5-Star Hotels in Faro District, Portugal

During my 4-day stay, I managed to enjoy a bit of everything, from the outdoor and indoor pools to the sauna. There's free parking available near the hotel, so there's no need to use the underground parking (unless it's high season). The room boasts a beautiful view from the ninth floor, although I feel that certain finishes should be rectified for such a new, 5-star hotel; the balcony floor seems a bit loose, and the bathroom door drags on the floor. The area is a bit windy, which you can feel through the window at night when it's quiet, but it's nothing too major. Breakfast was 'average'; I missed having natural juice, which I think would be justified given the price. The pool bar also does a good job, and their wraps/sandwiches are tasty. The sun loungers are also very comfortable.

Experience started badly at check-in when they refused to add my wife to the booking as Trip.com’s mobile  “deal” was for one guest in room.  Snarky reception person rude and borderline hostile - this was our third stay at this property and as in the past, we felt a subtle bias against us as non-Portuguese.  The Front Desk Manager got involved and he refused to comp. me my wife’s addition to our room and said we had to pay euros 40 for her two day’s breakfasts.  He appeared unkempt with s dirty shirt and was unshaven .  His attitude was aggressive and disrespectful in the extreme.  We asked to be relocated to a higher floor from the 2nd floor and he informed me that there were no sea view rooms on upper floors.  This was patently a lie as the initial receptionist told me that the hotel was not fully booked. While I was in discussions with the front desk receptionist, a hotel guest came up and complained that her room was bery hot.  She was told by the same snarky receptionist that the aircon was off due to a system changeover and she should open her balcony door! When I asked the same question later on to another receptionist, he said that they could give me a fan.  She was and English lady and when a Portuguese guest arrived to check/in, that dame clerk was all over him with handshakes all around.  Other staff around the property didn’t seem overly friendly to guests as well. It is unforgivable for any hotel, let alone a supposed 5 star property, not to have its HVAC system operable and even worse, not to advise guests of the issue. Our room was spacious, if a little warm, but showed the ravages of time with chipped furniture and surfaces.  Also, not too impressed by the powdered coffee presented in the room, or a euros 3 charged for a bucket of ice. I cannot recommend this property for a stay in Portimao and there are a few other more undated hotels nearby.

A beautiful hotel surrounded by magnificent gardens. We'd barely arrived when something unimaginable happened: a blackout on the Iberian Peninsula. The hotel managers responded in an exemplary manner: they provided information, provided everyone with a water bottle, and served cold meals and free grilled dishes in the restaurant in the evenings. The emergency generator also ran for a few hours. So, despite the uncertainty, we felt well looked after. Enjoying the sun by the beautiful pool area is also nothing to be sniffed at. The breakfast buffet was varied, including a good selection for vegans and vegetarians. We really enjoyed, among other things, the delicious, sweet fruit.

Hotel has great facilities and was very clean, though we were disappointed to realise that due to unsafe cliffs, it no longer offered direct access to the beach. Service should really be improved for such an expensive hotel: 1. Reception gave us 2 twin beds even though we specifically made a request at booking for double bed 2. Restaurants got my coffee orders wrong on multiple occasions throughout the stay 3. During the saturday bbq night, the hostess Priscilla made up a poor excuse not to give us a poolside table even though we were one of the earliest guests there. Her excuse was the remaining poolside tables were reserved for 4 families with dogs. We didn't see a single dog during the entire course of 2 hours, and the tables were given away to other couples for reasons unknown. This incident really upset us, and the fact that she had the audacity to make up such an excuse is appalling. 4. Gratuity was charged at 7.5% for every item, which is fine but what left a bad taste in the mouth is the hotel did it without informing customers upfront.

Booked a panoramic balcony suite - room was fantastic all you could need, x2 bathrooms, kitchenette, living area and large bed and balcony with views. The buffet breakfast had a wide range of choices and was to high standard and well stocked - really enjoyed it ! I ate a snack on the evening in the mezzanine bar, it was ok but not amazing. The quality of the red wine and attentive service in the bar was very good. Checkin and out quick and very well organised and lovely communicative staff. My personal preferences, would be that in the evenings there is a buffet meal option, rather than pre booked restaurant or pizza as it is somewhat limiting. And minor but attention to details - a suggestion that the room stock only local/Portuguese products such as the water, should really be from Monchqiue... and provided toiletries felt a bit random a mix of English and Portuguese - felt a bit like what was just leftover rather than a collaboration and quality there. Overall excellent stay and will definitely be back.

Review of Bordoy Grand House Algarve Our stay at the Bordoy Grand House Algarve was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we arrived, the service was warm, attentive, and genuinely personal — every staff member made us feel completely at home, without being overbearing. The hotel itself is stunning. It’s beautifully restored with vintage charm and elegant touches throughout. We loved the rooftop pool and bar area — the perfect place to unwind with views over the Guadiana River. The location is ideal too, just a short stroll from the marina and town square. One of the highlights was the food. Breakfast was a delight — fresh, high-quality, and served in a peaceful setting. We also had dinner at the Grand Salon Restaurant and it was incredible — a fine dining experience with local flair and beautifully presented dishes. The little touches made all the difference — from the turn-down service to the thoughtfully curated interiors. We left feeling relaxed, pampered, and already planning our return.

Right behind the hotel is the starting point for the hiking trail to Arco de Albandeira, a famous and beautiful coastline. You can walk all the way to Praia do Barranco, where everyone was sunbathing. If you want to take a boat trip along the coast, you can take a taxi to Portimão or Carvoeiro; it's not a bumpy ride. These two towns offer more options for dining, boat tours, and paddleboarding. After arriving at the airport, you can take a taxi or have the front desk arrange a pickup for you. Local Uber services are very convenient.

The whole hotel is beautifully designed, the rooms are large and comfortable, and the view of the hotel is also very good. It is recommended.

Pousada Palácio de Estoi is a beautiful hotel, elegant in every corner, very quiet, and with ample parking. I stayed for two nights, and while the first night was wonderful, the second evening at dinner was disappointing. The restaurant service felt rather cold, and there was a mix up where someone had made a 7 p.m reservation under our names without informing us. Things worsened when my fish soup contained a small piece of plastic, which I showed to the restaurant manager, unfortunately, that ended my meal. Not to mention the delay in food, 75 minutes sitting in the restaurant, I have only had the plastic containing soup. Despite this, the hotel itself is charming and well located, with some aspects of service done right. With some attention to communication and restaurant service, it could easily be a five star experience. Not quite there yet in my humble opinion.

The staff make the hotel really . They are brilliant.very kind and great service . However the breakfast and the amenities like the indoor pool are not up to scratch for 5 star hotel . Breakfast was very low in quality and the indoor pool was so dated , small and honestly terrible. The outdoor pool could use renovation too. The gym (you can’t even call it a gym as there is about 5 pieces of equipment in it). My room was absolutely fab. Really liked it and loved where I was positioned, had the sun on it I’ll afternoon. Big rooms too either big balcony’s. They should have a shuttle down to the marina like most other 5 star hotels in the area as it is far. If you are a golfer I think you will enjoy this place , if you’re not then maybe somewhere with more amenities might be better for you.