Caldas de Monchique Holidays from AU$4,072

The property is situated on top of a hill, offering a very nice view, which is definitely one of its highlights. Unfortunately, the facilities don’t live up to expectations. While the building appears modern at first glance, it is noticeably run down. The walls are dirty, and the carpets are in terrible condition with unpleasant brown stains. Our room was fairly clean, but it clearly needs refreshing. We noticed ripped pillows and requested replacements, but no one ever came to address it. The bathroom also left much to be desired, with dirty corners and some tiles that were not well maintained. The swimming pool, located on the top floor, does offer a great view. However, it is quite small with very limited seating. During our stay, people occupied the few available spots for a long time, so I never had the chance to properly relax there. The gym is also very small and equipped with only the basics, which was disappointing for a hotel of this category. Overall, the stay was okay but certainly not what you’d expect from a 5-star property. I would rate it more in the 2-3 star range, as there is a lot of work needed to bring it up to standard.

I liked having the adult only pool area.

We had a pleasant stay, but for the amount of money I paid for a sea-facing unit, I expected higher quality. The unit wasn’t up to hotel cleanliness standards. There was food in the kitchen drain when we arrived, and hair on the floor, and the glass veranda railing was filthy. The bathroom counter had toothpaste stains. The furniture felt shabby. My son’s single bed had a vinyl headboard that shedded into his sheets. The nightstands were chipped and the bedside rug visibly stained. None of this would bother me if I hadn’t opted to pay top dollar for a more “luxurious” stay. The location is superb, with a stunning view. Staff were friendly and responsive. But we wouldn’t go back.

Beautiful hotel and location. Food excellent, very clean and staff very friendly. Air conditioning in hotel room wasn’t great for the summer.

Great location, friendly and professional staff however, some of the facilities were underwhelming for the cost of stay. Outdoor pool and seating areas were great. Indoor pool was more for families and children, "Turkish bath" was unavailable and appeared to be a small steam room squashed into the corner of the room. The outdoor and indoor pool / sauna are not well connected which requires you to walk through the hotel lobby wet and in a swimming costume. If there is a better route there should be clear signs. Overall, we had a great stay. Facilties could've been better for the price of stay, with the location I enjoyed swimming in the sea more.