Apartamentos Vale de Carros by Umbral

Location & Accessibility: Quiet, peaceful setting with proximity to supermarkets , restaurants, and Albufeira Old Town .

The Photos on Trip Advisor and Holiday Sites are a bit misleading. The Bar area looks nothing like this. and the food in the pictures are not what is available. it is just Pizzas and toasties. Also the 'Bar' shuts at 5pm! Day 1 - I arrived, checked in etc. when i got to the apartment I quickly realised the the name "Superior Studio" is misleading. Its not Superior to anything, it is actually a lot smaller than the Family Studio. I noticed that the cleaners had left the windows open and when I pulled back the curtain i found thousands of Ants all up the wall on the curtain and on the floor. I informed reception and they gave me some Ant killer! Day 2 - A Portuguese family moved in downstairs and next door who were VERY noisy. Shouting constantly, Screaming, slamming doors. This continued around the pool area making for a non-relaxing environment. the children would spray people with water, scream and the parents did nothing except shout to each other across the pool. They also left crisp packets in the pool, food rappers on the floor (Which attracted more ants) and on 1 occasion a dirty nappy next to the pool. Day 4 - I went to reception to ask if we could have some more toilet paper, and I was presented with 1 roll. I also had to ask if the cleaners would be coming round. And I was told they don't come round until you leave. Good job we were only there 1 week and not 2. I was told we had to empty the bins ourselves including the sanitary bin. I had to ask for clean towels as they were not replaced, neither was the bedding. The Staff are very nice and friendly but it does seem to be run on a shoe string budget. The room isnt very big and very strangely laid out. The shower is very small. Unless you get a Family Suite they are much bigger and the Shower is a decent size. We met another couple who had the same experience as us later in the holiday and I gave them the Ant Killer as they were infested as well.

We enjoyed a week in November 2024 where we were very lucky with the weather. A car rental allowed us excellent access to places we were keen to visit. Positive things to say Nice traditional buildings, with some attractive features, including marble kitchen surface and lovely tiles in lobby and kitchen Plentiful hot water always available Excellent shower Towels changed once mid-week Good parking. Reception helpful to a degree in addressing equipment requirements. Good restaurants quite close by Apartment clean. Negative things to say TV no English channels. And if we could watch anything, the sofa bed was pointing at right angles, and we are instructed not to move position of any furniture Sofa in fact was a single bed, very unsuitable as too deep and even a six-footer's feet did not reach the ground when sitting on it. No small table for resting drinks on No drinks mats available Round kitchen table but only large square plate mats Kitchen lacked: coffee making equipment, nothing to drain rice or pasta, no fish slice for cooking eggs, no non-stick pans, no wine glasses. Cooking was by means of a 2 old type electric plates cooker that took an age to warm up and then an age to cool down. Bathroom, offered only 2 of the poorest quality toilet rolls and an inadequate supply of shower gel. No ventilation so room and whole apartment quickly became damp and attracted mosquitoes, which were an issue every night. Ventilation was either open doors, where cats would wander in or with windows open and external shutters closed so completely dark. Had to pay 17€ for use of safe. Apartment in block of 4 and sounds travel very easily between them. We suffered from other people in our block returning at 4 in the morning every night and others who played music loudly. Only one black rubbish sack available. No oil or salt and pepper or other cooking basics available. Microwave and toaster positioned without access to electric sockets No Internet for two full days which seemed an unacceptable delay in sorting. It worked well when finally sorted. No information about TV, heating system, facilities, locality or things to do. Two copies of costs of replacement for any damage caused Ridiculous damages deposit required on check in.