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4.0
#65 of 150 hotels in Albufeira
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
VidaMar Resort Algarve is an excellent option for an Algarve holiday, at just steps from the ample sandy stretch of Salgados Beach! The surrounding area is uniquely interesting, mixing proximity to Salgados Lagoon’s Nature Reserve, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and just a few minutes' drive from a golf course! As the name suggests, this resort is much more than just a beach holiday destination! The idea is patently clear in the resort’s, which combines “Life” and “Sea”, added to a complete range of services! The rooms are well equipped, with balconies, free WiFi and plenty of comfort. Each unit comes with a bathroom — featuring plenty of natural light — including a flat-screen TV, air conditioning and a minibar. A tasty daily breakfast is included in the rate, with the hotel also including restaurant options for lunch and dinner within it. VidaMar Algarve also includes bars, a Kids Club, and an exclusive area for guests over 16 years old.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Trendy
Modern
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Location
Rua da Boca da Alagoa, Lote 1, Albufeira 8200-424 Portugal
Name/address in local language
VidaMar Algarve
1,783 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
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VidaMar Algarve has received mixed feedback from guests. While the hotel's cleanliness and beach access are often praised, many travelers feel the additional costs for amenities do not provide good value for money. The rooms are celebrated for their space and views yet criticized for cleanliness issues and outdated decor.
The service has been described as lackluster, with reports of slow and unresponsive staff. As for the atmosphere, guests' opinions vary, finding it either vibrant by the pool or dull in terms of decor and entertainment.
Atmosphere
Bland
Rooms
Basic
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Underwhelming
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Reusable water bottles are a must as they don't give anything free for the evening buffet not even water! I asked if I could get ice at reception and they put me through to room service who said it would be 5 Euros for ice!!! Bring your own drinks for the room. They have a mini fridge. Towels You have to collect a card each day to trade for a clean poolside towel. Sofa bed is very hard but the other beds are very comfortable. We asked for extra pillows for our children.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
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We’ve just returned from an eight night stay & we loved everything.. The hotel is very modern , well maintained & the staff are fantastic
We arrived early ,so we weren’t able to go to our rooms straight away but we were able to take our cases to a bathroom/ changing room so we could freshen up & use the pool or head to the beach ..
The pool area is huge , with one massive non heated pool & 2 smaller childrens pools (one heated). Also an adult pool area , that we didn’t use The grounds of the hotel are beautiful, with lots of private areas to sit & relax , a wooden promenade takes you to a secure gated area that leads to the beach .. The rooms are spacious, lots of wardrobe, drawers to put clothes , a free safe,fridge, kettle & hairdryer are provided. The shower & toilet area are also spacious & plenty of toiletries are provided .. The bed was very comfy & the pillows ! ( wow)
We were HB & were spoilt for choice , plenty of choices , all freshly cooked Breakfast was a choice of hot buffet , fruit , cold meats , cheese , cereal & pastries Dinner had plenty of choice , with some foods being cooked to order, fish , chicken , veal
The gym was shut due to covid , but there was a small room with weights , running machine etc Only 2 people are meant to go in at a time but at times there were more , so my only moan would be maybe some kind of booking system , so you don’t have to wait outside to have your turn ? There is a small shop downstairs to buy water etc But we went to a mini market 10 mins away to stock up , that was very reasonably priced
Considering the situation with Covid, I think the staff all did a fantastic job in providing top service & helping us enjoy this much needed holiday ⭐️
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Joao Cardoso, Diretor-Geral at VidaMar Algarve
Responded 11 Jun 2021
Dear Christina, Thank you so much for sharing you recent stay in Vidamar Resort Hotel Algarve. We truly appreciate your detailed description of your experience of the different services of the Hotel and we'll make sure your kind words about our staff friendliness are passed on to them. We look forward to welcoming you again sometime in the near future. Warm regards.
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We stayed for one week half board. The room was lovely, a prestige room that overlooked the adjacent golf course. When we arrived there was tea and coffee facilities in the room and a bottle of water - and that was it for the week!! If you wanted more tea and coffee you had to ask at reception. If you wanted another bottle of water you had to pay 3.5 euros!!! There were no water fountains to refill your bottle so you had to either pay that or buy some for 2.5 euros in the minimart - if it was open. For a family this would be a expensive thing in summer heat. Very short sighted for a 5 star hotel. The beds are comfortable but the pillows are very soft. Soap and shower gel are provided in large dispensers. The staff on the whole were very pleasant and helpful. They were swift to respond to requests too. The pool area was lovely but the beds were very uncomfortable. There were no chairs if you didnt want a bed. There was also no pool service for drinks. I dont know if this changes in high season. Food both at breakfast and dinner was excellent with many choices. The layout of the food at breakfast was very disjointed. There are three sittings for dinner with a time limit for staying. I believe in high season you have to schedule your dinner in advance with reception. We would return to this hotel as we loved the location, but only in the off season as I can imagine it is chaotic in summer as are a lot of large hotels.
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Date of stay: March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Joao Cardoso, Diretor-Geral at VidaMar Algarve
Responded 5 Jun 2022
Dear Guest, Thank you for choosing Vidamar Resort Algarve and also for your time to share your experience. We appreciate that you had a nice stay with us and that you want to come back We will work in your opinions, they are very valuable for management to understand and measure customer’s satisfaction. Hoping to hear from you soon. Kind Regards
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Worst 5* hotel I've even been. Its a good 3 star at best. Arrived the night before a wedding. (5pm) told there is no iron and ironing board available and the laundry service starts at 9am. Terrible service and no solution offered. After a complaint to the manager they said at 9am the next day they could do a special express service. I did the express service for 1 hour and the shirts were still creased. I complained again and they eventually sent an iron and no ironing board to my room. So I had to iron my shirt on the bedside table.
Additionally when I checked into this overrated hotel I paid for the premium 'pool view room' where I was placed on the ground floor and could not really see the pool. I've attached a photo.
Trying to check out they were under staffed on reception and the queues were crazy and creating a crowd of people with no social distancing. I left my key at reception and didn't check out, assuming they will charge me the €10 to iron my own shirts.
Both of these trivial incidents are small attention to details that actual 5* rated hotels do not overlook.
Vida Mar has zero customer service skills. They will not try to solve problems or go the extra mile.
The night before I arrived I stayed at the NAU Salgados Dunas Suites next door for 1 night. It was pure class, friendly helpful staff incredible accommodation and actually cheaper!
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Date of stay: September 2020
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Joao Cardoso, Diretor-Geral at VidaMar Algarve
Responded 23 Sept 2020
Dear guest, Thank you for choosing VidaMar Algarve. We consulted the staff involved in your review, which found you uncooperative with our schedules, COVID-19 safety requirements (i.e. guests must use a mask indoors) and queues. We would also like to inform you that the extra fee charged on your credit card pertains to the Express Laundry Service you declined on your arrival date but demanded the following morning. Our rooms and suites do not include an iron and an ironing in our Facilities/Amenities. Additionally, your booking was for a Superior Double Room with Pool View and not a Premium one, as you can clearly double check with the Agency you booked with, or in your own booking confirmation. Our Premium Rooms are exclusively located on the top floors and are, of course, highly-sought after and command a higher rate. We nonetheless thank you for your feedback and hope to one day have the opportunity to greet you once again. Best regards, The Management
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Hotel rooms were really good, clean and large. Staff were all pleasant and provided very good customer service. Breakfast was a 5* plus - nothing was missing. Pool was good but got really crowded at the end of the day. The free gym is not big enough - There is another gym but a fee is required. The evening meals at the start of the work were 4* at best and one day in particular we were not impressed. They were better at the end of the week when the hotel got more crowded which gave more choice. Still not at 5* level though. No Octopus or Squid all week We would go back - but we would like the hotel to look more at the evening meal
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our first impression was really good, but only lead to ultimate disappointments. The rooms are spacious and well laid out, but for a 5 star hotel you expect the daily cleaning to be more thorough and consistent. Tea cups were sometimes left uncleaner, sheets were not changed for four days, balconies not always swept etc.. Some of the advertised and promoted facilities were, to our surprise, not open every day. The Mar Club, a nice quiet area with pool, turned out to be closed Monday to Thursday, and the Italian restaurant, only alternative to the disorganised, overcrowded and understaffed buffet, was not open Monday and Tuesday evenings. We only learnt this when we tried to book! Cost cutting by management is evident. Either the season has started or it hasn’t! Tomorrow is the first of June, after all. Staff are generally very friendly and helpful, so much of this is not their fault, but if you claim to be a 5star hotel, you should deliver on your promises.
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Joao Cardoso, Diretor-Geral at VidaMar Algarve
Responded 5 Sept 2022
Dear Guest, Thank you for your review. We will work in your opinions, they are very valuable for management to understand and measure customer’s satisfaction. We regret that we didn’t fulfill your expectations. It was a pleasure to have you and we hope to have an opportunity in the future to welcome you back in our unit. Kind regards, Customer Service
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We had a delightful one week stay at vidamar. This hotel feels grand and luxurious throughout. A well thought out and designed hotel with some impressive features like the gorgeous spa which we used and were lucky enough to have to ourselves. Would recommend using the spa facility for some relaxation and indulgence. The outdoor pool space is absolutely huge and there is a no sun bed reservation policy which was great to see. The large pool is not heated though so it did feel chilly but this is in October so was expected. It was a two minute walk down the boardwalk to a beautiful stretch of beach. This was a real highlight and advantage to this hotel. Our room was a garden view on the second floor which was peaceful and pretty. The room was tall and spacious, modern and comfortable. We booked the half-board food package. The breakfast buffet was great with the largest selection of foods I have ever seen at a hotel. You are spoiled for choice here. We only had dinner for two of the nights here as we had family staying locally so it would be unfair to give full judgement on the dinner buffet. However the two dinners we had were Portuguese and Italian themed. This may be harder to please fussier eaters but there was always something to fill you up. There is a minimart which is useful if you want some extra snacks and drinks but it is a little pricey for some items. Staff were always helpful and friendly. We didn’t experience any issues so it was rather smooth sailing. This hotel is definitely suited to people wishing to escape in a resort for a week as it has everything you need within to switch off and relax. If you like to sit around the pool and walk along the beach or even play golf at the course next door then this will be ideal. Just bare in mind if you are the type who likes to go and eat out at new restaurants each night and see a bit of hustle and bustle you will have to get into the main area of Albufeira or another local town as there isn’t much going on immediately near by. A taxi to the old town cost €10 and took about 15-20 minutes. Overall, we were very happy with our stay and glad we chose this hotel over the other options available.
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Joao Cardoso, Diretor-Geral at VidaMar Algarve
Responded 17 Nov 2022
Dear Guest, First of all we would like to thank you for choosing VIDAMAR RESORT HOTEL ALGARVE as well your kind review. We appreciate that you had an enjoyable stay with us and we thank you for the time you took to share your opinion with us. We certainly hope that your traveling plans can bring you back to the Algarve in the nearest future. Best regards, Customer Service
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My partner and I had a lovely relaxing week at the VidaMar.
Before going, I felt a bit worried about some of the negative reviews, and I am so glad I didn't let it put me off. Upon checking into our room, our bathroom light didn't work; just as I said 'oh ill need to report that' someone knocked on the door to come and repair the light (likely reported by the previous guest) which he did in 5 minutes.
The rooms were spacious and clean, the beds were very comfortable, and the views were stunning. The staff were welcoming and friendly. We really enjoyed the adult only pool area. You do need to pay a deposit, but then your drinks and food are deducted from that. The food and drinks quality was much better in this area than the main pool, so if you are travelling with adults only, it is definitely worth it. I had some amazing naps beside that pool!
We didn't eat at the hotel in the evenings as we like to get out and explore. There are some lovely places to eat which are a short and cheap uber journey away, or a leisurely walk away if you fancy it.
There is a supermarket a ten minute walk away (Oceana) where we bought bottled water and kept it in our room fridge. I do appreciate some of the other reviewers pointing out that the hotel charges a lot for food, drinks, and bottled water. For us, this wasn't an issue as we ate elsewhere, which was cheaper and nicer quality, and bought water from the supermarket. I can see it getting expensive if you are confined to the resort for all of your meals.
The resort is right next to a nature reserve, which we had a nice walk through one day. It has a private entrance to the beach, making it effortless to get there for a sunbathe or dip in the sea. A number of the negative reviews say that this place 'isn't a 5* resort', but stars are simply awarded on the amenities that a hotel has available. So the fact it has pools, a spa and gym etc. Push the stars to this level.
Ultimately, it depends on what you are looking for. We were a couple wanting a relaxing week where we could also get out and explore nature and local resturaunts when we wanted to, but could also enjoy some slow days relaxing by the pool in a beautiful environment. We got all of this in the VidaMar and had an amazing holiday.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Joao Cardoso, Gerente geral at VidaMar Algarve
Responded 23 Nov 2023
Dear Guest, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. We are delighted to hear that you had an exceptional stay with us and that you did not let the less positive reviews stop you from choosing our hotel to enjoy your vacation. Our team works daily to provide the highest level of service, and we are delighted to hear that you found our staff welcoming and friendly. We are truly grateful for your feedback and hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the near future. Warm regards, Customer Service
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Facilities are good as was the location. Buffet food was poor and every dish was cold, includes breakfast and evening meal. Disappointed with the staff’s attitude, never took responsibility for queries, or complaints always someone else’s problem. All staff seem to have an attitude and not making you have that holiday feeling. Reception bar only opens after 6 pm, if you want a drink you have to go to the pool bar. Not a place I would go back to in a hurry.
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Look at alternative resorts
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from João Cardoso, General Manager at VidaMar Algarve
Responded 4 Nov 2021
Dear Mr. Andrew P., Thank you for your comments on your recent stay in Vidamar Resort Hotel Algarve. We are sorry to read we did not reach your expectations and that you feel you were let down in general with our service. We respect your opinion and although we do not agree with it, particularly the food and the staff attitude, we will look into it in order to be at service more pleasantly. As to the facilities, not all of them are available at the same time, as advertised and as one would expect, but we always offer a fair and agreeable choice throughout the day and at night. Again thank you and we still hope to be able to welcoming you again in the future. Warm wishes.
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Would not class the hotel as 5* due to the variety of food options in the hotel. There was an Italian restaurant that was closed and the pool bar closed up early too. The buffet food selection wasn't bad, but the food was cold every morning & evening. It's really not worth staying half board. We are getting married here next year and the venue itself is beautiful but were disappointed that nobody from the hotel met with us when it was arranged through the wedding planner. There is no entertainment so was extremely quiet (I'm hoping this was because of the time of year) as there was no atmosphere in the hotel at all, which met we travelled into the old town every night. Apart from this it is a nice hotel with a fabulous beach within walking distance but there is no amenities near by e.g. shops or other restaurants so ensure you have all the basics with you that you need. If ordering a taxi to the old town, it takes about 15 mins and is about 15e. Just remember that you will be waiting for the taxi to come from Albufeira old town so will take roughly 20 mins for it to arrive so pre-book it if you don't want to be waiting around.
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Date of stay: October 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There aren't any kids facilities, outdoor pool & spa indoor pool thats about it. It is a quiet resort, beach is lovely but not sure what the weather will be like in February.
You need to get a taxi to the town, there are no buses that run, i think there is one a day.
There is entertainment in the evening in the lobby area but its for adults.
There are more places to choose from in the Albufeira area.
PRICE RANGE
€120 - €270 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
PortugalAlgarveFaro DistrictAlbufeira
NUMBER OF ROOMS
260
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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