Sao Rafael Suites

The hotel decor was stylish and elegant. We were upgraded to a spacious suite with a separate living room and 2 bathrooms and sea views, a complete surprise. They offered lunch on the day of arrival or departure as an extra. We left our bags and took a bolt to old town, spent time at beach before check-in at 4pm. It's about 8 min away by car and cost €3.66 one way. They have "snack time" between the main meals, which is actually good enough to be a 2nd breakfast and lunch. All-inclusive selection was decent. It is not a huge resort but still enough choice and most important thing is all the dishes tasted good, quality over quantity is always worth it. We requested one halal meat dish in advance for dinner, you can request more from the choices via email. They made sure to bring it to our table as soon as we asked for it to be served. Staff were helpful, kind, and friendly at reception and restaurant, always smiling. Two pools outside we couldn't use as out of season. Indoor pool in spa cost €15 to €20 euro depending on all day or few hours use. It rained on one day, so we used the spa pool and sauna. Only 2-3 other people came and went in the time we were there, which we liked. I read reviews of no coffee facilities in room, we did have a machine. Iron was brought up once requested, and they never took it back throughout our stay, which was nice. I read reviews of people complaining about golfer groups, this did concern me before going. However, once we were there it wasn't as issue at all. Yes, lot of golfers but they had fun and didn't bother others. Once we were in our room 126 we never had any noise disruption. The bed was comfortable, I actually slept well. Only thing I would point out is the mattress makes a lot of noise like a bean bag, not sure why. I would recommend this hotel to others for sure. Go with the right expectations and you will be pleasantly surprised.

Polite and attentive. Great time at this place I would recommend. The staff were amazing a pleasure to meet them. I tried sports massage, the stream room, sauna sat by the pool and also went out exploring, it was a great location and easy to walk to the beach. Thanks as I had a pleasant time.

We found this Hotel to be in a great location, you're close enough to all the touristy bits, but also just far enough out. We don't mind walking, so used to walk daily to the The Marina and Albufeira Old Town. There is a bit of a challenging hill outside the Hotel but we're used to things like that, but some people may find it a struggle especially in the heat! The Marina is probably a 20 minute walk whereas The Old Town is probably 40 minutes, but there are places you can stop on the way. The Marina has all the typical bars and restaurants you would expect, something for everyone. There's inside space if it's too warm but if you enjoy the sunshine, there are plenty of seats next to the water. You will also find a lot of the boat tours and water sport activities go from this area. If you walk the other way out of the Hotel, you will find a lot of Villas and a lot more locals, which we found quite pleasant, the bars and restaurants in the other direction were traditional, very reasonably priced compared to other places, I'd go as far as saying they were cheap but you were welcomed with a whole lot of love and not just a number. Back to the Hotel, first appearances look great, the Reception area was modern, clean and looked quite new so was great at first impressions. We were then given our all inclusive wristbands which was also our room key, what a genius idea! First impressions of the room, very big! On entry, if you went to the right you had a lounge area with TV, dining table and mini fridge. There was also a wardrobe so I'm presuming the sofa turned into a sofa bed, this lead out to a balcony. The seating on the balcony was practical to keep clean but uncomfortable to sit on. Then if you went left to the entrance there was a bathroom with a shower, toilet and sink. You then headed through another door into the bedroom with a massive bed and another balcony. The wardrobe space was unreal, I've never stayed in a Hotel with so much wardrobe space and hangers, it was great. Then into the main bathroom which had a double sink, toilet, bath with a shower over it. The rooms were looking a little tired and need of TLC in quite a few aspects but not the worse I've seen. However to sell yourself as 5 star, you need to have some better maintenance. We also had a problem with the air con, if you left the air con on overnight, which you needed to it started making a dripping noise, to the point it sounded like a big leak and there was going to be a flood so often woke you up. We never mentioned to Reception as we couldn't be bothered to pack up and move rooms but we did mention it on departure so i hope they fixed it as it wasn't good. The dining room, although they had 2 restaurants plus the pool bar, you could only use the buffet restaurant if you were all inclusive. The tapas bar was at an additional cost but it was always empty so maybe that's something you need to look at going forward as staff must be so bored! Even if you offered one night to al

Another fantastic stay, just returned from our 9th visit at the hotel, a lot of changes have been made this year through out the hotel, a new restaurant and bar area, a golf simulator room (if that’s your thing ) the reception area is very nice and spacious with plenty of seating food quality is good and premium drinks included with the all inclusive the only thing I think needs work is the pool area there’s a lot of broken flags around the top pool and the decking area at the pool bar is dirty, I’m sure it will get sorted as a lot of has been since my last visit in march, but it’s nice to see there is still some of the original staff from our very first visit and will always help if possible especially Richard in the restaurant he knows the area very well if you need advice. Look forward to our next stay Many thanks Lee

We arrived at 9.30 on Sunday morning to b told can't use all inclusive until 2.30 we paid for all inclusive for whole holiday not for it to start at 2.30 bought our own drinks until then .check in was at 3pm got key had our grand daughter with us only 18 months old no cot in room. 6 times went to reception to ask for it got it at 9.30 at night l. we had long day she was knackered. Food was awful nothing for children everything spices most times.view from r room was off out door gym terrible. Staff not very friendly bar mess never lifted glasses for hrs had to b given plastic cup on our last night for drink. games room you cant use cause they won't give you change but they were only being installed on the last 2 days. Rooms dirty lights not working very dark .1 bar staff during day bytvwas a friendly lovely guy Night varman was a lazy ao and so always que at bar when he was on l, no clean glases Not once were we asked was everything OK complained to jet2 to b told nothing they can do Indoor pool you have to pay for which is ridiculous in 5 star hotel will not b returning to this hotel even if it was free We understand the hotel was a temporary replacement due to damage to the Eden apartments but this was a 5 star whereas the Eden was a 4. The Eden was better in all aspects. Lovely Hotel from the outside but not for families and not a 5 star by any shape off your imagination.

Got moved here after the eden hotel got damage in the storm, wish I had of just cancelled the hotel and got a refund. Checked in at 3 to no cot in room. 4 times I had to go to reception about getting one and they finally got me one at 21.30 that night! Rooms are basic and dirty. My child's feet were black from walking on the floor. Don't think they have been mopped in a long time! All inclusive is average, only a handful of different dishes each time for meals and they were all average. Minimal selection of drinks as well on all inclusive and only about 4 or 5 cocktails which you wouldn't drink. I watched 1 day glasses being left in the bar at 3 on tables and when I came back at 8 that night,they were still sitting on them. Def wont be returning!