for . Tidy room, balcony. Bath and over bath shower. Kitchen with 2 hobs and microwave. Staff are pleasant. Had towels changed mid week not bedding . Staff don’t enter whist guests are in. Fair enough tidy up after yourself or go all inc! Town (Marina.) isn’t far if you know how to get there. Head towards the spar bottom of road , turn left follow path towards tennis &padel, short cut. Pay .€10 in taxi or jump the bus on main road , All named after countries Bus stop navagantes takes you to Faro or Albefuria, beautiful, eclectic places . Worth the €4 bud ride. If you go the marina, eat in the streets behind , great Indian and amazing Portuguese restaurants. Much cheaper. Chinese store sells cheap phone chargers and gift items if you need stuff. Loved the whole experience. Friendly, kind and really welcoming bunch of people.

Just arrived back from these apartments would most definitely not recommend anyone to go there. We were lucky a receptionist was there when we arrived had to pay €300 on credit card do not know what is worth that amount in the apartment and also we are a middle aged couple so wouldn’t be into trashing an apartment. The apartment was clean enough and also big enough for 2 people it was a studio. There is very little to do around the area a couple of small bar/cafes at the end of the hill. There is a restaurant and small bar on sight run by a couple nothing to do with the apartments it’s okay but pricey. The reception staff are nice enough except for one who just stands outside smoking all day or sitting in the restaurant if you ask her anything she says she has to ask her colleague and you hear no more. It says no hen/stag parties are allowed to stay however for the first couple of days we were there a crowd of English lads spent their day shouting across the pool to their friends on their balcony and when they rolled home at night banged on the apartment doors on the corridor. I complained about this but was told I should have rang the emergency number I was given on arrival and that they were going home that day . A lot of ants in the bathroom and kitchen looked for a spray but never got one bought one myself. Towels and toilet rolls only changed twice in 10 days also had to get these in the shop. This is not that cheap a holiday so would have expected better service even cleaned the apartment changed beds and towels even every other day .

When we arrived, me and my partner, there was no reception (midday). There was absolutely no one around. We went down the steps to the pool area, after travelling there for 13 hours and hot and tired, and sat at the bar (restaurant). We told the waiter that there was no reception and he advised we speak to the receptionists who were seated nearby, eating. I approached the receptionists, clearly we are new arrivals by our dress and luggage! The receptionist put her hand up in my face without looking at me and stated that she was on her lunch break. I advised that I wouldn’t dream of taking her lunch break but asked if there was a stand in, in their absence. She angrily retorted that she was on her break. We sat there for a further 2 hours, tired and sweltering, for 1.5 hours more. When we got to reception (same woman now fed), she processed our admission. We were told that we needed to pay £300 security (not told before) and that there was only a taxi service if we needed to get around. She said that the bus service would be confusing to us and too complicated. What do you know - the bus service runs like the London circular line, impossible to get lost on and is regular and fun. We went all across the Algarve on this “too complicated for us” bus route. The busses don’t charge either! The Algarve is amazing, the locals are amazing, but the reception at Rio was disgusting and we’ll never return!

Stayed here from May 25th to June 1st, only thing I could complaint about was that reception was only open for a few hours a day!! apart from that it was a lovely stay, apartment very clean lovely bar and restaurant food excellent, would definitely stay here again, certainly recommend it to anyone looking for accommodation that is inexpensive but has everything you would need, lovely and quiet and not too far from the Marina all in all a lovely place to stay