AP Eva Senses Hotel

The breakfast was excellent, and the terrace restaurant has a lovely view. The hotel’s location was great, and I appreciated the complimentary ferry service between the hotel and Faro beach. Staff at reception were polite, kind, and knowledgeable. We used the pool and jacuzzi, and the shared facilities were nice. There’s also a sauna and cool mist shower. We didn’t get time to try the gym, though I expect it would be just as good. My one complaint is that they didn’t serve freshly made omelettes on either of the two days, and I’m not sure why.

At more than 200€ a night, the price for what you get felt poor. The location was good, but little else worked for us. The room had an unbearable sewage smell. Reception staff didn’t seem friendly, and when we came in, nobody greeted or welcomed us until they decided to. We weren’t told when booking that the pool and sundeck were closed, so we only found out too late. It was frustrating to see guests at the neighboring hotel enjoying their roof deck while we couldn’t get any sun here. There may be complimentary drinks in the lobby, but nobody offered or explained them. The whole place made us feel unwelcome, as if they didn’t want us there. I really can’t recommend this hotel.

The breakfast spread had so much to choose from: breads, cold cuts, cheeses, fruit, yogurt, salads, hot dishes like eggs, bacon, hash browns, mixed vegetables and potato tortilla, plus lots of cakes. It was nicely cooked and came with a harbor view, and a pianist played daily at breakfast and in the evenings. We had a spacious, clean room facing the harbor with a balcony, kettle, tea and coffee, minibar, safe, and more. The hotel sits right by Faro harbour, within ten minutes or less of the main landmarks, attractions, and activities. Staff were friendly and helpful, and the facilities were good, including a clean indoor pool, seating areas, restaurants, and spa. I tried the spa and really liked it, especially the massages and the lovely staff. You need a swimming cap for the pools under Portuguese law, and reception sells them for 5 euros. I loved staying here and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Faro.

The hotel let us check out late as a goodwill gesture. The rooms were quiet, the shower worked well, the double bed was comfortable, and staff were friendly. The harbor views and location were great. But we were very disappointed to learn only when we arrived that the rooftop pool was closed because storm damage a few weeks earlier had caused significant damage. I understand these things happen, but the hotel should have told us beforehand. We chose it specifically for the outdoor pool, so we were annoyed, especially for a four-star hotel. Based on this experience, I won’t stay here or at other hotels in its network again. Uber was cheap and easy to get. I was bitten by mosquitoes, so bring repellent.