Algarve Hotel Guide - All Inclusive Hotels in Algarve, Portugal

Enjoyed my stay, great hotel with excellent facilities and helpful staff

Expected a little more from a 4 star hotel - rooms are quite basic, we had a double room but had twin beds pushed together, they charge extra for most things e.g. 14 euros for a lock for your safe for a week! Reasonably close to the beach, takes 5-10 mins to walk down the road - bit more of a distance to the main shops / restaurants area - can walk this in about 20 mins. They do have a free shuttle bus (on weekdays) but the times aren't particularly helpful the return buses only run twice at near midday and 5 pm so can't get it back after dinner so we only used it one way once. Quite a lot of different restaurants, a lot of Italian places (probably more than portuguese) and a couple of nice beach side bars and gelado shops. There is nightly entertainment in Carveiro centre which is sometimes quite good... the hotel entertainment, on the whole, was pretty awful! Without hiring a car a week was definitely enough, there isn't a massive amount to do but if you just like sitting by the pool / on the beach it's fine! Also quite a nice cliff side walk.

Had an excellent time at the resort. The staff were very hospitable ( special thanks to Joao, Soraia, Philip and Theresa, for the very warm welcome...very much appreciated). The villa was very spacious and cleaned daily. Had a few issues initially but they were dealt with promptly...the staff were always keen to help. The kitchen was well equipped - we had breakfast and a few meals there and it felt very homely - having a dishwasher and washing machine is a luxury you don't get at many resorts. Also large flat screen TVs in the living room and bedroom was an added bonus and balconies off both rooms...everything designed to help you feel comfortable and relax and unwind. Large bath with separate walk-in power shower....bliss! My wife celebrated her birthday there and the staff brought her a birthday cake and a bottle of Spumante...she was very touched by the kind gesture. We would highly recommend Vale da Lapa - looking forward to our return visit next year!

Spacious rooms with family friendly atmosphere. This is a great hotel for relaxing and using as a base to travel the Algarve coastline. good facilities and clean.

The hotel was nice with a good size pool. Unfortunately the bathroom had lots of ants but other than that was very clean. The staff were helpful but seemed annoyed when we asked them questions. When we checked out on the last day but didn't need to leave until 19:30, we were told we had to use the swimming pool showers and reception toilets to get dressed which was a little disappointing. The great part about the hotel was the free bus service they provided which ran four times a day, this was very helpful has the hotel was a bit too remote for my liking.

Two minute walk to the beach which is superb and very beautiful. Pool great, hotel very clean. Food choices excellent, something for everyone and not just chips for children!!!! Family friendly, lovely area, go out and about, cheap for taxi or free shuttle bus, beautiful country.

São Rafael Suite Hotel was a good, standard all inclusive hotel and a decent value for the money. It has basic amenities - clean outdoor pools, a prettier more spa-like, indoor, heated pool (although you are required to wear a swim cap which we thought was a little odd), basic all inclusive buffet meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner plus snacks, walking distance to a small and STUNNING beach (Praia de São Rafael), and driving distance to one of the Algarve's top 10 beaches (Praia da Galé). The staff was friendly and helpful. The room and property was a little more dated than the pictures suggest. But the view from our balcony was beautiful - overlooking the ocean and rooftops of Albufeira and we really enjoyed the duck appetizer at the hotel's one ala carte restaurant, where one night's dinner is included in your stay. There is entertainment in the lobby bar nightly and one of the singers was night was just fabulous.