The hotel was really clean the rooms cleaned and had fresh towels daily, the room waqs spacious although didn't have any tea & coffee making making facilities. There is a safety deposit box that can be hired (charged on daily basis) and colour tv in the room.

The breakfast was excellent - a large variety of fruit juices, cereals and bowls of fruit to choose from, a cold platter of meats, different bread and rolls and a cooked breakfast. The only drawback if you came down from 9.30 onwards you may have to wait for the staff to clear tables and reset them before you could eat.

Staff were friendly and helpful - we didn't stay in the hotel much so didn't have too much interaction with them.
Again with entertainment there seemed to be something happening in the Dog and Duck pub in the hotel each evening although we did go out.

The hotel is beautifully appointed and this aspect merits its 4-star billing. The marble floored, leather seated, sunken light in low ceiling foyer is set off by an impressive centre shaft design, allowing a look down to the lower first floor Japanese style pebble and stone water feature(with fish!), with natural light coming in from an overhead turret window.

All public areas and the rooms are absolutely spotless. We paid extra for the garden view, which also took in some waste land and a fair sea view, about 500 yards away. The balcony has space for two plastic seats and table but not much more. The view extends to several buildings of equal size (nothing is particularly high here) and a couple of small roads which seem to host mostly resident apartments, judging by the washing on balcony lines. The noise was minimal, but I suspect increases significantly during high season, but one suspects emanating mainly from hotel guests.

Ideally located halfway between "Strip" and Albufeira old town; easily reached via brisk walk, 'lorry-tram' or taxi.

Room was large and bed extremely comfortable. Bathroom and usual fittings/extras pleasing, although tiled floors throughout don't help noise levels on any floor. Minibar (locked) may appeal, Easyjet hotel listing claimed teamaking facility so absence of kettle was a bottom lip issue for my partner! TV has volume restricter (can see advantage but is set too low even for ordinary listening).

Outside pool/garden bar was closed (we went end Feb/beg Mar), although a towel was seen over one of the poolside recliners, perhaps draped ready for July by a keen German sunseeker. The garden is not especially large and requires loving attention due to an apparent water shortage and previous drought conditions. It rained for four of our six days visit, so although we were disappointed, one can't begrudge the desperately needed deluge.

Indoor pool is really nice; a jungle theme with trees, minus the featured wooden bridge over the main section during our stay though. Paddler pool sits to one side and a dry walk area has tables and bar for the less aquatically minded. Health club sports good array of activities but is on the small side considering available accommmodation: jacuzzi fits four, same for suana room but turkish bath, equipped gym and massage service rounds off facilities.

The hotel appeared to be only half full on Saturday arrival, but we woke to a Spanish Armada: evidently some sort of neighbouring holiday date. Portuguese hosts were considerably more polite and humble: the Spaniards (and some Americans) shamed themselves noisily in corridors, at mealtimes and in fact everywhere for several days before thinning out homewards towards the end of the week.

The catering, cleaning and health club staff were excellent. Friendly, helpful and a joy to converse with. Unfotunately I can't say the same for the reception (front desk) and bar staff, one young lady excepted on our final morning, who I wished could've been around earlier. A degree of surliness and unapologetic attitude in handling certain issues mars a 5 score on staff.

We had chosen B&B, partly due to a previous catering review and to try local food elsewhere. Weather put paid to that so sampled evening meals most nights. Bit hit and miss, buffet breakfast okay, good choice (if you like toast it's a wait: interminably slow machine scares bread with mild warming waft-have to put slice through conveyor three times). A la carte seemed fine and odd evening buffet enjoyable, but for the most part indifferent and unadventurous. Worst aspect is breakfast provision of two Nescafe vending machines for tea/coffee. Pathetic for 4-star hotel seating 300 people. Only catering staff and room service option saved this from being a very poor rating.

Entertainment was restricted to serenading guitarist who found a niche with old standards for the Yanks. Please. Onsite Dog & Duck themed pub has live music/karaoke/Sports TV channels. Smoky (not good for non-smokers), tired decor and moody staff. Lounge has books in German, Italian and English nationality linked bookshelves and comfy seating, near tiny in-house gift shop.

Almost became a holiday from hell when workmen opened up with drills and incessant hammering on second (top) floor in afternoons on third day. Half that floor was closed off for repairs, but I got this switched to morning work by last day, following little impression on unmoved male desk clerk. All it would've taken was a recption sign or making guests aware but we had no warning. Not content with it being left in the room, he wanted me to fetch a borrowed iron back before allowing us to check out, which sums up my choice not to revisit. Shame, the key staff deserve better.

It scrapes a three star but in trying for the big league its exterior suggests, it's not cottoned on to sorting the little things that make the difference.

Stayed here July 2004
Good 4* hotel 300 rooms one side looks on to the main road and sufferd from wind noise in some rooms,on the back the views of a pleasent pool and garden erea higher rooms have a sea view. On entry there is marble foyer with leather sette's and pleassent and friendly staff, car hire and trips can be had cheaper than with tour rep's. We upgraded to a pool view direct with the hotel via e mail and saved money as it was half price again than through Tompsons.
The rooms are large with good sized bathrooms , seating in room and balcony, we stayed on B/B so we could eat out at night. Breakfast had full range of hot and cold food and was v/good, room cleaned every day along with fresh towels bed changed three times a week the hotel on the whole is very cean and tidy. Entertainment thoughs on H/B had a singer most nights , there is a pub with enterainment every night singers/karaoke sometimes held out side so some rooms may suffer noise till one o'clock.
Pool & garden has plenty of sun beds and each pair has a sun umbrella in the garden there is also a small childrens play park and volley ball net, the pool bar does light snacks and the drinks are a few cents than the local bars as with most hotels.
The only fault I had with this hotel was the water in the pool was stone cold and was a bit of a shock first time in.

Stayed here July 2004
Good 4* hotel 300 rooms one side looks on to the main road and sufferd from wind noise in some rooms,on the back the views of a pleasent pool and garden erea higher rooms have a sea view. On entry there is marble foyer with leather sette's and pleassent and friendly staff, car hire and trips can be had cheaper than with tour rep's. We upgraded to a pool view direct with the hotel via e mail and saved money as it was half price again than through Tompsons.
The rooms are large with good sized bathrooms , seating in room and balcony, we stayed on B/B so we could eat out at night. Breakfast had full range of hot and cold food and was v/good, room cleaned every day along with fresh towels bed changed three times a week the hotel on the whole is very cean and tidy. Entertainment thoughs on H/B had a singer most nights , there is a pub with enterainment every night singers/karaoke sometimes held out side so some rooms may suffer noise till one o'clock.
Pool & garden has plenty of sun beds and each pair has a sun umbrella in the garden there is also a small childrens play park and volley ball net, the pool bar does light snacks and the drinks are a few cents than the local bars as with most hotels.
The only fault I had with this hotel was the water in the pool was stone cold and was a bit of a shock first time in.

We have stayed at this hotel for two years running which shows that we have been very satisfied.
We did book a room overlooking the pool for the second year...the first year we overlooked the road. Both have something to recommend them, in that the pool room had the best view but could be a little noisier until about 01.00am as it was above the bar, but this generally wasn't a problem for us.
The ony grumble that we all had was the fact that we weren't allowed to use either the gym or the swimming pool before 10.am.
There are lots of good restaurants in both directions, and we had some really good meals out.
You can also get the tram(which runs every twenty minutes) for 2euros..1 trip or 6 euros ..day ticket. and go either to the old town or onto the strip.
We can really recommend this hotel and would go again but after two years running feel that we have seen all that Albufeira has to offer and maybe will try Villamoura next time....Oh and another thing we chose Albufeira as it is central for all the golf courses...and the golf has not disappointed the golfers in our party.

Hotel ideal in between old & new town we booked a garden room and the view was really nice.The facilities are very good at the hotel we booked b&b the breakfast had something for everyone fruit,ceral,even fry ups.The staff would have got 5 in our ratings but the management of the bar sadly tends not to like big or loud groups.Also they need to improve the entertainment in the bar with duets,trios or groups rather than 1 man or woman entertainers.

We have just returned from a New year stay at this hotel.

Found the rooms okay, although we were given a room overlooking the bottle banks and bins, which were emptied during the night. Not very peaceful! To avoid this you must pay the supplement of

Have just returned from a week at this hotel June 2003.
Very clean, spacious and well located. Will definately go there again.

Minor quibbles about the room not being available to check into at their stated time and room service breakfast not being delivered but overall 9/10.

Good mix of people there families, younger and older couples. Mostly British.

Good buffet breakfast and snacks with waiter service by the pool. Got a picnic delivered and was a good standard.
No mad rush for sunbeds at an ungodly hour either.

Stayed here in July 2002.

Great hotel, no getting up at the crack of dawn to get a sunbed, very clean, fresh towels every day.

Located at the top of the hill into the old town. One couple complained the service was a bit slow but we never had any problems at all.

Rooms have fully fitted kitchens so if you want to cook you can, fridge was great as you could keep drinks cold.

Definitely recommend this hotel.

Went to the Cerra Alagoa Hotel in June 2002 and it was lovely, very clean, spacious rooms.

Indoor and outdoor pool, pool bar/restaurant with waiter service, English pub at the hotel, restaurant and shop.

Staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Rooms were very well equipped with daily room service.

Would definitely return to this hotel.