Parque Monte Verde

The apartment was lovely, clean and spacious, with separate kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, plus both a bath and shower. It also had a balcony. There are barbecue facilities and a laundrette. We didn’t use the pool. The views are beautiful, and the location is peaceful. It’s far enough from the all-night party crowd, while tourist spots are close by car.

We stayed in mid-September 2024, and the ants were a problem the whole time. They crawled all over the bathroom, including the floor, walls and ceiling, and across the kitchen floor and counter right beside our food. They even got into the lounge and bedrooms, and I found some in my shoes. I kept my suitcase zipped so they wouldn’t get into my clothes. I told the hotel owner on the first day. He already knew about the issue, but only asked the cleaners to do a quick clean, which didn’t solve it. The ants came back every day. I’ve attached photos as proof. I also found the reception lady and hotel owner had a real attitude problem. When we asked questions, they did the bare minimum to help and seemed eager to get rid of us. I wouldn’t recommend it.

This was an ideal base for a quiet family holiday. My children still had plenty to do, with the pool, playground and activities we booked. Parque Monte Verde is a small apartment complex about a 10-minute drive from Old Town Albufeira. We stayed in a two-bedroom apartment with a good-sized kitchen and living room. The beds were comfortable, and it had everything needed for self-catering, plus daily cleaning. There’s a lovely pool area at the back with a toddler pool and plenty of sunbeds. At the front there’s a play area and picnic area. The free laundry room dispenses detergent automatically, so you don’t need to bring your own. You can book activities like Zoo Marine and boat trips through reception at a 10% discount. Aldi is less than a 10-minute walk away, and the petrol station next door sells water and snacks if you get caught short. The restaurant across the road is amazing if you fancy eating out.

Everyone here was helpful and nice, and I can’t praise the apartments enough. They’re amazing and fully furnished. There’s free self-service laundry on site, and a playground my son absolutely loves, though the floor needs a bit of work. Our apartment had the baby cot we requested and a kids’ highchair, which was super handy. Everything is within walking distance, including the beach if you’re up for a 30-minute walk each way. We didn’t mind it, but I’d recommend a car if you want to wander about.