We holidayed at the Balaia Atlantico on an all inclusive basis, this was great as we have a young child. The food was varied and staff were very polite and welcoming. I panicked a bit as the restaraunt is all white tablecloths and white chairs, mix that with a toddler and spaghetti bolognese!!!
I enjoyed the food on offer, some people I spoke to said that the food wasn't warm enough, but I was more than happy.

We stayed thursday to thursday, the hotel was relatively quiet until friday night - sunday afternoon, between these times the hotel is taken over by spanish residents/ holidaymakers. I found the pool bar was over run, (only one staff serving) spanish were quite rude, did not apologise if they bumped into you. The children ran riot around the pool area, as many as 10 children in the jacuzzi at one time ( as the pool was a tad cold!)
Once sunday was over the hotel was great once again, apparently spanish people tend to visit the hotel every wknd so be warned!!

The hotel evening entertainment was limited, usually a keyboard player or an accordion player!?!!? With a little more thought on booking better entertainment the hotel would be spot on.

Overall we really enjoyed our stay, I read a lot of reviews on trip advisor before my holiday, my advice, if you want a relaxing holiday book it and experience it for yourself!!

couldn't fault the room in any way, very stylish and great views.
didn't eat at hotel as reviews were bad so went into town or cooked in room!
bit out of the way of everything but taxis about 5-6 euros and free bus to town 7,10,12,3,5,7,8pm.
room has air con and a good hairdryer in bathroom!
we were on 4th floor and had sea view in distance but pool view was excellent!
drinks are bit pricey unless you go all inc.
staff very friendly especially Fatima on desk!
for comfort I definately recommend this hotel just the location lets it down!
there is a shop on site but doesnt sell great deal and is not that cheap so recommend going on free bus to sister hotel then walk slightly up road to big supermarket!
liked the music in every room that was nice change!
weather was bit hit n miss and they put up weekly report but I wouldn't advise reading it as it could be cloudly one minute and sunny next!!

We are a young couple from Denmark without kids (28 and 31). We just wanted a cheap holiday were we could relax, have some sun and eat well - and that was what we got.

We have just returned from a week at the Hotel Balaia Atlantico. The hotel is good choice if you like living comfortable. The rooms are nice and spotless clean, good view from the terrace and the full furnished kitchen is great - if you are planning on cooking yourself (micro own, full size oven, coffee-maker, toaster, fridge, freezer, cooker).

Now the warning - the atmosphere is boring. The Hotel is far from the town and the latest shuttle bus runs 8 o´clock in the evening so you have to take a taxi back to the hotel (only 7-8 Euro from Albufeira). We tried to walk to Albufeira one day but the traffic is terrible and there is not foot way all way.

We had booked a stay without pension which suited us very well - the food in the restaurant was boring and expensive and the people who stayed at the Hotel were either old age pensioners or young families with kids.

The entertainment at the Hotel was certainly for old people. So you do not really want to hang out in the Hotel bar.

We bought vegetables at the local marked, fresh fish from the local shop and the rest we got from the cheap supermarkets (SUPER or LIDEL) and cooked ourself - which saved us quit a lot of money. The tourists supermarkets are more expensive - so get a cap or bus to the local supermarket.

We eat out a couple of days but it was hard to find a good place to eat which did not have big football screens and Bangers & Mash, English Breakfast and so on on the menu .

If you like to be off the beaten track - this is the place. The Hotel offers a free- shuttle to the beach but you can actually walk to Ora beach (nicest beach). Its is a long walk but nice. You walk through orange and lemon plantation (not official road).

The receptionists were friendly but some gave a terrible service (the girl in the reception is OK). The first day we waited an hour for the free shuttle bus - because the guy in the reception pointed out the wrong place for pick up.

We took a bus from Faro airport to Albufeira - its really cheap. You can check times - google Eva buses.

This about the fourth time I have stayed at the Balaia but the first time I had taken my mother.

One of things that really attracts me to this hotel is the size of the rooms.

It had been 38 years that I have shared a bedroom with my mother and I had no intention of doing so whilst away.

The Balaia Atlantico is an Apart Hotel and i ended up sleeping in the lounge whilst mother had the bedroom.

It is almost like staying in a 1 bed flat and the couch in the lounge was made up specially for me by the staff.

The Towls are changed and the beds are made up on a daily basis .

The breakfast and evening meal are in the resturant whilst we had lunch in the sun by the pool bar.

The pool bar only provides limited snacks but we were quite happy with that.

The staff in the hotel are really friendly and make you feel at home.

We did hire a car which i feel is required because the hotel is out of the way but it does provide a daily bus to Albufeira.

All in all, i will carry on going to this hotel. ( Why change when you are happy)