Hotel Sol E Mar

The best point about this hotel is its location, it has to be the best in Albufeira. Literally on the beach and in the beautiful old part of town. Loads of shops & restaurants on the doorstep. The hotel itself was well run, rooms were clean, had a fridge & all have a perfect sea view. The staff were friendly & helpful. The food was average hotel type food, lots of choice, breakfast good, dinner was buffet with several choices including fish every day. No real complaints but my 5 year old son struggled to find much he liked at dinner (but that's kids!) Would probably go B&B next time as there were loads of very reasonably priced restaurants nearby. Also dinner didn't start until 7 which was a bit late for my son.

I would say this hotel is not at all aimed at children, much better suited to couples. The pool had a shallow end which at 5ft0 had me almost out of my depth & no attendant so not safe for my son who is only just learning to swim. It was lovely & warm though. But also you entered it through the snack bar & there was no changing area so a bit awkward, had to walk through the snack bar dripping with towels around us!

May sound like I am moaning but just mentioning the things that it would have been helpful to know before I got there.

Overall I would definitely go back to the Sol E Mar & would recommend to others but I would go there for a relaxing break of shopping, sunbathing & sea view watching without my son! For him, next time we will pick somewhere with kids entertainment which I will probably not like half as much, but I might get a little rest!

We're going back to the Hotel Sol E Mar a.s.a.p.

My partner and I enjoyed our stay so much that we will almost certainly go back next year. The Hotel Sol Mar is wonderfully situated on the beach in the old part of Albufeira, and it is immaculate. The food is absolutely fantastic. My partner wanted to bring the chef home with us.

Great value package with Thomas Cook, but booked on the net. We went to Albufeira and stayed at the Hotel Sol E Mar on a half-board basis in February 2006. The mini bus from the hotel took us from the Airport bus almost to the hotel lift. Staff were great and pleasant, with a sense of humour etc. The food, while not of restaurant quality, was fine if not great (where do you get great food, at hotel prices?).

I would go back, and I recommend it for over 40's.