Alto da Colina Apartments

This was our first time in the Algarve and the weather could not have been nicer. Pity about the hotel. My wife and I took our one year old for his first holiday, but we were a little disappointed with the resort.
Firstly, the 'Heated indoor pool' was cold as we were told that they switch the heaters off in the winter to save money. This made the pool too cold for our little one to use. This was the main reason we chose this hotel in the first place. Secondly, there were no clubs or activities within the hotel for either ourselves or our son to take part in. The crèche facilities were not being used (again because it saves money in the winter).
Basically, we spoke to the receptionist and the shopkeeper and they seemed to be the only people in the place at any one time, apart from the cleaners. The resort is very clean and modern, but DO NOT take children there outside of the summer season.

This was our first holiday abroad with a 5 and 2 year old, and we couldn’t have chose a better place. The apartments are spacious and well equipped. Maid service every day apart from Sundays.
Hotel staff are very friendly and are very good with the children especially bar staff. Meals from the bar area were lovely and I didn’t find it that expensive, prices were quite reasonable.
The on-site shop was said to be very expensive, but in fact I thought it was ok (from someone who always watches the weekly budget). The things that were expensive were squash and cereals which always cost you more abroad anyway. (Squash cost me nearly 3euros/£2). We found it easier to buy lunch here instead of dragging kids down to Albufeira. Cans of drink cost you 3euro at pool bar but only 60cent in shop.
You’ll be spoilt for choice with the pools. The main pool is big with quite a decent size kids pool, though we chose to spend a lot of time around at the other pool with its own bar area and all the splash pools nearby. The pools did feel a bit cold although my eldest didn’t seem to care, but once in its easier next time. Indoor pool is a little warmer and Jacuzzi was lovely. Plenty of sunbeds and you don’t pay!!
If you are feeling energetic the gym and sauna is free.
Taxis were good value and less hassle than walking to town, especially with kids.( a bit of a novelty for them, they loved it!!). We preferred the old town to the strip as not as many shops to lose the kids in and no worries of them wandering off in roads. There was always entertainment in the main square, see the puppet show if you can.
Beaches are lovely. We went to a different one to what the reps tell you. We turned left on main road, right past the petrol station and follow road through apartments (Maria Luisa). We found it shorter distance too.
All in all we couldn’t have chose a better holiday for our first one abroad with children. We would definitely go back to the Algarve and same hotel again.

Fantastic holiday. If you are wanting a holiday cantered around your kids......look no further. Kids clubs spot on. They take your kids for at least 3-4 hours in the day and sometimes up to 3 hours in the evening (up to 10.00pm), so it gives you a little time for yourselves. The apartments are clean. Local beer in the bar is a little expensive, but what the hey.....you’re on your jollies. Certainly lives up to its 4* status.

The holiday was good value for money. The hotel is fairly new & the apartments are large and spacious. The maid service calls 6 times a week & they keep the apartments very clean. You may want to take some extra bin liners though, as the bins in the room are quite small & we were continually overflowing with rubbish everyday (especially with a small child still in nappies!!)
The weather was brilliant all the time. The hotel is outside the resort of Albufeira, so you probably need taxis all the time to get to the old town. The hotel charge you a 1 euro each time, but the taxi ride to the old town was only 4 euros each way.
We were told not to visit “The Strip” because it isn”t child friendly, so we never went there.
We hired a car for 4 days, which was fantastic. We were able to get around abit and the hire firm were very professional & the car was good value for money. We hired it through the tour rep in the hotel. We had to buy a map over there though which was more detailed then what we had taken with us, as some of the small villages were not listed & we weren’t sure we were on the right roads sometimes!
We went to Vilamoura & were impressed. It has a lovely marina & plenty of shops/restaurants around the marine. If you like golf there are loads of hotels with courses in Vilamoura.
The hotel has a kid’s crèche facility, which we used & was very good. They also have other kiddies clubs and both day & evening entertainment in the hotel. Warning though about the evening entertainment, if you have small children or a baby, then ask for a room which is not near the bar area before you go on holiday, otherwise you may find that even with the patio door shut, you can still hear plenty of noise from the bar which may disturb a baby or small child at night.
We walked to two local beaches with a child buggy, and the walks take about 20-25 mins each. The beaches are lovely & clean and it is great fun for all the family to have a dig in the sand.
The staff at the hotel are very friendly & there is a supermarket on site. It is very expensive though, so the day after we arrived we took a taxi to a supermarket in Albufeira called “Medello” & we did a weeks worth of shopping & saved a fortune!
The bar food at the hotel is nice but it is plain i.e. no Portuguese food on the menu, just the usual stuff with chips.
All in all we think that the hotel is of a good standard and is value for money.

I would like to say the hotel was fantastic. The food in the restaurant was excellent; the staff were very polite and helpful.
The entertainment in the evening was not brilliant with some acts on twice during the week. The shop was not well stocked, my partner and me drank the shop dry of sparkling and rose wine within 2 days, which was not replaced but if you don’t drink then it was very well stocked. The gym was very well equipped and we had no complaints of boredom from our 2 boys.
The old town was only a cheap taxi ride away but when we got there we were issued with scratch cards by various people and conned into going to a hotel to collect prizes which turned out to be people trying sell timeshares to us for 3 hours so beware.

The Alto Da Colina complex is fantastic, no mistake.
Facilities on offer are really impressive, from the swimming pools, indoor & out, the kiddies splash water park, separate kids pools - all fantastic and clean too!
First Choice operates a kids club, which was really good. 3 or 4 sessions a day if you need / want them (although my son really loved the club, he came back tired all the time and tired kids make grumpy kids!!)
Swimming lessons were really good, really helpful for children as there were only 3 people in his lesson.
Daytime entertainment (the usual football, cricket etc) was good.
Nightime entertainment in hotel was of a good standard
Bar ok, food ok but a bit plain.
The only downside is the location for me (but you cant have everything)
Without young children it would be a pleasant 40-minute walk to the 'strip'. The 'strip' had a few nice stretches, our favourite was near to the 'Wild & Co Bar', a nice 200m of family bars & restaurants. 'El Rancho' is worth a visit.
Beach was walkable with buggy down main road (Santa Eulaila) beach, but preferred the 'Santa Maria' beach which was nearer to Alto, opposite way to the beach the reps tell you to go to, turn right at the petrol station, past Club Med.
Alto Da Colina has a policy of charging you 1 euro to order a taxi, which is only 70p but feel is a bit overpriced.
Also, charge you 5% to change money/cheques - exchange kiosks in Albufeira town charge 2.5% (better off in your pocket)
But all, really enjoyed it & would think about going back next year.

Back on 1st May 2005 we were the very first coach load of tourists to arrive at this brand new hotel.
We were welcomed by all of the First Choice staff including Bugs Bunny himself! We were completely amazed by the size of the room and the high quality of the fixtures and fittings within it. The numerous pools and leisure facilities were more than you could have wished for.
The children (aged 7 and 5) constantly wanted to be allowed to go to the Kids Club as the hours of enjoyment to be had there were very much greater than anything we as parents could have offered! It was said that the beach was a mere 500 m away and that the Strip could be reached by an approximate 20 minute walk - I feel that both of these comments leaned towards untruths. Thankfully taxis were cheap!
We only dined in the restaurant once as we felt that although the food was nice the menu was slightly uninteresting and the prices not worthy.
I should definitely try to take along a starter pack of groceries for when you arrive as the on-site shop leaves a sting in your purse.
Overall, one of the best holidays we have taken.
Just in case you should be reading this Ben - Felicity sends her love x.

Hotel absolutely superb! Very clean large apartments.
Swimming pools indoors and outdoors excellent. Extremely good facilities for the children including kids club, play area and water park. My children had a brilliant time. Hotel staff were excellent, eating in hotel slightly overpriced. Local beer ok.
Downside was access to beach - brochure said 500m, but that’s as the crow flies! If you do walk there is a precarious walk down wooden steps, which should be condemned. Get a taxi to the beach if you have young children, taxis are cheap.
Lovely restaurant called Tiffany’s is only 10-15 mins walk from hotel (opposite direction to the strip). Walk to the strip is about 40-45 mins.

This accommodation was excellent. No complaints about anything at all. The apartments, location and Staff were first class. I would highly recommend this apartment to anyone looking for a great place to stay during your vacation.
The location was also great because you had the best of both worlds. Quiet during the day and a 15 minute stroll into the nightlife in Albufeira in the evening. We had a fantastic holiday.