Sol e Mar

"We had an excellent stay at the Sol e Mar hotel in Albufeira. It is a beautiful hotel, ideally located by the sea and in the heart of the old town, perfect for enjoying the beach and discovering the narrow streets of Albufeira. Our room was pleasant, clean, and comfortable, with very good bedding. We enjoyed the dining. The breakfast buffet is hearty and varied, just like the dinner one, with a choice of quality dishes. A big thank you to all the staff for their warm welcome, their kindness, their availability, and their professionalism. All these attentions contributed to making our stay particularly pleasant."

"Booking reference 9259807798 - Relocated to another hotel ​We paid almost €800 for a two-night 40th birthday stay at the 4-star Hotel Sol E Mar due to its modern standard, beachfront location, and proximity to the Old Town. Arriving at 9:00 AM on Tuesday following an early flight from Cork, we were rudely informed by reception that we were being moved to Auramar Resort. No explanation was provided, and the notification email arrived two hours after we had already been turned away. ​This move was a clear downgrade, not the "upgrade" claimed by staff: ​Rating & Pricing: We were moved to a 3-star property. A quick search on your website shows that booking Auramar directly is significantly cheaper than what we paid for Hotel Sol E Mar. ​Location & Safety: Auramar was located near the New Town, surrounded by establishments (including a strip club) that made us feel unsafe, forcing us to pay for taxis to the Old Town twice on our first day. ​Subpar Room: The hotel was dated, our room only contained two beds instead of three, and the phone was disconnected, forcing a return trip to reception to resolve the issue. ​While our second night at Hotel Sol E Mar met the high standard we originally booked, losing our first day to unnecessary travel, safety concerns, and lower-grade accommodations severely ruined our short milestone trip. ​Given the price discrepancy and poor experience, I expected a prompt response but we have received nothing since our stay in August."

"Excellent hotel in a fantastic location. We had a room on the 3rd floor, at the end of the hallway. That was very quiet. The view was fantastic. The staff was very friendly. The food, both breakfast and dinner, was enough. Good, but not great. A nice lobby. From the hotel, you walk right into the old town center, with cozy terraces and restaurants. Parking at approx. 400 meters on a free and easily accessible parking lot. We will definitely be back!"