Suites Alba Resort and Spa

We landed in paradise wonderful location fantastic service

It is no longer the q era, the space is the same exterior and the villas but has not existed improvements on the contrary, I know and frequent á more than 20 years and has been getting worse constantly changing employees in recent years breakfast to the level of a low 4 **** meals nor think too high prices for the quality I will probably come back when I need to rest but I would like the new management would be interested in taking better advantage of this space, this is only dedicated to the foreigners and weddings and we Portuguese have to go out with better conditions and prices and it does not take too far in Spain Hotels of 4**** has more quality offer half the price in the high season. I wish I could go back there my appreciation is to help improve PS: I have nothing against the staff q contacted very friendly and helpful I would like to meet them again. Congratulations Joaquim Leitão 14-06-2026 to 20-06-2026

I have been coming to the Vila Alba Suites Resort regularly for about 20 years. I was last here in 2024 and now again in August 2026. This allows me to judge the development of the resort well over many years. The greatest strength of the resort is without a doubt its exceptional location. For me, it is one of the most beautiful in the Algarve and is the main reason why I keep coming back. The location makes up for a lot – unfortunately no longer for everything. The suites with kitchenette are generously sized and very practical for longer stays. However, a significant backlog of renovations is now noticeable. Many areas seem clearly dated and, in my view, no longer meet the standard one should expect from a five-star resort. In the non-renovated rooms, doors sometimes no longer close properly, cabinet doors are difficult to open, and the kitchen equipment looks worn out in many places or is already falling apart. In my view, that no longer has anything to do with a five-star standard – not even with a supposedly "Mediterranean" five-star level. The newly renovated rooms are certainly well done, but they also do not reach an exceptionally high standard. It was also striking to me that practically the entire staff has been replaced since my last stay in 2024. I did not recognize anyone in either the gastronomy or the administrative area. To my knowledge, the owner of the resort has remained the same. The staff is predominantly friendly and eager to help. However, there are significant deficits, especially with international guests. In some cases, employees barely speak English, which makes even simple orders or questions unnecessarily complicated. For a resort with five-star aspirations, that should function as a matter of course. Unfortunately, the pool area in particular has deteriorated massively. Both the infinity pool at the restaurant and the pool in front of the spa are, in my view, in a condition that is not worthy of a five-star resort. The glass surfaces are heavily soiled, and both pools were full of sand and visible deposits during our stay. In the lower pool area, a shower is even broken and is obviously not being repaired. Overall, the area looks unkempt. In the upper pool area, regular cleaning is missing, and in the lower one, walls and facilities show clear signs of wear. Also with the lounge chairs, the impression arises that there are no longer any clear responsibilities. They are often neither properly set up, cleaned, nor attractively prepared in the morning. It is precisely such details that make the difference in a five-star resort – the necessary care is now missing here. The breakfast is good. For lunch or dinner, however, I would personally recommend the many excellent restaurants in the area. With a rental car, you can reach numerous excellent establishments in the direction of Carvoeiro and Albufeira, so the hotel's gastronomy hardly plays a role for me anymore. I also found it somewhat strange that a deposit of €25 per towel is now required for very old and heavily used beach towels. That does not seem very appropriate. I therefore recommend bringing your own bath and beach towels. The attached photos show the current condition of the pool facilities and, in my view, speak for themselves. My conclusion is not easy for me after almost 20 years as a regular guest. The Vila Alba was once an extraordinary place that I always enjoyed returning to. Today, however, I have the impression that too little has been invested in and maintained at the facility over the years. For the room rates now being charged, the resort, in my view, no longer offers an appropriate price-performance ratio. Anyone expecting a true five-star standard will, in my view, be massively disappointed here. However, anyone willing to overlook some lack of cleanliness, clear signs of wear, and the limited functionality of individual furnishings can still have a very nice vacation due to the unique location and the beautiful surroundings. It is precisely this location that has brought me back here again and again for almost 20 years, despite all the criticism. Unfortunately, it is no longer enough to fully compensate for the increasing shortcomings.