Inedible Food

Just back from a stay in the Auramar hotel and all in all, the stay was average at best.

I had read reviews about the lovely food and was looking forward to having a meal or two in the hotel. However, after one absolutely terrible lunch and a not much better breakfast the morning after, I never ate in the hotel again. Food was lukewarm, tasted really horrible and selection was not good. It seemed to me that they threw up whatever was easiest to cook in bulk and it was really quite disgusting.

The staff were okay, some really friendly and others gave the impression they couldnt care less.

The room itself was basic but very clean, included a bathroom, balcony and small kitchenette-type area (Although fridge door didnt close)

I would not recommend this hotel to anyone looking for all inclusive, but the hotel is fine as a hostel style for those looking for cheap accommodation. I would highly recommend you dine elsewhere though!!!

Thanks to JoseManoel

Thanks to JoseManuel for his help in ensuring that I had no difficulty with my need for a gluten free diet. He made sure that he knew exactly what I could eat from the buffet every evening and made sure that if there was nothing suitable a plateful of meat and fish was served to me at my table. Even when he was off duty he made arrangements for me with the kitchen. Therefore I woulf like to say a big, big thankyou to him and will definitely return to the Auramar. All in all the hotel was excellent and we all enjoyed our stay.

Looking forward to returning to the Auramar

I stayed at the Auramar with my daughter, son in law and grand daughter during our half term week. We had a super holiday. The hotel was very clean and had been recently refurbished. Although parts of the hotel were being re-done it did not interfere with our enjoyment. In fact while we were there an outside entertainments area was very quickly built then used within a week! The entertainment provided was enjoyed by us and all the other guests in the bar area. If you did not wish to be entertained there were other facilities available. The staff were very friendly and the service was excellent. My grandaughter loved the kids club and was particulary looked after by Danny who was a gifted, talented very friendly member of the "Zany" entertainments team. The food was good but perhaps at times could have been better. There was however always a vast choice available.

We were not all inclusive and at times felt we had the bettter deal as we had more flexibilty which suited our needs. I would certainly recommend this hotel and area to anyone.

Wonderful position overlooking the sea

Was impressed with the Auramar and it's location, we would consider going again. We went out of season (end of March) so it was fairly quiet. Plenty of food available throughout the day and the rooms, although basic, were exceptionally clean.

Oh for english sausage

If the hotel had served english sausages for breakfast, i would give the meals 10/10.The hotel was very clean, rooms basic but nice ( a lovely view out to sea from the balcony).The pool area was very nice but i imagine it will be crowded in the summer months, although another pool was being built while we were there.(march/04).Entertainment left a lot to be desired, unless you like a saxaphonist every night, although the live shows were fine, for the 30 mins they were on.Staff were very nice, but the barmen could do with a course in customer relations.The beach and views were lovely, with a stroll along to Albufeira a must.On the whole, a very nice hotel and great holiday.

Loved it - will be going again!

We stayed at the hotel in April of this year. We were pleasantly surprised at the cleanliness, choice of food, entertainment and friendliness of the staff. The pools were clean and the hotel in general was spotless. We found several ways down to the beach from a simple stroll, to a more challenging route. The beach was quiet and clean. The local shops in the 'Strip' were fairly repetetive goods wise, but the staff were more than helpful. It was our first time in Portugal and the Auramar has given us a strong desire to return

Tulips from amsterdam everynight on a saxaphone

6 of us arrived there in time for dinner.so we unpacked and went for dinner,we were in block c so it wasnt far to the restaurant,after tea went to the bar which was a bit of a walk no to far.got our drinks(all inclusive)and sat down to be entertained by a saxaphone and a keyboard player.21.30 the real show brazilian dancers for 30 mins then all night back to saxaphone and keyboard,it could only get better!NO same every night apart from 30mins of shows including a magician 1 night,parrots another and a singer who sang songs that nobody had heard of,the at 23.00 they put a cd on,this was in october,weather was good,good job because apart from eat and drink nothing to do in the hotel in the day time.all in all good food clean hotel,but they need a new entertainments manager,thats if they got one at all,so to sum it up,good relaxing holiday because theres nothing to do

Loved the place!

This was our first trip to Portugal and it couldn't have been better. T he Algarve region is spectacular, it's people very friendly and our hotel was lovely.The service we received was excellent from all members of staff, the quality and amounts of food were very good, the hotel itself very clean with lots of amenities, entertainment AND a coutesy bus to the old town! Overall, a marvellous holiday, we intend to return!!

First time in the Algarve

Very large hotel so to get anywhere had to walk a fair way unless you were in our room on the ground floor and able to take short cuts. For the size of the place, there still wasn't enough sunbeds for everyone unless you got there early. Variety of food was good. Rooms are clean.

Staff (including the cleaners) are very friendly and helpful. The entertainment started off very well with a group of Brazilian dancers but went downhill throughout the week. Overall, we did have a lovely holiday here and the New Strip (shops,etc.) was only a ten minute walk away so, make your own entertainment!

Hotel for Mountain Climbers

Sunday 10th August 2003. Arriving at the hotel the first words my 6 year old said were "what a posh hotel"! It looked lovely with lights wrapped around the tree trunks. The foyer was large and well illuminated. The reception staff were very helpful and spoke excellent english. We were assisted to our room by a member of staff. We were situated in block C which took us about 5 minutes to get to. There are 4 blocks painted in peach and cream. We arrived at about 9pm just in time for dinner. Although the restaurant closed at 9.30 the variety of food to choose from was excellent. Once fed we looked around the hotel.

We went to the open air bar and were met with the sounds of some local playing the accordian - not my type of entertainment but some people seemed to enjoy it. We had a few drinks (all inclusive holiday) and were very surprised to find that our all enclusive package did not permit us to have any more drinks after 11pm, although we could have bought them up until 12 midnight. The next day at breakfast we were met with another buffet style choice. Breads, cereal, streaky bacon, sausages, baked beans, fried egg, scrambled egg, mushrooms and chips!!!

- the list could go on and on. The pool was magnificent, spotless and every day cleaned by maintenance staff. There was an abundance of sun beds and parasols. The pool bar opened at 10.30 and although beer and soft drinks were served in plastic cups, tea and coffee were served in proper cups. Lunch was buffet style and I always found something I liked. I would describe myself as a fussey eater. After a day at the pool it was back to the room to get cleaned up for dinner which commenced at 6pm. The rooms were ok, a bit basic but clean and tidy.

Some guests had cooking facilities but we didn't. My dislikes were as follows - whoever designed the hotel must have been a mountain climber.

Wherever you went you had to go up or down steps. Depending on what block you were in you could have 60-70 steps to negotiate, however, for people with prams or those with walking difficulties there is a ramp.

Bar staff although friendly were very slow. Most of the time only one was serving so you can imagine the delay to be served. My record was 12 minutes and only 8 people in front of me. Our Airtours brochure said there was entertainment. A childrens disco which lasted 4 songs (the same ones every night) from 9 - 9.20pm followed by either a magic show, parrot show, dancers or accordian lasted from 9.30-10.15pm. Thereafter someone played a few songs on an organ. It is not a child friendly hotel so if you've been to a hotel with kids clubs before you will be very disappointed as our two were quite bored. Other all inclusive hotels we have stayed at had music by the pool, quizzes, competitions, bingo etc, this hotel had nothing. Overall the food was excellent and very well presented but our stay was spoilt by the lack of daytime entertainment, lack of things for the children to do, steps to climb and slow bar service. I will not be back, but then again I go somewhere different every year!