We booked this break last minute, then read reviews, we were a bit aprehensive after reading the negative comments, I can only say what we found. We had a studio room on the 2nd floor, the towels were changed every two days, the bedding every 3 days, the cleaner emptied the bins every day and swept and mopped the floor, the studio was cleaned when the bedding was changed, the room had a fridge, halogen hob, microwave, pans, kettle for the hob and enough crockery, glasses,knives and forks for four people, air conditioning and TV, if some people think this is basic they must normally stay in 4/5 star accomodation.

We first visited this hotel in May 2010 and was so pleased with the apartment that we returned in October. Big mistake.
In May we got an apartment on the fifth floor overlooking the pool. It was great--very spacious and loads of privacy, also generally quiet at night. Manager a nice friendly helpful guy.
On our booking form for the return visit in October we specified that we required the same rooms. Were never told there may be a problem here. On arrival at reception, we were given a room on the third floor overlooking a busy main road. We asked for a change but they said they were fully booked?????? For the first five nights we could not get a full nights sleep because of noise. A local cafe had just been opened over the road and the locals don't speak to each other--they shout. Also is opposite a large refuse collection centre. 400bhp Cummins lorry engine running at max revs for nearly 1 hour from 12.45 onwards to empty huge refuse bins. A local dog managed to keep us up most of another night as it was part of a trio in a "Who can bark the longest" competition.This was reported to the manager who refused to go out and stop the incessant barking but said he would phone the police. By morning 6 we had had enough and demanded another room. a girl at the desk moved us along the corridor a fair bit away from the cafe area. For the last two nights the noise was a little subdued and we got some sleep. The tone and attitude of the manager had changed and he never bade us goodbye, unlike the departure on our first trip.

ALBA HOTEL
Nice enough,does the job as a base and thats it.
We didnt want the "free upgrade" but were forced to have it as the normal rooms where shut as the hotel was so quiet and thats hardly surprising as Monte Gordo is a ghost town.
Pleasant staff,average room but a room safe you could open with a desert spoon (trust me on this I opened the locked room safe with a desert spoon in front of shocked staff),the bar is never open,the pool is not heated and is is the shade most of the day,bbrrrr
We booked the Alba hotel,Monte Gordo for a week but didnt last two days as it was so boring,in fact we spent Sunday night 10th Oct watching the antiques roadshow in the hotel room as it was more entertaining than walking around Monte Gordo again.

On Monday thanks to the hire car that we needed to get to Monte Gordo as it is so far from the airport to catch a taxi (36 miles to Faro airport,53 miles to Albufiera),we drove over to the party central town of Albufiera on the west of the Algarve and booked another hotel out of our spending money as it would be worth it.We then drove back to the Alba packed the car and left and I promise you we will never return.

Fantastic if you are over 70 but if you are any younger and like a bit of evening entertainment give Monte Gordo a miss as there isnt any entertainment whatsoever apart from sitting outside a bar watching the wrinklies go by or standing in the "casino" pumping your money into fruit machines.

Great beach in Monte Gordo and some nice restaraunts/bars BUT most shut at 10PM,be warned if you want some nightlife AVOID MONTE GORDO and book Albufiera which is the best town on the coast and we visited a few believe me.HAPPY HOLS

Just back from a 2 week holiday in Portugal. Holiday was booked at last minute and was very impressed on arrival to Hotel Alba. On greeting us at near enough midnight the staff was very helpful and kind and on a Brucy bonus they upgraded our room. The location to the Monte Gordo Beach was a short 5 minute walk and the beach was stunning, very busy though and if you walk up the shoreline for another 5 minutes you will find quieter spots on the beach as the white sandy beach streches for miles. Highly recommended.