Just flown home today from the holiday village algarve.
I need to add a report as i read all the holiday truths about this village before i went and to be honest was dreading the moment we landed!
However even though we did get the letters and the phone call with regard to the new splash park NOT BEENING OPEN and building work we LOVED EVERY MINUTE!
FIRST CHOICE REPS BRILL
KIDS CLUB BRILL - USED IT EVERYDAY!
APARTMENTS LOVELY AND SPACIOUS
POOLS A LITTE COOL BUT MY 2 BOYS WENT IN ALL DAY!
EVENING ENTERTAINMENT COOL!
THINGS GOIN ON ALL DAY FOR KIDS AND ADULTS!

BAD TIMES!
The hotel does have major issues with the all inclusive food!
My advise is to go self catering a defo forget the all inclusive!
Food is the same for dinner and tea - and because you are in a quiet location which is great for the kids you have no where to escape as you are tied down to go for breakfast dinner tea.
the other two restaurants are apparently even worse (we did not go)
we went into the old town for tea a few times and loved it! - such a shame really to be all inclusive as you really dont get to see the beautiful algarve history and sample different bars and restaurants. And with such bad food i would most certainly have done self catering.
My boys are 3 and 14months and i know you think it's always easy to be on hand for breakfast dinner and tea but they loved the experience of the visit to the old town and we really easy to get there taxi only 5 euros! - GET OFF AT TAXI RANK 2.

We have complained and will pursue a refund as the money we paid did noy justify the food!
But it most certainly jusified a fab hotel and lovely time had by all. First choice staff outstanding!
The existing splash park is great and the new bit (with slides and new interactive part) is open this sat! Yippee xxx

DONT CANCEL - ENJOY YOU HOLS AND GO SELF CATERING!
XXXXX

Went here beginning of June the first impression of the plsce it was very nice, it was clean, apartments big and spacious facilities in apartment where good.
Staff where nice but thought there was not enough communication between certain departments within the hotel.
The food what can i say it was awful in the first week of the holiday unless you like cold burgers, chips and fishfingers you would be ok, we did complain about this to the first choice reps who said it was in hand and a english chef was coming over to sort it out, in all fairness to the chef the food was a lot better in the second week but did not think it was brilliant, there was more variety, but thought it could have been better.
The Italian restaurant and Portugese restaurant was ok but that wasnt brilliant but compared to the food in the buffet restaurant it was a lot better than that, getting into them as a party of Four was a joke they allocated different times to us saying they didnt have the room for us as a party of four when we went down to them one night they where empty and there was tables of 8 set. We went to the first choice reps about this and they did sort out the porblem for us in the second week of the holiday.
The location was not good at all, it was a 25 minute walk either way to get to any shops or restaurant but the taxis where good and cheap to get to and from the hotel.

We just got back yesterday from HV Algarve. We went self catering as we went to the Alto Da Colina last year and really enjoyed the food and thought that it would be much the same this year. We were wrong. On our first day the hotel gave us a sheet offering us 10% off upgrading to all inclusive directly with them ... you had to do it on your arrival day before you had even experienced the food and they only did it for a minimum of 6 days - oh yes, and the only sitting available was 8pm - 9pm. No good for us as our kids wanted to go to kids village time at 19.45

I have recentley travelled back from the Holiday Village Algarve with my family.
I was very worried prior to our departure because of all the comments I have been reading.
On arrival we were met at the Holiday Village by one mainline rep, 2 soccer school coaches and a swim kid instructor which I thought was a nice touch.
The receptionist got us checked into our room and explained everything in detail.
We were put onto the first sitting which meant we could go anytime between 18.30 & 19.30, this for my family was fine. I wouldn't have been too upset if we had been put on the later one as we tend to eat when ever the kids are hungry on holiday. We still would have been able to attend Kids Village time either way.
The food for my family was fine, a little repetative but it was ok. There is room for improvement and from what the reps were saying it is definatley getting better.
The Kids Clubs are all fantastic!! My children loved all the staff. There's something available all day every day.
My two both took part in soccer school & swim kids which they said was the best part of their holiday. They had a presentation evening on the wednesday where the received a picture and certificate.
The evening entertainment was very good!! Moother Goose was very funny.
Overall our holiday was very good. The weather shone evryday and I felt very relaxed by the end which for me is the main thing.
Well done to all the staff you really are a credit to your company. I'm not sure if I could have ever have put up with the amount of abuse and complaining as you guys do!!

We booked this hotel as we met up with friends who were taking their first family togethwer with their 18 month old son. The main reason for booking was the facilities for infants, but looking like a large complex we hoped there'd be some quiet areas too - and there was!

The original hotel has been expanded and a new block built on a lower level. This is brand new (still having work completed while we were there) and will be very nice when complete. However access between the two blocks is by steps or uphill by road and a steep access slope - not ideal for those with children or with mobility problems (I'll post some pictures to the gallery when I work out how!). We were allocated rooms in block 2 (the new block). Our friends booked the last available apartment so we had a standard twin room.

The room was very nice, almost boutique style with tastefull furnishings including loads of cushions and pillows and a flat screen TV. There were 2 beds pushed together to make a double and a pull-out bed underneath - but I wouldn't like to stay there with more than 2 adults as it would be very cramped. There was nowhere to sit (other than on the bed or a plastic chair on the balcony) but we tended not to spend too much time in the room anyway. The bathroom was tiled with bright green and cream tiles - a bit startling at first but you get used to it! The apartments were lovely and spacious, full kitchen, dining table, sofa, separate bedroom and two balconies.

We had a partial sea view - but this will soon disappear when the hotel being built opposite is complete. We weren't told about this in advance but as the balcony only got sun in the morning we weren't too bothered - until building work started at 8am each day. And the double glazing wasn't very good at blocking out the sound from there, or the busy road linking Albufeira and Olhos D'agua....... Anyone in a room in block 2 will have this problem.

Food was buffet style, apart from if you used your allocated reservations at the speciality restaurants (Italian and Portuguese). You are given your reservation when you check in and I don't know if it can be changed.... the food in the Italian was OK, much nicer in the Portuguese but service was very slow there. This is the first year they've offered AI so I think it will improve..... Breakfast, lunch and dinner is buffet style in the main retaurant, you are given either a green band which means you're on the 18.30-19.30 dinner sitting or a blue band for the 20.00-21.00 sitting - again you are allocated this on arrival. Overall the food (and drink) was good, plenty of choice.

The hotel is at the top of a hill, beaches are within 15min walk, but not many restaurants nearby and only hotel-based supermarkets. I wouldn't go self-catering unless you're willing to taxi into town (about 5 euros each way).

We found all the staff excellent, particularly those in Ricardo's bar in block 2 who kept us supplied with drinks! This bar was very quiet but we enjoyed spending time there.

There was lots to do, we didn't participate much but it all looked good fun - quizzes, shows etc. We had lousy weather but the entertainment team tried to keep everyone amused with games in the bar and by the pool when it wasn't raining... The indoor pool was nice too.

Overall this will be excellent when finished, there was some building work going on but things were getting fixed all through the week so things can only get better...... and they listened to and acted on suggestions (the number of high chairs in the restaurant increased from 3 at the start of the week to 20 by the end!). So I would return (at the right price) in the future.

We stayed at the Algarve Holiday Village(Alto da Collina) in Balaia. The accommodation was spacious and clean, but that could not be said of the communal areas which were quite scruffy.

As we were staying on a self catering basis we were looking forward to the three restaurants and well stocked supermarket on site. The food was awful, under cooked and over priced. 72euros for a family buffet. The supermarket was not very super with a very limited supply of food, much of it could not be cooked on the hob and microwave supplied in the apartment.

Pool areas were clean but the pools were very cold. There were three pools, two were next to building works and the other was bombarded with loud music throughout the day.

The entertainment staff were very friendly but there appeared to be hundreds of them, sometimes there was no escape. We choose not to experience the evening entertainment.

The location of the hotel was terrible. Isolated and in the middle of a building site. From our balcony we played count the cranes.

With the poor hotel food and no nearby restaurants our holiday was dissappointing.

We would never visit this hotel again.

Just returned from 2 weeks at the holiday village Algarve. Dodgy weather but an excellent hotel and would definitely return.

We stayed All Inclusive in a kids den in Block 1 which was huge. It had a kitchenette with dining table, twin beds with a TV in one area and sliding doors through to another room with a bunk bed and bean bags and another TV.
There was a huge balcony with sliding doors in each room with chairs and 2 tables.
Maids came 6 times a week and not until after 9am.

Although there is a sign saying there are 2 sittings for evening dinner, you can go at any time you like. The differnet colour wristbands are dependant on which block you were in. Green for 1 and Blue for 2.
You do receive the times and dates for your al a carte meals on arrival. One each for Italian and Portugeuse per week.
Chips were on the menu constantly. There was pasta/spaghetti as well but not much change on the variety of potatoes. Food was good though and there were always meat and fish dishes plus salad/veg.
Snacks from 2 bars from 10am until 5.30pm and 6pm. Ice creams available in Tavern bar all day / evening.

Building work seemed complete almost everywhere except on the site of the new interactive family splash pool. This doesn't seem like it will be open until around July / August in my opinion as the workmen seemed to sit around more than work. The work didn't interfere with the hotel or pools at all though.

The hotel grounds look alot different to the website pics, actually better in my opinion, with fencing around the playground, a new supermarket, bar and games room in the new block 2.

Sunbeds seemed fairly quiet, although this may have been due to the inclement weather.

Downside is the location. It is a walk to anywhere, with the nearest lively area being Albufeira.
There are loads of activities going on all day and evenings for all ages. The High Ropes are worth a go.
The kids clubs seem very well run and there are things going on until 2300. There are loads of First Choice staff there including the football coaches, swim coaches, in2action staff and entertainment staff.

I've just returned from the Holiday Village Algarve with my son aged 13 and daughter aged 11. We were there for Whitsun week and were in a Twin room (with pull-out bed) in Block 2 and were on All-Inclusive basis.

We all had an enjoyable holiday but not enough to make us return I'm afraid.

The Good - hotel facilites, day-time activities and entertainment, helpfulness of hotel staff, all the First Choice reps and entertainers and most importantly the absolutely brilliant kid's clubs, which, most people raved about and said were second-to-none to any other Tour Operator's kid's clubs they had used. In fact, once my daughter had discovered the Wavelength club (for 9-15 year-olds) towards the end of the week, I could not drag her out! Also, the beach was nice but we only briefly visited the beach due to mixed weather. Finally, we had a lovely day out at Zoomarine with a fantastic dolphin show which should not be missed!

The Not-so-Good - the food (very poor choice and quality in my opinion and plenty of people shared this view unfortunately); Twin rooms (tiny and overlooking a busy road with very noisy/ugly contruction taking place just across the road); pools too cold - although with hotter weather this would not be such an issue. Finally, the location is not great either - it all felt a bit 'squeezed in' around Block 2 in particular and, in general, the Balaia area is very built up and not particularly attractive - again, this is just my personal opinion.

Overall I felt it wasn't very good value for money, especially for us as we had to pay full adult price for one of our children (this is because my partner doesn't like flying so I have to holiday abroad as a 'single parent'). But for families with younger children who like loads of hot dogs, chips, etc, and who have booked the much more spacious accommodation, then you'll have a great time!

Having stayed here in 2006 on a Self Catering basis when there was only 1 block and the bar/entertainment room was also a snack bar/casual restaurant we booked to come back when the sales for 2008 were released at the beginning of May 2007. It was only

The Holiday Viilage Algarve.

Fantastic, Fantastic. Going back again. Complex outstanding, beautiful. Best hoilday ever had. Staff really friendly, food 5 star, rooms 5 star. Pools fantastic.