Choro Mar Apartments, Sao Joao, Portugal
Hotel Information
Recent Price: £43
Hotel Class:
Hotel Description:
A warm welcome and cosy atmosphere awaits you at the Choro Mar, where you can take advantage of the courtesy bus service that runs 8 times a day to Praia da Oura Beach and to Albufeira Old Town (except Sundays and public holidays) loading...
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Choro Mar Apartments Reviews
" MEH! Just about mediocre "
Submitted By: dannika08
My stay in the Choromar was mediocre, i didnt pay a fortune for the holiday therefore my expectations were not high, however the pictures online were rather deceiving. When we arrived it was late at night and i found it the experience daunting. We went to reception, were given our key and given hazy directions to our block as there were no porters or help us with our heavy luggage or escort us to the block. The lift was surprisingly minute and with luggage, one large suitcase and its owner and one small bag and its owner could fit. To open the door required a "knack" so much so that, we had to go back to reception to ask how it is done, by then reception was closing as unlike other hotels it is not 24hour but open from 9 till 11 therefore any problems we had during the night would have to wait till mid-morning! The apartment for 4 however was rather spacious which impressed me however bring a fan of some sort as there are no fans or air conditioning! choromar apartments is approximately a 25minute walk away from Oura beach which is a relaxing walk, however a taxi can be taken for 4.05 euros. As it was self-catering holiday we bought our first lot of food from the mini-mart in the hotel which is rather expensive, So i suggest bringing enough food to last you a night and a day untill you have the chance to go to the supermarket in the algarve shopping centre. Also i advise bringing a shoe you despise and some COCKROACH spray to kill the cockroachs that are bound to visit you whilst you sleep...SLEEP WITH THE LIGHTS ON!!! Additionally, i am a gym freak and was happy that my hostel has a gym, however it cost 2 euros to use and is only big enough for one person at a time or two people at a push. The hotel bar is ok, and has three large screen tv, that are always on some kind of football game, so for all you football lovers...check it out! =) they serve English food e.g. pie and chips, burgers, pizza and basic pasta dishes, no special dishes i.e portuguese food which is what i look for when i visit another country...however it wasnt bad. there are no nearby nightclubs...if that is what you're looking for, stay somewhere else. But as long as you have good company and a plan as to what you would like to do, you should be fine. Personally i wouldn't stay here again as I have a fear of bugs and generally higher expectations than what i was met with, but I enjoyed the experience and had fun with my 3 friends.
P.s. bring some earplugs as you can hear everything going on next door, downstairs, upstairs all around really!
P.s. bring some earplugs as you can hear everything going on next door, downstairs, upstairs all around really!
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- Date of Holiday:Jun 2009
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Would not recommend this hotel "
Submitted By: Starr09
I have just come back to London from staying at the Choro Mar Hotel and would not recommend this hotel(appartments) to anyone looking to go on a family holiday. I went with my partner, mum, sister and three month old baby.
We arrived at the hotel at 11.30pm and had to find the receptionist in the bar for our room keys... we were never shown to our room considering it was soo late and we had a young baby.
The lift is so small and can only fit two adults!!!!!!
The rooms were clean, but my mums room just kept falling apart!! on the first night the bed was broken, second night the lights blew in the bathroom, and when i called reception i was told that the handy man had gone home!!!!! and the drama continued for the rest of our holiday.
The strip is about a 15-20min walk and that is through a grotty dark streets.
Reception staff not helpful at all!!!!!!! asking us to pay everytime we wanted to call for a taxi??
We had a group of 20plus young men that made alot of noise everynight and the hotel staff just couldnt control them...
This hotel is definatly for STAG DO'S OR HEN NIGHTS!!!!
There is not a lot of facilities at this hotel!!!!! you have to PAY to use the sauna, jauzzi and steam room?? why??? and there is only one pool table in the games room!!!
You definatly pay for what you get!! if you are looking for a relaxing holiday do not stay at the Choro Mar
Definatly din at the BLUE SKY which is located off the strip.... bargin and fresh food!! highlight of holiday!!
We arrived at the hotel at 11.30pm and had to find the receptionist in the bar for our room keys... we were never shown to our room considering it was soo late and we had a young baby.
The lift is so small and can only fit two adults!!!!!!
The rooms were clean, but my mums room just kept falling apart!! on the first night the bed was broken, second night the lights blew in the bathroom, and when i called reception i was told that the handy man had gone home!!!!! and the drama continued for the rest of our holiday.
The strip is about a 15-20min walk and that is through a grotty dark streets.
Reception staff not helpful at all!!!!!!! asking us to pay everytime we wanted to call for a taxi??
We had a group of 20plus young men that made alot of noise everynight and the hotel staff just couldnt control them...
This hotel is definatly for STAG DO'S OR HEN NIGHTS!!!!
There is not a lot of facilities at this hotel!!!!! you have to PAY to use the sauna, jauzzi and steam room?? why??? and there is only one pool table in the games room!!!
You definatly pay for what you get!! if you are looking for a relaxing holiday do not stay at the Choro Mar
Definatly din at the BLUE SKY which is located off the strip.... bargin and fresh food!! highlight of holiday!!
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- Date of Holiday:Jun 2009
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Sunshine.co.uk
" just back from the choromar apts.... "
Submitted By: Mrs L Proc
just back from the choromar apts. they are very defintely just ok. the walk to the strip is approx 15 mins through a ropey res area, unlit and empty at night. definitely wouldnt like my teenager daughters to go there alone!! bar is ok but full of people who get drunk and rarely leave the premises. ate at the bar at lunchtime and its fine, just check your food if you are taking it away. wouldnt rec for young children as there is nothing to do. much better hotels at the other end of the strip for only a fraction more expensive, all in all, its alright but couldnt do a week there!!!!
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- Date of Holiday:Sep 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Alpha Rooms
" I have just come back from a great 2... "
Submitted By: Miss Lizzie Jennings
I have just come back from a great 2 weeks in Albufeira and at the choro mar with my boyfriend.
The staff at the hotel are absolutely lovely and so friendly even though they do seem to work stupidly long hours. Most evenings we would go out to the strip, which was about a 10 minute walk or a 5 minute car journey for us, for something to eat and a few drinks and then make our way back for the evenings entertainment. There was something every evening, live music, a quiz and also karaoke with Pedro. Pedro was great and got everyone involved and he would come round a have a chat with you.
For places to eat out i would say go the the old town as there is much more there but it is quite busy.
I would recommend Albufeira and the choro mar to anyone and everyone. We loved it that much we're going back next year!
The staff at the hotel are absolutely lovely and so friendly even though they do seem to work stupidly long hours. Most evenings we would go out to the strip, which was about a 10 minute walk or a 5 minute car journey for us, for something to eat and a few drinks and then make our way back for the evenings entertainment. There was something every evening, live music, a quiz and also karaoke with Pedro. Pedro was great and got everyone involved and he would come round a have a chat with you.
For places to eat out i would say go the the old town as there is much more there but it is quite busy.
I would recommend Albufeira and the choro mar to anyone and everyone. We loved it that much we're going back next year!
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- Date of Holiday:Sep 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Me and my best mate have just come... "
Submitted By: Miss S Dykta
Me and my best mate have just come from 10 days in albufeira. We have been there 10 times now and love it, this year we stayed at a different hotel which was Choro Mar. We were very surprised at how nice it was, the staff were extremely friendly, they always organised taxi's for us to the strip so that we didn't have to walk and always offered us help if we needed it. The rooms were extremely clean and the maids cleaned regularly aswell. Ideal hotel for couples or groups I would say, didn't really see any kids there, can get a bit lively with all of the groups around by the pool.
We had no problems at all with this hotel other than we wished we could have stayed longer. The hotel is about a 20 min walk from the strip and a 5 min (not even that) taxi ride away....costing 4 Euros.
The food in the restaurant was always served quickly and was always very nice, especially the half chicken and chips with piri-piri mmmmm :-)
We also had internet access in reception, the TV in our room had the main channels on it including ITV1 and 2, BBC, and sky channels etc....
The supermarket downstairs was brilliant, always plenty in stock at very reasonable prices, lovely staff who were usually British.
Can't see why anyone would complain about this hotel, everything was 100% with it and I plan to go back.
Anyone would enjoy bein at this hotel and in Albufeira, families, couples, groups, you see them all!!!
We had no problems at all with this hotel other than we wished we could have stayed longer. The hotel is about a 20 min walk from the strip and a 5 min (not even that) taxi ride away....costing 4 Euros.
The food in the restaurant was always served quickly and was always very nice, especially the half chicken and chips with piri-piri mmmmm :-)
We also had internet access in reception, the TV in our room had the main channels on it including ITV1 and 2, BBC, and sky channels etc....
The supermarket downstairs was brilliant, always plenty in stock at very reasonable prices, lovely staff who were usually British.
Can't see why anyone would complain about this hotel, everything was 100% with it and I plan to go back.
Anyone would enjoy bein at this hotel and in Albufeira, families, couples, groups, you see them all!!!
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- Date of Holiday:Jun 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Sunshine.co.uk
" just returned from the choromar... "
Submitted By: Mr T Beard
just returned from the choromar appartments and enjoyed it immensely,the downside is about a 20 min walk to the strip but when you learn the cut throughs it is about 10 min.the rooms are clean and spacious and the maids never stop cleaning there are 4 pools and you can take your pick.if anybody has been to coconuts before dj mash is not there anymore he is now at the choro-bar which is at the top of the strip,they do family fortunes and bingo everynight as well as kids parties and an entertainer every night will certainly be returning to the choromar next year.
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- Date of Holiday:May 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" I followed some of the reviews of... "
Submitted By: Mr D Brown
I followed some of the reviews of this hotel closely and decided that based on the bulk of the reviews (which were OK) it was safe to book a last minute easter-break holiday at Choro Mar.
WHAT A MISTAKE.
I cannot beleive that some people actually have gone back to this place, never mind year-on-year.
The apartments were extremely basic (grotty), and extremely old and tired. The apartments were meant to cater for 4-6 adults, but I fail to see how that could happen when there was only linen and crockery for 4, only adequate beds for 4. Not to mention that the "boiler" in the apartment ran out of water after 3 people having short showers, leaving anyone else to shower in cold water.
The apartments were meant to be self-catering, but on the cooker, the owners had disconnected 2 cooking rings (they say to prevent power surges, but I say to lower their costs - and increase restaurant takings), and the other 2 rings were faulty so it took 30 minutes to fry an egg.
The walls between all the apartments are paper thin, and allow you to hear EVERYTHING (and I mean everything) going on in the neighbouring rooms.
The staff on the surface seemed friendly, but every time you visited the bar, they chatted to each other in Portuguese and giggled at each other, barely hiding their contempt for the clientele and obviously taking the piss from their customers. The owners are only interested in making money from the customers, and showed this by only paying attention to the lager-louts who spend heavily at the bar. The final day of our stay showed an influx of even more yobs, who were greeted with open arms by the staff, and were met by a 20cents increase in the price of all drinks at the bar over the previous week's prices to meet the new unsuspecting clients. The "restaurant" food is worse than you would get from a burger van and is over double the price.
The bar area at night is a nightmare as they have 6 large-screen televisions all set to different stations showing football games, most with the sound on, and thay also play loud music over this. We could only tolerate this for a few minutes before noise induced migraines kicked-in
The Mini market is a joke, with almost no stock worth buying, and what stock there was being extortionately priced (e.g. £3.50 for a loaf of bread).
The hotel is in the middle of nowhere, and it is a 20 minute walk to the "strip" and at least 40 minutes to the beach. When walking to the "strip" you have to pass through a very dodgy housing estate of immigrants from Africa and South America, who congregate on corners and are extremely abusive and threatening to tourists.
As for Albufeira itself - what a dump. If you want to sunbathe all day and get pissed all night, then its the place for you. If however, you want to sightsee, visit clutural sights, and find family friendly parks/places then forget it. Albufeira is for the lager-louts and only for them. Walking around the Old-town and the Strip is a nightmare with restaurant hawkers constantly pestering you to visit their establishments, and with street-peddlars trying to sell you cheap watches and sunglasses (which are actually a front for selling drugs) on my first day, the first 5 peddlars all offered to sell me all sorts of substances. As I was there with my 2 young children, you can imagine this was a nightmare, and a bit alarming.
WHAT A MISTAKE.
I cannot beleive that some people actually have gone back to this place, never mind year-on-year.
The apartments were extremely basic (grotty), and extremely old and tired. The apartments were meant to cater for 4-6 adults, but I fail to see how that could happen when there was only linen and crockery for 4, only adequate beds for 4. Not to mention that the "boiler" in the apartment ran out of water after 3 people having short showers, leaving anyone else to shower in cold water.
The apartments were meant to be self-catering, but on the cooker, the owners had disconnected 2 cooking rings (they say to prevent power surges, but I say to lower their costs - and increase restaurant takings), and the other 2 rings were faulty so it took 30 minutes to fry an egg.
The walls between all the apartments are paper thin, and allow you to hear EVERYTHING (and I mean everything) going on in the neighbouring rooms.
The staff on the surface seemed friendly, but every time you visited the bar, they chatted to each other in Portuguese and giggled at each other, barely hiding their contempt for the clientele and obviously taking the piss from their customers. The owners are only interested in making money from the customers, and showed this by only paying attention to the lager-louts who spend heavily at the bar. The final day of our stay showed an influx of even more yobs, who were greeted with open arms by the staff, and were met by a 20cents increase in the price of all drinks at the bar over the previous week's prices to meet the new unsuspecting clients. The "restaurant" food is worse than you would get from a burger van and is over double the price.
The bar area at night is a nightmare as they have 6 large-screen televisions all set to different stations showing football games, most with the sound on, and thay also play loud music over this. We could only tolerate this for a few minutes before noise induced migraines kicked-in
The Mini market is a joke, with almost no stock worth buying, and what stock there was being extortionately priced (e.g. £3.50 for a loaf of bread).
The hotel is in the middle of nowhere, and it is a 20 minute walk to the "strip" and at least 40 minutes to the beach. When walking to the "strip" you have to pass through a very dodgy housing estate of immigrants from Africa and South America, who congregate on corners and are extremely abusive and threatening to tourists.
As for Albufeira itself - what a dump. If you want to sunbathe all day and get pissed all night, then its the place for you. If however, you want to sightsee, visit clutural sights, and find family friendly parks/places then forget it. Albufeira is for the lager-louts and only for them. Walking around the Old-town and the Strip is a nightmare with restaurant hawkers constantly pestering you to visit their establishments, and with street-peddlars trying to sell you cheap watches and sunglasses (which are actually a front for selling drugs) on my first day, the first 5 peddlars all offered to sell me all sorts of substances. As I was there with my 2 young children, you can imagine this was a nightmare, and a bit alarming.
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- Date of Holiday:Apr 2008
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Jet2
" Once again a pretty special holiday... "
Submitted By: Davie Reid
Once again a pretty special holiday at a wonderful establishment, Carlos and Saija once again pulled out all the stops to make this a great time had by all. Can't wait for next year, booked up already.
Bring it on!!! HAIL HAIL.
Bring it on!!! HAIL HAIL.
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- Date of Holiday:Sep 2007
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Cant understand other holiday makers... "
Submitted By: Mr D Mills
Cant understand other holiday makers giving this hotel 10/10, rooms very dated and not exactly clean, maids idea of bed making was just pull back the sheets over your pillow.
Arrived late so asked the barman for water and milk for morning and charged us 5 euros. Entertainment was rubbish, also first time we have been served a vodka out of an optic
and in a half pint beer glass. The hotel is the farthest one away from the strip beware of the trek back.
Very disappointed and will never go back.
Arrived late so asked the barman for water and milk for morning and charged us 5 euros. Entertainment was rubbish, also first time we have been served a vodka out of an optic
and in a half pint beer glass. The hotel is the farthest one away from the strip beware of the trek back.
Very disappointed and will never go back.
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- Date of Holiday:Sep 2007
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Our family go back year after year.... "
Submitted By: Mr Greg Wright
Our family go back year after year. Everyone is very friendly, the children are very safe – it’s a family run hotel with Carlos, Manuel, Graca, Sajia. All the staff cannot do enough for you.
We always enjoy a fun filled holiday here, with games around the pool and karaoke.
The strip with its plethora of eating and drinking establishments is only 10-15 mins walk away. Everyone tends to join in with the dancing and singing.
You cannot go wrong here – the place to be seen.
We always enjoy a fun filled holiday here, with games around the pool and karaoke.
The strip with its plethora of eating and drinking establishments is only 10-15 mins walk away. Everyone tends to join in with the dancing and singing.
You cannot go wrong here – the place to be seen.
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- Date of Holiday:Sep 2007
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Thomson
" We as a family had without doubt the... "
Submitted By: Mr D Reid
We as a family had without doubt the best holiday ever at Choro Mar. The staff were second to none with nothing a problem to them.
The owner Carlos and his wife Saija are a very approachable couple who will help with any problem you might encounter in Portugal. You should not have a problem with/at Choro Mar.
The bar staff are very friendly as is the compare for the evening entertainment RUI, who is a happy go lucky type of chap who will bend over backwards to help out also.
Can't wait for next year. Have already booked to go back in September 07.
Bring it on.
The REID Family from Edinburgh.
The owner Carlos and his wife Saija are a very approachable couple who will help with any problem you might encounter in Portugal. You should not have a problem with/at Choro Mar.
The bar staff are very friendly as is the compare for the evening entertainment RUI, who is a happy go lucky type of chap who will bend over backwards to help out also.
Can't wait for next year. Have already booked to go back in September 07.
Bring it on.
The REID Family from Edinburgh.
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- Date of Holiday:Jun 2006
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Have been going to the Choro Mar... "
Submitted By: Lawrence
Have been going to the Choro Mar since 2000.Can't get enough of the place.
The staff are so friendly and the apartments are spacious and clean. 15 min walk to the strip means you’re not too far from the restaurants but far enough away from the noise.
We've already booked for next year.
The staff are so friendly and the apartments are spacious and clean. 15 min walk to the strip means you’re not too far from the restaurants but far enough away from the noise.
We've already booked for next year.
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- Date of Holiday:May 2006
- Board Basis:Bed & Breakfast
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Great place for relaxing and meeting... "
Submitted By: Mr A Mckay
Great place for relaxing and meeting friends from last year.
Staff are fantastic, the apartments are very big and clean. They can't do enough for everyone no matter how small.
Looking forward to next year already booked before we came home this year.
Staff are fantastic, the apartments are very big and clean. They can't do enough for everyone no matter how small.
Looking forward to next year already booked before we came home this year.
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- Date of Holiday:Aug 2006
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Booked Independently
" Had a great time here . Rooms were... "
Submitted By: Mr J Falloon
Had a great time here . Rooms were clean and the staff were friendly and helpful. The free minibus was a great idea. My we are going back this year with my daughter her fiancé and our granddaughter. Cant give it a better compliment than that.
The apartments are within easy walking distance of the main strip where there are plenty of pubs and places to eat. I recommend coconuts bar for a good night out.
Children are catered for with games and entertainment.
The apartments are within easy walking distance of the main strip where there are plenty of pubs and places to eat. I recommend coconuts bar for a good night out.
Children are catered for with games and entertainment.
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- Date of Holiday:May 2005
- Board Basis:Self Catering
- Tour Operator:Thomson
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The Strip is about a 15 minutes walk away. There is a free map that you can pick up on the strip which tells you about places to eat. I can recommend the Koala Restaurant which is an Australian restaurant - they do a nice kangeroo steak!
If you want to book excursions I can recommend that you do this on the strip itself. We booked the jeep safari - which was really enjoyable - you can stand up in the jeep and experience the countryside, just be aware of low trees!!! You get a meal at the end of it which includes wine but be aware of drinking the squash with ice cubes (my husband got a water bug half way through the week and puts it down to the ice cubes in the squash). All in all it was a very pleasant trip.
We booked for Gibralter as well. It is a very early start - they pick you up from your hotel at 5:30 in the morning and you don't get back until 11 ish at night. It is 5 hours there with 2 stops and 5 hours in Gibralter, with an optional trip up the rock of 21 euros, Don't eat anything in front of the monkeys on the rock through as they will grab it off you, and then another 5 hours coming back. They taken English money in Gibralter and they have all the regular stores like M & S and BHS. Okay if you like shopping.
We booked these two trips and got to go to the gipsy market. It is really like any other market they all want your money. Keep hold of your bag though.
I would recommend these apartments to anyone wanting a cheap place to sleep.
I would certainly think about booking again if I was wanting a cheap holiday.
Advice: Great cheap break
Activities: Kaola Restaurant
Good for: Beach