Sao Rafael Suites

Firstly, this hotel is not 5-star, but rather 3-star at best, which is reflected in many reviews. We are a family of five with one 16-year-old and two 13-year-olds. Since the kids are over twelve, they are charged full price. We paid €8234 for 11 nights for a 2-bedroom suite with a sea view in July. We expected significantly more for the price we paid, which is why I am providing this detailed review. We booked a 2-bedroom suite with a pool view and a sofa bed. The room was a good size with a very large balcony. However, the balcony seating was hard tile-based and not suitable for sitting on, so we had to pull the soft chairs out to the balcony, which was not ideal. The pull-out bed for the 16-year-old was more suitable for younger kids, so he struggled to sleep comfortably. The suite had a double bedroom with a shared bathroom in the hallway and a 2-bed room with its own ensuite, which is the opposite of most hotels where the larger double room has its own bathroom. There were no tea/coffee making facilities or an iron. There was a fridge, and it looked like there might have been a kitchen area, but it had been poorly boarded off. The bathrooms were basic for a hotel, with a bidet and a shower in the bath with a small shower head and a very stiff lever that was hard to move up or down. The toilet seats were broken in both rooms, which was a trend in the hotel, including the public toilets. The shower pressure was good, though. There were TVs in each room, but the channels were limited in English. The bedrooms were tight, and you could not fully open the wardrobe doors, which gives you an idea of the size. The beds were comfortable, though. The cleaning service had to be requested, and sometimes they came, and sometimes they did not. The pools were a decent size, with one activity pool and one more chill-out pool. There was also plenty of beds and space. The pool bar, open from 11 to 7:30, offered plenty of snacks for daytime hunger. The restaurant was a decent size with a wide selection of food, although the quality in terms of choice was limited. There was an abundance of fish and a limited amount of red meat, which was anticipated. The desserts were wonderful if that is your thing. Breakfast covered all the bases, but one big callout is that you could only get coffee in the restaurant at breakfast. The machines were turned off for lunch and dinner, which was very strange. The staff in the restaurants looked overworked, and thus the service was hit and miss. Many times, you had to pick up cutlery and glasses yourself, and I saw many customers walking to the service stations to fill their own wine as they were waiting too long. They have a paid restaurant that you can book, but I rarely saw anyone using it. They also have a spa and indoor golf practice area, but again, these were rarely used due to the cost, and I wonder if they should use their space more wisely. Finally, the bar area is very poor. Most evenings after dinner, you go to the bar

The food was excellent, evening music lovely. Pools good. Staff friendly. Sadly the room was a let down, whilst very large, with two bathrooms and balconies and comfy beds, there were numerous maintenance issues which needed dealing with. The rooms were clearly once self-catering with a kitchenette, and it's a shame that area was blocked off apart from the fridge. Also the balcony furniture was so uncomfortable, the balcony and the views couldn't be enjoyed.