We read the holiday truth page before we went and began to wonder if we had picked the right place. We went 1st week in October and for the first 3 days the weather was really hot. Then after that it was fairly warm and windy. The appartment's were not bad at all and there was plenty of hot water the shop was opposite our bit - but when we arrived we had to buy milk and water from reception becuase it was 9.00 at night and the shop was shut.

You can use the tap water as long as you boil and each appartment has a balcony with furniture. They have a clean oven and fridge also a microwave - but could'nt see much in the shops to microwave appart from pizza. The maids come in regularly and clean, empty bins etc.

The pool was freezing. You could go across the 'Green' bridge to the other side and use the facilities there which are pretty similar except I would say the pool was quieter. and there is a rubber ring shop there. All the staff speak English.

Apartment was impressive, large and airy but no air con. which on hot nights could be difficult, luckily most nights were quite breezy. Balcony was too small for family of 4, would have been better have used some of the living space for the balcony

I would suggest that when you come to book these apartments, and they are good, you ask to stay in the reception block, above the supermarket. Near to the pool but away from the farm which disturbed lots of people in the opposite block, the cockerel never got its timing right all week.

Having said that, the staff were excellent, entertainment was OK for the kids, not great for adults, but enough to keep us busy.

If going with small children who normally walk, advice would be to take a buggy, Alvor is very hilly.

The apartments were adequate but towels were changed only twice a week and when you are showering twice a day that's inadequate. The maids took dirty wet towels out of the bath and hung them on the balcony. The sheets on the beds were not changed at all in the two weeks we were there.

This was self catering but the shop closed at 7:00pm and was barely stocked and very expensive.

The complex was within a ten minute walk of the small town of Alvor and about 20 minutes from the beach. But walking did require negotiating the road, frightening if you have young children.

Entertainment was a joke, the only adult entertainment was a Friday night barbecue, Portugese style (OK Why Not). The barbecue however was never cleaned and during the day cats, and god knows what else, climbed up to scrape food of it.
Most apartments require climbing stairs, luckily our child was 13 and we left the buggy at home. This family resort is completely unsuitable for young children, adults and teenagers. If you are comming here make sure you are aged between five and ten.

The complex is spread out over a large area and split by a very busy road. A large metal bridge is the only safe link between the two sides. Each side has it's own pool but space is at a premium and the pool, due to under capacity, becomes visibly polluted towards the evening.

The new side of the complex borders a farm, infact it is practically on the farm. We did not experience too much in the way of bad smells but were kept awake all night by dogs and roosters.

What spoiled our holiday from the start was the mis-information provided by the agent, Going Places. I have a problem sleeping in hot weather and was told that this complex had air conditioning. When we complained we were called liars, and were accused of trying to get a free upgrade by the Airtours rep. We were excluded from the welcome meeting and threatened with eviction from the complex. No attempt was made whatever to resolve the problem and we were left to our own devices. We will never travel with Airtours again.

Our two week holiday consisted of mixed emotions.

Our initial introduction of the Alvor ferias accomodation was of a hefty fight up the many stairs with the suitcases! (complete with make up and hairdryer! very heavy!).

The staff and reps did actually go out of their way to accomodate us as there had been a mix up at the airport with regards to our family holiday booked at another resort. The cosmos rep was fab and ensured the children were entertained. We didnt quite get a chance to thank him for all his efforts but all was very much appreciated!

The food was basic and the apartment in need of a little updating. Towels were replaced often on request.

There was poolside entertainment each day but a bit repetative. A Friday barbeque with as much as you can eat and live entertainment.

On an evening there were locals who were braiding hair.(novelty for young ones!)

Ah yes, the rooster was set to wake at the most unreasonable of hours as well!

Alvor fishing village was a ten minute walk away which involved quaint houses with cobbled streets.
There were many restaurants which presented local dishes. Sardines are a must apparently.

Excursions can be booked in the Alvor town cheaper than the reps on occasion,worth looking into.

We wouldn't return to this hotel but made the best out of what was available. Money may be better spent elsewhere. Again the lovely families we met and the reps made the holiday!

The Alvorferia complex looks more like a British DSS waiting room. I have never seen so may shaven headed men with earings and tattoos. Many with loud badly behave kids.

The hotel rooms are clean but no lifts. The whole place looks tired and dead on its feet. It looks like they should knock it down and start again.

On arrival found rooms to be very spacious however in 1970's style decor, no tv, no radio, no air-condition, no toaster in fact bar and absolutely dated. Beds not changed all week and the weather was extremely hot, so by the end of the week the beds could practically walked to the washing machine on their own. When complained told by reception manageress that it is advertised in the brochere that the beds are only changed once a week, if that is so they would have very few guests!!

Bathrooms only floors wiped, bath, toilet and sink not cleaned at all, dirty towels not removed from bathroom but left lying in bathroom all week, toilet blocked and it took four days before the maintanence man arrived, however my husband had already fixed it after waiting two hours. Surprise he arrived the day we went home!

If you are thinking of going on a family holiday do not let you children get the henna tatoos as when they mark the sheets, which have not been changed all week you will be presented with a bill on check out for 50 Euros. It would also be advisible to stagger you shower arrangements as 6 out of 7 nights we had cold showers, no hot water left after the three children had a shared shower each.

Entertainment comnensurate with the decor of apartment, definately 1970 Hi di hi campers! If we had known that it would be cheaper booking Butlins, this holiday cost an absolute fortune to the tune of

On Arrivial we were happy with the appartment space and clean wise. We were very near reception and the noise level made it diffulult to sleep as there was no air-conditioning so we had to leave the Windows open at nite. There was no T.v we had to hire a toaster and fan for the 2 wks.

The complex is divided into two sides and is connected by a bridge over a busy road.

Our son is 15yrs old and there is nothing for teenagers to do 2 pool tables between both sides of the complex is not enough.

We used the pool on the other side because the one on the reception side was always too busy and there was no hope of getting a chair which suited us fine because we did not have small children.

Alvor is only 10mins walk away with beautiful restaurants, we went into Alvor every night as there was very little entertainment in the complex.

There is only 1 washing machine& dryer which is not enough giving the size of the complex.

The reps and staff were very friendly and helpful and any trips we went on were very enjoyable.

In general we enjoyed a relaxing 2 wks but there is not enough activies for teenagers of our sons age.

I for one immediately fell in love with this complex. It was clean, friendly and had great atmosphere. The Pool was fantastic even if not particularly suited to samll children as it was very deep. The rooms were done every second day, with new towels and a general cleanup including bed making. The bar was perfectly located and the staff were very friendly and helpful. They made us feel at home straight away. I did however find the prices in the hotel bar quite steep in comparison with Alvor which was just minutes away. And after the two weeks just about got used to the pigs and the rooster which called us every morning. All that said I would go back in the morning. First time there, hopefully not the last.

THis hotel was exactally what we expected and paid for (we had read reviews before booking and got a really cheap last minute deal)

WE had read that the hotel was noisy so had come prepared with ear plugs, however we were pleasantly surprised that even though we were situated near the busy road the noise did not affect us.

Hotel rooms are very spacious (especially for two of us) and well equiped for SC. Our beds didn't creak but did become uncomfortable towards the end of the week. We had a fairly nice view over the tennis courts.

We stayed around the pool a few days, smaller pool much nicer but you have to be there early to get a sunbed. Lots of families and large groups, this didnt bother us as we used our ear plugs when around the pool.

The bar in the hotel served excellent snack foods but apart from this we didnt eat in the hotel. Staff we dealt with were always very pleasant.

Just back from a week in The Alvorferias apartments. On arrival, we were quite satisfied with the size of the apartment and the overall cleanliness. However, the weather over the first four days was really poor, so we spent a lot of unexpected time indoors. That's when we realised that a television might have helped (even if it only had Portugese chanels).
By the 4th day we were disappointed to learn that our bed linen would not be changed during our weeks stay. In fact, it only gets changed at the end of each week. In the end, after some negotiations, I was given two clean sheets and changed our bed myself!
The coaches to the airport waited at the entrance of the hotel at all hours during the night, with their engines on, making it impossible to sleep. Not impressed!