Morgado Golf and Country Club

Currently here on a 4 night stay. The room is a great size and the facilities are as advertised. Not sure if I was fortunate to get a room overlooking the course with a balcony but it's quite nice. Massive shower, loads of room space, small fridge, ample wardrobe space, Nespresso machine with 2 capsules (additional fee for more), kettle, bottle of water, complimentary toiletries and a free room safe. Part of a package that includes golf, hotel and semi-inclusive, which is breakfast, dinner and select drinks after 5pm. I didn't check the list of inclusions and was surprised when I switched the beer from a larger to an IPA, only to be told it wasn't on the list 😕 Both breakfast and dinner were great with a wide selection of food items to suit most palettes (although I can't speak for those of you with certain dietary requirements). I believe they did a mexican themes last night which was lovely. All the staff are friendly and accommodating from reception, bar and on course team. It really is a golf hotel, with little else to do other than sunbathe and use the pool, which was cold (April 29th) but worth it just to look over the course and get a nice picture. I booked a car from Faro costing about £80 ( cheaper than getting door to door transfer service) for 5 days and used it to pop into Portamao which is about 20mins drive, for both lunch items (put in fridge but it's not a large fridge) and a look round the town, so definitely worth doing as there is not much else in the vicinity. I am however sitting here listening to a solo singer in the bar with a few other guests which is quite pleasant. For me, as a solo traveller I really enjoyed the whole duration of my stay. I imagine with a group it would also be inviting for those who would want a more reserved experience.

I’ve just returned from a 5 night trip staying on site and playing Morgado and Alamos. I cannot fault either course, the greens were fantastic with both courses playing completely different. We were unable to hire buggies and these had not been reserved by our agent despite learning the hotel own 100 buggies but they only hire them out once a day, which we found nonsensical. The same was found work electric trollies and so we had to use pull trollies (at this point I need to let you know two of our group are aged 77 and whilst young at heart….).

The rooms were very good for a golf complex being large, bright and airy. However, the set up of the hotel and course is just not right and we felt quite mean.

All inclusive starts at 1700, prior to this food and beverage is purchased. During this time the bar and catering staff are aplenty and pleased to assist. This is a different story post 1700 when the bar staff reduces to just one. It’s very slow to get a drink, all named drinks are removed from the offering and service is definitely NOT with a smile.

The restaurant when compared to other all inclusive buffets is quite poor. On our final night we felt we were literally served leftovers. Our first night did not fair better when one of our group came down with food poisoning and spent the next 24 hours being very unwell. She was advised to have bread & butter with a banana but we were unable to obtain this for her as there is a big sign on all the tables disallowing you to take any food from the restaurant or an additional meal charge would be levied. We only actually found the bananas on the last day when we saw them for sale behind the bar. As a group we have been to Turkey, Marrakesh and Cyprus and would return to each of these. The buffets having food cooked in front of you to order and is hot and delicious. The food at Morgado was just bland, ordinary, warm and like a school dinner.

The only entertainment was on a Wednesday and Saturday, this was a singer who played until 9pm. On the Wednesday the singer sat next to the TV screen in the bar and golfers from earlier walked in and put the TV on to watch the football whilst she was singing.

The pool areas do not have bars or refreshment areas, they’re both very quiet with little or no atmosphere.

We all struggled with the sleeping arrangements. Waking in the night to hot sweats and we wondered if we were coming down with a bug only to discover on the final morning we’d been sleeping on plastic under sheets! We were staying in Block 7 which in the end we named Prisoner Cell Block H.

There could be so very much that could’ve been fantastic but the whole set up is lacking in atmosphere and generally just miserly.