Yellow Praia Monte Gordo

The room was spotless, and the balcony had an amazing view, even though the tired walls and furniture could use replacing. Breakfast was included, with a buffet that was good for the price, if nothing special. Really affordable for what you get, so five stars for the value.

The rooms were excellent, and the staff were attentive. The hotel itself is nice, though a little dated. Food was very average for this kind of place, with what felt like mystery meat at most meals. There could be more for older kids to do. Table tennis was mentioned, but finding either a table or someone who knew where it was seemed almost impossible.

The beachside location could have helped make this a really great 4-5 star hotel, but it feels like that's all it has going for it. The continental breakfast had all the usual options, but the food was poor and bland. The coffee was very good, though. A lot of the extras are expensive, sometimes costing more than restaurants right around the hotel. The pool is called “free,” but you need to bring your own shower cap or pay €3. The jacuzzi costs €6 for 15 minutes for anyone aged 13 and up, and the sauna is also €6, with all-day use. I found the amenities and massages too pricey. Even staying more than two nights, like I did, most people probably can't afford to use all of it. There's no game room, despite what they say, and live music is only on Saturdays. The bar, room service, and restaurant are expensive too.

Being close to the beach is a nice plus. The place seems to have once been glamorous, but it's old and starting to show its age. It wasn't bad, though I thought the price was high for the quality. I also had doubts about the cleaning: one day I stepped out and came back about five minutes later to grab something, and the room had already been cleaned, so it seemed like they hadn't done a very thorough job. There was also a wall in the bathroom with a terrible smell throughout my stay.