Balaia Atlantico Aparthotel

2 readers found this review helpful

Only ended up here following XL crash (originally meant to be in Zante) so there was an initial disappointment but we soon cheered up.
Apartments were great. Wide range of kitchen equipment, spotless & regular cleaning.
TV with BBC channels.
Food - typical all inclusive buffet style. Could be a bit cold when it'd been laying around a while but different options each meal time with the standard salad bar. Decent.
Hotel - massive swimming pool. Deep end 2.8 m but not heated. Also deep end fairly close to toddler pool so anyone with young kids would need to be alert as there's no life guard.
Entertainment - dont stay here if you like non stop activity/entertainment. Fairly low key.
Staff - friendly & couldn't do enough for you.
Only downside was the location. There is a free bus to take you to the beaches/strip & old town but last one was 8pm. No where to stroll to after dinner. Taxis cheap enough though.

We went for a weeks break as we did the year before, things hadn't changed we still had a fantastic time. The apartment was clean and well looked after, the food was wonderful and we just had a very relaxing week. The hotel staff were also very courteous and friendly. The only down side was that because numbers were fairly low this year, the lunchtime meal on the last two days, was ordered from the menu which would normally have been a buffet. Look forward to going again

1 reader found this review helpful

Stayed at Balaia for two weeks self catering. 2 adults 2 teenagers. The hotel is most definitly a four star, as it has everthing you could want in a holiday.
As we were self catering, cannot comment much on the food, but from what we saw the food defintily looked delicious aswell as alot of variety. There is a free hotel bus which runs every couple of hours dropping and picking you up from the old town, the stripe, beaches etc... which is very handy as the hotel is quite a far way from the centre of alberfero.
There is never a chance to get bored at balaia, as the entertainment team keep up an upbeat mood all day every day with games such as bowls, vollyball, waterpolo, darts, billards etc. They are always very enthusiastic about everyone playing (so if your one who just wants to sunbath i'd betend to be asleep when you see them coming round).
The pool is a great size, which is normally quite empty between 1-3 which is when most people who are all inclusive go up for lunch. Alot of the people there are portugese, but everyone is very friendly and gets along well.
Apartments are cleaned everyday, also leaving fresh towels. There is a gym and inside pool which is €5.
The only downside I would comment on is the entertainment which looked pretty naf from what we could see, as we never stayed at the hotel due to the entertainment being one of the reasons. The old town in alberferio had a large vareity of bars, resturants, shops and market stalls, but also maintaining class and abit of character, were as the stripe offers more for younger adults such as more variety of bars, although still great for the family.
I would most defintly go back to balaia, and have infact been looking to go back before the end of August! Defintly recomend Balaia, as suitable for all ages.

1 reader found this review helpful

Clean, modern hotel.
Stayed all-inclusive. Spotless restaurant, although food was bland and not much of a selection for children. Best to go early to restaurant, from 7pm, as after 8.30pm it gets very crowded and you have to wait in a long queue.
Poolside snacks very good.
Stayed in 5th floor apartment, overlooking pool - best views. Room was large with a modern kitchen area, although lighting is poor in bedroom/bathroom and shower pressure weak. TV showed BBC1, BBC2 and CBeebies.
Small hotel shop, stocking basics, but no ladies toiletries and no childrens medicines!
No mad rush to sunbeds in a morning, but this hotel is Portuguese and about 95% of the families here were locals and there were LOTS OF CHILDREN running around!
Main downside though, is lack of evening entertainment. There is a piano in main hotel lobby area - which seems to be help yourself, or there is a small indoor area at the poolside. Nothing happens until about 9-9.30pm, then if you're lucky, some old man will sing or play the organ for half an hour, yipee! It's pretty boring, especially for kids.
As the hotel is situated on its own, there is nowhere to walk to on an evening. We took a taxi to Albufeira and Villamoura for a change of scenery.
Nice to see the sun for a week, but wouldn't stay here again.

1 reader found this review helpful

We had a 5 day stay here at the beginning of march 2008 so we were not expecting much entertainment and facilities to be running. Here are the positives, its clean, furnished and decorated to a high standard, loads of space in the apartments, very good kitchen facilities, massive pool and childrens pool, park for kids, its in a quiet area if that is what your are looking for, hotel staff helpful and friendly, hotel run bus to the town centre, kids club in high season, A/C and TV with BBC1 and BBC2 and CBeebies.
Now for the negatives, location is about 2-3 mile out of town I would recommend a hire car as it is cheaper than hiring the hotel mountain bikes. or use the hotel run bus, we went all inclusive and although overall the food was at a good standard there was a lack of choice but there was always something I liked so this maybe a semi negative.
As you can see the postives outway the negatives and there is probably more positives I will think of later. I would stay at this hotel again but would go self catering and hire a car again to pick up groceries and to eat out at night or to go out if the entertainment was not up to scratch. I would disregard the last comment as he is way off the mark.

1 reader found this review helpful

Just got back from 3 day at this hotel, Well where do I start?
Room was of very high standard.
Food was poor 9 out of 10 times it was cold and when complained about this was told we can put it in the micro wave for you ( I don’t think so ).
Entertainment daytime and evenings you wish - "NONE".
If you want to use the tennis courts, crazy golf, indoor pool you have to buy a swimming cap 3.50 euro all the rest you also have to pay for.
Smoking is allowed all over the hotel the place stinks of stale smoke.
If you are going to this hotel all inclusive and get to the hotel before 2.00pm your A/I
will not start until 2.00pm and you cannot get your room until then, and if you have a early morning flight out sorry NO hot drink or toast before you go.
Weekends the hotel seems to be overrun with Spanish and kids very loud.
If you want to use the gym in the evening forget it, it is took over buy the locals.
If you think a complaint to the manager forget it he talks to you like you are at school, this I found out when I spoke to him.
In the restaurant at meal times on all inclusive you are only allowed beer, wine, or water and soft drinks NO spirits.
Also hang onto your plates turn away and they are taken away.
So all in all this hotel I would not go to if it was free.

1 reader found this review helpful

Second visit to this excellent hotel! Only 2/3 years old, it’s still feels new although the facilities have improved on last year.
1 BEDROOM APARTMENT:
Good sized rooms with balcony. We were on the 3rd floor this year, but can recommend the 5th floor for great views over the sea!
Double room: Only downside to whole apartment is the twin beds, as is the continental style, but heard there are double beds available. 2 good size wardrobes & vanity table. Windows with good view over the surrounding countryside/Albufeira - depending on which side you are on.
Kitchen: Shiny, clean, and well appointed. Fridge freezer, fan oven, hob, & work surfaces. They provide almost everything you need (plates, cutlery, tea set, bowls, pans etc). Only thing missing is washing-up liquid & kitchen roll.
Bathroom: His n' hers sinks, excellent shower & bath.
Also in the apartment:
- Remote control air con
- TV in lounge (pay €25 deposit for TV remote)
- Table & Chairs on balcony
- Airer for drying clothes
- Extra feature is the music which is piped into the rooms (including the bathroom!). You can select themed channels and listen wherever you go!
HOTEL AMENITIES:
- Can't comment on the restaurant as I've never used it.
- Reception Bar & Poolside Bar - friendly staff and have some entertainment in the evenings. Generally some dodgy musical numbers!
- Gym, heated pool, spa area on ground floor. Looked v clean and well appointed, but didn't use it.
- SHOP - Lots of snacks, alcoholic & soft drinks, cards, souvenirs, English magazines & newspapers etc. More expensive than in towns but v handy as stays open late night.
- Tennis courts, football pitch, playground and crazy golf in the gardens
POOL - Great size, not too deep extra at one end and very clean. Bit cold as its not heated but you soon get used to it. Nice sized kid’s pool also.

1 reader found this review helpful

Located away from the hustle and bustle of town yet surrounded by rolling landscaped hills with views down to the sea. We had a very enjoyable stay at the Balaia. The interior decor is very contemporary; the apartments are very well fitted out to the highest standard. The hotel itself has all facilities required for a very pleasant and relaxing holiday.
We would highly recommend the Balaia as it provides a relaxing atmosphere at a reasonable cost.
The shuttle bus service is very useful both to and from the main town and the beach area.
The staff couldn't have been more friendly. What more can we say!