Hi all, we have also boked to go to holiday village this year, we go at the end of July for two weeks all inclusive.we're taking two kids age 3 and 8.
Staying in a room with kids den. Am really looking forward to it as went to holiday village in Turkey year before last and had a brilliant time.
Only wish could find out more information on this place.Looking forward to reading any reports from someone who has been recently.

I have emailed the Alto with regards to my queries ... whether the splash park is ready (we go this weekend). The answer was that it is still being built...
I also asked whether (as self catering guests) we could eat in the buffet restaurants, and have been told that you need to prebook breakfast the night before, lunch by 10am and dinner by 4pm. You can only book the 8 - 9pm sitting, so absolutely no use to us as we have two children who love the games and disco which starts at 8pm. We can eat in the two speciality restaurants without booking so I am hoping that the service etc has improved and we can eat there and be out by 8pm. Otherwise we will eat outside the hotel - any recommendations welcome! Last year we only ate on the strip or at the hotel. Oh well, I am trying to be positive - I shouldn't have thought that everything would be ready by June and that the food etc would be the same quality as the other HV's which get such good reviews. There is clearly going ot be a settling in period. We will make the best of what there is, and I will ensure I put a full and frank review on the review page when I get back. I'm sure we will all have a great time. That reminds me, I'd better get packing!!!

We returned from the holiday village on Sat 14th, we had a great time as the weather changed for the better after about 4 days, I will post a full review shortly but to answer any worries anyone stil have here goes...

The hotel is all finished except the interactive pool but to be fair the builders were really cracking on with it when we were there, the slides are in, the area is paved, the pools are nearly ready, I reckon it will be finished by the end of the month if not before. There were reports of the steps and ramp between block 1 and 2 not being complete but this was finished while we were there.

The restaurant is struggling to be fair, the food is ok in my opinion but just not as appealing as you would expect from a HV. They were also not very good at keeping the for replenished. The reps are actutely aware of this and they are doing everything they can to get something done about it. While we were there they flew in a chef from England to advise and there was a marked improvment overnight! Unfortunately a lot of holidaymakers jumped on the complaining bandwagon which sort of made everyone else unsettled.

There is most definetely a sitting system, you are given your band (colour depends when you arrive and when your sitting is). When we first arrived they were a bit leniant to times but by the time we left they were adament that if you were early sitting you got in as near to 6.30 as possible, they then shut the restaurant at 7.30 to replenish the food for the 8.00 sitting. Again the reps will agree with you that this is a bad system but the hotel are sticking to it! What makes it worse is the way they make you queue to get in so they can tick you off their list and seat each party one by one, this causes big queues at peak times.

I would advise you to email the hotel with a polite request for your preferred sitting times, I did and they were very helpful.

Two other prices of advice - If you have booked a sea view room, email the hotel and request it overlooks the pool - ours didn't and we felt quite 'out of it' for the fortnight. I complained but as they pointed out that we could 'just ' see the sea from our balcony it still classed as sea view. Also if possible I would try and get in block 1. The only really bad rooms in the whole complex are about 12 in block 2 which overlook building works which start early every morning.

If you are considering a hire car book it yourself before you go. We ended up paying about £200 for 3 days though the reps (including insurance and child seats) we shopped around and didn't find it much cheaper anywhere in town either. Someone we met there had only paid about £100 and still had it delivered to the hotel.

Hope this help, I will post a full review soon. Overall the Holiday Village is a great place, and if you can live with the sitting system you wil have a great time, the reps are all friendly and helpful and there are always loads around site from morning till night.

I can't understand the restaurant sitting times. We stayed for a fortnight in the middle of May, and could eat whenever we liked. The colour of the bands was dependant on which block you were in.

I emailed the hotel asking for the early sitting but they said they could not confirm this until we arrived, but they did advise they would do their best to meet our preferences

Thats what we thought at first but the paperwork they passed us clearly said early sitting, and when we asked around, there were loads of people in block 2 with the same bands as us. As I say they were quite flexible for our first week but during our second week got quite strict, they even put a poster up telling you the different coloured bands and what time they related to!

I spoke to one couple with a vey small baby who begged to be allowed to swap to the early sitting (they used to turn up at 7.30 to try and get in) but when they started closing the restaurant 7.30-8.00 they refused to let them in earlier than 8.00 as they had 'black' bands.

I hope all this info doesn't worry people too much, its not as bad as it sounds!!! it is just a bit annoying for those who want to get to the kids disco which now starts at 7.45pm (to encourage the first sitting people to hurry up and get out!). We found that the people on the second sitting tended to have older kids and just hung around the pool later in the afternoon, it was lovely from about 4 - 7.00 when most people had gone for tea!!

I am due to go here on 15th July. We were at the HV Turkey last October, we loved it. I can't say the seating times will be an issue to us as I found the free for all to be quite hectic in Turkey, I suffer from ME and I am in a wheelchair so hectic is not too good. I can see how it would be a problem for others.

It is a new set up so it is to be expected there will be teething problems. I am hoping to just go and make the best of it . Are the high ropes ready? my kids loved them in Turkey.

The high ropes were fully operational in May.

When we were there in May the dining room never seemed that busy until our last couple of nights which co-incided with the whit sun school holidays. There were massive queues those last couple of nights.

When we checked in they told us we were on first sitting because we had small children with us but we didn't really pay that much attention and usually went down for our tea at about 7PM.

We'd noticed the different coloured armbands but didn't find out they were different sittings until they got more strict about it as the place got busier towards the end of our stay.

Thanks for all the info - it is good to know what to expect. I'm getting more excited now ... but I still haven't packed - ooops!
Blue

Has anyone managed to speak to First Choice about whether they are doing anything about the food situation which, according to the reviews posted on this and other websites, is getting worse? I've tried a number of times to call them but without any joy getting through. Also sent them an Email but no reply from that either.

I've called FC 3 times (on all occasions its taken over 20mins to get through to them) as I'm concerned about the quality of food, their reply is always the same, saying that there have been a few problems with the resort but they are not aware of any issues with the food or sitting times.

Hiya,have you tried ringing this number for the local reps in resort (00 351 289 590930) .Hopefully they can help you,also just got an email back from hotel saying interactive splash pool should be open within 7 to 15 days time,goodluck

Hiya,have you tried ringing this number for the local reps in resort (00 351 289 590930) .Hopefully they can help you,also just got an email back from hotel saying interactive splash pool should be open within 7 to 15 days time,goodluck

It was supposed to be open in 12 days on 29th May!

Hi I have contacted first choice to ask for information as follows, hope this helps:-

My Email:-

Hi, we are booked to go to the first choice holiday village on
the 10th July. I am a bit concerned about the reviews I have been reading
regarding this hotel.

Firstly almost every review I have read has had complaints about the poor
quality of food in the all inclusive restraunt. Could you please look into
this and confirm if they are taking any steps to improve this. I have
limited mobility so will find it difficult to go out to find alternatives
to eat every night, besides I do not think this should be necessary after
paying for AI.

Also is the new family splash area going to be complet by the time we get
there.

I would be greatful if you could get back to me asap.

Regards
Hazel

REPLY:-

I have located your reference and have conducted an investigation into your
queries for you.

All facilities will be up and running for you arrival. In relation to the
food, we have spoken with the Holiday Village. They have advised that the
food was not being cooked to any sort of menu. I can confirm now there is
a menu to work off and food is getting a lot better at the hotel. This was
due to teething problems when turning this hotel into the Holiday Village.

If you require any further details, please call our Customer Services Team
on 0844 800 3100.

Thank you for your email.

I hope that this information has answered any questions you have raised and
if you require any further help, please do not hesitate to contact us on
Clerical@firstchoice.co.uk

Hi Thanks for the info. Hopefully the food situation has improved and First Choice are not just trying to fob you off, I have been following reviews closley on this and other sites and no one has anything good to say about food, reports all very recent so if they have done anything about the food it must have been within the last few days. Still I'm hoping for the best when I go in September.

Hi Thanks for the info. Hopefully the food situation has improved and First Choice are not just trying to fob you off, I have been following reviews closley on this and other sites and no one has anything good to say about food, reports all very recent so if they have done anything about the food it must have been within the last few days. Still I'm hoping for the best when I go in September.

The First Choice Reps all had to eat in the hotel restaurant and were of the same opinion as the guests that the food was ropey and weren't afraid to tell you so either.

I am relatively new to this All Inclusive stuff and booked this Holiday on Sunday 22nd June, But it's not till October.
After reading all the reviews on here I contacted First Choice, who gave me the usual Script, we havent heard anything unusal or bad about the resort, one of our colleagues is just back from there 2 weeks ago and everything was perfect, trip advisor isn't saying anything bad about it, the usual.
I have written to head office and voiced my complaints and told the Office that I booked it with That I will follow up my Query in writing.
Hopefully it will all be sorted by October Holidays, or sooner for all the people flying out shortly.
Im afraid it's the same old story, Once they have your Money, tough Luck, you will just need to suffer it.

Could someone who has visited this resort please give me some insight into the travelling to nearby town, how easy it is and how close the beach is to the resort, also roughly what the weather is usually like in Mid October. We usually go the Canaries, where you are guaranteed the sunshine.

And also, lets keep updating the site with the progress of the Food ( Teething ) Problems.

Thanks in advance

Kenny

Could someone who has visited this resort please give me some insight into the travelling to nearby town, how easy it is and how close the beach is to the resort, also roughly what the weather is usually like in Mid October. We usually go the Canaries, where you are guaranteed the sunshine.

1. Praia da Oura and "The Strip" (New town of Albufeira) are approximately 25/30 minutes walk from the Hotel. Down the hill and turn right, the road goes down a steep hill and then up the other side. A taxi (of which there aren't really enough) will charge approx 4 Euros for this trip.

2. Albuefeira Old Town is a bit further, never walked it but would imagine it would take at least 45 minutes. The hotel have a free mini bus to take you to the old town in the morning and back again in the afternoon, but you have to book in advance so they know how many are going and may need to make more than one trip. We got the mini bus there and a taxi back but again waited a while for a taxi at a big queue at the taxi rank. The taxi cost about 5.50 or 6 euros, can't remember exactly but it was not more than 6.

3. If you get to the bottom of the hill and turn left a 30 minute walk will take you to the town of Olhos De Agua. There is an InterMarche hypermarket and some bars and restaurants here as well.

4. On the main road at the bottom of the hill there are also bus stops with buses going to Albufeira in one direction and Vilamoura and Faro in the opposite direction. We got the bus to Vilamoura marina one day and for 2 adults, 1 child and a baby it cost us 7 Euros and took approx 45 minutes. We got a taxi back from Vilamoura and that took about 20 minutes and cost 14 Euros.

5. There are 2 beaches nearby, one of which has 2 ways of reaching it. You can turn left at the bottom of the hill and then cross over the road when you reach the petrol station and there is a beach through the apartments there. We didn't go to that one which is why the directions are sketchy. The other beach can be accessed either through the Alfagar Hotel Opposite (sister hotel to the Holiday Village) and down some fairly steep steps which were totally unsuitable for a pushchair or buggy despite what the receptionist told us!
An alternative way is to turn right at the bottom of the hill as if you were going to The Strip, go past the Grande Real Resort and Spa and then keep walking until you see a sign saying "Le Club" and "Cafe Atlantico". Turn left here and the road takes you downhill to a car park where the main entrance to the beach is. Above the beach is the Cafe Atlantico which is lovely and there is another restaurant a bit further to the right along with showers and toilets and a gift shop. The beach is very nice but you will have to pay €10 for 2 beds and a tree like umbrella for a half day or €15 for a full day, but it is worth it. It takes about 15 minutes to walk to the beach that way.

Thank you very Much for the Reply. Never been to Portugal before, so Hopefully it will be a pleasant experience