Encantador T1 praia Senhora da Rocha - Algarve

We’ve been coming here on holiday for several years, and it’s always been amazing. The accommodation is lovely and clean, the pool is nice, and the restaurant is excellent. Everyone working there is friendly and helpful, and the children have lots of fun. I’d definitely recommend it!

We used to visit Quinta das Figueirinhas often and have fond memories from before moving to the UK. This time, after booking through expedia, we were given a first-floor apartment with no sunlight. We only realized how little chance there was of getting any sun once we were inside. At reception, the woman refused to change it, using arguments that made no sense: that all the apartments were the same, that we'd already used the apartment, and that this one got lots of sun and faced south. It actually faced east. We weren't complaining about the furniture. The apartments differ in other ways too, since some have mats, ovens, and sun. We could see other sunny apartments with mats sitting empty throughout our stay. There were few people in the village, and it was easy to tell which units were occupied because chairs stayed stacked in front of some while others had open balconies or people sunbathing. We didn't make any big demands. We chose to avoid a confrontation over the receptionist's unprofessional handling of it. That attitude had already stood out during check-in. A man with a French accent arrived, and she immediately stopped serving us to help him, even though our check-in had been brief, and didn't apologize. I wondered whether we would have been offered another room with smiles and kindness if we were French or English. It felt like our mistake was being Portuguese. The kitchen was very basic and had no oven. On Saturday the 5th, the hot water was unreliable in the morning, shifting between lukewarm and cold. Cleaning outside the apartments also fell short: cups from drinks were left on the stairs for more than two days, and birds had torn open rubbish bags, scattering rubbish around for days.

The villa was spacious, modern, and clean, and the cleaners did a great job. It was in a quiet location, with a very clean, well-kept pool. The villa had a washing machine, dishwasher, oven, microwave, toaster, and dishes and cutlery for six. There was a hairdryer in the bathroom, air conditioning in the bedrooms, a fan in the living room, gardens at the front and back with sunbeds and an umbrella, and a veranda on the roof. A car would be very handy, though there’s a free minibus from reception to town six times a day. It only seats eight, but the driver will come back for anyone left behind.

The area is beautiful, with restaurants, bars, and beaches nearby. The cafe serves great lunches and evening meals, with a good range of choices at fair prices. Rooms are simple but well equipped, and the cleaners come regularly and keep them tidy. I’d definitely recommend it and would stay again.