Monica Isabel Beach Club

stayed there for a week and so glad to be home. the hotel complex is set out over a large area and the apartments my husband and friends stayed in were almost .25 miles away from reception and restaurant not handy when your all inclusive we were not even in adjacent apartments but a floor and ten stairs apart we were located between 9 guys there for a stag weekend so hardly any sleep for 3 nights. when i booked this in november it was rated 4 star have to say struggled to give it two and only because the room had air conditioning. Food was of very poor quality and ended up eating out often. The whole hotel needs revamping and brought up to date everthing looked very worn and below par. As a couple we were isuued with one key per apartment and u required this for lighting in the apartments but also had to be shown in restaurant so if one person went to restaurant then the person in the apartment had no electric i asked for additional card and was categoracly told no by a very arogent receptionist who would not listen to reason. the hotel not suitable for anyone with mobility problems as suituated on a cliff and very steep roads taxi everywhere if you wanted to go out which you had to in the evening as entertainment was substandard ie parrot show reptile show!!! Have to say if this had been my first all inclusive holiday i would never do it again but im glad ive had numerous successful holidays to compare it with.

Seven mums on a girlie holiday to the Algarve in early September. The hotel was tired but clean and comfortable. We were all happy with it given what we had paid (£240 for 4 nights all inclusive including flights and transfers) and felt we had good value for money. The food was pretty good. Lots of choice and very good waiter service. Our vegetarian friend struggled a bit, but she was clear that it is the same anywhere in Spain and Portugal - they don't do vegetarian very well. Still, she managed to eat pretty well even though there were no dishes that were specifically vegetarian, there were still choices to allow her to have protein at each meal. Breakfast was a must for her though. The all inclusive option was great, though we did feel a little like second class citizens when we discovered the all inc bar was in a dark downstairs room and the cocktail bar was brightly lit in the outdoor area. Also, the bar staff in the all inc bar were dreadful. We had to complain about them. All they wanted were tips, which is a bit annoying when you've already paid for all inc and don't expect to have to lay out extra money for drinks. Also, they were very funny with us about the number of drinks we were allowed to get and the volume we were given was less than the other guests. The pool bar was really good as were the staff there. The reception staff were just lovely and very helpful every time we needed them. The hotel is in a great place. In between the Old Town of Albufeira and the strip. Both within walking distance. But the hotel was quiet with mainly elderly guests at this time of year, though there were a few younger ones too. It meant for a relaxed and enjoyable time by the pool without a lot of noise and gave us a chance to party in the old town or on the strip without too much travelling expense. The pool was clean and a reasonable size. There was a second pool and then an indoor one with Jacuzzi too. The hotel was just yards from the beach and had its own umbrellas. There isn't a beach bar for all inc. Though the pool bar was all inc and included food all day. The hotel is spread out with different apartment blocks on the steep road down to the beach. It's only a short walk from apartment to the pool, beach or main hotel and bar. The rooms were spacious and had facilities for making a cuppa and had a fridge. The bathroom was clean and fine, though the shower was a bit dodgy. Our air con was brilliant but our neighbours' poured water onto their floor all the time. All in all it was a really good place to be and we all agreed that we would go back to that hotel.

The Monica Isabel Beach Club in Albufeira is a lovely complex with gorgeous gardens. It was spotless and very well maintained by staff. the beach was very clean, and it was a very nice walk along the beach into old town Albufeira.

The apartment was a good five minutes walk to the main hotel reception, and I did not care for 'the strip' either, as I was approached by a few dodgy people trying to sell stuff.

I would visit the Algarve again and again. It is a lovely place! And the people are lovely!