Just got back from the Mirachoro Sol Hotel in Portimao after booking this holiday at the last minute. We stayed for a week on half board.
Being on a budget, we needed this holiday for a 'wind down' break in our busy lifestyles.

We arrived at the Mirachoro Sol and was made very welcome by Alex on reception.

Our room was small, but it was clean and the bathroom was spotless. Clean towels everyday. We paid for a safe (worked out at about 3 euros a day, with a 10 euro refundable deposit). The balcony was adequte for us both to sit on. The view wasn't too eye catching though as it overlooked the suburban vicinity of high rise apartments and houses.
Our sleep was disturbed by dogs barking throughout the night from the neigbourhood and the usual early morning call from the cockerels.

The location of the hotel is a bus ride away from the nearest beach in Praia da Rocha and the hotel recognizes this by putting on free buses. My only fault here being that the last bus back is at 1730pm, which is too early for those who like to go onto the beach during the late afternoon and early evening when the heat is cooling down.

The hotel pool and it's surrounds are good. It is situated in it's own private walled off area across from the hotel car park. It is a 'sun trap' with not a lot of shaded area. You are given a key to get in. There is a local cafe/bar outside the pool area, which serves drinks, snacks etc and is cheap. More times than not we had the pool to ourselves.

The food in the restaurant is okay. Cooked or continental style with evening meals consisting of mainly fish, meat, rice, pasta, chips, vegetables and salad. All are buffet style and you could get as much as you wanted. The only fault here being that the food was only luke warm as it remained under the hot plate counter. You had to get there early for hot meals.

The hotel staff were friendly (one of the friendliest teams that I have seen compared with other hotels that I have stayed in).

There is no evening entertainment, just a hotel bar (which suited me as I was after a quite holiday). Because of the hotel's proximity of being in a surburban area, there is not a lot to do outside. It is not in the prettiest of locations, surrounded by high rise apartments which lead to a busy carriageway, which leads into Portimao's old port. There is a large hypermarket and cinema not too far away.

The old town of Portimao is not appealing and the harbour/port area itself is very run down. The beach resort of Praia de Rocha is the place to be at. The beach is wonderful and the sea is refreshing.

In summary, we had a welcome break, we got what we paid for and for anyone on a budget who likes a quite time away from bars and loud music and is not fussed about sceneric hotel room views then go for it.

We got a last minute long weekend for a good price. Flights at excellent times from a local airport, and transfers included for a half board break. Transfers were with a local company and the trip took only 45minutes, considerably shorter that the tour companies 2 hours plus.
The hotel is located in a residential area and like many parts of Portugal there were signs that heroin users were using in the area. THe hotel itself is pleasant and very clean. Alex who people have mentioned before is excellent, very helpful and friendly.
The rooms are adequate for a long weekend but for longer than that might become a little claustrophobic. TV has BBC world and you need to take a kettle etc. if you want a drink in your room.
The food is again fine for a few days but is too repetitive. At breakfast it is the same fare every day. Just changing eggs to boiled or fried would help. But if you are a tea and toast person it is fine. Evening meal is a good choice of salad, followed by 2 meat or fish dishes. It could be better. The restaurant is located two floors below reception, basically underground, and is accessed through the indoor pool area. (from some rooms.)
Didn't see anybody in the indoor pool nor any evidence it was used, it is very basic.
The outdoor pool is accessed across a car park and is absolutely fine. There were plenty of loungers and often we were alone in there. The snack bar next door sells cheap drinks and sandwiches.
The hotel provides free transport to Praia de Rocha which is worth taking.
We walked to the train station (20 minutes) and caught a train to Lagos. Cost 2.70 euro return. Takes 17minutes. Lagos is lovely well worth a visit.
All in all a good place to visit for a short break.

I have just returned from the most relaxing, well organised two week holiday at the Mirachoro Sol hotel in Portimao. I shall start with the update. The indoor pool is now heated. The outdoor pool is secluded , enclosed , and accessed by a key which is given upon arrival. Loads of loungers and tables and chairs, toilets and shower. The snack bar is open in summer season only.Meal times are 8am till 10am. Evening meal 7pm till 9pm.Drinks can be bought at hotel bar at other times Lovely lounge area with Sat.TV.I used the courtesy bus which runs four times throughout the day to the town and Prair Roche from 10.10am. Last one leaves at 5.35 Food was fabuluous thanks to Andrea who provides a very high standard and variety of food. The rooms are kept spotless by Edna and another lady . I had room 102 which has a sliding bathroom door which was great for a wheelchair. Shower over bath with hand rail and raised toilet seat.. Ramps all over but small lift . Hotel has wheelchair which fits okay. Reception staff Alex,Ruth and Joanne will ensure your holiday needs are met . For your midday snack visit Pastelaria Pomba (just to the left of the outdoor pool.) Eric does lovely toasties,sandwiches and salads from 1euro50. and white coffee for 1 euro. Friendly people . I used resort hopper for my transfer. Excellent service. Travel Republic put together my holiday and my thanks to them also.

My husband and I stayed at the Mirachoro Sol Sept 14-21st.The hotel is very nice, spotlessley clean with helpful staff.
Breakfast is ok but the evening meals were hit and miss!Times are 6.30-800. We found these times not good.Evening meal finished to early.If you arrived after 7.30, you were lucky to get any food!I have never stayed in a hotel where you had to clear your tables!!They constantly ran out of cups and dishes and we had to wait for them to be washed before we could eat!
The curtsey bus is great to the beach, but if they didn`t have that you would need a car because the hotel is in the middle of nowhere..
We caught the local bus to Alvor and the train to Lagos.Cheap and easy.The guy on reception was really helpful with directions to anywhere we wanted to go.
You can walk to the marina which is lovley, but in the evening it`s not a nice walk, very dark and lonely! A 20 mins walk.The walk to Praia De Rocha takes over an hour along a busy rd.
There are no local shops to speak of except a shopping centre 5 mins away, but not the nice shops with nick nacks you expect at a resort.
This hotel is in a residential area so really it`s not a beach resort.
Good value for what we paid but I would advise anyone to stay bed and breakfast only.Hire a car from the airport because the journey takes over 2 hrs on a coach, then you have your own transport to get a nice evening meal at a reasonable time and something good to eat too!
All in all we had a lovely holiday, weather was fab which makes all the difference.I would not stay there again.