Balaia Golf Village

We were a family of 2 adults and 3 teenagers in a superior apartment. We loved the resort - the accommodation, pool choice, facilities on site, layout of the place, and very relaxed family atmosphere. There is a really well stocked shop at the front of the property with lots of choice, fresh bakery etc all at reasonable prices. The apartment was really comfortable with excellent air conditioning and very spacious for the 5 of us. Towels were changed regularly, and the apartment serviced every few days. We also borrowed pool towels from reception so didn't have to carry our own. The pools are numerous with shallow and deep ends for everyone's enjoyment. Plenty sunbeds also until about 10.30am and everyone seemed able to get one. Location wise it is in a quiet area, but there are restaurants within walking distance. Ubers were plentiful and generally cost 7-10euro to get us into Albufeira Old Town. We didn't eat at the property as service was slow in our experience - both to get lunch food or an ice-cream at the counter. This was the only negative aspect, but the shop was right outside the gate so we used that instead. We would all be really happy to return to Balaia Golf Village. It was very chill, very comfortable, and we had a really lovely time.

Very beautiful place and great apartment, AC everywhere and cleaning done correctly, nothing to complain about (too bad they don't speak French), the exteriors are well maintained by the staff, the only hitch is that people don't necessarily pick up their trash after the pool! People are respectful regarding the quiet.

We arrived around 2pm to be told check in wasn't until 5pm, my fault I didn't realise. We ate at the main pool bar by reception which was nice. Later walked a distance to our apartment which was in the 700's, found it grubby, needed a paint, clean....frying pans were disgusting. Walked back to reception to complain, showed reception lady videos on my phone I had taken. She said she could move us the following day and clean the apartment for the one evening, we agreed. I said we wouldn't be waiting until 5pm the following day to check in again, reception lady said people had to be out by 11am so i said I'd be back at midday as I wasn't waiting. Later another phone call to say they had found another apartment for the night and so we moved again. By now its 9pm and with our 4 children we went to the pizza restaurant on site to be told it was ticket only and they would not serve us. Went to the main restaurant and was asked if we were half board, we were not, was then told its buffet only atc20 euros ahead and for 6 of us it mean 120 euros for us to eat at 9.30ish, too late for our children . Ended up going to the Spar and bought bread, ham and cheese for toasties back at our apartment. The following morning another phone call to say they didn't want to move us, we hadn't unpacked or bought any groceries so we insisted on a move. I had emailed weeks ago asking for our 3 apartments to be close together but they couldn't have been further apart. Would we visit again.....yes but only if we booked privately and knew apartment numbers beforehand, the complex is so big my elderly mother struggled. Did ask about hiring a golf buggy but it wasnt an option. Seems many apartments are in need of an upgrade. The green, pool and garden areas are kept immaculately, but apartments are in need of attention. Reception lady was helpful but I think only because I was not taking no move for an answer. We wasted a day of our holiday sorting cleaner accommodation.