Paraiso de Albufeira Apartments

2 readers found this review helpful

I was really worried about going on this holiday having read the very mixed reviews. I needn't have stressed. OK so it isn't a 4 star by UK standards, but it is probably a 3.5 star for foreign standards. The room was kept very clean and tidy, we did look onto a car park but then it wasn't too much of a problem as we weren't there to spend all day in the room.
The staff where very helpful and always seemed to have a smile on their faces. The reps were also helpful when we needed them. Although we ended up being delayed by 3 hours on the flight out with no explanation, once we got to the hotel they checked us in very quickly and efficiently so no one was waiting too long.
The food wasn't 4 star but then again with a hotel of this size its not going to be easy. Being buffet style for all the meals was good as then you could try different bits then go back for more. There was always something we could eat, even for the most unadventurous of people.
We never had a problem getting a sunbed and even if this meant not getting to the pool till the afternoon! Yes people did reserve beds but this wasn't even much of a problem, though I could imagine it may be in the height of season.
The entertainment in the evening was fun! we spent most of the evenings in bar Adao, just don't think you are going to get top class entertainment and you wont be disappointed, it was ok and sometimes funny though I don't think it was meant to be!
The only thing we weren't to happy with was the beds as they seem to turn the mattresses and one way they are fine, once they are turned you can feel every spring!
Don't trust the maps they give you to get to the old town as they aren't really very helpful, best to ask a rep. We loved the old town and the beach is lovely although if you aren't aware of tides then be warned as you could get cut off.
We could go back to the hotel at this time of year again as it was fairly quiet and nicely situated from the beach, its a about 2km walk which you need if you are all inclusive and drink/eat a bit too much!
One bit of advice, we tried to book extra leg room on the way back through the rep at the hotel and were told it would be 25euros each, however due to a problem they weren't able to, so advised us we could do it at the airport! we spoke to them at check in and advised it would be 28euros each, I then had to run to the other side of the airport to pay! The woman then only charged me 15euros each! It may have been an error on the airports side but it was a small saving!
As long as you don't expect a 4 star UK rating then you will be happy with this hotel.

We had a fantastic holiday, one of the best and we've travelled to many places. I can't believe some of the reviews about this hotel. It's like they stayed in a different place entirely to us. We've just booked our return trip to this hotel for next year. It was most ideally suited to our 14yr old son who we didn't see from dawn till dusk there was just so much for him to do.
We also have a 6month old baby and we had no problem finding relatively quiet areas (the lobby) at night once he fell asleep in his buggy and we were still able to hear the music from the bar and enjoy a drink.
The breakfast was superb with a little variation every day, plenty to eat and always hot. The snack bar was delicious and open all day.
There is a free shuttle bus to both the beach and the old town at set times during the day and you can be collected from both too at set times. The strip wasn't really for us, once we'd eaten our son wanted to go straight back to the hotel to the organised entertainment! But it was nevertheless within walking distance or very cheap by taxi.
The rooms were an absolute delight. Very spacious, clean and large balcony. Although there was always a mad dash in the mornings for sun loungers we were always able to get two beds at around 8.30am and stayed on the grass which was much better than the area around the pool, less crowded and easier with our little baby.
We found all the staff to be helpful and the Thomas Cook entertainers were 2nd to none. Well done!!!
As I said we've booked for next year again and we're really looking forward to it.

1 reader found this review helpful

Another fantastic week at this great hotel. It is perfect for families and the play park has even been upgraded since last year.
The kids club is great my 5 year old and my 4 year old niece loved it and went every day. The food was great especially the snack bar.
The only disappointment for the kids was the slushy’s were not included in all inclusive this year! The rooms are spacious and clean.
Overall highly recommended and we will return next year!

1 reader found this review helpful

We had already been to Albufeira a few times and booked our All Inclusive holiday at the Paraiso only a few weeks before we went when we couldn't book the Paladim where we had previously stayed. After reading some of the reviews I was getting rather worried about what to expect, but needn't have been.
The holiday didn't get off to the best of starts with what can at best be described as an 'economy' flight to Faro. The plane had the least legroom I have ever had on a flight, the breakfast was inedible, and the toilets were stinking! I was disappointed in Thomas Cook who didn't even have a rep on coach transfer to the resort.
On arrival at the Paraiso all my disappointment was forgotten. This is one awesome looking HUGE hotel with a beautiful fountain display at the entrance. The lobby is vast and tastefully decorated with a few shops in it (all be they expensive). There are several leather couches and internet access points.
If you are going to stay at this hotel I would say All Inclusive is a must. We were given our armbands on arrival at 12.30 and headed off for some food (leaving our baggage in the baggage room) because check in isn't till after 2pm.
Having been fed and watered we collected our baggage, returned to reception and booked in. We were staying in room 232, a one bed roomed apartment which was very spacious and it looked exactly like the pics in the brochure with swags on the wall over the bed. I was glad we were on one of the lower floors since I don't like heights.
The apartment was kept immaculately clean by a maid service which operated 6 days a week, and bed linen and towels were changed at least every couple of days. The kitchen had everything you needed including a fridge, microwave, toaster, oven, and hob. There were plenty of utensils and decent crockery / cutlery.
The air conditioning was excellent. I would recommend taking a plug in insect repellent for the room (I recommend the ‘Jungle Formula' one) because there are some mega bugs in that heat which could do you some serious damage! Also be aware that there are no hair dryers in the rooms and hiring one is pretty expensive so if you need one make sure you pack a travel one.
Don't bother taking toiletries which use up your baggage allowance...there are a few basic complementary items on arrival to keep you going until you can pop a few minutes along the road to the Modelo – a huge supermarket used by the locals where prices are very reasonable.
Breakfast at the Paraiso is a bit of bull bait. There is plenty on offer...both continental and English...including chips! We preferred popping out and buying fresh stuff from the Modelo then eating at our leisure on our balcony. The lunchtime menu is ok ...nothing flash, but there is usually at least one main course item on the menu to suit most people. There is always soup on (usually vegetable), a choice of main courses, and plenty of fruit and cake.
There is a limited bar service and a tea/ coffee machine. If you preferred you could grab a snack at the outdoor snack bar next to the pool. I wouldn't have liked to pay the prices there if we hadn't been A.I. Service there was speedy and queues never took long to go down. There was a choice of freshly made baguettes (hot and cold), a different type of pizza every day, burgers, / chicken nuggets, chips and onion rings and salad stuff.
Evening dining is in the MGE room in the depths of the hotel! Again the choice of food was ok and everything was edible. The vegetables were a bit tasteless but considering how many people are eating there they would have to use frozen ones! There was a chef at the carvery some nights and there was even an attempt at Yorkshire puddings! The menu was varied.
Eva restaurant is well worth visiting...it’s a bit more refined and because there are limited places available it has to be booked by 3pm... There’s a set menu for A.I. guests but if you want something else then you can get it at half the paying guest’s price and the food is cooked to order.
There is a very good entertainments programme poolside during the day and there is always something going on. We didn’t have any problems getting a sun bed, but we were quite happy to go on the grassed area where there was loads of room, but a large number of guests seemed to cram around the pool and on the terrace in front of the hotel. You collected your mattress for the sun beds from the hut...these were free...but only for A.I. guests.
There is a different act on every night in the Adao bar and the Thomas Cook reps made a decent attempt at putting on a show. Dancing tends to be mainly ballroom. The queues tend to build up at the bar as it approaches 11pm after which time A.I. guests have to pay normal bar prices.
If you want to eat out then head down to the old town (turn left out of the hotel and its about 15 minute walk) and go to Louisiana restaurant where the food is superb, the staff is friendly (as are all the other restaurant staff in Albufeira) and the view from the upstairs terrace across the beach is unrivalled.
If you are an Eastenders fan it is actually the restaurant where Phil found Lisa working when she went off to Portugal. Bravo on the square does nice Italian food and a mean steak. The old town is buzzing on a night time and there is a lovely atmosphere with acoustic guitars playing and live bands in quite a few bars.
NB on the way down you pass Riviera snack bar where you can get THE most cushty cakes ever...yummy! Personally I didn’t like the strip (turn to the right from hotel and it is about a 15 minute walk)...it’s very lively there...but if you want a wild night out then that’s where to head.
All in all this was a thoroughly enjoyable holiday and I would go back to this hotel again.

When arriving at the hotel I was a bit disappointed as it looked like it hadn’t been painted in years but that wasn’t going to put me off. This was my first holiday away with my friends and I couldn’t wait too be back in this hotel as I had stayed their a few years ago.
The hotel staff were friendly and the rooms were clean and tidy with a lovely view over the pool. I thought the bed was comfortable but everyone has their preferences to what type of mattress they like to sleep on.
I went self catering and I found that everything was reasonably priced. I agree with what people have said about the pool snack shop being expensive but the best thing to do is to go to the supermarket and make a sandwich yourself.
When you first got into the pool it was freezing but it’s what you need when the weather is so hot and once you are in the pool you don’t notice how cold it is. I found getting a sun bed was easy and I didn’t go down till about 8 o’clock.
The nightlife was great, I enjoyed going out every night. I preferred the old town to the strip as the old town had more upmarket bars so you could sit and relax but still enjoy having a dance.
All in all a fantastic holiday and I would recommend it to families and young people who are going on their first holiday with their friends.

This hotel was definitely not a four star and is also a bit dated.
Thought the rooms were a great size but the view over the service entrance let it down. Not to mention that fact that it was infested with silverfish. I mean you do expect bugs on holidays but to have them in the drawers crawling in your clothes is a bit much.
The food was bad. Banana wrapped in bacon one night and it did not get much better than that. There was also a shortage of baby highchairs at dinner my son had to eat in his buggie some times. The choice of food for young children was also not very good.
It sometimes also took forever to get to dinner as there was only one lift in the whole hotel that took you down to dining room level. I would not recommend all inclusive at this hotel as you will have the added expense of eating out.
The entertainment team worked hard to entertain the kids though.

Just returned from 2 weeks stay at the Paraiso de Albufeira with my husband and 15 and 12 year old children. Can honestly say that this is the best holiday we have ever had.
The hotel is predominately English with only a handful of Germans (I think I heard about 4 Germans in the fortnight) and a few either Portuguese or Spanish.
The entertainment is geared up for English tourists and our children made loads of friends from all over the UK who they have vowed to keep in touch with.
1 bedroom apartment was absolutely huge and immaculately cleaned every day by the maids. Beds changed every few days and clean towels every day. Apartment fully equipped should you be self catering.
It is the first time we have gone all inclusive and I can honestly say was well worth it. It cost us an extra £700 to go all inclusive rather than self catering and we reckon that we had approximately £1500 worth of food and drink etc.
Breakfasts are plentiful with cereals, cold meats, cheeses, bacon, sausage (every third day), scrambled eggs, hash browns, waffles, beans, tomatoes and more (what more could you want).
Lunch you could either eat in the canteen/restaurant which again was a varied choice of pasta dishes, fish, meat, veg, salad, soup and so on or alternatively you could eat from the snack bar by the pool where there was a choice of cold baguettes, hot baguettes, salad, pizza, chip, hot dogs, hamburgers and ice creams which were delicious and you could go and get food and drink as many times as you wished.
The evening meals were again plentiful although could have possibly been a little more choice for an evening meal but always red hot and the soup was to die for.
There was plenty to choose from at the bar on an evening with a selection from local beer, spirits (whisky, gin, vodka, rum etc), sangria, and soft drinks etc.
Having read some of the previous reviews we were a little concerned before going on holiday but can say that I cannot see what people had to moan about and is certainly worthy of its 4* status.
Yes the pool was cold but being on the Atlantic coast where it can be quite cool at night what do you expect and the beds were firm but very comfortable.
Would certainly recommend to anyone.

I have just come home fro the Paraiso, it was the best holiday we have ever had!
It was the first time I had been to Portugal and I will be going to the Paraiso again next year.
The hotel was very big the rooms where a great size it has every thing you need if you don’t like going out, you have it all there for you it was great most of all my boys loved it.
They have all you need for the perfect family holiday so the people who did not like the hotel well I don’t really know what to say they must have been some where different to us as it was perfect and I can not wait to go again.

Just returned from a fantastic holiday with my wife and two kids (aged 4 and 5). People who have said they didn't enjoy this hotel either are snobs or just like to complain!
The room was champion. We asked for a ground floor apartment facing the pool and that’s what we got. Very clean as the maid came everyday to clean, make beds change towels etc. The beds were fine (what do people want, water beds?). A full kitchen, not that we used it except for the fridge full of after sun and water.
We were a bit concerned about the security (having 2 young children) but it was fantastic. There were 3 locks on every door and cameras pointing at the balcony and down the corridor. Visible security guards walking around all the time also made it feel safe.
The food, what can I say....if people didn't like it they must have no taste buds! One day they even had roast beef and Yorkshire puddings. Everyday it seemed to get better and better with plenty choice. The cakes were to die for; sometimes you just had to go back for seconds. They just seemed to get nicer and nicer.
The pool was great (not too small as some have said). Yes it was a little cool at first but what do you expect?? Some people did get up early to claim sun beds but the staff went around regularly and took towels off beds where people had "booked" them to free them up for others (good policy).
We got three sun beds and a parasol everyday. Even if you didn't get a bed the massive grass areas around the pool where perfect for lying on and safe for the kids to run around.
Kids clubs - our kids loved going to these. The times were 10 till 2, 3 till 6 and best of all 8 till 11! They were in locked rooms, where you had to sign them in and out and no adults (except the carers) where allowed in for more than 5 mins due to child protection laws. They made lots of new friends there and wanted to go everyday. 10 out of 10.
The Glam Club was great to, it was better than most night clubs I've been to in this country. All geared up for a great family holiday that the kids would enjoy, which is what we went for.
I would recommend this hotel to families with young children, who aren't expecting a posh 5 star hotel as I think some people were. We definitely got our moneys worth and would defiantly go back.

I agree with everyone who says that this is a 3* hotel and not a 4*. I have been in Thompson hotels worthy of that 4th star and I’m afraid this came nowhere close.
The hotel itself looked very impressive on arrival. The reception area was clean as were the bars and pool area.
The bedrooms were a different story. When entering the bedroom we were overcome by a stench of stale cigarette smoke. Not nice when you have an 18 month old baby.
The kitchen area was clean but dated, as were the bedrooms. The beds were stupidly hard. I agree with the lady that said it was like sleeping on an ironing board!
I would highly recommend going all-inclusive as we went self-catering and a day around the pool cost us a fortune!
Entertainment was good. The best we have come across in a hotel. We had a good laugh at the reps and I thought they really did put allot of effort into the entertainment.
The area itself wasn’t bad. The old town is lovely, especially on a night. However, I found that if you have a pushchair it is hard work getting to and from the beach as every beach we went to was situated at the bottom of a steep hill.
Our holiday was finished off with an 8 hour delay home. Frustrating at the best of times but with an 18 month old baby we found it very hard work.
We may return to Portugal in the future but I’m sorry to say we won’t be visiting the Paraiso de Albufeira again.