Belver Porto Dona Maria Resort

We had wonderful sea views from the terrace, and Lagos was only a 15-minute drive away. The apartment was much larger and nicer than the booking site photos suggested, which was a lovely surprise. The kitchen had everything we needed, so it was very good value. I'd come back.

I complained to the resort manager as soon as we arrived, but was told the previous guests had caused the damage. That meant they already knew about the problems and still left us to discover them ourselves. The villa had a for sale sign on the gate, a smashed double-glazed window, exposed wiring, cracked render and peeling paint. The private pool was filthy and cloudy, with litter in it, a torn liner and broken light covers. There was also litter on the sun terrace, broken loungers, dirty sofas and broken outdoor lights. I wouldn't let anyone swim. I asked to move, but was told there was no other accommodation. A maintenance worker taped one side of the cracked window, but the tape quickly fell off, then tried to get the pool pump going. The pool photos show what it looked like after he cleaned it. I complained to the resort manager and head office for three months and eventually got a partial refund agreed, but more than a month later they still hadn't paid it and were ignoring my emails and calls. I hope other families see this before going through what we did.

The staff were so welcoming, helpful and friendly that they made us feel at ease right away. After we got home, they even tracked down my daughter's favourite teddy, which had gone to the laundry with other rooms' washing, and sent it back. That care summed up how we were treated during the stay. We were there over Easter, when it was quiet, and our room was much bigger than expected, with the sea right outside. The location was perfect for us. I'll always remember sitting outside, watching the moon rise and listening to the waves. We could step straight out and take the cliffside walk, which felt like living the millionaire lifestyle. The room was a little run-down, with a couple of bulbs out and a broken chair, but it didn't bother us. If you want indoor luxury, it might; we just wanted a comfortable base while exploring. We'll definitely return.

Friendly staff and decent value for money. The place has a rustic, bohemian feel, and while the rooms are a little dated, they were clean. The big pool was clean too, with a beautiful view, though it's a bit far from some of the rooms.