- Algarve Holidays
- Tavira
- AP Cabanas Beach and Nature
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AP Cabanas Beach and Nature
Portugal, Europe
Tavira
Built in 2004, this complex comprises a total of 96 apartments as well as 2,000 m² of pleasant gardens. Located close to the beach, guests are welcomed in the foyer with a reception area, a safe and a currency exchange desk. Further facilities include an air-conditioned à la carte restaurant, a bar, a café, Internet access (for an added fee), WLAN access point and a TV room. Room service and laundry service, as well as bicycle rental, are also included in the facilities. Younger guests are offered a kids club and a playground to let off steam. Those arriving by car may take advantage of the car park or garage facilities.
Facilities
- Volleyball
- Spa treatments
- Massage*
- Sauna
- Entertainment programme for adults
- Sun loungers
- Outdoor freshwater pool
- Poolside snack bar
- Private beach area
- Luggage room
- Please note some facilities may incur an additional fee
The Local Area
Tripadvisor Reviews
4.0 Very Good674 reviews
Excellent
50%
Very Good
23%
Average
17%
Poor
6%
Terrible
4%
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Security
Stayed for a week with my sister for our 70th birthday. The accommodation was very nice and facilities were good. The food was average and a bit repetitive, but the restaurant staff and service was good.
On my return home, unfortunately a valuable UK store Gift-card I was given for my birthday was missing from my suitcase. I reported it to the hotel who investigated but they insist it was not taken by staff. The gift-card remained in my suitcase my whole stay as there was no need to remove it as it could not be spent in Portugal, and was meant to be part of a family shopping trip on my return home. I've hesitated to add this to my review for some months, but felt I had to so travelers can be aware they need to keep their possessions safe and secure.
Fantastic Stay & Highly Recommended
This is a great hotel, in a beautiful nature reserve in a very quiet part of the Algarve.
I really don’t understand the few negative reviews this hotel gets as our experience was excellent. From the rooms, to staff to the food - all very good.
We travelled as a family of 4 - 2 adults and 2 kids (although not kids as 20 and 15). Rooms were very clean, both had balconies, good size showers, loads of storage space (bring your own hangers if you have a lot to hang up as not a huge amount in wardrobe). It is a sustainable hotel. If you want rooms cleaned hang sign on door handle. It’s a good system and works well.
Pool Really nice pool. Music in the afternoons but not in your face. Aqua aerobics every day, which most join in. Never ever a fight for sunbed. Nobody putting towels down and saving beds and not being there. Was very refreshing. Nice touches like staff coming round with fresh melon or doughnuts. A few (really is only a few) loose tiles around the pool but nothing that spoilt the experience.
There is a small roof top pool with sunbeds but we never used that. The main pool is very big.
Food. I really don’t understand why and how people are moaning about the food. Unless you want beige chicken nuggets and chips everyday, there was plenty for everyone. Breakfast is good. Lots of choice but the hog food as you expect similar. Loads of fruit and cereals etc.
Lunch is in buffet or at pool side. Good selection of hot and cold food, salads - fish and meat.
Dinner 3 restaurants - buffet always varied, like lunch and good options. 2 other restaurants both set menus, one Portuguese style food and the other BBQ meats - both excellent and booked by the app. Can only book the day before you want to eat. So book early.
The food quality is excellent
Drinks are good and there are some queues. We went peak summer and never queued more than 5 mins max.
Staff All friendly and helpful and not a single bad experience. Check in was easy.
Location Great location. 40 mins from airport (in private transfer, hire car or taxi not sure on shared coach), on a nature reserve, 10 mins walk in to cabanas for local bars and restaurants and €15 taxi in to Tavira which was lovely. both worth going to.
The beach is a 2 minute water taxi away. 5-10 mins walk to water taxi and 5 min walk the other side. AP Cabanas provide their own solar powered water taxi so no queue with everyone else.
Summary Definitely a 4 star. Definitely worth going to for a quiet relaxed holiday. This is not a place for big entertainment and loud party nights. It’s specifically designed that way. If you want relaxation, good food in a lovely location this is it.
The entertainment is just right and subtle.
We will definitely go back
Review by Ewankassir13 Stevenage, United Kingdom
So much potential. Staff & food let it down badly
This hotel could be amazing. It looks great and has a fab location. There are lots of things that let it down. Mostly the staff. None of them are happy. I got told once they wouldn't put ice in my water as it was cold already. On check out we weren't asked if we enjoyed our stay and the general feel is that they don't like their jobs and aren't bothered if you are enjoying yourselves. Then there is the food. It's honestly not great. An adult only hotel with a snack bar menu for children that essentially doesn't change. The buffet in the main restaurant isn't great either. They are clearly cutting costs on variety and quality of food. They don't even have fresh orange. The jam dispensing machine at breakfast was always empty and one day they had put ice cream wafers to hand with cheese. It's such a shame because they have everything here to be great but they don't value customer experience. You feel like an inconvenience. The specialist restaurant The Grill runs the same 2 menus on repeat, neither that good. The Ria we were basically sat in the conference room area. Appetisers were 6 olives and a teaspoon of pate between 2. Cocktails are cheap, sugary mixes. They have this ridiculous system of needing your room key and a wrist band and they will literally tell you off if you don't have both. In my opinion this is not a 4 star. The hotel itself is but the food and staff are a 3 at best. They all need a serious attitude adjustment.
Review by lindseyo600 London, United Kingdom
End of Summer Break
Another wonderful break in Cabanas. We have stayed many times at this hotel, which says something in itself. Staff are wonderful, we honestly felt welcomed and valued at all times. They all work extremely hard. The hotel is spotlessly clean, we had a triple and double room. Daily aqua aerobics one of our highlights, big shout-out to the entertainment team who were fabulous. Lovely calm atmosphere around the pool at all times. The only fault we could find regarded the location of one of the rooms - located in building 2, right next to the back door of the kitchen. The noise from the bin lorries every night woke us up (probably can't be helped). Mosquitoes were crazy, we were all covered in bites but again, not much the hotel can do about that. Looking forward to our next visit already.
Review by Dympna L Ireland
A really enjoyable week
A wonderful week's stay at AP Cabanas Beach and Nature in a beautiful and peaceful location.
Really welcoming atmosphere with polite and friendly staff throughout the hotel. The hotel was really clean and well maintained throughout our stay.
Food was well varied with something for everyone everyday through breakfast lunch and dinner. We had dinner one night at The Grill which was excellent and a really nice change from the buffet.
Good selection of drinks in the standard all inclusive package. The self serve wine was a particular highlight.
Really good size room with a comfy bed and a great pool side and sea view, well worth paying extra for. It was also really nice that we could listen to the DJ in the afternoon/evening from our room while getting ready for the evening.
Great size main pool and it was a welcome bonus that there were absolutely no sunbed wars, with plenty of space all throughout the day.
Evenings were particularly enjoyable with a drink at the rooftop bar which has an amazing view of the sunset, followed by really nice and varied entertainment in the evenings. The pool on the rooftop is also a really nice place if you don't fancy the main pool.
Top tips:
- Bring mosquito repellent. We found that this worked well keeping them away during the evenings and they didn't really bother us
- There is a "convenience" store a short walk from the hotel, though it's pretty small and more of a gift shop. If you want a bigger convenience store, there is a spar about 15 mins walk away (with a pharmacy close by too)
Overall, it was a really nice week away and we really enjoyed ourselves. We would 100% recommend.
Finally, thank you to the lovely staff for the complimentary bottle of wine on checkout, it was a really nice touch!
