W Algarve

Arrived on an early flight and our room was ready on arrival which was very welcome as didn’t want to wait until 3 pm. Check in was swift with a cold drink and lots of information about the hotel.

We stayed in a 2 bed Residence with garden access. We thought we had booked an apartment with a double room and a twin room but when we got there, there were 2 double rooms and an odd wheely bed in the lounge nestled up against the patio door. We quiried this and were told that they don’t have twin rooms. We moved the bed into the second bedroom to make it a twin. Both bedrooms had large en suites and the rooms were clean and well presented. The rest of the apartment was enormous with a well appointed kitchen Inc dishwasher and washing machine. The dining and lounge area was huge with patio doors going out to the garden from master bedroom and lounge.

The rest of the hotel was lovely. We used both pool areas and it didn’t matter what time you went you could always get a lounger. Inevitably there were a couple of idiots hogging loungers with towels for hours whilst not being there but in the main the place was occupied by grown ups who just used loungers when they needed them.

‘Wet deck’ area was great. Music all day, very attentive staff bringing food and drinks when required. Menu was a little limited and a little pricey but just enough when peckish round the pool. We had a cabana for a day which was nice and rather than charge explicitly they just ask for a minimum spend which is good.

The hotel grounds were well kept, the beaches associated with the hotel were a bit of a walk away and quite small but the hotel doesn’t advertise itself as having a beach. There is not much of note around the hotel and albufiera itself only warrants a single visit uni are under 30.

The pluses are that the hotel is wonderfully presented, rooms in the residences are fantastic and the staff are all warm, friendly and attentive.

So why not 5 stars…. The W stands for Whatever Whenever but when a simple request was made for a clothes airer to dry our washing, one couldn’t be provided yet we could see them on loads of other balconies - we didn’t want anything special just something that everyone else seems to have. We asked on 2 different days and were told it wasn’t possible. The main bar was ice cold every night - people were having to sit inside with blankets on which is not the relaxing environment you expect from a hotel bar. Despite being a Marriot, I was told that I could not earn any Bonvoy points because I was in the Residences rather than the hotel - reception happily took my Bonvoy number but when I asked about points on checkout I was told that I hadn’t earned any - ignoring the residence aspect I still spent over £1000 on food and drink in the 5 days I was there so very surprised and a bit disappointed) that no points were earned.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (but experience felt closer to ⭐)

I’m glad we’re heading home in the morning. The hotel itself is beautiful, the staff have been excellent, and the setting is lovely, but the atmosphere around the pools has been a real let‑down.

A large group of British children have been behaving completely feral, running wild with no control, while their parents actively encourage the chaos. Constant shouting, diving, splashing, and no awareness of anyone trying to relax. It’s felt far more like Benidorm energy than the Algarve.

None of this is the hotel’s fault, but it has made the stay far less peaceful than expected.

Five stars for the hotel and staff. One star for the behaviour of certain guests. Very ready to go home.

Auf Wiedersehen