- Algarve Holidays
- Albufeira
- California Urban Beach Hotel
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California Urban Beach Hotel
Portugal, Europe
Albufeira
Completely renovated,the Hotel California Urban Beach Hotel 4* reopens with a sophisticated image and an Adults Only concept. With a prime location, situated in the historycal center of Albufeira and at 02 minutes' walking distance from the beach. All rooms with a modern desgin, have a double bed and private bathroom with shower, air-condiotining, Smart-Tv, safe, mini fridge and tea & coffee facilities.
Facilities
- Portugal - Clean and Safe
- Safari*
- Surfing*
- Golf*
- Cycling / mountain biking*
- Catamaran sailing*
- Diving*
- Jet ski*
- Green Key – Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)
- TV lounge
- Please note some facilities may incur an additional fee
Due to the surrounding area and the number of steps around the hotel, it may not be suitable for those with mobility difficulties.
The Local Area
Tripadvisor Reviews
4.0 Very Good218 reviews
Excellent
58%
Very Good
15%
Average
11%
Poor
6%
Terrible
10%
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Exceeded expectations
I booked her with some trepidation, I had read very mixed reviews, some very good and - you have probably read the not so good. Yes of course it is noisy from outside - it is in the middle of all the action, but that means everything you could want is right on the doorsteps. It is surrounded by bars, clubs, shops and a whole mix of restaurants. The beach is less than 5-minute walk. What struck me though, was that we didn't hear anyone staggering noisily back to their room (as you often get!). The heavy bedroom doors are obviously providing very good sound proofing, so we were really not bothered by noise at all. The standard room we chose is quite small, very little space for your things, hanging space very limited - but we managed!If we return, we would upgrade. Bonus to have efficient air-conditioning. Really good to have a decent size fridge and filtered water replenished every day. There is a coffee machine, no kettle, so we took a travel kettle. Yes, the bathroom is not the most private, but was ok, good sized shower, nice toiletries. We found everyone very friendly and helpful when we had a few issues. The breakfast room, buffet is small but intimate - indoor and outdoor seating. Excellent selection of food, from smoothie, fruit, yogurt, pastries, small choice of breads and a selection of freshly cooked food. Coffee machine offering all the usual for you to select. Plenty of loungers on the terrace, plus the raised area. The pool isn't the biggest, but was fine, lovely to have the stars to float on. I think that covers it, if I was to return to that area, I would certainly rebook.
Review by WLhonest West Sussex, United Kingdom
Not a bad hotel, but awful location.
First things first, if you’re not going on a holiday where you plan to get drunk every night then do not stay here. It’s right on the strip and the music and noise goes on until 3am. We were on this sort of holiday and even I struggled.
The rooms are nice, but odd. The shower and toilet are just in the room behind thin doors that don’t close properly. That’s not so much of an issue for the shower, but if you’re sharing a room you can hear everything going on in the toilet.. the sink is on the desk so most of it will get covered in water.
I really don’t like when hotels demand you pay a deposit up front on arrival. It’s a really poor way to welcome guests by saying “we don’t trust you and you must give us more money after paying for your room to stay here”. They also take this money out rather than holding a card, why can’t they just keep a card on file if they want?
Pool is nice and no issues with sunbeds, which are also more upmarket than the usual plastic ones. Some cleanliness issues with other areas of the hotel, the second lift that takes you from the pool down to ground level smelt awful for our entire trip.
Also, be careful when ordering anything at the pool bar, as they just add a random tip on to anything you buy without telling you - which ranged from about 7-15%.
Overall, I would not stay here again. And if you’re not going for a drinking holiday with mates, I can’t think of anywhere worse to stay.
Cockroaches
Top 2 issues:
- Cockroaches. I stayed in a premium room (with the soaking tub outside the bathroom); can’t remember if it was room 502 or 501. On two different occasions, I saw two of the biggest cockroaches I have ever seen in my life and I think one of them was the flying kind. So big that I could hear it when it was crawling on the curtains. So big that it wasn’t fast, so I was able to trap it in one of the plastic reusable water cups in the room. After seeing the second one a few days later (it was on the rug, right where I was going to put my feet into slippers upon getting out of bed after waking up), I was so disgusted and knew I wasn’t going to be able to fall asleep there again. I booked a different hotel for the remaining half of my trip. Before checking out of Hotel Indigo, I went to the front desk to ask for a refund for only the nights I wasn’t going to be using. The process with the front desk was a total nightmare. Too much to type so I’ll spare you the details, but the male employee at the front desk was rude and difficult. Overall, the staff didn’t think the roaches were a problem nor did they seem to do anything to prevent them. They did offer me a spray bottle of some kind of bug repellent. If it weren’t for Expedia (the travel site I originally booked Hotel Indigo through), I wouldn’t have gotten the refund for the 4 remaining days.
- Beware of noise. If you’re looking for a wild spring break-type of trip (or want to get drunk and stay out until 4am every night), then Hotel Indigo is the place for you! Unfortunately, this was a last-minute vacation for me and I didn’t do my research on Old Town in Albufeira before traveling. The reviews of this hotel don’t do the noise levels justice. This hotel is right in the heart of Old Town, on a busy street that has bar after bar (probably why there are roaches in this area), that play music until 4:00 in the morning, Monday-Sunday. So loud that the flimsy earplugs the hotel provides don’t do a thing.
If you want to save money and don’t mind the noise, this place wasn’t terrible for the price. I just wish I stayed somewhere else.
Amazing staff
We had an amazing stay, the hotel and staff were all so lovely and welcoming. The location is amazing right on the old town strip. Not to mention the pool and bar area is beautiful. A special shoutout to Dipu the worker at the bar at the pool he was so kind and approachable really made us feel at home.
Can not fault this hotel!
What a great hotel. Friendly and helpful staff Room absolutely beautiful and clean Hotel clean and tidy Pool fabulous with large starfish beanbag floats, that moulded to your body. Breakfast excellent, so much choice from tasty English bacon, sausage and eggs. To healthy options of ginger shots , yogurts with chia seeds and fresh cut up fruits. Fresh pastries, great bread and croissants, freshly squeezed orange juice, selection of other juices and daily flavoured water. Prosecco too! The bar area and four poster day beds were very chilled, relaxing music and never struggled to get a day bed. Snacks and food served from the bar were tasty and fresh. Can not fault the bar staff, so friendly and always smiling. Great location and lift right down to the old town. Will definitely return next year!
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