We stayed at this hotel with our three children aged 14, 10 and 15months. We had a fantastic time. The room was cleaned 6 times a week, towels changed twice a week. Rooms were very large and well maintained.

Didn't use cooking facilities or hotel entertainment program so can't really coment, but hotel snack bar served up nice food, although a bit expensive ( but hey we were on holiday)!!

Hotel in good location - about 5-10 minute walk to 'the strip' where we spent every night! coconuts family bar is exellent for the children - even our 14 year old enjoyed herself there. Bananas bar was also very good, the kids were able to sing on the kareokae. a fabulouse holiday was had by us all but would not have been complete without a visit to the zoomarine and a day at the slide and splash waterpark ( absolutely fabulous).

This must be the noisiest hotel in the world.

A disco runs from 2100 till any time the next morning at such volume it disturbs the sleep of every apartment on the complex.

Would only recommend to those who like to club all night.

Every time people moved out of the quieter rooms the hotel moved those from noisiest rooms into them. Despite repeated complaints to reps it took six days for us to be moved.

All in all i found this hotel to be really good for what we paid. It could have been doing with a bit more entertainment though. Rooms are very large but very noisey as you can hear everything for the guests next door and above didnt get a decent sleep in a week. It also has a large games room which kept my kids happy. Happy hour is from 6pm / 8pm. GOOD VALUE.

We are in our early 20's and have just returned from these apartments, we went away with another couple and had an absolutely fantastic holiday. We had separate apartments and we found these to be extremely spacious, in which you have all the facilities you need, fridge, electric hob, oven, and toaster, the only down side was a lack of kitchen utensils.

The apartments were clean and nicely decorated, however it would have been nice to have had the towels changed more frequently!
The beach was about 20 minutes away, and you could walk to ablufeira old town along it, the sea was a little cold but that was refreshing as the sand did get very hot!

The pool area was very spacious and there were plenty of free sunbeds and a very large grass area.
Tania's bar (the hotel bar) was fab, happy hour between 3-5 pint of beer 1 euro! the usual price of a Vodka with lemonade and a Brandy with Coke would cost 4.50 euros for the 2 drinks, for the same 2 drinks on the strip this cost 10 euros+!!!!
Full English breakfast 4 euros, however Charlies bar (behind the Oura Hotel) did a fab breakfast for 4.50 euro!The nightlife is a short stroll away, including many bars and restaurants.

the reception at the apartmetns was a little hit and miss we were at the V2 apartments and there was no 24 hour reception and the opening times were very random!

I think I'm being unfair on the hotel as it wasn't bad for the price we paid. However, the whole feeling of the place and of The Algarve wasn't very good.

We're 2 young adults and found it rather boring on the whole. These apartments are great for people with children but besides that their too dark and basic.

The real reason I'm writing this is because we had a bad experience out there. We went with First Choice Holidays and upon arrival at their welcome meeting, they told us about their excursions and a new free excursion, that they were running a trial on. They said it was going to Quinta Da Lago and this was an exclusive place where the likes of Madonna and Bill Gates have houses there.

We went along for the day. Initially it was a nice tour until they started what we were really there for....yes you guessed it. It was time share. Well it was a moving time share. You joined up and had holidays in lots of countries. However we calculated they wanted

We have visited the Algarve before and although this wasn't my favourite resort the holiday was good value for money. My 8 year old daughter had plenty to keep her busy (the kids reps were lovely)and daily activities were orgainised by hotel staff around the pool which me and my husband participated in relucantly at 1st(and turned out to be good fun)however my 16 year old daughter was bored.

The appartment was very noisy as we were on the 1st floor above the disco/nightly entertainment so if booking I would recommend that you avoid this floor as it is impossible to get to sleep before 2.00am

We went on a few excusions water parks/jeep safari/casinos/zoo marina which were excellent. We also went on a free trip to see celebrity houses which was a time share in disguise so avoid this if you don't want the hard sell.

This complex is just off the main strip which is very lively with lots to do as nightly entertainment in the complex was limited - although we preffered the old town which was only 5 mins by taxi.

To sum up a good holiday for a good price.

Having never been to Portugal, we went with an open mind.

The apartments were super, a good size with plenty of room for our children to spread out without feeling too squashed. We were in Valmangude 1 - the apartments are actually split into 3 blocks, all next to each other, but this was definitely the best one.

V2 was OK, just next door, but V3 was across the road, no amenities, and the pool backed onto the road. Bedroom was very noisy at night though, due to mad Portuguese drivers boy racing outside the window.

Reception area was fine, with a good little cocktail bar. The pool was just the right size, and next to the V1 pool was the pool bar, where the 'entertainment' took place. I use the term loosely - for a Family Plus property, it was a little disappointing. It was OK, but that was all. The entertainmnet programme was run by a couple employed by the hotel, who had little charisma. To echo another comment on this site, they went home for a week in our holiday, and one of the Reps took over - extra and unpaid work, I should add - and things improved no end. It was still fairly basic, but Belinda's enthusiasm made up for that.

Belinda, (and also Carly, the other Rep), was absolutely excellent. Always smiling, friendly, FULL of energy, totally natural and down to earth. Nothing was too much trouble, and she always stopped to see how things were going, even when busy. Probably the best Rep we've ever encountered.

Kids Club - mine (5 and 8) used it for the first time ever this year. They loved it, but some of the things in the brochure were not in evidence - Gameboy rental, DK books.

Apartments are within easy walking distance of the Strip. Yes, it is bright, noisy and gaudy, but hunt around and there are a good selection of really good, varied restaurants. We tried to get there by about 7pm, by 8.30pm it was very busy and there were some queues at the best eateries.The clubs are largely at one end (didnt get that far - too old!!), and we were usually back at Valmangude by about 10pm, so didn't see what it was like at late night. I feel it might have got too busy.

The old town is about 25 mins walk away. Our 5 year old walked it (with a bit of moaning). Taxis are available , but the queues were huge, and we just prefered to walk. Got taxis back, this wasn't as bad, 4 Euros only. The old town is lovely, although still very commercial whatever the guide books say. Again, a good selection of restaurants.

Managed to totally avoid timeshare touts, although did get offered cannabis, and there were a lot of beggars, particularly in old town.

Had a wonderful day out when we hired a car. Drove to Lagos, then to Ponte da Piedade (the place you see on all the postcards), where we went on a small fishing boat around the coves and grottos. Breathtaking. Finished the day by watching the sun set at 'the end of the world', Cape St Vincent. Also breathtaking.

Zoomarine and Slide and Splash were good days out.

We had a super holiday in Albufeira, and would certainly recommend it, and go back. Valmangude is a very nice complex, could do with a little more lively and varied entertainment, but otherwise lovely. There's so much to do out and about it's not a problem. Children are still depressed about coming home!

My husband and I along with our 2 year old thoroughly enjoyed it here. The pool area and snack bar are ideal but it lacks night time entertainment.

Don't forget to visit the patisserie/bakery behind the hotel as it sells the most wonderful pastries ever!!

One last piece of advice is don't spend every evening on the 'Strip', the old town (just