I have just returned from a stay at Villa Albatroz and found my experience totally different from the visitor from Texas.

It is a charming and pleasant guest house, situated right in the centre of Cascais. It is perfect for someone who loves to stay in the centre of town with all facilities within easy reach.

The staff were friendly and helpful. The breakfast was lovely. We were offered a cooked breafast each morning without prompting (and without extra cost). I particularly liked the (now famous)coffee machine. You can help yourself to coffee whenever you are ready for another cup, and not have to wait for a waiter.

Please do not be put off by the negative review - it's a great place to stay.

I am surprised by the negative comments of the visitor from Texas regarding this hotel. I recently spent 3 nights at the Villa Albatroz, for considerably less than the cost of the other hotels in the Albatroz chain. I found the hotel really comfortable, the staff incredibly friendly and helpful, breakfast was great - I don't drink coffee, but hey this is southern Europe and Filter Coffee is not really drunk here.
What was exceptional was the quality of the restaurant 100 maneiros. I highly recommend staying here, you get to use all the facilities at the Hotel Albatroz, less than a five minute walk away and benefit from a full 5 star service.

Please don't be put off by comments about this hotel being a dormitory - it really is not.

Stayed at the main Hotel Albatroz 4 or 5 years ago when we had an excellent evening meal at the Villa Albatroz and vowed that if we returned to Cascais the Villa would be our choice - location (right in the centre of town), major parking probs at the main hotel and very 'iffy' reception staff (that's the main hotel NOT the villa). So on our return booked and got an excellent deal at the Villa Albatroz via the main Albatroz website - early bookers get VERY good discounts!

Room heavenly - Molton Brown bits & pieces, comfortable huge bed, power shower and jacuzzi bath , air conditioning that worked ( it was 37C outside!!) and glorious views over Cascais harbour from the balcony.

Must disagree with the last reviewer over breakfast. My husband had a hot breakfast on 2 mornings of our stay (4 nights) which was offered within 2 minutes of us entering the breakfast room. We were NOT charged extra for this on a BB deal - he only asked for bacon, mushrooms and scrambled egg - that's what he got, cooked to perfection together with toast - since no 'menu' was visible I presume that they'd cook whatever was requested . Coffee machine has 4 buttons - was 'tutored' the first morning how to use it - button 1 water, button 2 single espresso, button 3 double espresso, button 4 stop extra water! So for my coffee in the morning I took the large cup (mentioned by the last reviever) pressed button 3 (like my coffee strong) then 1 then 4 when the cup was nearly full. Then turned 180 degrees and looked over the breakfast spread (5 different cheeses, 5 hams/salami, smoked salmon, tropical fruits, choice of breads/rolls, cereals and pastries, yogurt, juices etc) to locate the hot milk jug (must admit that this was in a rather strange place - nearer the coffee machine is more logical!

Lets remember that the Villa Albatroz only has 11 rooms. It's not a 5* rated hotel - it's a 5* estalagem which is an "inn". All of the linen etc had Hotel Albatroz embossing and the room was serviced early in the morning - I saw no difference from what I remember from 4/5 years ago staying in the main hotel in this department. The info in the room indicated that they offered room service - we didnt use it so can't comment. Reception staff were brilliant - knew who we were extremely quickly and arranged an excellent transfer to Lisbon on our last day.

Yes it is expensive for Cascais - let's say Lisbon prices for equiv. accom.but does offer all the 'extras eg pool of the Hotel Albatroz at no extra charge for those who feel a need for this (we didn't use so can't comment on current facilities at the main hotel - did pass on a stroll and observed that parking is even more horrendous). It's the sort of place you go to to chill - the staff are 100% and the restaurant is to die for - in the UK it would be classified as 'A restaurant (rated in all the good guide books) with rooms' - and a frigging good one too!! Experience here was so much better that the main hotel.

We booked this hotel on line on the basis that the Hotel Albatross was full, but that the 5 star Albatross Villa was "just as good". Nothing could be further from the truth. The Albatross Villa is little more than a "dormitory" bearing the prestigious Albatross name.
The room was OK, but was quite noisy as you can hear very loudly everytime someone opens and closes a door in the building.

Our main issue though is with the "5 star" claim when in my opinion the service level is barely 1 star.

Shortly after checking in we decided to go to the pool. We were told the pool is located a mere 5 minute walk through the town at the Hotel Albatross. We were told the same thing when we wanted to have something to drink or eat, as the Villa's restaurant and bar are closed on Sundays and Mondays. ( I guess the management feels justified in claiming 5 stars as long as they can provide access to the facilities and services in the same town?)

The breakfast in my opinion was even below a 1 star standard. There was an espresso machine and large cups - no filtered coffee or hot milk as you would expect in even the simplest of facilities. I had to go looking for the waiter who was preoccupied surfing the web and asked him for a coffee with milk. Apparently he filled one of the large cups with several shots of espresso and added milk which produced a most unpleasant caffeine reaction later in the morning. ( I learned not to ask for that again!) There was really very little selection to choose from and there was no toaster or opportunity for a hot breakfast if one so desired.

To sum it up, the management of this hotel is an embarassment to Portugese Tourism. It is a shame because Portugal has so much to offer, but by allowing this management to rip off tourists by using a 5 star name to charge 5 star prices for a poorly managed dormitory is doing irreparable harm to Portugal's image in the Tourist world.