Viceroy At Ombria Algarve

The suites and peaceful atmosphere made this probably our favorite of the 9-10 properties we’ve stayed at in Portugal. We don’t usually stay outside the Marriott portfolio, but we’re glad we gave Ombria a try. The team was incredibly friendly, communicated well before we arrived, and offered plenty of services on site. We ate at all the restaurants and other dining spots, and enjoyed them all. One suggestion: at this hotel’s price point, proper espresso machines would make sense. The spa is very good, though it gets busy quickly even on quieter days. A common area sized in proportion to the other spa floors and facilities would have been nice. The team was also very flexible and honored our previous rate after our flight was cancelled.

The pool was the biggest problem. Families would leave towels on sunbeds at 7am, go to breakfast, and come back later. As other guests caught on, it turned into a daily fight. Complaints to pool staff and the front desk went nowhere, and nobody resolved it. Service elsewhere was poor too. Reception regularly gave wrong information, and when staff said they’d book an in-house restaurant and get back to us, they never did. Breakfast was chaotic, with waiters who didn’t seem trained to take orders or look after guests properly. The rooms themselves were beautiful, clean, and spacious, just what you’d expect at a luxury five-star destination at these prices. But very poor management let the whole place down. This was our worst five-star stay in the Algarve.

The hotel itself is beautiful. The rooms were excellent, housekeeping impeccable, and in-room service outstanding. The main restaurant, though, fell far below five-star expectations because of its communication, lack of accountability, and staff attitudes. We were staying at the Viceroy Ombria and had an 8:00 pm booking with our 5-month-old baby and 2.5-year-old toddler. We asked how long the rice would take and were told 20-25 minutes. Since the children meant we had a time limit, we asked for dishes to come as soon as they were ready. The appetizers arrived, but 1.5 hours later we were still waiting for our mains. When we asked our server what was happening, she spoke to the person organizing orders, who shrugged, and then she never came back. Another server also seemed visibly annoyed and dismissive, and kitchen staff made rude gestures. Nobody gave us an update or an estimate. We told our original server we might need the food to go so we could feed our baby if it was going to take much longer, but again, nobody followed up. We eventually had to leave. I asked for the manager and explained what happened, but got no apology or acknowledgment of the inconvenience. I only needed a realistic estimate so we could decide what to do, not for anyone to rush. I speak multiple languages and understand language barriers can happen, but basic communication and empathy should still be there. I hope management takes this seriously. Even when the kitchen is delayed, a five-star property should treat guests, especially families, with respect and be transparent.

We had a program at this stunning five-star hotel, surrounded by mountains, and it was incredible. The views were unreal, our room was beautiful and spotless, and the staff were so kind and helpful. Fogel Travel and OHVENTS really made the experience. They handled everything smoothly from start to finish. The food and setup from OHVENTS were outstanding, with so much style and attention to detail. The atmosphere was amazing, the food was top quality, and everything felt special. Couldn’t recommend Fogel Travel and OHVENTS enough!