Alfagar Cerro Malpique

For what they charge, I couldn’t find a better hotel. Each room has a separate toilet, kitchen and balcony, and the layout is fabulous. The pool was very well maintained and the terrace views were terrific. My only downsides were that the elevators weren’t working and cleaning happened every other day.

The staff were so friendly and helpful, and I’d happily stay in the same room again. It had two balconies facing the pool, plenty of plug sockets, and was spacious and clean, with everything needed to cook. The pool itself was small but okay. The one real drawback was the music by the pool, which played loudly all day. We went out every day anyway. The hotel is in a good area, and Uber was convenient and cheap for getting around, though payment was by card in the app rather than cash locally.

There were still ants crawling around our room the next day, so the problem clearly hadn’t been dealt with. We counted well over 100, and spent the whole night killing them and trying to keep them off our belongings. When we reported it, the cleaning staff sprayed something, leaving dead ants scattered across the floor without cleaning them up. The cleaner tried to dismiss it as “only one ant,” and management called it “a few ants.” I found the whole experience extremely disappointing. The room wasn’t clean, the staff were unhelpful and dismissive, and the hygiene was unacceptable. I strongly advise against staying here. Don’t waste your money. I couldn’t take many pictures because I was busy clearing the ants away from our things. I do have a video of them roaming around, but it won’t let me upload it here.

The views were a real highlight. Our room looked out to sea, and being up on the hill felt peaceful while still leaving us close to Albufeira. The Old Town and beach were a short walk away, but the hotel was far enough from the crowds for some quiet. Everything was spotless and well kept, and the whole team was warm and helpful, from reception and housekeeping to the rest of the staff. Abraham was especially lovely. His English is excellent and he was always ready to help with questions or requests. The pool area was spacious and well maintained, with plenty of sunbeds. The friendly lady at the pool bar was welcoming and attentive too. Our room was roomy and comfortable, with a small kitchenette that made simple meals easy. It had everything we needed, including glasses, plates, cutlery, extra pillows and blankets. The hotel itself is clean, quiet and well located, and we had an amazing stay at Alfagar Cerro Malpique. We definitely plan on returning!