Just returned from a 9 night Christmas break at this property,

lets look at the positive aspects, the location and views would be hard to beat, the housekeeping staff did an excellent job and it was cheap.

now the rest, food very repetitive often tepid and not hot the pool snack bar is not big enough to cope when busy, the selection of AI drinks were fine BUT the queuing system at the reception bar can be painfully slow when busy, the entertainment was basically the same every night [a bloke on his keyboard] and after 3 nights we knew what tune [i say this tong in cheek] was coming next,

It's a shame the buildings are structurally good, BUT very tired as are the furnishings in the main areas,

a lot of money needs to be thrown at this property to bring it back to a 3 star rating, cracked/chipped tiles on floors and walls,loose and missing electrical fittings,worn and dated bathroom and kitchen facilities
[we had a SC apartment] and windows and walkways which leaked like a sieve when it rained [which was most days]and re finishing of the paint work

if i were grading this property then as it currently stands its barely worth 2 stars

just got back today from auramar hotel, good points are location being right on seafront and being allocated in block 'a' room 506. hotel made up of 4 blocks and reading various reviews on this hotel and doing my homework i discovered half of the hotel has been refurbished and in finding this out i sent the hotel an email asking for a refurbished room and also a high floor to take advantage of the sea view, i am glad to say my request was granted, i would say that there were some rooms that had no view at all and in turn would have a different 'holiday' from others like myself. room was cleaned and fresh towels on a daily basis but only if you let the maid know by leaving your 'please clean room' card on your door handle!

not so good points, reception staff not very welcoming especially on arrival, some people there definately in the wrong job! staff in restaurant make you feel you are an inconvenience as well, entertainment at night so so, definately geared towards german guests, same can be said for daytime activities. will definately visit albufeira again but would not stay at auramar. lots of folk also said it was okay for a cheap holiday but ours wasnt !

Oh my goodness i do not know where to even start with this hotel! it was awful, if albureia wasn't such an amazing place this hotel would have ruined my holiday!. We stayed half board the breakfest was terrible, with a selection of scrambbled egg beans an sausages one day and fried egg or bacon the next. it wouldnt have been to bad if it was cattered for eveyone as appose to german food! please do not try the sausage i do not know why i did it didnt even look edible! the juice was also very wattered down and i felt sorry for a few children as it had 'bits in'. on the plus side tea was ok. the soup was amzing, meats where very boney and fatty and you tended to not know what you were eating as the signs were german. i ended up eating pizza most nights as it was only nice thing their and i don't even eat pizza in the uk! oh and the 'roast dinner' was nice.
the cleanliness made me sick! not once were are sheets changed on the weeks holiday, beeing a women i got mascara on the sheets on the first night which remind their till the last! towels seemed to be changed when the maid felt like no real pattern. Oh and been warned we booked an apart-hotel and arrived to a fridge !!! no hobs, toaster, taps or anything of the sort, most deffintly over priced!! the location was decent of a day 15 minute walk to the main beach and ten minute walk up an gentle hill to the strip, of a night this was a night mare!!! walking back from the top end of the strip (quiter nicer part)to the bottom was like a night out on the town people outside qall the clubs fighting throwing up and you couldnt move the streets were packed !!! Once you passed this it was down the gentle hill to the hotel which too you left hosted the Kiss night club ! Do not stay here if you have children!!! the Hotle staff were the only plus side, waiters/ess could not do enough for you, the reception staff were so friendly and more than happy to help. Can't really comment on entertainment as we never stayed in the hotel but guests did seem to enjoy themselves. another annoying thing about this hotel was the wasps!! we didnt see one anywhere in albuferia except at the pool, trying to sun bathe with them flying round was a right pain, which ment covering your drinks or avoiding buying them, so you didnt get botherd! the hotel was full of Germans! not that i have a problem with this but everything was catered to their needs! even their own swimming pool! The actual algarve was an amazing place. beatifull, shops were fantastic, nightlife was amazing Faces bar at the top of the strip was really good, we've already booked for next year, not here tho this hotel was awful!! please don't book!

I cannot understand where these people are coming fron complaining about the breakfast. I have a very fussy husband but we both found the breakfast excellent. With a choice of full English, boiled eggs, over 10 different types of bread, jams, marmalades, german fayre, fresh fruit, natural yoghurt, over 6 to 7 cereals every day, unlimited hot drinks, milk, juices.

If by some miracle you could not find what you liked here if you simply approached the cooking staff they would endeavour to provide whatever you desired that was breakfast fayre.

The room we were in had been refurbished and was lovely, balcony was not good but view nice. This is an older accommodation that has undergone some refurbishment but the main reception and entertainment area is still quite traditional. Yes it has dark woods but that is traditional Portugeuse decor.

My only real issue was the indoor swimming pool was too small, very stuffy atmosphere and not at all inviting.

Yes i would go back and yes the entertainment needs a boost, bingo and karaoke hummmm no i think not. A singer would be better with maybe a fado night or two.

We stayed at the Auramar as a party of eight. Each couple had a sea-view room of their own. Personally I found our room very nice and clean, the bathroom was big and the bedroom was big enough. The Balcony wasn't the best Ive ever had but it had a sea view and a table and chairs which was all we needed. Ladies please note that I didn't find a hairdryer so remember to take one!

We found the hotel to be very clean, our room was cleaned everyday by the same maid who was very friendly and did a very good job. Towels seemed to be changed everday and the bedlinnen was changed once a week.

The food at the hotel was lovely, and there was loads of it. OK as the previous guy mentioned, the breakfast did get a little boring, on alternate days you either had sausage (bit spicey but very nice) and beans or bacon and tomatoes, but there was a continental choice, plus toast and of course CHIPS!!

During the day the Pool bar provided great meals, there was always a choice of soup, burgers and chips, fish, some days there was chops or chicken or steak, and you could always get a pasta dish, there was also a salad bar with cold ham and cheese and the homemade coleslaw was beautiful!!

Evening meals were also fine, again there was burger and chip (for the kids I guess), there was usually a pasta dish, a fish dish, a veggie dish, soup, different meat dishes, a salad bar and a good selection of puddings! The only thing I felt was missing was a nice cheese selection for the end of the meal.

The hotels location was brilliant, it was only a 10 minute stroll to the Strip where all the life was, but it was far enough out that you didn't get any trouble or noise.

The hotel staff, once they got to know you, were very friendly, especially the bar staff.

The only downfall to this hotel was the "Entertainment". During the day there were activities if you wanted them, just like any other package holiday, but at night it really wasn't up to much. As we were all inclusive we tried to stay at the hotel until the bar shut, then went onto the strip, but some evenings it was really boring and we left early. It did seem to be very German orientated, with translations in German for everything and a little English if you were lucky. The best night was the Karaoke night, which I guess is when the guests provide the entertainment. Could definitely improve on that!

I would definitely book (all-inclusive again) to go to this hotel again! We had a very enjoyable holiday at the Auramar.

We stayed B+B but the breakfast I can only describe as boring, we actually went out for breakfast after the first few days.

The hotel was spotless, towels changed daily and bedding at least once a week.

The hotel is on the top of a cliff with lovely views, but be warned from the pool back up to reception there are more than 70 steps!!not for anyone with ambulatory problems.

No problem with the staff, and the entertainment was fine.

We have just had a last minute 4 night stay at the Auramar Beach Resort as it is now named.

Board basis : B&B - Breakfast was good and catered for everyone ,We spoke to people all inclusive who said they had started going out for Dinner as the menu had become boring.

Hotel Cleanliness: We found the Hotel to be quite clean with our room cleaned every day Towels changed every day but bedding not changed at all during 4 days ,the hotel grounds are very clean.

Hotel Location: Probably in the best location for a quiet or active holiday with Albufera old Town a 20 min stroll along the beach or The Strip with its numerous bars and restaurants a 10 minute walk away.

Staff:reception staff were very organised, but not with a happy disposition, the main bar area is small and unkept, bar staff were slow and never cleared a single table.
Entertainment : Limited Don't bother the strip is only 10 Min's walk away.

Visit again: Maybe if we were with a group and only use its location Pool and breakfast

Arrived at the Auramar first impressions from the outside was quite impressive very large hotel, and very clean.

Once inside the hotel it was very old fashioned it was like something from the 70's lets say they like dark wood, everywhere you go there is wood which did make the hotel very dull.

I will say that it was spotlessly clean and the staff were very helpful the rooms again were very dated but had everything you needed air con, sky TV, fridge, safe, bath/shower, telephone and again cleaned daily no complaints.

The pool area was overlooking the beach that I must say was lovely very peaceful. We only stayed on a B&B basis as we were only there for 3 days we wanted to eat out and try the cuisine which may I say was excellent and great value for money.

My only complaint was the food at the hotel, breakfast consisted of soggy chips, scrambled egg which was very runny and tasteless, sausages well if you want to break a tooth then they are there to try, the orange juice, you could see right through it no taste it was like water, after trying all that I thought I would go for toast you cant go far wrong with that. Oh but you can, the bread was that stodgy tasteless it was like eating cement so overall we found the food awful, the only good thing about breakfast time was the coffee it was Nescafe. Yes I would stay at this hotel again only for a short break but would eat out everything else was great.

The Auramar Hotel is the nicest hotel I have been to.

The entertainment and food etc was what u made of it. The hotel staff could not have been nicer to me, maybe that says something for the people who found them grumpy and rude.

Bar staff, caterers and reception staff were a laugh when they got to know your face a bit, and always very polite to me. Look out for Charlie, such a lovely helpful bar man.

The pool area is amazing and as for the steps... If you are a lazy bone idle human being then dont attempt this hotel as it has about 15 steps to the pool area, it caters for disabled with ramps and elavators to the rooms.

My room was cleaned everyday by a lovely welcoming cleaner who always said hello and goodbye which I personally find very polite.

I only paid for B&B but ate in the restaurant for tea twice. The food is also what you make of it. The restaurant Agua Viva round the corner is lovely and very well mannered staff.. The pizzas there are amazing, award winning!!! But there is a slight language barrier with one of the waitresses.

The strip is a dangerous place, gypsys.... just ignore them, my friend had

Just returned from the most wonderful week at the Auramar with my sister.

I found the whole complex just wonderful! The rooms although alittle dated are large, spacious with a little seated area, bath with good shower, a good sized balcony and tv with a few English channels namely BBC News 24, ITV 3, CNN.

All of the staff were wonderful to us and couldn't do enough for us apart from one barmaid, but then it can't be perfect i guess. Absolutely loved the grounds with lush tropical gardens very well maintained. The pool area was the nicest i've ever seen, lovely size with loads of sunbeds and overlooking the sea.

Just through the security gate at the bottom there is a beautiful beach which is only 2 mins away.

The entertainment we didn't get involved in but didn't seem much good but then with the new strip just a 10 min walk away and the old town just the same by taxi who really wants to sit in the hotel every night?

The breakfast was superb, it had everything from cold meats, cheeses, fruit and breakfast cereals to your full brekfast with the tastiest sausage and bacon i've ever had!

Everywhere was spotlessly clean and we had a maid service for the whole 7 days we were there which was a lovely surprise. Yes, the hotel is full of Germans on all inclusive but they were very "well mannered" people who kept themselves to themselves which is fair enough.

I wouldn't recommend all inclusive because although the food looked beautiful it did seem to be very repetitive and with so many gorgeous places to eat and very reasonable prices i'd recommend getting out there and exploring! I would especially recommend Agua Viva the little restaurant just outside the grounds of the hotel which served traditional Portuguese food,their piri piri chicken on the bone, rice and salad is not to be missed and it only cost 5 euro (about