Ria Park Hotel & Spa

A big thank you to Mikaela for being so welcoming. Before we checked out, she personally brought a generous portion of pastel de natas from outside the hotel to reception for us. Sorry if I've misspelled your name, Mikaela. Muito obrigado! 🙏🏽

I loved the view from my balcony, and the rooms were amazing. The service was great too. Best hotel I've stayed at!

The beach was beautiful, and getting there was easy, either by the hotel's two-minute shuttle or a pleasant walk through a mansion neighborhood that's still being developed. We paid €12-15 each day for two beds and shade. Nearby restaurants serve food, but won't bring it to your beach bed. The lads at the check-in cabin had a cooler with water and soft drinks. I wondered if they had an arrangement with a restaurant for restroom access, but I'm not sure. The resort grounds are full of palm trees, and the pool and shared areas were lovely. It was spotlessly clean, and the staff at the lobby bar and pool were friendly and helpful. The buffet breakfast was decent, and the gym worked for two or three people at a time, with modern cardio machines. Portuguese beer is 🤤. The resort food was good but not great, and honestly overpriced. We mostly spent our € elsewhere, eating out or ordering UberEats. After six nights I was ready to leave, since I'm not really a resort-for-more-than-a-few-days person. We'd stock up on snacks from the supermarket with a quick Uber or evening walk. There was plenty of fridge space, but no microwave or other cooking equipment. You couldn't reserve pool chairs, and that kept things cordial. It wasn't too busy when we went in early to mid-September. I'd probably stay somewhere else next time I'm in Portugal, but I'd still recommend the Ria.

We're leaving tomorrow, and after lots of travel over the years, I can say this isn't a five-star hotel. It's tired, the service is just okay, and the restaurant food and breakfast are very low quality. The staff seemed uninterested in serving, as if it was a job they didn't enjoy. The location is good, but I wouldn't stay again. We visited the Wyndham Grand a couple of times with friends, and it was much better, both in hotel quality and especially in the staff and service.