Apartamentos Madeira Casa Azahar

The gated complex is quiet, and the pool is pleasant with very few people, though the water was really warm. Inside, we found the apartment clean and in good condition. The beds were comfortable, the big terrace was great, the air conditioning worked perfectly, and the basic kitchen had enough for us. The worn-out sofa bed in the living room definitely needs replacing, I don’t think anyone could sleep on it. You’ll need a car for pretty much everything here.

We loved the apartment itself: it was clean, spacious, and pleasant, with a sea-view terrace and a garden pool that was nearly empty, so swimming felt almost private. The trouble was getting and returning the keys. Reception is a 15-minute drive away, they gave us the wrong address, and finding our building took 30 minutes. The staff there couldn’t sort anything out by phone. When we returned the keys, several people were in line with complaints, and the woman at the desk wasn’t helpful, so the wait dragged on. The apartment was good, but the organization was really poor.

The terrace was lovely, the beach was close, dogs are allowed, and there weren’t many people around, even at the pool. The pool hours were good too. But check-in was awful: we waited from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM for the key, and the check-in area is a long way away. The furniture was old, and the cleaning was very poor, with clumps of hair and dirty windows.

The garden and pool area were pretty good, and there’s a great terrace. The place itself is nice, and the manager was friendly, but getting inside was a mess. We arrived at 8 pm, were given the wrong keys twice, and couldn’t get in until 10:30 pm, when they finally found our apartment key. The oven was dirty and kept coming apart while we cooked. The beds and pillows were pretty uncomfortable too.