Jardim I Apartments

Arriving after 11pm it looked incredibly dingy and deserted. After travelling all day we had looked forward to a nice drink in the hotel bar but were despondent to see we were the only ones there at 11:45. Still the bar staff were friendly enough and we did get our nightcap. The following day we sussed the bar's happy hour from 5pm-9pm which became a pleasant start to our evenings out in town.
The rooms were very basic - a bit grubby when we arrived but the cleaners came in most days. The lack of a kettle is deffo an issue for some of us English. The staff in reception were most unsympathetic in this respect.
If you have mobility problems then this is definitely not the place for you. Old Albufeira is low-lying compared to the surrounding hotels and after a few drinks or carrying some shopping, that hill is a killer (a taxi from town will cost you about €4.
On the third night we decided to try the site restaurant and we were very pleasantly surprised. Their cataplana is strongly recommended.
To sum up: Adequate, if basic, accomodation but great restaurant. Don't underestimate the hills though.

Stayed here May 2011, Self Catering, no kettle, no toaster, patio doors dont lock so you have to hire as safe €30, €20 returned on leaving. These apartments need a big refurb. Beds hard, pillows lumpy. Pool area nice but most of the sunbeds and parasols are rusty, then when you put a mattress on them for comfort after a while the pool guy comes and charges €1.50 per day per bed, right rip off. They do clean and change towels 6 days a week, the staff are friendly apart from the night porter who was not very helpful as checked in 10.30pm. The walk down to the old town is about 15 mins, and found this side of town streets dirty, (even named one, dog poo alley)Did not attempt walk back as would need inhaler in case of asthma attack as so steep, taxi €5. On last night people moved in below us and very noisy went on till 2am in morning, rang the local friendly night porter! who did nothing about it, after further 2 hours and numerous calls my daughter sorted them out. Been going to Albufaria for number of years now and always been happy with hotel or apartments, will not be staying here again.

We went in May 2011 arrived and had to climb 97 stairs to leave- needed oxygen tank, as ive not long had back op was escorted to a hovel ov a room- or cupboard, immediately asked to transfer after while they agreed , overall location not ideal, staff not very friendly made the most ov it but much better quality hotels out there

2 readers found this review helpful

Studio overlooking pools basic but clean Walk to town very pleasant about 10 mins.Difficulties of steps and slopes ecxaggerated.Town and Old Town beautiful. Eating out is very reasonable.Recommend Ta bom and Three crowns in the old town.Will be going back to the Jardim.

4 readers found this review helpful

I will never stay at this place again. I day before i was due to arrive i emailed Jardim. I asked if it would be possible to have an apertment with a balcony and preferably with a sea view. I arrived at about 1.00pm. I was given the keys and then told that the porter was at lunch. I opted to take my case to the apartment myself. I was dissapointed to discover that my apartment was on the ground floor and as such it did not have a balcony. I could just see the sea between two apartment blocks.
As soon as i opened the apartment doors i could smell a musty aroma. The decor and fittings were very dated but functional. I went back down to reception shortly afterwards. I was told that i had been given the keys to the wrong apartment, i had visons of being given the keys to a really nice apartment with a stunninjg sea view. It turned out that i should have been given the keys to the next door apartment. A day or so after my neighbours moved in next door they had to move out again because the electrics blew. I had the pleasure of listening to the workmen rectifying the fault for two days. Not only that but at the end of the block other workmen were busy each day with a demolishing hammer.
That first evening around midnight i woke up to a pinching sensation on my arm, i instinctively flicked whatever it was off, turned the light on but couldnt see anything. Went back to bed and woke up to a big bite mark on my leg. A couple of days later i started with severe diarrhea. A couple of nights before i was due to return home i had to visit the bathroom at 4.00am. I was shocked to see a large cockroach on the the floor, chased it and eventually killed it. I went back to the bathroom only to be met with a procession of smaller cockroaches around the bath. i didnt get back to sleep. I called into reception with the dead cockroach in a plastic bag. The lady on reception told me that all over Portugal at this time of the year the cockroaches come out.
She promised me that somebody would be sent out to spray the apartment that day. Surprise, surprise nobody arrived that day or the next. went home the following day.
As for the room service, i dont know why she bothered showing her face.As each day went by the level of dust in the apartment increased. On one occasion i was sat on the terrace when arrived. She was in and out in less than 5 minutes. I dont think that the twels were changed at all during my stay. The apartment came as part of a package holiday, i didnt pay a lot for the holiday but there was no excuse for the poor standard of hygiene control. I never cooked anything in the apartment, i only occasionally ate a bowl of cereal with milk. I ate out each day at my favourite trusted restaurant in the old town. The day after i returned home i had to visit my GP because of the ongoing diarrhea problem, a sample was taken and environmental health have today telephoned me to inform me that i have "Campylobacter"
They told me that it could take three weeks to make a full recovery. I have no doupt that other holidaymakers may have stayed at the "Jardim 1" at the same time as i did and may well have had a totally different experience to mine. I will remember my holiday for all the wrong reasons and i certainly will not be staying at the "Jardim 1" again

1 reader found this review helpful

Having returned from these apartments on 21st May 2010. We arrived, checked in, given our key, a map on were our apartment was and told a mini bus would take us to our apartment. When asked why we needed a mini bus the receptionist informed us that the apartment was at the very back of the complex.This is a very large complex, up a hill/alot of stairs and the apartment blocks do not have any lifts.
As I have mobility problems, I asked if we could have a room on a low level. After explaining that "I know a low level was not requested when it was originaly booked" and "When it was booked I didn't know I would be having another opp" "There was no mention that the apartments don't have lifts and the amount of stairs and hills to climb to get to the rooms on the website" the receptionist reluctantly gave us a lower level apartment, without the spectacular view we would have had!! The apartments are very basic and our beds were the couches!! Around the pool, we needed to check the sun beds, a number of them are broken and dangerous.The matresses that you hire for the beds,are full of holes and spiders!! The showers at the pool did not work. Most of the staff at the pool bar were friendly enough they just didn't know what was on their menu. Rather than check they would say "We don't do them"!! There must be limited hot water for the apartments if you want a shower late(ish) 6-7pm, there wasn't any!! The water was ok of a morning as long as you were quick. Over all the apartments are not all they say they are, the web site lists irons and ironing boards. They don't do ironing boards and the irons were all hired out. There wasn't many people there either. They must only have one for hire so would recommend taking your own.Luckily we never spent to much time in the apartment or by the pool but at least the cleaners gave fresh towels each day. If you have mobility problems these apartments are not for you, even on a low level, as to go in to the centre is very hilly.

10 readers found this review helpful

After booking a late deal we decided to chance the Jardim based on various mixed reviews on this site and others and we were surprised at how good this place was. The complex is huge and i can understand why some people would be upset as if you were placed in an apartment at the back of the complex it would probably take 5-10 minutes to walk to the pool. We were lucky and had a studio with a fantastic sea view and really nice large terrace balcony. Yes the rooms are dated but if all you want is somewhere to sleep and maybe have a couple of drinks on the balcony its perfect. We ate out all week although managed to make use of the grill and microwave every now and then for breakfast. The pool was fairly relaxed although i imaging getting a sunlounger at the height of the season would be tough and they charged 1.50 for a mat per day which was fine as you did not have to use one.
One thing we noticed was the price of the food in the place was quite high, we managed to find a place down the road for much cheaper so my advice would be to take your own drinks or food. Other than that the only thing was the hill but portugal is very hilly anyway and we didnt find it an issue. The staff were friendly and the place was really nice. I would definately go back again given the chance if you just need a clean room to stay in.
Thanks
Adam

4 readers found this review helpful

my daughter and I have just returned from a week at Jardim 1 in astudio apartment. We have never been to Albuferia before but the Old Town area was great. As we arrived we went past all the new bits and I think we were lucky to have chosen the Old Town yes its hilly to get get up and down to the main entertainment bits but the Merlin half way provides a good stopping point. The Jardim was what we had expected cheap and cheerful, rooms where dated and not very well supplied with equipment for self catering but all we wanted was a clean place which we got, beds made every day and clean towels supplied. We were lucky to get a place close to the reception area, the pools were lovely cold first thing though but the sun shone on pools from early in the morning til 7/8.00pm. The staff were cheerful and helpful, the guy who runs the pool bar between the two pools was always very friendly but also took no messing from the only downside of our stay, the english stag partys!!! Its a shame that English men in groups always behave so badly, loud, drunk and rude. Very unfunny and not good for the other families and couples staying. There was a mixture of nationalities, Irish, German, Spanish,and others also staying what must they have thought? Would we go again? No, the jolly boy outings put me off! But if you do not mind this then the hotel is ideal for a cheap and cheerful holiday.

7 readers found this review helpful

Having read loads of reviews of various places prior to booking I thought it fair to right a quick review.
My girlfriend and I have just got back from a week in Albufeira where we stayed at Albufeira Jardim Apts. Having seen what else is about in this area I think we did pretty well choosing this place. When our coach eventually dropped us off (we were second to last) We were very happy having seen the places in the 'new town' where we had dropped other people off. The complex is fairly big in very nice grounds with grassed areas and a small cobbled road leading down towards town. The pool is nice with free loungers, but beware of the 1.50E charge for a mattress, I did without. There is a bar and restaurant pool side which serve their purpose well and there is a really funky cocktail bar at the top of the complex which is awesome(http://www.casadocerro.com).
These apartments are a bit dated but for us did the job just fine, i.e somewhere safe to get your head down make some food and have a drink before getting out and about.
The distance to the old town wasn't a problem at all about 10mins each way and I enjoyed the walk although if you have young kids it might be hard work with a push chair.
There are probably lots of swankier places to stay but for the money this really is a little gem.

6 readers found this review helpful

Hi, stayed here at the end of April, miss these apartments at your peril ! the location is excellent, near enough to the beaches and the excellent Old Town but far enough away from the noise of the Old Town to get a good nights sleep. We were in Block B1 which is right at the front of the complex overlooking the gardens and has reception and pool behind. Two big pools and sunbeds and grassy area to sunbathe on. We played tennis on the courts at the complex and only paid 5 euro for 1 hour !! The complex is on a hill but what complex near the Old Town isn't, it is only 10 minutes walk to the town and beaches, so you don't need a car if you do't want to drive on holiday. The rooms are clean and have everything you need. the views off the balcony are fantasic, well worth the walk up the hill which any reasonably fit person can do no problem. I have been to Albufeira many,many times and I would certainly stay here again.