PortoBay Falésia

We’ve visited Porto Bay Falesia three times. The sea and red cliff views are fantastic, and the service has always been excellent, with friendly, courteous staff. The hotel was being refurbished and was due to close shortly after we left. We slept well, the beds were comfortable, and the air conditioning was needed to cool the room in the evening. We paid for a suite with a separate lounge, but ours was at the back of the hotel and the balcony never got sun. There was wasted space in the living area, no fridge or kitchenette, and no mini bar or coffee machine. There weren’t any extras compared with a standard room, which was disappointing. Shower pressure was low, and the shower head had no massage setting. We booked bed and breakfast, but ate dinner at the hotel three times for convenience. The hot food was poor and has got worse over the last few years. The dishes were bland and unimaginative. I didn’t see Portuguese chefs in the kitchens, mostly Asians and Africans. There was a clear lack of fresh vegetables, with tinned or frozen ones instead, and it was often obvious food was being reused. I regularly saw staff reheating dishes and boiling spaghetti again. Vegetarians should be aware they may go hungry. Breakfast was better, though the cost cutting showed there too. If it weren’t for the staff and the fantastic views, I don’t think I’d return. Porto Bay have bought the adjoining hotel and plan to turn it into one big resort. That’s not really for me. I prefer smaller hotels where quality and standards come first.