Choro Mar Apartments

this was our first holiday with our kids then 5 and 3 and it was the cleanest and best place for kids, the people who worked there were fantastic, such nice people i just love portugal and i will come back now my kids are 16 and 18, have been many places after that but this place has always stuck in my mind thank you chor o mar for a wonderful stay

in september of last year my girlfriend and i went on our first holiday together. we had decided on the the algarve and choromar's prices seemed reasonable for that time of year. when we arrived we were met by a lady who was very helpful and able to answer our questions. so far so good. on our first night we decided to go to the bar before heading for the strip(which was a challenge in itself). immediatley it occured that it was a very close knit business which seemed fine. trying to get a drink or any service at all was very difficult when people who the owner(i think) knew were in the bar. with exception to a small fellow, the bar staff seemed arrogant and reluctant. that kind of set the tone for the holiday. during the day my girlfriend felt uncomfortable in the bar and at night it was hard to sleep for the screeching sorry karaoke. as for location we were told a five minute walk to the strip, closer to fifteen by my watch. the roads are full of pot holes and very dangerous at night. i dont think the algarve have a standard driving test either. it must be a case of if you can hold the wheel you can drive a car. it wasn't all bad i must admit, we stayed in the block around the corner and it was almost like having our own pool. the apartment was a decent size but we were overrun with ant's in the kitchenette, very off putting indeed. the free bus to the old town was a nice touch and the driver was polite aswell. the driver and his wife(who works in the mini-market) must stay over there for a few months of the year. both from manchester once again were very helpful indeed. as for the strip itself there is a pub/restaurant called the anchor (or something to that effect) which was probably the best restaurant we ate in. every day without fail i was asked if wanted to buy a watch, wallet etc. if you show any interest you are immediatley confronted with a block of cannabis, my advice ignore all street sellers but you probably knew that already. if you're looking for variety in shops think again. each shop owner must go to the same cash and carry, and buy the same tat. we were lucky enough to find a newcastle united bar(my football team) but you couldn't swing a cat once in side. if you decide to go i would recommend the zoomarine animal park around 20 euro's each for the full day. the weather wasn't great but it was certainly better than what we had here at that time of year. deffinately a holiday to forget

We booked these apartments and for the price we paid, were quite pleased with what we got, although talking to other holiday-makers, I think it depended on which block you were put in as to what facilities you got in the apartment. What I mean is, some apartments have a full kitchen, others don't. Some have a washing machine (the ones in the yellow block which look the newest) handy for people with children-others don't. The apartments were clean and spacious, even our one bedroomed apartment was a great size. On the downside, the apartments are quite some walk away from anything. The plus side of this is that you don't get the noise from the strip etc. The negative side of this is that if you can't get a taxi, it's not a nice walk (quite steep in parts) in the soaring temperatures. (Unless you time it right and get the free minibus which the friendly Fred drives.) It's also not a nice walk of an evening when you are coming home in the dark past the empty shopping parade and those apartments above it. If you go through the Montechoro Park and down all those 30-40 steps, it's a bit better, but at the bottom of that road it's quite dark and dismal, and that crossing! Jeez! It's a busy crossroad-could do with lights really-and the cars just don't stop! Be warned! The staff at the Chormar (and 4 of the staff are also the owners) were all very friendly and accomodating, and although they worked such long hours, they were always of a cheery disposition. The mini mart underneath was run by a very nice lady who we later discovered was Fred the driver's wife. In the mini mart you could buy the basics and the prices weren't too bad either. It would have been nice if they had sold the daily papers there though, it would have saved a hike in the soaring temperatures. Someone from the apartments did bring a selection of English papers into the bar every morning, which was something. (Although when you got to read them was a different matter!!) The pool-we used the one in the main block- was very nice, although a little cramped with all the sunbed, of which there were plenty. We liked the fact that they had FREE parasols there for people to use for shade if required. What we didn't like was that if you went to the pool after 9.00am your chances of getting a sunbed were virtually nil. (Remember, the pool doesn't actually open until 9am...) There were plenty of sunbeds-they just all had towels on them. (Some people were putting the towels on them when they were coming in of an evening! Ridiculous-although the stray cats were happy to sleep on them!) What irked us even more was that many of the people who were using these sunbeds didn't come down to the pool until after lunch! How selfish! We did complain to reception about this, but nothing was done. Although the cleaners used to sometimes get the towels wet when cleaning round the pool of a morning-by accident I am sure! Ha ha (We did consider using one of the other pools in another block, but you needed a card/key to get in them-provided if you were staying in those blocks.) We didn't use the gym or sauna (?) but we were tempted by the jacuzzi. The thing is, it isn't very private and we had lots of teenagers hanging round outside which made us feel very uncomfortable. We didn't use the pool table either. It was very popular with the many teenagers who were staying. The bar - they did nice food - good breakfasts, and not just set ones either, you could ask for a variation of the good old English. The meals and pizza's were a success with us, although we ate there early before the crowds came in (more of that later) There was also a few barbeques while we were there, hosted by (I think) the owner and his wife. We didn't go, but again, chatting to people around the pool, it appeared that such events were "invite only" held for the apartment "regulars" and their families. That's actually a very nice idea, but also a bit "cliquey" we thought. And if I am honest, it made us feel a little uncomfortable. The entertainment, from what we saw of it, was, shall we say, adequate, although Karaoke seems to be very popular here (not really our "bag") We didn't stay in the apartment bar much, there is just so much to do in both the Old Town and the Strip. Returning home of an evening, we ventured into the apartment bar a few times but to be honest, we didn't stay because it was usually full of loud, drunken teenagers (and Karaoke) The noise of a night was not good either. Again, loutish behaviour from some of the teenagers staying there was disturbing. Would we stay there again? I doubt it, and definitely not in July or August. . The apartments were fine, the staff lovely. But it felt a bit "cliquey" and as for the teenagers just left to do their own thing.....I know the kids are on holiday too. But they need to remember so is everyone else that is there. The staff,Grace and Manuel did their best with the kids, but ultimately, I suppose there was only so much they could do.

Stayed with my family for a two week holiday and had a fabulous time. We have been returning to Choromar for some 14 years as it is a great place for families. Kids have grown up now and they are visiting with their own family and friends. Saija and Graca are great hosts and will do anything they can to make your stay most comfortable. The apartments are comfortable and spacious and are spread over 4 seperate blocks which are only 4 stories high. There are 2 lifts within the main block which would suit those people who don't fancy a walk up the stairs. Only a 15 minute walk to the strip where all the bars and restaurants are. We don't mind the walk as it is nice to walk off your evening meal, especially if you have over indulged! Boat trip around the coast is fantastic, you stop off at a small beach where you are taken ashore to enjoy a lovely grilled barbeque and some green wine. Then you sail back to Albufeira, so chilled and relaxing, an amazing day out not to be missed.

We as a family return to the Choromar year after year normally with more family members with us. The time we normally go is May til June just before all the schools break up for the summer and before Portugal gets really busy. There is a walk to get to the strip but after a day round the pool its quite good to have a walk. However my Mother and Father in law both in there 70s get a taxi. In the year 06 Mother in law fell in the airport and broke her wrist if it wasnt for the owners making sure that she went to get it checked by the local hospital and taking her there we would not have known has Mother in law just said it was sprianed. The staff at the Choromar was fantasic over the whole situtaion keeping the family informed as they phoned the hospital,changed rooms for them aswell nothing seemed too much trouble for them.The staff at the Choromar are always friendly and polite.The is food is good aswell.Entertainment at night is a little repative.Rooms are to good standard and towels and sheets changed the same as anywhere else.We as a family will be returning to the Choromar again this year this well be our 8 year with hopefully many more to follow.Our kids are now 16 and 15 and they cant wait to go back.The family that run the hotel made there friends that came with us last year feel like one of our own kids which means they are coming again this time.

Having found the place by accident three years ago we all look forward to our fourth return later this year (not a bad compliment from a tight fisted Yorkshire-man). The rooms are clean and well equipped, the bar and pool are fun and friendly places to be and the staff are tremendous. Manuel and Rui work hard to make your evening fun and you just have to try Carlos’s Chicken Piri-piri . Yes the pace is slower but is that not what we go on holiday for to slow down, relax and have fun. My only concern is the other guests that go as it is only possible to have so much fun in two weeks and my laughing muscles are worn out by the end of week one. For us Choro Mar is a special place where we have made some wonderful friends

I have been going to choro-mar for 12 years now and thought it was time I let other people know how enjoyable it can be I took my kids to the Choro-Mar when my son was 7 yrs and daughter 9 yrs on recommendation from friends.My kids were not the best at mixing but this is the type of place where almost everybody mixes,it is very child friendly and I never once worried about the safety on my kids as there was always someone making sure they were ok. The apartments are very spaciuos compared to other hotels I have visited and cleaned very regular to a good state of cleanlyness(wife approved).The food in the bar is great for snacks and the odd night eating in and there is allways entertainment day and night which is suitable for kids and adults The owners are Carlos and Saija who are very helpful and do the best to make sure the holiday goes as smooth as possable. The hotel runs a courtessy bus to the beach on a regular basis and Carlos also organisses football 3-times a week which is can be a good laugh. The main eating and drinking in Albuferia is only a 20 minute walk from the hotel where you can get variuos types of food or drinks and dancing for the younger ones.The food is generally not that exspensive and I have not really had many bad meals in the Algarve. Back to the bar you have to ask Manuel for his legendary sangria especially the champagne,better than any Spanish sangria. To sum up the Choro-Mar is well sittuated,clean,very good for familys and I do recommend it to friends and family.I have meet many friends here who I see almost every year so I think that says it all when people return year after year

My family and I (OH and then two small children) began going here in 1997 and I can honestly say it was fabulous! The peope who work there also own most of the place so it's in their interests to ensure you have a great time. And boy-did we! This was the one and only holiday were my little ones cried all the way home because they didn't want to leave. We loved it so much so that we recommended it to many of our family and friends, who like us have since gone there and then returned, year after year. You WILL become friendly with the owners Carlos and his wife Saija, and Graca and her husband Manuel. I say you WILL because they are such warm, friendly people, as are Fred the driver, and his lovely wife, who works downstairs in the Mini-market.. However, eleven years down the line, and the old joints are becoming stiffer. The 15-20 minute "up hill and down dale" walk to the strip is now hard work. Taxi's are cheap enough-it's getting one that's the problem. They are in so much demand you can wait ages for one. Also, we are not the only ones with growing kids returning time after time. But regretfully, some of these growing kids seem to leave their manners and consideration at home-with the full blessings of their parents it would seem. The last few times we have stayed we noticed a growing trend which we didn't like. But we thought things wouldn't happen to years in a row-diffrent times of the year etc, so we would chance it. BIG MISTAKE. We would always go into the bar for a drink before going out for dinner. Night after night the apartments bar was full of teenagers and young children-not many (if any) parents with them. Why? Because their behaviour had had them barred from nearly every bar/restuarant on the strip! Now that IS some accomplishment considering how many there actually is! The parents? They were out on the strip with their friends, (we saw them) having left their kids with money for pizza from the apartment bar (which WAS delicious!) and drinks.(they told us themselves they had done this.) Coming back for a few drinks in the apartment bar (after the entertainment had finished-there is only so much karaoke one can take) the young ones would be half sloshed and making a nuisance of themselves either in the bar, or if their parents were there-in the apartment gardens. The noise was terrible. The kids were very rude, insulting and at times itimidating and threatening when asked to lower it down. (My eldest had words with one drunken 17 year old after he insulted and then threatened me. Luckily my other half hadn't heard anything and to this day knows nothing of it or there would have been murder! ) Staff did so much to try and stop this sort of behaviour (but only Manuel was prepared to call the police - he seemed to be the only one not bothered about upsetting their parents.) but ultimately it was down to the parents-who didn't do much at all to be quite honest. The Choromar also has many permanent residents who were plagued by these kids. So much so, that in the two weeks we stayed, residents had called the police out on at least 3 occasions to these kids. It goes without saying that my two never made any friends those two weeks. And to be honest, once we saw this behaviour of a night was pretty much the "norm", we gave the apartment bar a wide berth. But getting to sleep of a night was also problematic because of the noise from these kids again. It was much better when they left, but unfortunately, as they did-more of the same arrived. We were quite glad to get home to be honest. We felt that although we were regulars there, because we weren't big drinkers and hadn't come "mob-handed" (only 4 in our party-about 30 all in all in the other) how we felt didn't really matter. Maybe if we went later in the year (September for instance) it might be like it used to be-but because of school terms, we can't do that at the moment. Last year we went somewhere else and comparing apartments now (we were so used to the Chormar ones after all this time) we can see the Choromar, although clean, are tired. They really need modernising and the kitchens and bathrooms especially, brought upto date with better equipment. In saying that, the area in which it's placed isn't really suitable for us any more either-it's too far out from everything-a real mega hike and not a nice walk home of an evening if you can't get a taxi (especially past those apartments with the empty shops underneath-opposite the Montechoro park-or the apartments at the bottom of the hill before the crossing by the Felixchoro) I wish Carlos, Saija, Graca, Manuel, Fred and his Missus (sorry I can't remember your name) and all their children well, (and not forgetting Henry, Graca and Manuel's dog) but doubt very much if we would ever stay there again.

I have been going to Portugal for over 10 years now and have stayed at the Choromar for the previous 8 years. What I can say about this place is that if youre looking for somewhere to stay that is: Good for the Kids Good Sized Pools Helpful Staff Not too near the main town Great in bar entertaiment Good food - when youre too tired to go out Meeting other families and getting to know new people. Then this is the place to go. We have met and re-met some great families over the years and will continue to visit for many years.. I would also reccomend visiting the waterparks. I have 3 children 10,7 and 3 and they all love it. There is also a great little area inbetween the main town and the hote (5mins walk) called Erins isle. Nice food and entertainment there as well. Beware of the SUPER BOCK though, drink that and you end up having lots of fun !!! :)

My wife and i and some of my family stayed in these apartments couple of weeks ago staff were friendly bar area was ok enetertainment was good for the first week second week we had to make the enetertainment ourselves as it was very quiet pool was big and clean plenty of beds apartments were ok pool view only thing that let it down was very uncomfortable squeaky beds.