Solar de São João

I’ll be staying here again. The place is fairly priced, the pool is a great size, and the staff are very friendly. Our room was simple but great and had everything we needed, including glasses, plates, and cups. From what I could see, each apartment has its own balcony or, on the ground floor, outdoor space. It’s also only a short walk to the beach, supermarkets, and restaurants.

We can’t wait to come back after such a wonderful holiday in these apartments. The grounds were beautiful, and the location was perfect: quiet, but still close enough to the strip’s hustle and bustle. The staff were superb, so warm and helpful, and a real credit to the hotel.

We’ve been to the Solar twice already, and I’m planning to go again this year. It’s easy to book your own flights, transfers and apartment, and I’d recommend it to couples or families who like arranging their own trip. The staff are welcoming and there’s always someone at reception, so any problems get sorted quickly. The place is inexpensive and self-catering. Some of the facilities and fittings feel old, possibly around 30 years, but the apartments are clean and comfortable. The pool catches plenty of sun and has a bar-cafe. It’s close to all the action, but the complex itself stays quiet. Most guests seem to be British and Dutch, with a few Spanish weekend visitors now and then.

The only good part for us was the young receptionist, who was kind and helpful. We couldn’t say much about the pool because we left each morning to have breakfast in town. The cleaning lady came every day around 5pm, just as we got back from the beach to get ready for dinner. The breakfast cost €9 per person and was awful: a few bad-looking ham slices, a very hard-boiled egg that seemed cooked for ages, and chocolate bananas that looked five days old. The building felt ancient, with mold on the walls, and we even worried about cockroaches, so don’t walk around without shoes. We stayed four nights over a long weekend and paid €450. Booking so late may have been our mistake, but this place was filthy and we hope it gets shut down.