Hotel Oriental, Portimao

Advantages: Proximity to Beach. Friendly Staff.
Disadvantages: No onsite restaurant.

...I arrived at Club Amarilis in March 2005 for my first visit to Portugal accompanied by my wife and two boys, aged 10 and 6. The hotel is located close to the beach but not with a sea-view. It is a clean, quiet hotel with a basic mini-market, a hairdressing salon, indoor and outdoor pool. The outdoor pool was not open in March but we were offerred free access to the indoor pool/jacuzzi. A good variety of restaurants, bars and the beautiful beach at Praia da Rocha are all within a short walk. Tour buses also stop close to the hotel - I recommend the aquapark for the energetic. Overall dad, mam and boys enjoyed the whole Portugal experience finding the people very child friendly with special mention of Bruno, the hotel barman, who always amused the boys when taking their order of Coke/Sprite. We returned to Ireland looking... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: small village, relatively unspoilt
Disadvantages: occasionally dead fish

...Bom dia! Good day! Learn some Portuguese with me, praia means beach, the plural -s is pronounced sh. I want to tell you about the ones belonging to Ferragudo, a village in the Algarve, the southern region of Portugal, situated opposite Portimão, one of the bigger tourist centres west of Faro (where the international airport is). Our hotel is at the outskirts of Ferragudo (I don’t know if a village can have outskirts) up on the elevated coastline. We walk down through the garden to a big beach ending in front of a high cliff just there. On the first day we climb up some steps hewn into the cliff and follow a path through the scratchy macchia, bushes and low trees, (although Portugal is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the flora is Mediterranean), every now and then we come to a vista point from where we can see the whole coastline... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Just an awesome place to stay!
Disadvantages: Although the complex has everything, the nearest town is 20mins away.

...I stayed in this hotel last year! We actually stayed in the Tulum Hotel which is one of the 3 hotels connected to the complex. It was fantastic. From the moment we arrived and were given a champange cocktail things looked good. The food was all inclusive and of the highest standard, various other restaurants and snack bars were also available until midnight 7 days a week. The Tulum sits on the beach, which has windsurfing and scuba diving available to guest staying in the hotel. The entertainment was very family orientated which is ideal for people wanting to take there kids away. Although be aware that this hotel complex is about 40 mins drive from Cancun and therefore a little out of the way. Saying that I wouldnt hesitate in returning there.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful