W Algarve

Our best hotel stay yet!

Having been loyal to the Marriott group hotels for the last 25 years, this has been our absolute best experience ever. The only negative was that we were only there for 3 days!

From the moment of check in to the point of check out it was truly excellent! The trip was a delayed celebration for my wife’s birthday. The hotel certainly provided a memorable trip!

Check in began with welcome drinks, including sparkling wine. As a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium member I had requested an upgrade via the Nightly Upgrade Award scheme, we were upgraded to a 2 Bedroom Supreme Suite.

As we arrived a few hours before normal check in time, our room wasn’t ready, to us not a problem. We had come prepared to head out to the pool and Wet Deck for the afternoon. Our room account was set up so we could charge F&B at the pool to our account.

On arrival at our room in the early evening we were completely “WOWED” by the size of the 2 Bedroom Supreme Suite, it’s wrap-around balcony and facilities! Truly wonderful. Our bags were already in the room, and we were taken to our room by Clubcar from the lobby. To celebrate my wife’s belated Birthday there was a card, a cake & a bottle of wine. Along with welcome cards and messages for us both.

The suite was utter luxury, with so much space. Amazing sunset views, along with views of the ocean and the resort.

This W was more relaxed and chilled than say the W Barcelona, whilst there was music in the evening on the terrace it was more chilled.

For breakfast we ate at the Market Kitchen each morning which was excellent, with a table menu and items served at the table, in addition to the excellent buffet. Coffee, Juice & Mimosa’s served at the table. Sparkling Wine also available at the buffet.

Most days we had drinks and a light lunch at Sip’N’Wet pool bar, with excellent service.

One evening we ate the Vino restaurant which was excellent, with great sunset views from the terrace.

We also had some more snack style food one evening on the terrace at the W Lounge.

All in all a truly excellent stay, we will definitely return!

Rooms 5/5 A lot of attention to detail, nice furniture and toiletries. Spacious balcony, world class housekeeping service from Eloise (Room 4334). Good welcome amenity. Only criticism towels quality were more of a 4-star hotel.

Breakfast 3/5 It looked good visually but quality of products weren’t in line with a 5-star hotel hotel. Viennoiserie was particularly poor just frozen croissant and pain au chocolat, the banana bread and chocolate cake were quite vulgar and lacked finesse. Coffee and juice were good but difficult to get top ups. Supervisors more focused on setting up tables and seating guests than monitoring service quality.

Facilities 4/5 Gardens need a lot of attention, it seems they have been neglected for some time, many empty areas, ugly bushes and weeds. Decking around the swimming pool was in very poor state. We witnessed several people get hurt by sharp wood or raised screws. A real health & safety hazard that needs addressing without further delay. Jacuzzi jets didn’t work and it had many missing tiles.

Location 3/5 In the middle of a soulless residential area without any quality restaurants or shops nearby. Beach cannot we used due to rocks.

Ambience 3/5 Not the typical W crew mostly elderly American guests and families with prawns. Very odd.

Service 4/5 Thank you to Victor (breakfast barista) and Diego (valet parking). Generally people tried to please. We asked for 30 minutes extension to check in time and it was denied, quite disappointing for Gold Elite tier.