excellent all round, the food was fab with a good variety for kids and adults, the entertainment staff were outstanding and i would definetly be returning to a holiday village, and would definetly go back to the algarve

Having been reading the reviews on this site and others, I started of the year slightly apprehensive about this holiday, but as the season progressed the reviews got better and I was a bit more relaxed.

I have to say that we had nothing to worry about. The hotel was excellent and we had a marvelous time.

The rooms are extremely spacious. Only critisim if any would be a slight lack of cupboard space, particulary hanging space. For a family of four, one hanging rail is not generous.

Apart from this the rooms are excellent and well equipped. Telly had British kids channels which served to keep the kids amused while we showered in the evenings.

All building work seemed to have been completed before we got there with just some general maintenance going on. The hotel grounds are extremely well kept making it a lovely environment.

There is a large range of pools (all of which quite cold). My kids initially loved the new splash park but as the holiday progressed seem to prefer the big main pool as there was quite a bit going on all the time. Especially around lunch time with the daily quiz and of course the Head To Head Show down where the entertainmnets team and guests faced various competative challenges.

MOves me nicely on to the entertainments. The resident team lead by Ruth are excellent and produced a lot of good quality shows. Evening starts with the mini disco which the kids loved (I quite enjoyed the grab a grown up bit as well if truth be known), followed by the "Big Bucks Bingo", followed by an audience participation game show and then the main event. This was the occassional "Proffssional Act" but mostly put on by the Team, Ruth, Silly Billy, Danielle, Lindzy, Phil and DJ Daryl. Most of the shows the team put on were excellent.

The food, although not the best I have had was more than adequate and we always managed to find something to eat. Contrary to previous reviews, I managed to eat Chips only twice during the holiday and found plenty of alternatives, Rice, Pasta, Roast new potatoes etc. The Menu's were a bit predictable but that was not too much of a problem. More of an effort could have been made on desserts, quite often the kids went without. This would have been easily fixed simply by making sure Ice Cream was avaialble every night in the restaurant. First Choice surveyed twice during our stay on the food and are obviously treating previous critisism seriously.

Stayed in the Majorca Holiday Village last year which is slightly remote, on the outskirts of Ca'n picafort. No surprise then that the Algarve Holiday village is slightly remote from the main resort centre. In fact this is the case for all of the european Holiday villages, which is why they tend to be spacious and well equipped. I expected the remote location and was happy to accept this as a trade off for having spacious and well equipped hotel.

All in all an excellent holiday, and I would go back to HV Algarve. Have already booked for HV Costa Del Sol for next year

omg!!!! the food was garbage,one night all my husband ate was 2 bread rolls and hes not a fussy eater.complained about the food in the 2nd week,they said they hadn't had any other complaints which was a lie,filled a complaints form in,when i got back first choice said i hadn't!! first choice are rubbish, wont be going with them again.Between 4 couples and all the kids, we paid 17 thousand quid for this holiday, no way should this hotel be a 4*,only good thing its quite clean, rubbish entertainment,we've been to holiday villages before and they were good so we were expecting better than this.save your money dont go here.

The hotel was nice and clean, we stayed in block1 in an appartment, the room was lovely spacious and clean.

I enjoyed the food and the staff were very helpful.

The First Choice team the entertainment staff and in2action staff were brill.

Good hotel we would go back, we were a bit worried after reading reviews on here , but honestly its great and you'll have a great time so look forward to it. Go loads of pics will try and put up later.

I have just got back from this hotel and to be honest If I had listened to the feedback on this hotel that have been placed on some sites I probably would not have gone. Having already been to a Holiday village a couple of years ago and enjoyed It I didnt hesitate about going again.

This hotel was fantastic the entertainment team was brill and the kids loved it (Big thanks to Billy, Ruthy, Phil, Lindsey and Danielle) they were the entertainers on the evening they work so hard to keep the kids entertained and when they had finshed for the night they would take time out and come round and chat to the people that where left which I thought was a nice touch.

The in2action team that work through the day are awesome too. The kids clubs are excellent and give the kids something else to do other than being in the pool all day. The splash pool is complete now and there are a couple of slides that kids will love (and the adults too). There is a little bit of work being done on the hotel still but it is only adding some extra fencing, railings etc.

We were in block 2 which is about 1 minute walk to the resturant but this block is quieter. If I am to be honest I liked the food but thought they could just do with having a bit more variety as it did get a bit repetative. I can understand if it is not to everyones taste though.

The hotel staff where friendly but as other people have said the hotel is not in a prime location. Albufeira is about 20/25 mins walk i would say but then i didnt go to this hotel so i could walk everywhere. All in all we had a excellent time and we are booking to go back in the September so it cannot be all bad.

This is a fantastic hotel, wonderful for the children with so much to do. Lovely swimming pools and a newly built pool with slides etc. Loads of kids clubs you can sign up for, drama, football, art and crafts are just some. Also a late club from 9pm until 11pm so you can chill whilst the children enjoy themselves. Although these clubs are not free, around 8 euros each session I think. The rooms are the best we have ever stayed in, very large, modern and clean with double balcony. Cleaning service is very good. The entertainments team were fantastic, although its always the same, kids disco, bingo, interaction with guests and then show. Unless you get down to the entertainments venue (which is inside)very early you probably won't get a seat. Although this did not bother us because we spent many evenings in resort.

If you are going out its really difficult to get a taxi, especially between 7 and 8pm. We had to wait an hour on a few occasions. The hotel only knew of 2 taxi firms and these were constantly busy. This hotel is abit out of the way and its a good 25 minute walk to the stip up and down hill, you can't do it during the day because its too hot.

The worst thing about this hotel is definately the food. Its all very much the same night after night. The childrens menu only consists of chips, burger, sausages and fishfingers and the odd pasta dish. The adult menu is not much better, basically if they have stuff left over from lunch its used in another dish for dinner. The food lets this hotel down big time.

What a fantastic holiday, no need to worry about negative reviews.

The hotel was very clean, modern, bright and well maintained, the rooms were spacious and very modern. The only problem we would have with it is the lack of disabled access and facilities. Most of the complex is cobbled/blocked paving which is very rough for wheelchairs, I found it very painful to be pushed over them. Any ramps they did have were not of the correct gradient and could be very dangerous, my hubby had to take me down backwards but he found it very slippy. Would have been impossible for people who didn't have a carer with them. The entertainment complex did not have a ramp to get in and there are no accessible toilets, they are all up a flight of stairs, the only toilet was back in reception. To be fair, the reps (Dave, Ellie and Kate) and their manager (Lindsay) were very helpful and even took me in the car from block 1 to 2 for the themed restaraunts. They were looking into getting ramps made for a woman who had arrived the day we left and was in a power skooter.

Moan over, if I was able bodied this was one of the best holidays we've been on. The restaraunt is very nice, the food is adequate for what we required and the staff were lovely.

The entertainment both day and night was fabulous, the teams worked there socks off and nothing is ever too much for them. The kids loved Gladiators when all kids and adults were able to join in with activities such as tug of war, target practice and best belly flops. To top it of, the team wear the kiddies tshirts and hats they look so funny.

We did a few trips, Zoomarine was amazing, the Jeep Safari was great, they even put my wheelchair in the back and I got to sit up front where it was more comfy.

Good luck to all who are going and say hi to the team from us.

Just returned from Holiday Village and had a great time, i do agree that the food is not very good limited choice very poor not 4 star more like 2. The kids entertainment is brilliant my daughter loved Billy he was fab, kids club great and new splash pool is brilliant however getting very busy there now. Hotel facilities are very good and rooms spacious with Cbeebies, Cbbc , BBC1 and BBC3 on the tv, i do agree that the hotel does have some teething troubles and i would return but not for a few years.

On reading reviews we travelled with no high expectations but was pleasently surprised.

The hotel was clean comfortable and above all offered more than we expected.

The food was very good.... this apparantly was down to a uk chef being flown in the previous few days to our arrival to assist in the buffet restaraunt.... obviously this is a new concept with the hotel being made into a family holiday village and to try and meet the standards of other holiday villages.

We only ate in the portugese it was ok but the childrens choice was not great according to other families.

Our child is only 6months so did not need the food.
You are allocated either early or late sittings 6.30 - 7.30 or 8-9, slightly different to other all inclusives but i could imagiane this was due to the buffet restaraunt have waitered service for drinks which I feel added a slightly more classier alternative to your typical help yourself as in most circumstances and it is not a very big restaraunt.

we spoke to the rep as on early sitting did not suit us, this request was met yet other guests not so lucky..... this I presume was because they went straight to reception rather than asking the rep to deal with their request.... the rep is there to do a job and as they have a rapport with the staff then I highly suggest any issues or requests go through them.....

Regarding the reps they were briliant. Efficient and helpful. on duty from about 8am until 10pm but saw them later than this.

The entertainment team on an evening was very good really got the adults and children involved.

Kids disco then bingo quizzes and some form of cabaret or comedy act.

On one night there was a vantriloquist from the UK... he was hilarious.

Through the day the first choice activities team were fab..... water polo, quizzes, gladiators, trigolf and more, it was very organised.

Having a 6month old it did not matter but the first choice splash park was not finished. No digging or major noise but families with older children may be a little dissapointed, but with 6 other pools on site and the hotels splash area it seemed not to be missed.

Looking at the slow pace of the workmen and only a handful will probably take a good few weeks or so to be finished, probably not until mid July.

The location we found was ok...
Yes a bit out but at the end of the day you book a Holiday Village possibly All inclusive WHY???

Because of the on-sight facilities and entertainment!!!
if it was totally flat then wouldnt be a big issue. With a buggy and myself being a slow walker it took approx 30mins to the strip.

Pavements not excellent but did not bother us
it is a bit up and down but if you take your time it is a pleasent walk.

But taxis are cheap enough 4euros to strip and 6euros to old town which is has a bit more of a traditional feel. yes you do need to wait a bit for taxis but this is for the whole resort not just down to the hotel and the staff done their best to get it as quick as possible.
Would we go again to this hotel???... YES

I really want to try the other holiday villages as this was new and had a few teething problems but overall exceeded our expectations.

I've just retured from a weeks holiday in the Holiday Village Algarve. There have been a few changes since we were there last year - block 2 has been built which is spotless, rooms are huge and very tastefully decorated. Staff are 100% friendly & helpful.
We chose Self Catering, as we like to sample different restaurants and don't like to eat in same place all the time. 90% of holidaymakers seem to go All-Inclusive here so I have to say we felt like real "outsiders". Besides
major queues at the bar (10 mins approx)to get there and
be told what we were looking for was sold out (bottle of water, orange juice (daughter doesn't like fizzy drinks)bottle Krona / Bud etc. Then on our 3rd day we got a note under the door to say bars/restaurants will no longer accept cash, we had to purchase a card at reception and put a minimum credit on it of Eur 100. We did this but when we tried to order some lunch at the poolside bar, the
lady serving us told us the card number was incorrect - she couldn't accept it! Again my husband was pushed aside
while she served all inclusive guests. We had to wait about 15 mins for girl on reception to ring though and say card was ok - this we found extremely annoying as both ourselves and children (ages 8 & 4) were hungry. We booked
dinner one evening in the restaurant but after hearing reviews and complaints from other holidaymakes we cancelled. Everyone complained the food was greasy and very basic - one guy told me his local chipper at home served better food - glad we didn't go all-inclusive even
though at times we were made to feel like lepers! Be careful re this credit card - on checking out receptionist tried to tell me I owed Eur 7.20 as I had overspent on the card, this I knew was incorrect and only after I argued my point and asked her to produce receipts she backed down and told me she owed me Eur 42.50 - so be warned!!! On the plus side, the First Chouce Reps are absolutely Fantastic! Special thanks to Ian & Dave the football coaches and Kieley the swim coach - there were brilliant, also to the kids club reps - all fantastic. The reps all work really hard, they are there from early morning to 12pm most nights so well done. Evening entertainment most nights was good, but our only problem was Bingo every night - no thanks!! All in All the village is very clean, plenty to do but a big no no for the food. We went to the Strip evenight night to eat where you will find gorgeous restaurants at very reasonable prices - Reno's has to be our favourite - Food absolutely gorgeous, great childrens menus and very family friendly!