More about Hotel Apartamento Santa Eulalia Beach Club
Santa Eulalia Beach Club Apartments
by TripAdvisor Member AgeEdinburgh
Stayed here for a pleasant 10 day holiday.
Location:
The apartments are situated in the newer part of Albuferia, about a 10 minute stroll from 'The Strip' of restaurants and bars. Being located slighty away from this area means it's quieter in terms of being affected by disco noise etc. The strip wasn't our cup of tea but we knew that before we went and really just took advantage of a good deal, in terms of cost for accommodation. We wanted a base for a holiday and these apartments worked well for that. We preferred the Old Town, for its character and charm and choice of eateries, bars etc. The Old Town was a 5 minute taxi ride away and cost about 4 euros each way. However, each to their own and if you like a more 'British' kind of holiday, The Strip would probably appeal.
The apartments are located on a fairly busy main road. Our apartment overlooked the carpark, so it was quiet but if you are bothered by noise, being at the front of the hotel may bother you.
The Santa Eulalia beach is a five minute stroll down a bit of a hill. The beaches are very clean and have some nice eating places on the beach front. Oura beach is also nice and you can walk along the headland from one beach to the other.
The apartments:
We stayed in a 1 bedroom apartment. It was quite shabby looking, and stank of stale smoke, but it was clean and perfectly reasonable. The apartments were serviced each day. The apartment was a good size. The kitchen area was small and if you were planning to do a lot of cooking, bear in mind that it is more of a kitchenette, rather than a proper kitchen. There were 2 hobs and a fridge.
Our apartment faced the car park which meant it did not get the sun. It wasn't a problem for us, but if you like sitting out on the balcony, you would need to consider this. The apartments overlooking the pool got the sun all day. Also, although we had two balconies, they were tiny and you would struggle to get two chairs out there if you did want to sit out. I think maybe some of the other rooms had bigger balconies.
Our room had a safe and TV. You can get British channels.
Pool area:
The pool area was clean and well presented. At Easter time, it was not a problem to get a sunbed in terms of amount of people, however, about 50% of the sunbeds seemed to be broken so I was unsure why the hotel had left them there. A bit frustrating but we didn't sit by the pool too much so it didn't bother us. There is also a grassy area to sit in, which is near the little cafe/bar place at the hotel.
There were quite a few children at the hotel and a nice little pool for them to use which was shallow.
The weather incidetally, at the time of our trip was quite mixed. We had temperatures from 12 - 20 degrees, although that was in various places of the algarve.
Hotel/staff:
We found the reception staff to be helpful and pleasant. The only thing I bought from the little cafe was an icecream so i'm not sure what the food was like but it seemed to sell toasties etc.
The bar area seemed to be busy each night. It has a large screen in it for football matches etc. There was entertainment on every night. We didn't go to any of it but it seemed quite busy and family orientated.
Things to do:
There are some lovely places to go to in the Algarve and none are very far away. We hired a car for 7 days and drove to lots of little villages and places of interest. We also drove to Seville which is a great city if you like historical cities/places of interest. Only a two and a half hour drive along one road!
Great Apartments
by TripAdvisor Member ChoppersChick
My Boyfriend & I booked these apartments 4 weeks before we departed (with Flyglobespan who charged us a £40 excess baggage charge so we were not best pleased on our way to say the least!).
After reading reviews we were apprehensive to say the least. However, we were pleasantly surprised when we arrived! The reception staff were very friendly on arrival and the air conditioning was fantastic to walk into. We had booked a 1 bedroom apartment and it was ideal, very spacious. It took us a while to work out how to work the hob but once we did it was ideal for making a quick lunchtime snack. We had an excellent pool view although trying to get a sun bed was a bit of a nightmare (as it always is).
We were determined not to put our towels out early doors but we ended up having to doing it. It is the only way to get a bed. The room was cleaned daily as were the towels, we had no problems there. We had been to Albufeira before but it was the Old Town that we stayed in & I would highly recommend a visit there. It's not as 'touristy'. We thoroughly enjoyed our 10 day stay, so much so we didn't want to come home. I would recommend these apartments to anyone looking for a relaxing holiday.
However, if you take a visit to the Santa Eulalia Beach (which is gorgeous) be prepared to pay like 15/20 Euros for a bed for the day which is quite expensive. We actually bought a cheap brolly & used that on the beach! Does the same job. The Santa Eulalia apartments were comfortable & clean, everything you need and the Algarve is the best place to go for a summer holiday!
Great location
by TripAdvisor Member alrenton
Hubbie & I stayed last week at Santa Eulalia Beach Apartments and had a very relaxing holiday.
We normally go for 4-5 star hotel holidays but since our 9 month old grandson took his mum & dad with him on holiday, self catering was an idea option! We weren't tied to meal times and were surprised at the choice of restaurants in the area.
The apartments are situated in a quiet area not far from the strip which meant you weren't bothered by a lot of noise when trying to get to sleep. The apartment we had was clean and spacious and had enough faciitles for you to cook a modest meal if you wanted. We got all our remote controls (telly, air conditioning) from the reception when we arrived. The pool area is not huge but we managed to get our sunbeds from about 8:30 a.m. We preferred the garden area because it was a bit quieter (no kids kicking footballs into the water). The maids certainly were not over worked; our apartment was only cleaned once but we only used it to sleep in. There is a good supermarket just up the road if you want to get your fridge stocked up with water, juice and cold snacks.
Every morning started with breakfast at the Wild Coyote (2.50 Euros for a surprising non-greasy English breakfast) Pots of tea & coffee were extra but not expensive. Being self catering meant we could go for a late breakfast if we wanted to.
At night we would take a stroll towards the Strip to choose from the many different meal options on offer. We had an excelllent meal at O Poeta. It isn't the cheapest but it was by far the best. It's menu ranges from fresh seafood to steaks and everything we tried was delicious. There is also a Carvery buffet at Susann's which was very good value (book the day before and you get your meal for under 9 Euros). We had an excellent meal at a Chinese restaurant opposite Susann's. You can take a stroll through the day time and choose where you want to eat at night because all the menus are prominently displayed so you can find something to suit any budget. I was really impressed by the fact that where ever we went, our grandson's stroller wasn't looked upon as an nuisance. The restaurants provided high chairs (some looked safer than others!) and we didn't feel as if he was in the way. We didn't sample the night life on the Strip: after our leisurely meal we went back to the apartment complex for a couple of night caps. The hotel provided entertainment(!) a couple of nights a week. If you have an older family you might prefer going to some of the pubs on the Strip and making a night of it.
This was our first trip to Portugal and we were mildly surprised. We found the prices to be comparable to Spain (beer at 1.50 Euros, local spirits at 3 Euros for a double measure). The high standards of cleanliness, however, set Portugal above Spain. Restaurants were spotlessly clean and the toilet facilities were excellent.
The Santa Eulalia provided an excelllent base for our holiday and we would pay a return visit. You get what you pay for so don't expect 5 star facilities. With so much going on in the area you are spoiled for choice. Go with an open mind and you won't be disappointed. The bar staff might not be the friendliest we've ever come across but then we saved a fortune in tips!
loved it
by TripAdvisor Member mammasam86
i stayed in santa eulalia from the 9th to the 16th of nov 2006 and i loved it found them very polite and they couldnt do enough for us. infact i loved it so much ive just booked to stay there again in may and i cant wait.the rooms were clean spacey and yeah they played the football alot but you dont go on holiday to sit and watch tv so what does that matter!!!! the prob is you cant please everyone the hotel is basic nothing fancy but again aslong as it is clean what does it matter.i loved the staff they always spoke to me at the bar.the claeners were very nice to.so go for it if your thinking of going there its great!!!!
Where's the Beach?
by TripAdvisor Member Dru_Mac
My boyfriend went on our first holiday together to these apartments. We went with FlyGlobeSpan who provided coach transport as part of the deal. The apartments are not far from Faro Airport and the transfer is no more than 45 minutes -1 hour.
First of all, we were surprised with the room. We had booked a studio but it was huge, more than enough room for 2 adults. The sleeping area had sliding doors across it which allowed for some privacy. However, I would not advise sleeping with them closed over because it traps all the heat and makes the bedroom rather hot. The apartment was on the first floor and the balcony overlooked the car park. We discovered the next morning it was right above the automatic car park entrance gate which made a lovely, loud rattling noise each time it was opened. However, as our 7 day stay went on, we got used to it.
Also, I strongly advise you invest in the 15 euros for the air conditioning. After 1 night of sleeping with the windows and balcony open (but hardly any cool air coming through) we caved in and got the air conditioning. You do get the 15 euros back at the end of your stay. Toasters, kettles and the T.V. remote are also rationed out with deposits, ranging from 7 to 10 euros.
The self catering facilities consisted of a small fridge and two hobs. This didn't matter as we had dinner out every night but could be a problem for people with fussy eaters in their party.
Again, the pool was rather busy but we tended to go down after 4pm when it was slightly cooler and less busy. There is a separate grassy area with sun loungers but that was always packed. We did go to the beach a few times which was a short walk. Turn left at the hotel entrance, walk down the hill and follow the signs down to the beach which can be found on the left hand side of the road. Be warned: there is no pavement after a certain point and the route can be busy with cars during busy periods.
We rarely stayed in the hotel in the evenings and ventured out to the nearby bars. We found Eddie's cocktail bar which is beside the loud karaoke bar on the street corner. A large cocktail is around 5-7 euros and the bar staff are really friendly. There is a small supermarket in this area as well and is open quite late; until 8-10pm if I remember correctly. If you want to venture further, Albufeira is a short taxi ride away and is around 5 euros. The taxi rank can be quite busy on Friday/Saturday nights but we only waited 30 minutes for a taxi home. That was no problem as we got chatting to a pleasant Irish woman and her family who were queuing in front of us.
The one big grumble was that the rooms were not tided very often. The maids usually moped the floor then left. Our towels were not changed until we queried about them on the 6th day. We did leave our towels in the bath thinking that was how they got exchanged. In the afternoon, when we returned back from a day out, we discovered the shower curtain had been drawn over the bath to hide the dirty towels from view!
So, to round up, get the air conditioning and don't expect fabulous self catering facilities.
Great holiday
by TripAdvisor Member sar2310
My boyfriend and I stayed at these apartments for one week in mid-May. We were expecting a lot worse - the apartment was lovely, very clean and well-presented, by far the best 3* hotel we have stayed at. We had quite a large balcony overlooking the pool with the sea in the distance. Some other balconies didn't look as large, and from reading some of the other reviews, I'm guessing we were also lucky with our room.
We didnt eat or drink in the hotel bar, but it always seemed quite busy and there was entertainment advertsied regularly.
The only problem we found with the hotel was the staff - they were rude and unhelpful, we didnt see them smile once!
We would not recommend 'Paradise Tours' which is situated next to the supermarket down the road from the hotel. We booked our return transfers to the airport with them, and as a result, nearly missed our plane home. The mini-bus didnt pick us up and when we contacted them, we were told that we waiting in the wrong place. We had written proof we were at the correct pick up place, but what can you do?? Got home in the end though!
Saying that, overall, we had a great holiday. The beaches were lovely, room was great and the weather was perfect. If we were to visit Albufeira again, we would definately consider staying in these apartmens.
Excellent
by TripAdvisor Member AngyWarren
We had a room with "sea view" which faces the road - you can see the sea in the background from two small balconies.
The room, a one bedroom apt was clean and spacious, seperate air con in the bedroom and living area which looks a fairly new fit, there is tv with a few english channels - if you want a remote a refundable deposit has to be paid at reception same for air con remote and safety deposit box.
Good English was spoken by all relevant staff.
Cheap drinks in the bar at 1,50 euros a pint of Estrella, English football on Sky sports, entertainment some nights.
Apartments were in easy reach of supermarket, bars and restaurants, we used "Teasers bar" (turn right out of hotel and first bar you come to) for English breakfast and an odd meal which was very good.
It's about a ten minute walk to the strip fifteen to the beach in either direction.
All in all a good hotel in a good location, friendly helpful staff - especially Darius (one of the barmen)
Problems...........
by TripAdvisor Member The_J_Man
Writing this review from the reading room in the apartments - booked a week with Airtours Direct over the phone for 200 quid so was well happy. Arrived at the apts & was allocated room 228 - a studio overlooking the main road. The apt itself is spacious with a good view of the sea & a side view of the pool. If you turn left & walk for 5 mins you´re on the beach & if you turn right & walk for 5 mins you´re the bottom of the strip at Wild n Co.
The only plus point here is it´s location.
The staff are cheeky & very unhelpful, never at any point did I find them to be in the least bit helpful. This place is DEF not a 3*, I´ve stayed at the 2* Minichoro at the other end of the strip twice & found them to be infinitely better than here.
On the negative side..............
Our towels were changed ONCE in a week, twice the maids left the towels in the bath & merely pulled the shower curtain across to hide the fact.
The room wasn´t cleaned for 3 days & twice the room was cleaned after 5 pm!! When I say cleaned I mean they sweep the floor & make the bed - takes all of 5 minutes.
The linen was never changed this week.
Twice we had to go to reception to ask for toilet paper because the maids hadn´t been in.
There´s nowhere near enough sunbeds by the pool - towels go down from 6.30am!!! If you don´t get a towel on a bed by 7.30am you won´t get one.
The bar area is covered with empty bottles & dirty glasses every morning.
The night time entertainment goes on past 1am & the noise can be heard distinctly in the room.
As an earlier reviewer noted, don´t pay for the air con remote - simpy reach up & press the ON switch & you can use it for free.
Great location but non-existent service.
not a 3 star
by TripAdvisor Member claireshane
myself and my partner booked a week in this hotel on 3rd may 07, the location is good only 5 mins from the strip. on arrival we were given room 206 a one bed apt, the room was spacious but the balcony was only big enough for 1 chair!
the kitchen was poorly equipped with only one glass, 2 small cups no plates and 2 forks and spoons. our towels only changed once and had 2 ring reception for toilet roll during the week as the cleaners had not noticed we had none!
the bar was filthy as were the hallways, buckets of sand lined the halls serving as ashtrays that had not been emptied in a while (so you can imagine the smell)
the staff were very unfriendly and rude.
i wont be returning to this hotel as i have stayed in 3 stars and compared to this they looked 5 star!!
overall portugal is lovely although dont take too many heels the walkways are cobbled so you cant wear them! hope this is helpful.
