- Algarve Holidays
- Albufeira
- Sao Rafael Suite Hotel
Ideally situated right next to the beautiful São Rafael beach, this is the ideal choice of accommodation when visiting this lively, tourist region. The hotel enjoys good road connections and is within easy reach from several leisure facilities like Albufeira Marina or Salgados Golf Course. All guest rooms and suites are tastefully appointed in beige tones and offer wide balconies from where visitors can enjoy wonderful sunsets. Moreover, guests can enjoy the therapies and massages in the relaxation centre, while children play in the children's club. Travellers may also go for a refreshing swim at the fantastic outdoor pools and enjoy the wide array of leisure facilities in the surrounding area.
Pamper yourself with a visit to the spa, which offers massages, body treatments and facials. You're sure to appreciate the recreational amenities, including an outdoor pool, an indoor pool and an outdoor tennis court. Additional features at this hotel include concierge services and supervised childcare.
Due to the surrounding area and the number of steps around the hotel, it may not be suitable for those with mobility difficulties.
Myself and my husband are just back from our trip and honestly have only positive comments about the holiday. Unfortunately some people have written some unfounded negative reviews about the hotel and the staff but that was not our experience at all. The front of house staff are really welcoming, and were available to assist with any questions. The dining room staff are hard working and we found the food was great with plenty of options on each of our 6 nights there. Next, to our enormous suite- what can I say only it was spotless with housekeeping every day. Lovely touch to have a litre bottle of water in our room and would give us extra if we needed it. The pools are spotless and very well maintained and the loungers high quality. We didn’t use the spa but it appeared nice. The bar had entertainment in the evening, singers, guitarist, quiz just to mention a few. Overall a great break.
We had a lovely stay at NAU São Rafael Suites and would definitely consider staying here again. The hotel had everything we needed for a relaxing stay. The facilities were great, the staff were all incredibly helpful and friendly, and nothing was too much trouble. The food was also brilliant. I only eat fish and no meat, so I was really impressed by the freshness and variety of the food available, especially for an all-inclusive hotel. There was plenty of choice throughout our stay. The location was also ideal, just a short walk from the beach and marina, and only a short drive into Albufeira Old Town. Overall, we had a really enjoyable stay and would happily come back!
Extremely disappointed. Whilst the hotel itself was lovely and the location was great, I have had a terrible experience with this hotel.
Firstly, there were samosas labelled as vegetable / vegetarian which, as a vegetarian, I picked up to eat only to find they were filled with chicken. When I told one of the members of staff, they said that they knew but didn't have a chicken samosa sign so decided to use the vegetable one regardless, even saying they knew this was wrong but did it anyway. To their credit, after speaking with the manager she apologised profusely and ensured nothing like this would happen again.
Secondly, after having our room cleaned, I arrived back in the hotel room to find one of my retainers on the floor in the hallway and the other nowhere to be found. I spoke with reception throughout the week requesting assistance for them to look in case they had been taken with housekeeping as we believed they may have been swept up. After not being able to find them, it was agreed that I would be reimbursed for a new retainer and one email was sent at the end of July confirming this. Following this email, I have emailed eight times with the receipt of the new retainer as well as other requested information and have received zero response at all.
I am completely disgusted that for a 5 star hotel I've received extremely poor service and zero response despite having in writing that I would be transferred these funds. I'm now over £150 out of pocket.
1st impression, Clean hotel, friendly and helpful reception staff . Not able to start using all inclusive benefits until 3-4pm?? We arrived at 130. Found this very strange as usually we are able to check in on arrival. Spacious room, much bigger than expected. Food selection at poolside great, lunch and evening meal in main restaurant not much selection to choose from. Pool games fun, shout out to Miguel and “crazy man” ! Always lots of laughs! sun beds always available. Things we would change would be : Tea and coffee readily available at dinner time, for some reason all coffee/tea is not available in the restaurant after breakfast?
Drinks at dinner are served by the waiters/waitresses, this can sometimes cause a long wait and on occasion we had finished our dinner before drinks order was taken, again it would save a lot of hassle if the hotel just switched the coffee machines on and had a couple of soft drink dispensers for self serve.
We had to visit reception a couple of times as the teabags/coffee in the room were never replenished, not a huge problem and reception staff were always very helpful and very polite.
I would just say that if a few little things were addressed and a bit more attention to detail then this would be a 5 star hotel, very good hotel but I feel it just falls below that due to the reasons mentioned.
Haven’t stayed here since it’s partial revamp which looks great , it’s seriously never a 5 star hotel . How can you make people walk from the pool area all the way to the lobby bar for a drink which you also need to get in a lift then once at the bar there is only one person behind it serving, the queue was ridiculous. One bar for the whole hotel is not good , I understand it winds down at the end of season but keep the pool bar open it was definitely busy enough. Food , while everything I ate was fine there definitely wasn’t enough choice only a few hot options . The tiny amount of cocktail options was very poor , if you’re charging 5 star prices then it should be reflected in the service. Lastly the female bar steward seriously needs to learn some customer care she was so rude and miserable. I’ve been coming here and the other Nau hotel Sao rafeal Atlantico for over 12 years but really don’t think we’ll be back
