Estoril

Having read the earlier reviews, I had to remind myself that an open mind is the best one to have - and I'm so glad I did!
Check in was effortless, and all the staff speak basic to good English. A smile goes a long way, and it's unfortunate that many of our fellow guests didn't seem aware of this.
For a 2 star hotel, the amenities were all as expected. The stairs and landing are covered in a tired and shabby carpet, but the rooms were clean, the sheets changed once during our week long holiday, the towels changed as often as you required.
Our maid was kept busy as there were no vacancies at all, but cleaned our room every day. If you want clean towels, leave them on the floor in the bathroom, and they're changed - exactly as in the 5 star hotels I've stayed in. Every room in the older part of the hotel has a ceiling fan, and we found this perfectly adequate for the temperature, day, or night.
The pool area is adequate, with more than enough sunbeds- unfortunately the greedier guests seemed to make it their mission to ‘bag a bed' as early as allowed (8am) and then occupy it occasionally during the day.
The hotel tries to deter this by advising that if left unoccupied for more than 2 hours, the towels will be removed. The pool area is thoroughly washed down every evening - as is the bar area in the morning before opening at 10am.
Smoking is allowed everywhere except in the restaurant - as is common throughout the island. However, all rooms are open to the fresh air and sunshine, so ventilation is not an issue. As a non-smoker, I did not find it at all unpleasant.
The food is Spanish orientated - if you want pizza, burgers, nuggets of any description, or any other type of processed or junk food - you will be disappointed. Every meal there was a fish, chicken, or pork, beef, pasta, and vegetarian dish.
Unfortunately, there is no description printed clearly in English, although the chef was present throughout the serving, overseeing and happy to describe the dishes if asked.
Some people walked in - looked at the unaccustomed dishes, and walked out again, saying that there was nothing to eat. All I can say to that is my husband, who is one of the most difficult persons to please, found something to his palate every mealtime.
The salad bar was kept stocked with fresh produce, most of which hadn't seen an EEC directive in its life. There was a choice of at least three desserts plus fruit and three flavours of ice-cream lunch and dinner.
Breakfast was served using Spanish style bacon, and the scrambled egg had an interesting smoky flavour one morning, but there was a range of cold meats and cheeses, cereals, and fresh bread or toast in addition to fresh fruit available.
Some recycling was obvious, but nothing that could be considered detrimental to the flavour, or a health hazard.
The hotel also requires a modicum of decency - gentleman are requested to wear a shirt and ladies to cover their swimwear when eating in the restaurant.
The bar was staffed every day, all day. Unfortunately they ran out of white wine on the Saturday, but bottles were brought in and supplies resumed Monday morning. Stock levels seemed to waver on everything, but when there wasn't white wine, there was still rose or red....
Bottles of water are 1 euro each but there are 2 supermarkets within 2 minutes walk, both very reasonably priced. In fact, the cigarettes and alcohol are cheaper here than at the airport duty free.
The entertainment is dire - bingo twice, a DVD once, a magic show and karaoke. But some people enjoyed it, so each to their own. Most people there were couples of all ages, with only 2 young children in the entire hotel, so evenings were very sociable, and there were plenty of people to chat with. If you need a hi-de -hi atmosphere, this is not the hotel for you.
The bar closed at 11pm, as does the rest of the resort. Even the bars in the main square such as Ollie’s, (which doesn't stock Guinness despite the signs) all close then.
There are two lovely sandy beaches - one the other side of the bay, and best accessed by car unless you enjoy long walks, and the other about a slow 15 minute walk. Each has crystal clear water, and sunbeds for hire. Be warned, the charge for these is the same whether you're there all day or just for a couple of hours.
Local bus services are cheap and reliable, and we visited the local market towns using them. The hotel reception has timetables and are happy to advise you where to go and what to see, and will prepare a lunch box if requested before 7.30 the night before.
It was a very pleasant hotel and resort, and extremely good value for money.

My boyfriend and I booked this holiday from teletext Holiday's, we arrived and for a 2* hotel it looked almost better than what we were expecting for a cheap holiday. We found it good that you were not allowed to put your towels on the sun loungers until 8am. It says that if you leave your towels unattended for 2 hours they will be removed but that isn't the case they don't.
There are very pleasant staff and they all speak english. The female receptionist is very polite and helpful. We originally got room 126 which is not even worth being a room so we asked to be changed into a pool view room and we were changed straight away.
Food was ok but not always what you expect. The bar closes at 11pm some nights if the entertainment is still going on they will keep it open a little longer but after 12 you have to be quiet, but just down the road there is a square with a few British bars with sky and all live football.
The beach is about 10min walk away in Cala Marcal. If you have children and if you have read that there is a childrens play area it is a slide, that is about it, but the pool and surrounding areas allows you to see that children at all times. If you are after a cheap relaxing holiday it is just right.

Where do you start, I'm so lucky we booked this holiday last minute as the fact that it was away from home (and the shear comic value of the resort) were the only things that kept me going.
From the moment we arrived (to be met by a Basil Fawltyesc receptionist) to the moment we left (a highlight of the holiday) we were in utter shock of the incompetence and arrogance of the staff. I must however praise the only two staff in the whole resort who managed to crack a smile.. Pedro the bar boy and the cheery girl behind reception who both (unfortunately) weren't working much that week.
The tables were constantly covered with dirty cups and ash trays, which is surprising because getting a drink from the bar was a task in itself... especially if you came in after 11pm when the bar shut and requested a bottle of water which one evening we were REFUSED and had to walk back to the bars to get some.
The rooms were ok but only 25% have any kind of view and some look onto a wall 1metre away. The food was just edible, but the fruit was a joke, it either wasn't ripe or it was rotten all piled on top of each other and the MASTER CHEF also managed the culinary impossibility of boiling (I use the term boiling very loosely) around 50 eggs so the yolk was cooked and the white was runny?? The soup looked nice but wasn't labelled and when I asked the chef even he didn't know what flavour it was.
The pool area was ok just too small and you can get a sun lounger easily if you're prepared to fight to the death at any time before 7.30 in the morning. All in all this place is honestly the best holiday you'll ever have if you like laughing at the incompetence of others and remember you can always make your money back by selling your stories and pictures to one of those holidays from hell programs.
I have done many all inclusive holidays before and this was nearly enough to put me off for life.
The only thing that got me through this holiday was the company of my fellow travellers and the mass amounts of cash that I ended up spending to hire a car/eat out/drink/entertain myself anywhere apart from the (Fawlty Towers does Porto Colom) ESTORIL, absolute joke of a HOTEL.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE - STAY AT HOME, BUY A SUN BED, 80 BOTTLES OF WARM LAGER, AND PAY A FRIEND TO SCOWL AT YOU EVERY TIME HE HANDS YOU ONE. ITS THE SAME ATMOSPHERE YET CHEAPER.

It was basic but clean which was all we were looking for.
The all inclusive bar was ok, apart from the fact that everything apart from the Sangria and Lager tasted of salt - orange juice, coke, you name it - watered down and salty.
The food was great and always fresh.
The staff were mostly not impressed or cheerful with anyone at all about anything - but helpful if pushed.
All together good value for money and a relatively quiet place to stay.

Hotel Estoril is very basic. Bedrooms are clean but cannot say the same for bar, restaurant and other communal areas. Tables were often found littered with dirty glasses and overflowing ashtrays from the night before (non smokers definitely in the minority in this hotel and smoking allowed in all indoor areas).
Food choice was rather limited and there was evidence of lots of recycling going on but half decent stuff ran out straight away, other than for the staff who made sure they had a secret stash for when they sat down to eat after we were kicked out at 9pm!
With the exception of a lovely cleaning lady, a pleasant, mature receptionist and the kids entertainer, the staff were openly rude, unhelpful and completely uncaring.
Porto Collom is a beautiful, unspoilt town which deserves a more tasteful hotel than this occupying such a central position.

Small rooms and the maid service was poor. We were ill for 3 days. The food was horrible and the bar shut at 23:00 witch was not ideal, there was nothing around apart from a beach 15 mins walk away, there where no snacks apart from a sandwich you made yourself for only two hours a day. This is not value for money, as we had to eat out a few times, I would not recommend at all.

Just had a weeks all inclusive holiday in the Estoril hotel, with my children. This is the 4th time we visited this hotel and must say it was a good as previous years.
Food was fab, rooms clean and tidy, pool area very clean and pool itself is small but very clean. The resort of Porto Colom has everything myself and my kids need. This is the first year I went alone with my children and chose this hotel as I knew it was safe and secure. Met up with a great family from Stoke on Trent and we had a fantastic time with the children.
Sebastian is the children entertainer (from Argentina) and he is loved by all. Very pleasant, happy lad with lots to offer the children.
On a Tuesday at the end of the road where the side entrance is there is a market which is great. Not massive but sells nice things. Cala'dor the place to go for the shops and the daily sail on the starfish is a must for the children to see the sights. (15 euros adults 11 euros kids return). Bus is a couple of euros. Taxi back is 14 euros.
Can’t fault the hotel at all. Will go back next year again as food is great, all inclusive is great (although no pizza this year) and the rooms are clean. Would defo recommend this to those of you looking for a relaxing week with not much going on but chilling, and for those of you with children. Teenager and revellers?? Well maybe not.
Don’t forget fans for the rooms are free at reception so ask for one if you need it.
Have a fab holiday in the Estoril and I look forward to returning back next year..... best wishes from Scotland.

Just returned from trip to this hotel, would def recommend for cheap getaway. Facilities clean although decor a bit dated. Food good if you are happy to eat most things, which we were. We are a family of 2 adults and a 4 year old and it is a friendly safe hotel for kids.
All guests very friendly and staff helpful when required. Porto Colom is a quiet fishing village with few bars & shops. Beach is a 15 minute walk but well worth the walk.
Happy Holidays!!

To start I was told by the tour operator that this was 3 star, it is clearly marked 2 star on the hotel sign although that is dubious to me, I have stayed in better Spanish hostels than this.
When we arrived the so called air conditioning was a fan on the ceiling that was going as slow as a tortoise I complained 3 times before we got a free standing fan that was black with grease(although some ceiling fans were working o.k.).
The entertainment was very very basic 2 out of 10,food was of very poor standard(we eat out most of the time) as was the dining room service. There is nothing to do for the kids at all only the pool.
Most of the facilities in the hotel were either broke or not open Jacuzzi closed, gym closed, sauna closed or broken depending on which receptionist you asked, we were told the beach was 500m away it was in fact about 1 1/2 miles away mostly uphill(beach was beautiful).
General cleanliness was very low standard ashtrays and tables around the pool were left in the same state as the night before. If you do go to this place do all the trips yourself as you will save a fortune and bus service is excellent.
The above was felt by all the other holiday makers that were here there was no positive feedbacks at all. One of the guests had been there 18 months prior and could not believe the difference in standards.
Porto Colom is a lovely area but the hotel was a definite let down.

What a holiday!!!!!!!!!
When we arrived they tried to put us over the road in an annexe that looked like a homeless hostel. However, on complaining we were moved to the main hotel.
When we booked we were told it was 3 star which it of course wasn't. The children's playground was a 5 foot alleyway at the side of the hotel. The gym-sauna-and jacuzi were all broken.
The pool was a saving grace for my 8-year old son. It was cleaned each night and the surounding area was hosed down.
The rooms were adequate but dirty and a bit shabby but the sheets were clean and you got clean towels. The cleaner did her best but i think she was on her own without a hoover.
Sabastian the entertainer did his best to make you feel unwelcome. He seemed to be the only member of staff that could speak English.
The food was a bit hit-and-miss not always edible but the salads were ok. However the resort is lovely if you want a cheap holiday
With nothing to do then this for you [ very relaxing] there are some lovely restaurants on the harbour which is lovely.