Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo Antonio Marsh Natural Reserve Vacations from $1,400

Excellent staff!!! Service second to none. Bar staff and reception staff were fantastic. Nothing was too much trouble. The room size and view was amazing. However, the TV had a line on it and the toilet basin had a crack. Coffee and milk quality was poor (not what you expect on a 5 star hotel). The hotel common areas had a mixed feeling… the bar furniture, the garden adjacent to it and the restaurant were great. Well designed and pleasant. However, the pool area had a rickety decking (not fit for a 5 star hotel), also the indoor swimming pool was poorly designed as you had to go all around to find chairs (no access to one side), the 2 jacuzzi adjacent to the pool were ok ish but not really great. The location on the Alvor beach was great.

The beds should be changed for more comfort. If your guests don’t have a good night sleep they will not be happy.

Villa was moldy but tolerable for the weekend. Sheets had stains. Housekeeping didn't do much. Breakfast left much to be desired. Check-in was empty when we arrived and no staff was able to tell us where to go to check in or when the desk would be staffed. They don't answer the phone. I requested late check out which was accepted and I put do not disturb on the door. Housekeeping still barged in and woke us up and was annoyed we hadn't left. Overall it could've been worse.