Hotel Cristal Vieira Praia & SPA

We paid a high price for the two-night New Year package, arriving on the 30th and checking out on the 1st, but the stay didn’t come close to justifying the cost. We were in one of the outside rooms, the villas, and they may be fine in summer, but they weren’t comfortable in winter. The hotel shouldn’t charge the same for the villas as for rooms inside. On the first night the air conditioning wasn’t working properly, so we used every blanket available, and my daughter caught a cold. I complained and submitted a formal review asking for the first night to be refunded. Nothing came of it, other than moving us to a different Vila on the second day. A really bad experience. I can’t recommend this place.

We had a lovely sea view from our front-facing room, and the after-dinner entertainment was simple but fun. We shared some of our comments before leaving, when staff asked, and they seemed to receive the feedback well. Some things made the stay less relaxing than we’d hoped. A few staff members didn’t seem to be having a good day when we arrived, which brought a negative feel to the weekend. The room walls and floor had lots of marks and stains, and at check-in our room number was said loudly enough for everyone to hear. When guests walk between the rooms and the pool, they have to pass through the main entrance and lobby in their swimsuits. We checked with staff, and there’s no other route. The indoor pool was included, but none of the spa was covered by the room price. We expected massages to cost extra, but not the sauna and baths, given the hotel’s name. The website does state this if you look it up. We also had to reserve the indoor pool each day, and could only book a one-hour slot, which was inconvenient. Some buffet food was merely somewhat cold, but a few dishes were plainly cold. Drinks weren’t included with half board, so even a simple water, juice, or alcoholic drink with dinner meant paying 4 euros. I’d rather have that built into the dinner price. At dinner and breakfast, we got talking with other guests who were also disappointed about the service: juice quality, some options missing from the drinks machine, and staff saying they’d bring more cups or spoons when they ran out, then not bringing them. These seemed like decent people who were confused and disappointed while trying to enjoy their paid time off, rather than angry people looking to complain. I’m not sure if it was just our room, but whenever someone opened a different room door, the airflow made our closed door bang. It startled us several times because it sounded like someone was coming in. Once it woke us early in the morning, and we were immediately on alert. The stay was okay, but for the price and a four-star hotel, it fell short of what we expected. We’ve stayed at three-star hotels that don’t compare with this one.

The hotel was lovely, with a comfortable bed, clean rooms, and good food. We had a very nice five-night stay in a perfect location. There isn’t much to do nearby in terms of shops, though there are some nice restaurants. We went out of season, so perhaps that’s why things were quiet.

The location is spot on, right by the beach, and the ocean view is stunning. Off season, the hotel is quiet, relaxed, and comfortable. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the food is usually excellent, never less than very good. They provide everything you need for a perfect break. We’ve been with our children, who loved it, and have also come as a couple. Happy to come again 👍