Solaqua

I had a very poor experience with this hotel. The staff were extremely rude and untrained which was clear due to the 48 minute wait for a ham and cheese toastie. The manager was very rude and unmannered towards us as a group as upon arrival, we were charged a €200 euro deposit for each 3 rooms we had, which we later found out was only charged to us as a group of young girls did not have to pay this fee. On our second day, the manager asked for a further €200 per room due to a noise complaint. The deposit was supposedly for damages to the apartment but they refused to listen and still took it. We didn’t receive a warning and found this punishment to be extremely harsh. The hotel was filled with other roudy groups who also did not receive this extra charge. As a group, we felt uncomfortable and at unease due to the staff in this hotel. The pool was very dangerous as there was pieces of glass on the floor and there was lots of groups drinking out of glass bottles which we found extremely dangerous. There was no lifeguard on duty also at the pool so this could have resulted in multiple accidents happening as there was some very drunk individuals at the pool. There was a smell of sewage out of the toilets and in the hallway, which made it difficult to live in. The cleaners were very poor. Our towels were not changed throughout the duration of our stay and we also ran out of toilet paper so we couldn’t even use our own bathroom come the 5th day. When we approached the cleaners about this they claimed they would replenish our supplies but never did. It was also very difficult to sleep as the cleaners liked to bang off the skirting boards at every opportunity possible. There rules were quite unreasonable in the indoor pool. We were not aloud to have water bottles in there, and as it was indoors it was very warm which made it a struggle to use the facilities. The hotel didn’t provide a proper lunch service so we had to go elsewhere everyday for lunch. The bartenders constantly messed up orders and didn’t seem like they had a day training in there time. The balcony door did not lock upon arrival which made sleeping at night difficult and uneasy. Overall, our stay was poor as it felt we had been scammed out of our €600 euro, and we are left feeling robbed

Visited as a couple for 11 nights. The hotel is dated and I’d say in need of an upgrade, however on a plus cleanliness was excellent. Daily maid service. Towels cleaned etc. very basic in and on public areas like reception & pool. Staff were pleasant. I’d say key to point out the hotel is full of young groups, stags, hens etc so expect to hear some partying in the rooms & corridors from 2 - 6am. Not a family hotel. Area hotel is in is pretty run down but also next to a fab super market for supplies. Getting to old town is super quick - uber is 5 mins away and only at approx €3.50

Just back from a week in albufeira with my wife and daughter, 18. We stayed in the Solaris as we thought it was close to the old town/ beach but far enough away to not be in the middle of everything. The hotel was lovely. Very clean, maid service/ cleaners daily. There is a lively pool, with no issues getting sun loungers at the poolside. A small cafe/ poolside snack terrace is available which was a welcome opportunity to cool off at times. We had breakfast included which gave a choice of cooked, continental with teas coffees and juices. Plenty to eat and of good quality, we walked into old town the first night, about fifteen minutes, but realised that Ubers are plentiful and very reasonable, 4-7 euros each way. A shopping centre, albufeira terrace is just a two minute walk away. The old town is based around a very busy square, noisy during the football but felt very safe. Night clubs for the younger ones but plenty of restaurants and bars, most serving food until very late 1am and after. Away from the square there are beautiful side streets with gorgeous restaurants. We had beautiful Italian in ambrosio, but our best meal was in a small Portuguese restaurant called os arcos near sherrys bar, just off the square. Very reasonable Portuguese food with great staff, stepping back in time to where the food and the staff were first class, with no need for neon lights and flashy advertising. Went to silves castle, which was amazing, but very hot that day. The pescadores beach was a day out for us as well. The beach has loungers,€7 each and the same for a canopy. The access to the water is quite steep and sea is fairly hard hitting here, not the best place for young children I would have thought. Overall Albufeira was great and the navigator Diana was an excellent base to explore from.