Apartamentos Janelas Do Mar

Not a particularly enjoyable experience. Dated, and grubby. On arrival, we were asked for 300 Euros as a deposit - in cash. This was determined, apparently, by the fact that our group of 4 included 3 adults. Our eldest daughter is 16. Then they decided on 200 Euros, but finally settled on 100. Not sure what they would need the deposit for, as the whole apartment had nothing of any real value in it. On entering the apartment, we were greeted by a small cockroach in the living area. On opening a kitchen cupboard, a couple more scattered from around the boiler. We went into town, a 20 minute walk, for the new years eve celebrations. On returning, we all went to bed. Until we were awoken at 4AM by the sounds of a couple directly upstairs enjoying very loud "couple fun". They certainly seemed to have a fair bit of stamina. Not sure I'd even risk it on the bed, which would likely break. Other guests arrived back, and the music went on until around 6. Our block seems to be populated by young adults. Fair enough, but you would have thought that families would be kept away from young adults. We wentured to the gym (unusable, if you don't want to end up injured), and the pool. The pool was warm, and seemed clean enough. However, there was a cockroach wandering around. And I've not seen anything quite like it; the biggest insect I have ever seen. My wife took a photo of it which will definitely be in her review. The shop was reasonably well stocked, but a beer will set you back 2-3 times what the supermarket would. All in all a thoroughly unsatisfying experience. It is cheap, but too far from town or anything else, and not value for money. If you can afford it, definitely book elsewhere.

I initially planned to stay for 3 weeks but since this time of year the majority of things are closed, so I had to spend more time in the hotel. Everything has an additional price, even to buy a padlock for the in room safe for TWENTY euros? I decided to book a flight home early, this place is sadly rather lifeless this time of year.