Clube Praia da Oura

5 readers found this review helpful

Booked CPO just two weeks before departure. Just wanted a short break in the sunshine. On arrival checked in. we were then shown to our studio by the porter. The location of the studio was lovely, situated on the ground floor at the back of the complex over looking the beach which was only a minute, or so walk. The studio itself was adequate for me and my 13 year old son. There was a few baby cockroaches crawling out of crevices, but there was some raid in the broom cupboard (not pleasant). They seemed to dissapear after a few days.
We booked half board which was very good value for money at £15.99 per person, per day. The breakfast and evening meal was very good. All buffet, but it was different hot food every night with multiple choices.
On our second night we slept with the patio doors open due to having no air conditioning. Big mistake. At 05.50 I was woken by a noise on the patio area. A man had come into the studio and had taken my bag from the furthest chair in the studio. He had started to go through the bag in the apartment and then decided to take it to the patio area and shake it upside down which made the noise to wake me. I was fortunate i had taken all valuables and monies out and put them in the safe. I pulled back the curtain and saw what he was doing. I screamed at him and he jumped over the wall and ran to the direction of the beach. I called security which seemed to take their time, so i locked my son in the appartment and chased him with a kitchen knife. The police were called as I insisted. To be honest, the hotel staff and security were not really bothered. I asked to see the CCTV footage as they do advertise the complex is covered by, it was declined. They did admit the back of the hotel has a camera but it is too high to cover the ground floor apartments. They have security cameras in the restaurant so you don't take food out and camera's at the pool area so you don't take li-lows in, but the most vulnerable part of the complex there is no CCTV coverage to protect their guests. This man had been spotted earlier by police, as i didn't see his face only the back of him they couldn't pick him up. If the camera's had been operational the police could had arrested him. It didn't spoil the holiday as the location and food were great. Funnily enough i would go back again.

1 reader found this review helpful

We stayed at the CPO for a week, we booked a one bedroom apt, great size,had every thing you need to selfcater.
Full size fridge/freezer, combi oven/microwave.
Very clean.
Only a 5 min to the main strip,great for youngesters.
Beach is a five min walk through the complex.
Food served around the pool was very good,staff helpful and cheerful. Going back in June. Cant wait.
Debbie
Hertfordshire

5 readers found this review helpful

We are timeshare owners and visited CPO in August this year after an absence of 4 years - mostly going on cruises.We found the heat in the apartment almost unbearable.No air conditioning and totally inadequate fans left us wondering what nightmare we had put ourselves into! Any sleep we could snatch was disturbed every night by shouting and squeals from the many clubbers as they staggered out from the clubs up on the 'strip'. The strip contains all the bars,clubs and shops selling tat to the tourists and others who seem to be in a semi-comatose trance,nursing garagntuan hangovers. The staff at the resort were friendly and helpful, particularly in the restaurant. We ate at the restaurant most mornings and evenings and found the service and standard of the meals very good. The staff also looked after our apartment very well and it was always kept clean and tidy.It is just a pity that the apartment and area surrounding CPO made our holiday such an endurance test!Nedless to say we will not be returning to CPO again. John and Julie Clarke

10 readers found this review helpful

Well what a place.I enjoyed it from start to finish.The beach is 5 minute slow stroll away.Our apartment was overlooking the pool.Saw the sun go down every night right on our balcony.Beer was a bit pricy 2-95 euros for a pint, the happy hours were buy one get one free 12-3pm at Amandas bar in the hotel,and then 2-4pm at the Oceana bar.
The staff could not be friendler.I have been going abroad for 25 years.I must say the Portugese are THE friendliest people ever.Rooms were cleaned most days. Towels and bed linen every other day. In the apartment were,Microwave,Toaster, Free fan,Ironing Board and iron,Two rings,The bathroom had a hair dryer.The utensils were new and clean, so were the cutlery.
The STRIP is a 5-10 minute walk up a hill.We went most night to the right of the strip for a bit of winding down.DO NOT GO TO "THE LITTLE BRITAIN PUB" I was charged for most of the holiday 3 euros for a can of Guinness, towards the end of the Holiday he bumped it up to 4 euros.You won't miss the owner, he always has a face like fizz! Left the place ASAP never went back!
OH! in the supermarket at the hotel,you can get a bottle of beer for "29 Cents"
Lovely beaches on your doorstep.
I have been trying to book with them again for next year, but they are a lot more expensive than this year.
The reason I have given it a 9/10 and not 10/10, was the face due to the crowded small pool.all the sunbeds were basically touching each other, but thats my only moan.I would go back in a flash!
The airport..Hmmm Was told by the Thomas Cook rep the hotel was 40 mins away... well 2 hours later we got there.Never again,Booked a Mini bus for 30 euro for return trip,and took 30 mins, well worth it.We will book a return trip with the same company this year for sure.
Great pictures, great memories!

7 readers found this review helpful

We booked this hotel with some trepidation as it seemed a lot cheaper than other holidays. We need not have worried, place was clean, apartment spacious and very close to beach. We booked through Thomas Cook. One word of warning, via Thomas Cook you could end up in one of two hotels (the other is across the road). Whilst you can use the facilities of both I dont think this was made very clear and the other hotel's pool is somewhat smaller, allbeit hotel looked as clean (it just wasnt the one on all the photos). Anyway we were placed in this hotel and it was fab. Our apartment had hair dryer, ironing board, in fact the only think missing was a clothes line to dry your clothes. There is a launderette but I would recommend taking one of those plastic contraptions with pegs on for drying socks which you can hang up (we hung it to our parasol and it was used a lot for wet swimsuits). There is a kids club which runs for a couple of hours in the morning and afternoon, they also take the kids out each Thursday to Zoomarine, a dolphin place..approx 30 euros per child but well worth it as kids loved it (age 11 and 9) and was lovely to have a child free day (forgot what those are!)
Plenty of restaurants and pubs all within easy reach, we struggled to find fault with this holiday, a great choice for families and have recommended to my friend.

6 readers found this review helpful

We rented a one bed apartment for a week, it had a double bed in a massive bedroom and a bed under the sofa which our little girl called her "magic bed". So clean and well equipped had everything we needed and more. The location was fantastic you can either stay away from the noise and busy "strip" as there are some onsite bars and cafes or take a ten min stroll to the very lively strip (not everyones cup of tea as it was very noisy and busy at night but the mixture of people there from couples to families to same sex groups made it enjoyable and we never felt out of place as a young family). You have to try the tourist train which takes you into the old town 3.50euro for a return, lots of bars places to eat and a lot of shops not to mention a massive beach. could go on forever about this place we had such a good time, it was mega hot, right on the beach and the people were really friendly. no matter what age you are I would say give this place a try, i read some bad things about it before we went but i gave it 10/10 because we personally loved it.

13 readers found this review helpful

After reading one of your reviews entitled 'warning' I was sceptical of our weeks stay at the CPO since this was a last minute booking with Cosmos due to Easyjet letting us down.
When we arrived we were pleasantly surprised by a quiet and tranquil place (admittedly it is only January!) but even so I cannot imagine there being enough people to jostle anyone, it must be so different in the Summer.
We had a studio apartment and although it was bijou it was perfect enough for our needs we don't come on holiday to spend all our time in the room. It was clean and in my opinion not'tired' as some other reviews had mentioned. I would have preferred a proper bed instead of the converted sofa but that was a minor detail.We had a beautiful sea view and the location was far enough away from what I imagine will be buzzing in the Summer but not too far to walk anywhere. We enjoyed walking into the Old Town which was a couple of miles away but there were plenty of buses if you didn't want to walk. We didn't eat in the hotel so I cannot comment on the food. The only thing that did disturb us was the persistant barking of local dogs it sounded like there was a boarding kennels nearby the dogs commuincated with each other quite alot during the night and early hours!!
I understand the apartments are soon to become all time share but if you are booked here on a holiday before then you will not be disappointed.

34 readers found this review helpful

Just returned from a bad experience staying here. On arrival at club Praia, my husband was getting cases off bus and got jostled by a crowd of people and his wallet stole. We got put into a ground floor apt next to a public car park, with hoards of public walking past window, so had no privacy, on our first morning there, the door was knocked and 2 guys wearing fleeces said that they were from security and had to inspect the room. We asked what for and they started speaking in portugese, so we said non comprendi and shut door, phoned down to reception to ask about it, and were told that they hadn't sent these men. Later on at dinner time we noticed the same 2 men sitting across the road in a banger of a car, and informed reception to notify the police, but they didn't bother. We spoke to several people who had similar incidents happen. Will never return.

16 readers found this review helpful

I have just returned from a brilliant holiday here with a group of young adults. CPO couldn't have been located better to the strip, just far enough to avoid the noise but not too far to have to pay for a taxi. Our studio was also only a stones throw away from the beach, which was extremely convieniant. We booked 2 studios which we were told would be small, indeed they were and towards the end of our trip we realised we would have rather spent the cash on a one bedroomed apartment (something to keep in mind to avoid any regrets!) No air conditioning for 2 weeks however, was hard to live with but the weather seemed to cool towards the end of the holiday and didn't seem to be such a problem. Check in was efficient and we found all employees there to be very polite and helpful. Our room was cleaned by a maid almost every day, they were lovely and would easily go out of their way to help you. All rooms were fully equipped with crockery and utensils, along with a kettle, microwave and oven/hob. The swimming pool was gorgeous however seemed to be rather small for the amount of rooms CPO provided. The sun beds were very close together, which is to be expected as the swimming pool was small in the first place!

22 readers found this review helpful

We go to these apts every year and absolutely love them. The standard of cleanliness is second to none! The strip can be a bity brash at night but if you go early evening to eat you get great service and if you stick to the Portugeese places you will find them lovely and peaceful and full of local people and families. The tamarand at the bottom of the strip is a favourite of ours and they do freshly squeezed orange which is a must! Great coffee and great fish dishes also.
I always email the reception desk a couple of days before I go and request a sea ve
iew room and they have always obliged me with one, block E is a great block as you have the sea and lovely greenery beside you and no music playing, very private and peaceful.
If your into trips you can catch the tourist train into Albufeira and go to the bus station there where you can catch a bus to anywhere in the algarve.
Hope this helps