Hotel Apartamento Balaia Atlantico - Albufeira, Portugal 

Just do NOT stay here. The pictures look lovely and the pool is huge, but there are serious problems with this hotel/apt complex. Firstly, the grounds do not open until 10am every day, so guests cannot go for a walk in the morning, as walking around the perimeter of the hotel is not a safe option, which I discovered. When I tried to go into the hotel gardens I was told by a male hotel worker to "get out"! When we did try to go for a walk around the outside of the hotel, several cars slowed down and the drivers/passengers shouted at us in Portuguese. The same man that told me to get out of the grounds later passed us as we attempted to go for a walk and was one of the drivers who shouted at us. He slowed right down and cruised alongside us shouting at us in a very threatening manner. When we reported it, the hotel manager brushed it off and we never heard anything else. Fortunately, we left the next day. The hotel charges guests for the fitness facilities, which I have never heard of before when staying in a hotel. That too does not open until 10am. The kids club does not really exist per se. There is a lady who performs 30 mins of aqua aerobics some days, but that's about it. The hotel is in the middle of nowhere, so we hired a car and basically used the room as a crash pad. None of us felt safe in the hotel. The bathroom was absolutely filthy, plagued with silver fish. The cleaner had a dirty mop that she used for all the apts. She dragged pieces of food in on the mop from another apt when cleaning our floor, then wiped it all up with a dry cloth. It made me feel physically sick. The drinks at the bar are hideously overpriced, yet the barmen will try to short change guests as well as giving guests very small glasses. All in all, the male staff at the hotel (9 times out of 10) were hostile. I could go on and on, but I will just remark that this is definitely the worst hotel I have ever stayed in.

Hi just came back from Hotel Balaia Atlantico a few weeks ago and it was great!!!! .The rooms are huge, clean, modern and all air conditioned, cleaners in everyday fresh towels e.t.c..The food was a bit repetative and although we were all inclusive we did eat out 4 nights out of 7, which is no hardship after all you are on "holiday".The pool is excellent and pool bar well equiped for the all inclusive family ie; 2 adults and 2 kids aged 7,8, burgers, hot dogs, chips and all the usual stuff to quit a high standard.There is not much going on at the hotel during the day for kids but this might change in high season, no music at pool either but plenty drinks compenstes for this, all in all very relaxing and stressless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, entertainment at night is poor and could be tweeked as at the moment nobody attends, a big thanks to "NUNO" and "BIMA" the bar staff from the pool bar they were great, 6euro's for a taxi to town plenty good restaurants which are quite dear with a whiskey and coke costing 5.50 euro and a big beer 3.50 euro it can run on a bit.Book it now you wont be dissapointed at all.