Cerro MarGarden

We stayed at Cerro Mar Garden in Albufeira and overall had a very pleasant experience. We arrived very early in the morning because of an early flight, and unfortunately our apartment was not ready for quite some time. It seemed that the previous guests had checked out late, which delayed the cleaning. However, when the new shift at reception started, the staff did their best to help us. Originally we had booked an apartment in the Atlantic building of the same complex, but they upgraded us to an apartment in the Garden section, which actually has a slightly higher rating. We were very grateful for that. About three hours after arrival we were finally checked in, and the apartment itself was wonderful — spacious, comfortable, and with a beautiful ocean view. The only small issue was that our electronic key cards didn’t work properly at first. These cards are used both for entering the residence and for activating the electricity in the apartment. After calling reception, a staff member came to us in just a few minutes and replaced the cards. Considering that the normal walking distance from reception to our building is about seven minutes, this was impressively fast service. The hotel offers several facilities including a swimming pool, sauna, and fitness room. Pool towels can be rented for a €5 deposit (or you can bring your own), and massages are available for an additional fee. Breakfast is offered as a buffet if it’s not included in your booking, and dinner is also available with a reservation. The location is also very convenient — within walking distance of the old town, restaurants, and the beach, but still quiet enough to relax. Unfortunately, I had one less pleasant experience at the spa reception. The woman working there did not seem very friendly, and it felt like she was reluctant to communicate in languages other than Portuguese. I noticed that she was much more welcoming with Portuguese guests. Because of this interaction, I decided to reduce my rating by one star. The parking area is free around the complex. Overall, this is a comfortable apartment hotel with beautiful views, good facilities, and helpful reception staff. With slightly more consistent customer service, it could easily be a full five-star experience.