Tee
Hotel location is fab, easy to get to all the attractions of Albufeira.
About 15 mins walk to old town, 25 to 30 mins walk (15 mins car ride - €4 Uber) to Albufeira Marina and 10 mins to "the strip".
Bus stops just outside hotel.
Staff are polite and professional.
I was in a one bed apartment - very spacious and fully equipped. Sadly, sofa has had very good use and can do with a replacement.
I took the all inclusive option, as a foodie, no regrets.
In short, a great hotel. It's rated 5 star but I don't think you should compare it to other 5 stars elsewhere in the world.
I had a great stay.
Ralph Marchant
Stayed at the Forte do Vale for the first time during February and March this year. We were welcomed by a friendly team at the reception desk and our room was really nice. Having stayed in many hotels in this area over a period of 25 years, this was definitely the best. Our room was looked after by Maria and Carlos and his team were helpful with any questions or queries that we had throughout. The bar is spacious and entertainment was provided every night, with a weekly programme available in advance. The outside area was clean and well maintained, with a nice pool and a refreshments bar too. We have already booked for 2026 and look forward to returning. Our thanks to all of the staff team who made our stay so enjoyable!
Teagan Jones
We stayed here for my boyfriend’s birthday and had the best stay! Really friendly staff. Had nice breakfast here and the facilities like the gym, sauna and steam room was really good. The location of this hotel is great too right between the old town and the strip. Our room was lovely and had amazing views of the pool and the sea.
Kelly Thompson
Only reason I haven’t give this hotel a full 5 star is because of the pool. Yes just the pool!!!
The water was absolutely freezing hardly anyone in it unfortunately because of that. Got my feet in for a few seconds before I felt the numbness.
Everything else about his hotel was spot on.
The pool area is lovely plenty of beds.
Games and fitness by the pool if you want.
Based in the middle of both old and new town so location was great.
10 min walk to the beach. Nice beach to 😊.
Apartment later were massive
Cleaned 🧹 daily
Large living area with flat screen tv,
Large bedroom with flat screen tv.
Kitchen fully equipped even had dishwasher and washing machine.
Fair size bathroom with bath and shower.
Has a gym, sauna, steam room, indoor pool, yes the water is warm enough in there 🤣
Not a rowdy and loud hotel very laid back.
All inclusive was great they don’t repeatedly serve the same meals over and over which was great and loads of choices.
Drinks were good & plenty to chose from including cocktails and spirits.
Constant supply of coffees and sandwiches and cakes serve when the restaurant is closed for a couple of hours.
Also they are connected to several other grand mathu hotels which you can also use if you’re all inclusive.
Weather was amazing no overcast but a lovely breeze now and again.
All inclusive all we as 2 couples really enjoyed our stay and yes I would rerun if I fancy Portugal again.
Sorry last thing
The staff
Reception very friendly and helpful
Cleaners were thorough.
Again great if you don’t mind a cold 🥶 outdoor pool 🤣🤣
MJ F
February 2025. Having read the rants from the illiterate about it not being 5 star, it comes down to definitions. It's really a 5 star apartment complex, that offers a 3 star all-inclusive option. Really great bulding.... If you look at rooms, service and location I give them all 5 stars. But food?
The food is variable good/bad so OKish. Don't expect portuguese though. The company is Indian apparently, so some staff come from the sub continent. Therefore the curries are good, but somethings - the pasta was truly abysmal 50% of the time, for example. One night it got my award as the worst pasta in my 70 years of life. Must have been in boiling water for 45 minutes. Fish was usually very good. Small range of courses in the buffet (to be expected due to capacity and so few all-inclusives staying). The Italian restaurant was closed, off season, but we were offered a shuttle to their Chinese. It apparently was a marquee and cold there; and the menu very limited, a guest or two told us, so we skipped it.
Entertainment was like the food, variable - if happened it was good.
Bar was totally acceptable. No issues with us. Staff were great.
NO DECENT COFFEE, minus 5 stars. Yuk.... Good coffee to the right of the ground floor entrance in the supermarket.
Bottom line? The hotel has a marketing problem. It's really is a great apartment block. But their 5 stars headline and a 3 stars bolt on all-inclusive options will lead to guests being negative in reviews. Would I go again? Only for the apartment option, pity they don't offer just alcohol inclusive with it. Oh and I've had better all-inclusive value for money elsewhere.
My Booking
