Aparthotel Cerro Malpique

The apartments were clean and spacious with a well resourced kitchen (full oven and microwave). Yes, slightly dated in parts but no complaints for a holiday stay. Powerful shower and comfy beds with sofa bed in the lounge. We had two apartments as party of four but could easily get three adults in, and if you're a family of four with little kids, this would do you no problem. Big enough balconies and I paid for a sea view (not much more) which I think was worth it given some of the apartments had lesser/uglier views. No air con but fans are provided but I didn't find it particularly hot at night. Staff on reception were very helpful and polite with excellent English. Aldi is only 5 minutes walk (not down the hill) which was very handy with a bigger Lidl next to it over the road - very handy.

The thing that lets the place down a bit is the size of the pool, it's tiny and only takes a few people (plus inflatables etc) to fill it up. I'm a keen swimmer and had to settle for only a couple of visits and it had its limitations, but on the plus side if sunbathing is your thing I noticed you could always get a sun bed (balcony overlooked this area) at almost any time which is unusual (although people still did 'reserve' them with towels). The maids came in very regularly, in fact for us too regular sometimes as my teenagers were often still sleeping! Great service - we actually left clean towels unused. Also was very quiet, mainly families, no groups of young people as some have mentioned. In fact one night a couple did use the pool in the early hours presumably after a few drinks and the night manager was out like a flash to admonish and promptly remove them!

More generally, it's been said it's on a hill like many places and trips down into the town require a steep descent on the steps and then obviously a steep ascent. I think lots do get cabs but I noticed the wait for cabs in town was lengthy at this time (probably less so other months). My sons are young men and I'm fairly fit, so we always walked and sometimes we'd be up and down a couple of times in one day if it was beach in the day and then out in the evening. But it is still an effort and not for the old or infirm etc.

The old town was absolutely bustling in mid August as one would expect, shoulder to shoulder in some streets. One thing I noticed is how expensive it could be in the square (e.g. 7 Euros for a cider!) but quite reasonable if you went off the square (N.B if cider is your drink you'll pay more anyway as I don't think it's really a thing in Portugal and is all imported, but you can still get it for about 4 euros a pint).

Loads of companies offering caves and dolphins sightseeing trips - I would recommend if only for seeing dolphins quite close up. Beach is a bit quieter if you're prepared to walk to the extreme east end of it next the rocks which can be safely climbed on with care and you can see people fishing off the end. 'Water sports' activities around the area are expensive, e.g. 20 Euros each for a 10 minute banana boat/ringo ride. I don't mind spending money but this is a bit of a mickey take - I guess people pay it.

We travelled as a couple in June 2022. There are plenty of positives at this complex which include friendly staff, spacious large rooms which are clean - the rooms include a fully functional kitchen and basic bathroom. The views of the sea and old town were unrivalled and the proximity to the old town/beach was ideal however I would bare in mind the hill that you have to climb from the old town to the apartments. The complex has an average sized pool with poolside bar which catches the sun most of the day.

However, please do not ignore the negative reviews you may read about stag/hen and same sex groups around this time of year especially if you are travelling as a family or couple, as you may find that you will be as disappointed as we were when we found out the hard way. I would just like to point out that we are easily pleased and chose Albufeira partly due to the nightlife and when we found this location we thought it would be perfect but unfortunately we were unable to use the resort as an escape from the rowdiness as you certainly can’t get away from it staying here.

We booked the holiday as a package with Jet2, their website specifically states no stag/hen parties which is a lie, it also says that the apartments are perfect for couples which is very misleading. If you are a couple or family that like to be woken up at all hours by people returning to the complex shouting and chanting and banging on doors and if you don’t want to use the pool/sun bed terrace as they’ve been taken over by groups of blokes drinking, swearing and playing their own music louder than the pool bar then maybe this place is for you. Throughout the day more groups would wake and play their own music and before long you have 5 to 6 different groups blaring their own music all day long.

In the end we opted to use the pool at block 2, we weren’t aware this existed until we went for a wander and discovered it. It was a lot quieter and we would recommend using this if you want to relax, the only down side is that it doesn’t have a pool bar.

We understand the need for stag/hen holidays and being a younger couple appreciate what they’re about but this hotel either needs to cater fully for this sort of chaos or concentrate on families and couples because the two together does not work. Maybe try putting the groups in one block and the couples/families in the other?

We felt cheated as we were only able to use half of the facilities and we didn’t get to relax. We came back feeling as though we needed another holiday to recover from this one which is such a shame as the apartment, location and staff were all spot on and if it wasn’t for the rowdy groups infesting the apartments we would probably return.

All in all, we would recommend for a lads/lasses holiday but if you are a family or couple don’t waste your money and go somewhere else instead.

We stayed here for a week just gone, we arrived late on a Sunday evening and received a warm welcome form the night manager who checked us in and said once we were settled to come back and he would show us round and the places and directions to go which was a nice touch.

The apartment was clean and spacious with a well equipped kitchen , we enjoyed having a balcony , the complex was quiet away from the noise of the town centre, there are around 94 steps ip and the complex is on a hill but that suited us to get away from the busy old town and noise.

Rooms seemed to be serviced every other day, we struggled with the hot water supply and had to get a cold shower on the first night and morning, I asked another resident who mentioned there are solar panels on the roof it was dull and raining so perhaps why but then later on we had hot water, you seemed to have to run the water for over 5 minutes to get anything through so whilst saving on electricity the amount of water wasted to get hot water needs looking into or explaining.

Poolside good enough, pool was cold and perhaps could do with some maintenance as missing tiles , and jaquizzi sofas not working, Aldi green algae on the tiles above the water level. More a splash pool than one you can swim in.

Bar only open on the Friday and Saturday but reception has a stock of beverages.

Would have been 5 star except the minor issues above however would star again.