Alfagar Albufeira

Wish we were there.

August 2005 will be my 7th visit to the Alfagar and enjoyed every visit, looking forward to seeing Carlos and Manuel again.Can't wait.

Great, Great, Great

The Alfagar apartments were great. My friend and I spent two weeks here and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone.

The apartments, the pool areas, bar etc were beautiful and kept in immaculate condition. The site is set on cliffs overlooking the beach - very lovely however, the steps are quite steep down to this. We had a slight issue wth a leaking roof, however, the staff on reception were very helpful and moved us to a fantastic sea view apartment.

The bar had different entertainment every night - generally a very friendly and entertaining atmosphere, helped by the amusing bar staff.

I would recommend hiring a car to explore the surrounding area and to escape the never ending "Strip"- its gaudy, brash, loud - a nightmare!! Albufeira old town is much more preferable.

On the whole, a really great holiday - we'd go back!!

Can't wait to go back

Checked Tripadvisor for recommendations on Alfagar, they were not wrong. It is a great resort really relaxing and in a fantastic location. The staff were very helpful to us and our Apartment was stunning.

Check out the Restaurant there it is one of the best we have had on holiday yet.

Excellent Break for a Week

Just as the brochure shows, beautiful place. Good spacious & clean apartment. Friendly staff.

Food nice enough but not a large selection if you wish to try local dishes.

Entertainment was fine but the crowd did not join in much except for us and the Scottish.

The price for Tennis listed in the apartment was incorrect, so double check the details.

The rock climb to the beach is not too bad, I found the road way much worse. The beach is nice and quiet not too many using it.

I noticed it was only 3* but our brochure gave it a 4* I would give it a 4* .

Zoomarine day trip is highly recommended. Interacting with the Dolphins is well worth the money.

Also you can blag a day in the Resort Spa next door - Go for a brochure and they will show you round the rooms and let you use the pool for the day, and they give you free fruit on a silver tray.

It is a bit of a walk to the strip but stop in the Coyote bar on the way down to refuel and on the way back before you attempt cardiac hill.

The "Chinese Royal" facing Coyote is excellent (3 nights in a row for us).

The Royal Orchid Thai is worth finding too.

For Breakfast we went to Eddy's just across the roundabout from Coyote. It was nice.

Give "Le Lombo" a miss (Right of roundabout at Coyote" meat is still Mooing at you quite a lot of people sent meat back. It was full of locals, thats why we chose it but I would not recommend it unless you get the Grill and cook it yourself at the table.

In the old town look out for "Cervejaria Granfinus" just facing were the taxi drops you off in the old town. We found it on our last night and really enjoyed it.

Hope you all enjoy your stay and I look forward to returning soon.

Fabulous Alfagar!

Just home from a two week break at this complex. Thoroughly enjoyable.....accommodation was well equipped, clean and comfortable. Onsite facilities cater well for the ideal family break. Bar/ food restaurant highly recommended! Pools clean and well maintained. Definately will return and use same complex.

Brilliant holiday

My whole family really rated this place. The complex was attractive, clean and well situated.

The pools were good, had two very good tennis courts which we used every day. The view from our balcony was over a well tended garden with the Atlantic glinting behind. The shop was well stocked with fresh produce, the bar served good reasonable meals all day and evening.

The path down to the beach was steep but we enjoyed that!.

Yes it was a 20 min walk to the Strip where all the main bars and restaurants are, but so what? We went only twice in our week as the bar and restaurant in the complex suited us.

We walked the 5km to Albufeira old town from our apartment entirely along the beaches, cliff paths etc.

If you enjoy that sort of thing GO!

If you prefer as little action as possible and plenty of bar crawls, you would be better off somewhere else.

Also our children are 10 and 12, I could imagine that the night life would be a bit quiet for older children.

Great Place - I'll be back

I have 2 very small kids, so can't vouch for the evening entertainment, the restaurant or 25 minute walks into town, but everything else was as good as I could expect.

I saw at least 6 gardeners working and the gardens reflected this. They were immaculate.

Walk to beach is right next to the complex, but down about 60-80 steps so tough going on the way back up for those less mobile (We carried the kids and walked slowly !). Beach is fantastic, but as suggested before all 3 pools in the complex cover most requirements.

Staff very friendly, and we had no regrets at eating the bar food every night. Fair variety of food and the chef looked pretty professional, even if he only cooked lasagne, burgers, pizza etc.

2 kiddies small parks where you can see your children while having a drink at the bar. I reckon the swings, slides etc are perfect for kids 3-4 and over, but my 2 y.o managed o.k

Shop stacks all the stuff we'd already brought over from the UK just in case ! I reckon guests were 75%+ English.

Alfagar runs a bus to local fishing village (now very touristy) every day for a Euro return. Very handy, although one day sees it all.

Found the currency exchange at reception a bit pricey, but there is a cashpoint about 10 minutes walk away (turn left past reception)

We spoke to lots of people who kept going back there which speaks for itself, and they have great photos on their web page.

Speaking to others, I think 3 stars is unfair to Alfagar when compared to similar local accommodation. We are already planning to return next year, for vist 2.

We frequently return to the alfagar

great accommodation, great location, not for teenagers but more for families or those who enjoy 'that little bit better@

For those who enjoy a long walk!

About 25 mins walk to the Strip down a long hill, which makes a long uphill journey back! Watch out for the maids they knock on your door at 9.00am to clean, watch out for the bloke who cleans up at the poolside at 7.am he drags the sunbeds around for about an hour! The reception staff speak v.good english and are very helpful. The onsite entertainment is crap and the restuarant is very expensive. The supermarket is well stocked and you can buy just anything you want.

Don't go on any tours or trips with your holiday company, they are too expensive, you can get the trips and tours much cheaper in the Strip or The Old Town. Don't bother to go to Faro it's booring, only a few shops, you must visit Vilamoura for the designer shops and Loule for the Saturday market. Visit Slide & Spalsh and Zoo Marine, both good days out. You need a jumper, jacket and long trousers in the evening, the wind gets up about 9.30pm and it feels very chilly - that's in late September. Watch out for taxis they can be very expensive and charge it seems 5 or 6 Euros for wherever you go, catch the local buses they work out really cheap and you can see loads on your journeys. Not too bad a holiday, the weather wasn't as good as we hoped.

Fantastic

Went on holiday with 4 kids and dreading it. Had a fantastic time at the Alfagar. Staff were great, apartment was the same and the location even better. Right on the beach so you could walk there if you needed to - but with the pools on the complex there was no need. Never saw the children unless it was feeding time - pools for all capabilites, play area and games room - what more could a parent want! Within walking distance of The Strip - then with a rest and a drink The Old Town - it is ideally located.