Paraiso de Albufeira Apartments

I loved this hotel! I would definitely come back again. The standard of cleanliness cant be faulted it was fantastic.
Food was amazing, but the best feature of the hotel was the entertainment team: Johnny, jimmy, Sami, Sasha and Vanessa, they should be commended for all their hard work I think they did fantastic and they are all so talented, I cant believe how people can say the evening entertainment was dire. I think it was brilliant for a team of 5 bearing in mind they work long hours, which some of us don’t realise.
If any body has visited this hotel, and on the questionnaire on the plane home not ticked excellent for the entertainment then I cannot understand why they are just amazing. I would recommend this place to anybody purely on the basis the entertainment suits any1.
If you are going here and meet the very nice entertainment team please, please tick excellent for them and I wish the team all the best thanks for everything especially Sami xx

The fact that Albufeira turned out to be an un-charming tourist machine, is not something I wish to dwell on in this review. However, I have a few comments on Hotel Paraiso.
First of all, my boyfriend and I weren’t impressed by the service provided by the staff. At times some of them seemed completely arrogant. The entertainment group - and yes, I realize that this is a family hotel - had the idea that hotel guests wish to hear one single cd played for two weeks in a row in the pool area. In addition, the music was plays so loudly that I had the feeling of being in a disco.
I am under no circumstances against music - being 23 years old. Writing this, I feel like a grumpy old lady, but this hotel didn’t live up to our expectations. Not to mention the unclean carpets, the stiff prices and the breakfast area smelling like a swimming pool.

We went to this hotel 3 years ago and really enjoyed it so going back we were a little nervous having read a few bad reviews.
But we need not have worried as it was better then the last time as they had added a lot more daytime entertainment and the entertainment is there at night if you want (that’s the only thing we cant get used to is the main entertainment area is in the basement of the hotel which is not where you want to be in hot weather).
The food is good even the fussiest of people couldn't starve the hotel is clean the staff are very nice.

This hotel is a must for anyone with children especially young children, it has a lovely kids club where they are well looked after, there is a massive grass area for sunbathing far enough away that the kids cant see the pool so wont play near it. We stayed half board but upgraded to all inclusive when we got there through Thomas cook which was 20 euros per day per adult which was well worth it. One bedroom apartments were huge really impressed and very clean, would definitely go back.

Just come home today from Portugal and it was fantastic, the weather was great the hotel was spot on and the people were also great.
Had the opportunity to go All Inclusive for 3 days which we did and to be honest we saved ourselves a lot of money and hassle as we have 2 children aged 9 & 7 so you can imagine how many times they want something to eat & drink, also they could go and get it themselves.
Everything about the hotel was brilliant, the staff are friendly the hotel is safe for you children to go walk about on their own, and I will definitely book to go back to this hotel again.
Thank you Thomas Cook.

We went to the Paraiso in Albufeira on the 08/04/06. We found the hotel basic but clean. The rooms were ok but since there was 2 of us we only had a sofa bed to sleep on so it was really 2 single beds. The maids came in 3 times a week i think to clean the rooms the only thing I was not liking about them coming in was that when we had locked our patio door the maids would come in and do there job but leave the doors unlocked.
As our room was right at the end of the building I was scared incase someone managed to get in to our hotel room. The pool was clean and the reception was very helpful and you were about 15 mins to the old town which was good during the day as the beach was close by and at night it was around 15 mins to the main strip which was good and really busy in April.
You were only about 30 mins for the water park and about 20 mins to the zoo marine. These days out where excellent as there was plenty of things to see and do. If I went back to Portugal I would probably go back to the same hotel as it was comfortable and clean.

Before going to the hotel I was a little dubious after what I read on reviews.
The hotel is absolutely huge and even has its own bank, the hotel is situated not very near the centre and we choose to either get a taxi or get the tram which was very cheap 3euro for a day pass.
The hotel itself is very nice, the bedrooms if you don’t have kids are very small though and be careful if you get a studio as you do not have a bed each it is just a sofa pull out bed. I myself complained and managed to get a twin room.
The hotel is very clean and plenty of sun lounges and if you are all inclusive you get free cushion as well. Your beds are made and changed nearly every day.
The pool in the hotel is absolutely freezing I managed to go in a few times but it doesn’t really warm up even when its 31OC. If you want to go in Jacuzzi or in door pool you have to wear silly swimming caps. As for the sea you can’t even have a paddle as it is on the Atlantic Ocean and it is freezing!!
The food is very nice especially from the snack bar and evening restaurant. Loads of variety in the evenings so I don’t know what people have been moaning about. (I put on 6lbs in a week!)
The hotel staff are very helpful being reception but the bar staff are extremely unhelpful and prefer just not to serve you bar one nice woman. The snack bar staff and breakfast restaurant staff are very unhelpful as well and one woman was even shouting at people for their order!
The entertainment in the hotel seemed good but beware if you are aged between 15-40 and don’t have kids there is nothing really aimed at this age group.
If you are going all-inclusive and don’t like lager then they may also be problems as they only have selected spirits included and it is not all the local spirits either.! But on the positive side if you are willing to buy your drink even though you have paid for it in the price, they offer half price drinks before 11pm to all inclusive guests. 2.25 euro for Smirnoff ice not bad cheaper than England!
The old town Albufeira we didn’t particularly like as it was currently being reconstructed and the whole square was like a building site. The beach seemed nice though! The new town was very nice and the new town beach was very lovely.
Overall if I was to go to this hotel I would only go all inclusive as the food was lovely but the prices are so high if you had to pay.
Hope this helps!

I have just returned from spending 7 days at the Paraiso with my wife and three year old daughter. This is the third time I have stayed at the complex in as many years and in the past I would have rated it 10/10.
This time it was extremely enjoyable we stayed in a studio although I think in future we will stay in an apartment as you miss the extra space.
There is plenty to do there, especially for the children. If you don't like children or it annoys you seeing them run around the complex enjoying themselves then this venue is not for you as it is a main kiddies world venue.
Some people are content to stay in the hotel all week and relax by the pool area, which is lovely although very cold. You can be all inclusive and eat lunch and evening meals there. I can't comment on this because we have never done that.
A big part of our holiday is to go out for an evening meal.
The beaches are lovely although watch your little ones, remember it is the Atlantic and has strong waves.
Towards the end of our holiday our kettle in our room simply stopped working.
Basically I was fobbed off by reception that there were no spares available, and not all rooms have kettles. That's rubbish because it is on the inventory. The rep got involved but to be fair was useless. Because we were going home in two days we didn't pursue it and made do.
All in all I thoroughly recommend this resort although I have noticed that it is getting busier each year I go. I recommend the Paraiso to anyone with children, I don't think you would be disappointed, however it might be easier to book direct with the hotel and arrange flights. In my own personal experience, I have never used the reps and they have never been any use to me.
Enjoy.

PLUS:
Paraiso de Albufeira although large, was clean & tidy & easy to navigate around the complex.
It has a nice peaceful cool foyer if you want to sit & read in comfy chairs.
Tim Tim, a Chinese restaurant up the steps near KFC was truly wonderful, great value for money & the staff were the best, so friendly, well worth the 10 min walk in the direction of the old town.
The strip is good, lots to see & experience, it might be 12mins to walk down to it but beware, it takes a lot longer to walk back (uphill). The gipsy market (2 x a week) was interesting but take note... the walk up to it was Heart-Attack material, which took the good out of it for me & when you finally get there, it's all on uneven hillside ground.
Walking down to the old town from the hotel was fine (30-mins), but not much to see when you get there as all the pavements are all being redone. But, the beach when we got there, was spectacular indeed, the church was beautiful & well worth seeing... eating & drinking was reasonably, great outdoor music too , which was lovely, so that’s worth a visit.
Taxis are very reasonable, but prices go up later in the evening & at weekends, but are still cheaper than the UK.
MINUS:
Do not change your money in the hotel. Go to the Bank outside the hotel to change it @ no extra charge, it also has a cash-line machine.
Outside pool in the hotel. very, very cold.
Considering the sheer size of the hotel, there is only one bar close to reception which was open 1st week in April in which children (some as young as 2 & up to 12) were allowed to run around unchecked & unsupervised until midnight, they were even allowed up on the stage, running around all the electrical equipment belonging to the artists (some of whom were very good & some very loud), when the children got fed up on the stage, they could choose to came down & charge around the glass tables with drinks on & in between the waiters carrying trays serving the tables & through the guests "trying" to enjoy dancing on the dance floor.
No indoor pool restaurant open at this time either, snacks were available from a hut type affair next to the pool, not very edible & very, very expensive.
If you are not "all-in", Hotel is MEGA expensive, you must pay for outdoor (pitch n putt etc) & indoor games (table top games & machines). You do not even qualify for a discount for their fitness club despite being a resident, everything is at a cost...much cheaper to go out.
The young women serving in the hotel grocery shop was miserable & unfriendly & beware of her, if you do not have the right change, I was frightened. Never mind my children!!
If you have inconsiderate neighbours, noise of furniture been dragged around amplifies (beds & chairs) into adjoining room, because of the tiled floors.
Our room (308) faced out onto main road, hotel deliveries, staff coming n going, street cleaning & lawn mowing, despite initially requesting a pool view to keep our eye on the children. I felt very let down, as some occupants, with no children, got the pool view rooms, also our balcony only got the sun 14.00 to 20.00.
Thomas Cook, never explained about the Passport expiry... luckily for us, Portugal only required your Passport to have 3 months left on it, also they never mentioned about now needing the replacement E111 new Medical card, one for each adult & one for each child in their own right.
ALL in ALL:
We tried to make the most of it, but would not go back again.
We had saved for a long time to pay for this Easter break, so hope this honest opinion helps other visitors.

I went to Ioli Village with my boyfriend and we were very disappointed with the experience.
The JMC reps were helpful and friendly and we did go on a 'sunset cruise' which we enjoyed very Much (even though it was too cloudy to actually see the sun set!)
The rest of the holiday was not very good at all.
We found the staff at Ioli Village quite rude and 'clicky' with certain guests, meaning that others who had not been before did not get as good service. The maids were particularly rude and brash on several occasions.
The rooms were inadequate for self-catering. We had two-rings and a sandwich-toaster, both of which were dirty and very battered.
The rooms themselves were spacious enough but unclean (the floors and bathroom particularly). The lack of air-conditioning was also a huge problem - we hired a fan from reception (quite costly) which did very little to help.
The beach is quite a walk. We went most days but sometimes it was quite difficult in the heat. The beaches were clean but not at all sandy - just shingle and pebbles which could be quite painful to walk on. There were plenty of parasols and beds to hire however, from friendly and helpful locals. The beach is quite small, i.e. there is little distance between the start of the beach and the sea.
There are plenty of restaurants to eat at along the beach front which are worth exploring (it is definitely cheaper to eat out than buy food from the supermarkets as they are quite expensive - it is advisable to take basics such as jam for breakfast).
You will also need to take washing-up liquid, tea towels and dish cloths as these were not provided.
The pictures of Ioli Village in the brochures ARE misleading (the pool and pool-area are quite small and grubby, for example).
Overall, I would not advise going to Ioli Village or to Pefkhori.