Abora Catarina by Lopesan

Ultimately we were disappointed with the hotel. But, it really seemed what day of the week it was. Sometimes you would find that staff were cheery and helpful and other times they seemed like they didnt want to be there. A separate shout out to the reception staff who were consistently helpful and a pleasure to deal with almost all of the time. The food was disappointing and repetitive there were a few stand out days including the Asian night that did have things like sushi and similar dishes, they were really good and on par with what you would expect from a 4 star hotel. Other times it was bland, boring or just down right not appealing to look at. Breakfast was pretty much consistent, not great but it was the same every time. On a handful of days there was an option of the ingles sausage which was decent but they weren't often available. Obviously not being in England these weren't expected but it was almost like a tease of what you could have had. Would be better to just not offer them to be fair as again it added to hit and miss nature of the hotel. The rooms is were cleaned regularly but are in need of being updated or renovated to at very least match the photos that appear on booking sites. Housekeeping staff did seem very polite on the odd occasion we were in or near the room when they were working. Adding to hit or miss nature of the hotel was the issue of smoking/vaping the general consensus seems like the hotel has an anti smoking policy which, in fairness isn't the worst thing to implement but did lead to some confusion with our party. A reminder was sent to one room advising that they are not allowed to smoke in the rooms/balconies (which is fair enough but maybe invest in some stickers or notices to make this clear) but, this noticed advised that smoking was permitted in the lobby bar terrace. This was incorrectly interpreted as the large balcony terrace that was attached to the lobby bar. What it actually meant was an area near the main pool around the entrance to the toilets which let's face it doesn't make much sense and meant people in that area were subjected to the smell of smoke using the sunbeds or using the adjacent path towards the kids clubs, arcade,park and kids pool. It honestly would have made sense to allow it in the balcony (which has closing doors) versus having it where it was. At one point no smoking stickers were applied to all the tables near the main pool. When asking a staff member if the no smoking rule would mean we could vape we were told not usually, which just confused matters a lot more. Especially as there is a vape vending machine and the ability to purchase cigarettes from the shop. The message would be a lot more coherent if they just weren't available in the hotel at all. Drinks wise there isn't too much to complain about. There are an abundance of self service machines around the complex and they do the job and mean there isn't excessive queues to get a soft drink, beer or wine. Cocktails and spirits etc and a similar vain as most all inclusive offerings, not amazing but they are drinkable if you want to. There is also a snack bar available which does have a range of food throughout the day. There are often unused breakfast items available in the earlier part of the morning. The hotel has an ethos of cutting food waste and this is bang on from that point of view. Obviously it is still the same stuff available in the morning but does give an opportunity for people who may have woke up a little late to still get something. I can't really fault the hotel for that, its much better than just binning it. That being said the rest of the day is a little dire. For a large chunk of the day there are cheeseburgers, fries, hotdogs. Foods that are easier to heat especially while you're still in your swim where. It's a shame they are not very nice at all and it seems most guests agree as they end up being in the heated area for way too long and end up becoming hard and not particularly appetising. Which sadly means they may end up being wasted. No complaints about the pools, they seem to kept in good clean order and lifeguards only seem to intervene when there is a genuine concern that someone (likely a child) could be hurt or could cause an issue, they were great. The hotel grounds were kept in a nice state and there were lots of plants around. My only concern was that during and early morning coffee I observed and garden staff member applying a really harsh chemical/pesticide to the plants. It required him to wear a double respirator and did cause some mild breathing discomfort from a few floors up. Although some kind of chemical was put down it didn't stop the ants which were everywhere, on the balcony, over your sunbeds when you returned etc. Obviously you can only do so much but it did add to the disappointment of the experience. Location of the hotel is good and provides easy access to the dunes and thankfully there are number of good restaurants within a short walking distance of the hotel. The animation team clearly work really hard and we're always pleasant when you encountered them. Evening entertainment was pretty good too and it was clear they cared about the performances. Overall I think the 4 star rating set expectations higher than the reality of stopping in the hotel. If this was listed as a 3 I feel we may have been blown away by the offering but it just felt lacking.

I have just returned from 5 days at this hotel with my 7 year old daughter. As a single parent I was particularly anxious about the ease of accessing things but was pleasantly surprised from the onset. When arriving our room was not ready but the receptionist offered to change our room so we were on the ground floor and could access it immediately! Room was clean and tidy although there was some decorative need in places it was very clean. The main pool was lovely and warm, can get very busy at times but always able to find a lounger. Plenty of parasols available too. The splash pool was disappointingly cold and much deeper meaning my daughter was unable to stand and didn’t feel safe using the slides. Lifeguard would not allow me to wait at the bottom for her so we didn’t use again. Good variety of food at all times although not much fruit which was dissatisfying. The animation team were phenomenal and the night shows were incredible! So much time and effort clearly put into them which is way better than you would expect. They engaged with all children all day. There’s a shop on site which sells literally everything you could possibly need!

Overall, the hotel has a pleasant atmosphere, a good variety of food, nice facilities and a very good swimming pool. The children’s entertainment is a definite plus for families.

On arrival, the room was not yet ready, but we were informed and asked to wait while it was being prepared. We checked in at reception and were soon assisted, and everything was resolved smoothly. As we were travelling with a young child, a bit of waiting was not ideal, but it was manageable.

Although the food is generally varied, it would be good to offer more variety at the pool bar, beyond just fast food options. The entertainment programme could also include other types of shows in addition to dancing; however, we felt that the evening show was not very suitable for children, and as a family-oriented hotel, more activities specifically designed for children would be welcome.

Finally, some areas of the hotel would benefit from renovation. The swimming pool is very good, but it also needs some refurbishment.

Despite these points, we enjoyed the atmosphere, facilities and family-friendly environment.

Although the food is generally varied, it would be good to have more options beyond fast food. The entertainment programme could also include other types of shows in addition to dancing and, as this is a family-oriented hotel, more activities specifically designed for children would be welcome.

Finally, some areas of the hotel would benefit from renovation. The swimming pool is very good, but it also needs some refurbishment.

Despite these points, we enjoyed the atmosphere, facilities and family-friendly environment.