I'm hoping they were just having a bad day or were overly fussy and exaggerated

I think your hopes are well founded, and in addition I think the young couple may not have been staying at Windmill Hill (Alto do Moinho) but possibly at Albufeira Jardim which is higher up the hill.

1. It wasn't overlooking the old town it's outside of town to the West

Windmill Hill is situated up above the Old Town on the western headland and has views over the Old Town and the whole of Albufeira, along Falesia to Vilamoura and the Faro peninsula. Some apartments also have views in the opposite direction over the Marina and further west.

2. It's not a 5-10 min walk it's a good 20mins to the square

We're no Spring chickens (either side of the dreaded 60!) and we can walk from our apartment to the Rocamar end of the Old Town in 8 minutes, so it would probably take 10 minutes to get to the main square. Surprisingly we find it only takes the same length of time to walk back up again.

3. The hill is extremely steep and so dangerously slippy that even wearing trainers you lose your footing

The direct route is quite steep but I would certainly not lose my footing in trainers, or even in flip flops, flatties or lowish wedges. Some of the cobbles in Albufeira are quite slippery, even when dry, but I've only slipped once, outside the Sol e Mar, on fairly level ground.

4. It's impossible to walk back up the hill in the heat and need a taxi

Well, I don't know how we old fogies have done it dozens of times, including in July and September - we must be fit! In fact, in all the times we've been to Albufeira, we've never even bothered to take the car down to the Old Town - we always walk. If people do find the climb difficult, there is a slightly longer alternative route which avoids the steepest parts.

5. Pool is too small for complex (smaller than photo makes it look)

This makes me wonder whether the young couple were actually staying at Windmill Hill as the pool is superb and is plenty big enough for the 91 apartments at the complex. There's also a good sized children's section, sun terrace and sunloungers all around, and a snack bar. I wonder which photo they saw. As we all know, proportions always look a little different in photos, but I guarantee you when you see the pool at Windmill Hill you will not be disappointed!

6. Studio apartments are tiny and don't have proper kitchen area

I may be wrong but as far as I am aware all the apartments at Windmill Hill have either 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms, and the room sizes are very good. I didn't think there were any studio apartments, which again leads me to think they may not have been staying there.

7. Two huge new hotels are being built there

This simply isn't possible as the complex is surrounded by older established hotels/apartments, a school and an established area of nice villas. There are some large apartment blocks being built further up the hill (behind the Albufeira Jardim apartments), facing the Marina.

8. Lots of walkways that you need to use are blocked off

This again doesn't ring true of the layout of Windmill Hill and I can't think what they can have meant, unless they were staying in another complex.

Please don't let what this couple said ruin your anticipation of a lovely holiday. I can assure you that Windmill Hill is an upmarket and really attractive complex. If you know the number of the apartment you are renting I might be able to let you know whereabouts it is situated with regards to views, the pool, etc.

I hope this has put your mind at rest and that you will have a wonderful stay at Windmill Hill.

Hi again,

Just a thought, here is a map showing the Old Town, and the Windmill Hill complex is located under the banner "Belver Hotels, Boa Vista Hotel & Spa". When you've found it, you can click on Advertisers to make the banners disappear and give you a clearer view of the area.

Hope this reassures you.

Hi

Thanks for your post I really appreciate it

I have been getting myself really worked up about this as I had spent a lot of time deciding where to go and where to stay. I was convinced I had made a good choice and I think you may have even given my daughter some valuable advice on a different site about your complex so therefore you can imagine how worried I was after hearing what they had to say as it looked fab on the photos my daughter printed off (they may have been yours).

I have looked at the apartments you mentioned and I think you may well be right in that they stayed at that complex and not Windmill Hill judging by some of the reviews.

One of the main reasons I was worried that I had made a mistake is because it's our 20th anniversary so this holiday is a bit special. I could have gone to our friends Villa in Spain which we know very well but I was set on the Algarve after listening to Natalie 24/7 when she came back. I was panicking it was going to be a celebration followed by divorce because the wife had insisted on getting her own way !!

The walk doesn't sound anything like they described and I'm sure we can manage no probs being the spring chickens we are (40's) and I was already in love with the pool.

I don't know the number yet but will let you know by PM when I find out. If you have any recommendations of local cuisine or holiday tips I would love to hear them.

Once again thankyou it looks like we'll make it to our 21st next year afterall

Hi Mic n Daz,

I've sent you a PM.

Hi roseweb thanks for the fab PM loads of good info. We can't wait for our night out on the strip you know why!!! I've found out we're close to the tennis courts but don't know the no. yet. I hope you don't mind, I have passed on some of your recommendations to someone else who was also asking about Windmill Hill and restaurants etc. Drinks on the terrace sound like a great idea and would set us on our way for PAINTING THE STRIP RED I'll have to go now so I can catch some trendy shops for my new rig out!

Sounds like your 20th anniversary will be one to remember!