Real Marina Residence

We stayed at the Real Marina Residence in a two-bedroom apartment for a week and really enjoyed it. The location is excellent, with plenty of great restaurants just a short walk away. The apartment was spacious, spotless, and very comfortable, and the air con worked perfectly. The only downside was the pool in our block — it was quite small and shallow, so not ideal for kids. At first, there were only three sun loungers, which wasn’t enough given the size of the terrace. It was too hot to sit on the ground, so we actually headed to a nearby pool complex one day (which you have to pay for). I mentioned it to the staff, and a couple of days later they added more loungers. That made a big difference, and once sorted, the pool area was really lovely and relaxing. That said, if you’re more of a pool person than a beach person, this might not be the best spot for you.

Having previously enjoyed a lovely stay at the Hotel Real Marina, I was excited to return, this time booking the apartments for a last-minute trip with my mum and aunties. I had booked under the impression that apartment guests could use the hotel facilities, as this was the case on my last visit and confirmed via hotel reviews and by others I know who had stayed recently. However, on check-in, we were informed that we would need to pay €35 per person per day to access the hotel pool, redeemable against food and drink. When we politely queried this, the manager’s attitude quickly shifted from welcoming to condescending, repeatedly reminding us, “This is a five-star hotel,” as though we were unaware or undeserving. We decided to go ahead and pay the fee the next day, but were told we could not enter the pool area until the bar opened at 11am, not even to wait upstairs (this was at 10.40am). While we respected the rules, the staff’s attitude again made us feel like we were doing something wrong. It was uncomfortable and uninviting. Later, when we returned to pay the €35 per person again, we were told that sunbeds were reserved for hotel guests and were initially refused vouchers, despite the pool being relatively quiet and several beds free at the time. Guests were still leaving, and we made sure to check with staff before settling anywhere. We had no intention of taking beds from hotel guests- we simply wanted to follow the rules we had been given and enjoy our day. Yet again, the staff’s attitude made us feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. I was even brought to tears at one point because we felt so looked down upon, as though we were trying to scam the hotel, when all we wanted was a relaxing day by the pool. Eventually, we were given vouchers, but the atmosphere remained tense and unwelcoming, which sadly tainted the experience. A few days later, when we returned again, we were informed that the hotel was no longer issuing vouchers and that we could not use the pool facilities at all. This was especially frustrating, as the rules had suddenly changed mid-stay with no prior warning. It felt as though the hotel was happy to offer access during quieter times, only to revoke it during busier summer months. What made things worse was hearing from other apartment guests that they had been told they could use the hotel pool free of charge earlier in the week. This left us feeling confused, singled out, and even more frustrated by the inconsistency. The apartment pool was also a letdown—crumbling walls, loose and unsafe tiles, one broken umbrella, and a surrounding glass barrier that made it unbearably hot during the day. It was not suitable for my mum and aunties, who needed shade and a more comfortable space. Overall, this experience was hugely disappointing. We were misinformed, treated poorly, and made to feel like second-class guests. The inconsistent policies and dismissive attitudes from staff completely tainted what should have been a relax

Lovely Hotel and wonderful staff. Staff go above and beyond, outside Hotel the area is safe and clean easy walking to all restaurants. Take the municipal boat to the islands, these include Armona, Culatral, Farol and Deserta. You will not be disappointed in Olhao as it is a quite little fishing village. If you are looking for the night life then go to either Albuferia or Vilamoura.

Booked the 2 bedroom apartment. The apartment was very large with 2 bathrooms, and a large balcony. It was clean and well furnished, beds were comfy and air con works well. The partial sea view wasn't really a sea view at all, we overlooked waste land however that didn't spoil our enjoyment of the balcony. It would be awesome to be able to book the apartments at the front with full sea view but I don't see an option to be able to do that. The rooftop pool was very small for 8 apartments and only had a couple of loungers. We were the only ones up there when we chose to go but I could see if you visit in high season it could be disappointing. We know the location well and the 5-10 min walk into the centre of town is brilliant. All in all a good base with plenty space.

We stayed in a 2-bedroom apartment. Loads of room. Simply but adequately furnished. Very comfortable beds. Check in via the Hotel. Excellent service. All our questions were answered helpfully. Each group of 8 apartments shared a small pool on the roof with fantastic views. We shall definitely return