We loved our 9 night stay over Christmas 2011. Location is beautiful and if you don't rent a car or splash out on taxi's - the hike up the hill will make you quite fit! :) Apartments are spacious, although in quite a need of some TLC.. Not a major disaster, but rusty kitchen tap, peeling bathroom cabinet doors and stained walls are a bit off putting at first.. We also had a broken inside door lock in the bedroom but I didn't bother asking about it.. Later on I simply stopped noticing. Yet you don't really expect much of that at 3* hotel. Cleaners are great and polite. Reception staff helpful and friendly. Lovely Indoor pool, hot jacuzzi... Stray dogs and cats around the resort would be ideal for animal lovers.. But I didn't find it very amusing especially after a whole bunch of them jumped at me (expecting food I assume) when I stupidly opened glass doors in the evening.. My daughter loved them by the way :) Somebody in the private house near the apartments keeps a genius talking parrot which was our main and only way of entertainment at the resort, won't know till you hear it ;) Everything else at the resort was closed at this time of the year apart the reception and the bar, which was empty whenever we passed by.. The town itself is lovely, but everything is at quite a distance, like supermarkets, The Strip, Marina (beautiful and colourful place) etc - a hire car, taxi or a bus pass is a must! Sightseeing trip on the open roof bus well worth money, gives you an idea about the distances and town.. Prices are very close to english, so not very cheap, especially if eating out.. One-off for my birthday was ok then back to cooking :) All in all, we have enjoyed the quietness actually, for a change from our spanish holiday in August. Would I go back? Quite likely, but I prefer visiting different places whenever possible..

We stayed for 2 weeks in the middle of December 2011 and were very happy. A very spacious apartment with views in every direction and clean and comfortable, just one problem the first 2 nights were very cold but I asked for some more heating and it was there in a flash. Also it would have been nice to have some small saucepans.
The gardens and pool area were beautifully kept and the indoor pool was warm and the Jacuzzi was very hot. We hope to return in 2012 and probably for a month !

me and my partner in our mid 50,s went here on 18th to 26th dec.spent a very boring xmas at the complex as nothing was open.we stayed down in albefeira all of the time exept for coming back to sleep.the apartments are large but basic and dated but you get what you pay for if you want the ritz then expect to pay the ritz prices.but i did expect the poolside cafe to have been open so you could buy snacks to save having to cook all the time whilst on holiday.anyhow we ate most of our meals down in alberfeira.evening entertainment at the complex was nil .again after getting changed for the evening you have to go back down into the town for entertainment and a drink .therefore expensive with taxis unless you walked it again.lots of stray dogs and cats roam the complex which does not go down well if you are not an animal lover.we are so that did not bother us.there was a mini market open just down the hill which was pricey but handy.also mama mia,s resturant locally ideal to save you having to back down into the town and very good.i would not go back again but we probally just went at the wrong time of the year

This apartment complex was brilliant. The staff were polite, the apartments were clean and tidy and had almost everything you could want to make it a home from home.

I was there over Christmas and it was pretty quiet, but that just made it like a quiet, calm oasis away from the old town.

I'd definitely recommend a trip to Lidl to buy your groceries, it's a bit of a hike - if you're not used to walking long distances - so I'd suggest getting a taxi. Also the walk to the old town: lovely walk there but, if you don't like walking uphill, then get a taxi.

Now that I know what it's like I'd definitely go back - definitely value for money!