Hotel Sol Algarve

Writing this review from the eyes of a solo female senior traveler. |I arrived to be told the elevator was not working. This was a huge inconvenience to have to carry a suitcase and carryon bag up to the first floor on my own. They did not give indication of when it would be fixed. |And I have to be honest, I was a bit concerned about the street just outside of the hotel. I personally would not have felt safe walking in the immediate area after dark, but that’s just me. My friends who dropped me off were a little concerned for me as well. Granted a few blocks away was great and lively, well lit and populated. |As I was solo, I did not end up staying. Maybe if I was traveling with others , I might have stayed.

Just spent 4 nights at Hotel Sol Algarve…let me say this…it’s a two star hotel…I get that, but they have earned 5 stars in their friendliness and service. Yes, the rooms are basic…no refrigerator, water kettle…but the beds are comfortable and things are clean. My room faced the local road which gets very, very busy until late at night…a bit challenging to keep the door to balcony open…and watching the huge buses from the train station make the turn is entertainment In and of itself. If you want quiet, see if you can get a room that overlooks the inner courtyard…no views to speak of but quiet. The breakfast €7 per person per night is well worth it…I was suitably impressed…the woman taking care of the breakfast area was dedicated. The hotel is well situated in Faro…very easy walk to the old town and to the train station. One of the night desk guys even gave me a good recommendation for a restaurant that serves good Piri Piri chicken. This is a basic hotel but with really outstanding service…oh…their English is quite good. I highly recommend the hotel if Faro is in your travel plans!

Clean, comfortable and convenient hotel. The rooms were comfortable and clean, the bathroom was great. |The stagg on reception were very friendly and helpful, especially Danielle who went out of her way to help us.

Great location in the centre of Faro. Very close to the marina and restaurants. The staff were very helpful. The room was small and furnishings poor quality and worn (see photos). This hotel was expensive considering the quality but its main selling point is definitely the location.

Very clean and comfortable hotel in a great location. Faro is well worth a visit and Hotel Sol Algarve is a great base to explore from. Staff lovely and helpful. Good value destination that gets the basics right.

Fantastic value for money, basic accomodation but spotlessly clean, fresh sheets and towels daily. A 5 minute walk to the Old Town centre. Would definitely stay again.

A little noisy with cramped rooms. Check in want until 4pm and they made sure we didn't get in any earlier. Still perfectly friendly and did let us store our bags. Not terrible, but I wouldn't stay again nor recommend if your budget can go a little higher.

I booked a room at this hotel for only two nights. It is very close to the town center and the train station. The people at the front desks are very friendly and they are there for 24/7 which seems hard to come across in Portugal. It is a budget hotel and rooms are clean, wifi works well and the shower is great.

Positive; - friendly and very helpful staff -clean room and bathroom - great location (near train station) - comfortable beds and pillows Negative: - No complimentary take-away sandwich + juice for early leavers - before 06:30 am as advertised on website. Left the hotel to catch a 7am train with empty stomach. - our room had a strange noise all night like we had an elevator inside of it,really strange and annoying, didn't slept very much - no hot water, the best we got was a almost luke warm bath. Advise: - Please: since there's no 24h bar service, put some coffee and vending machines with food and water so guests could have something to eat or drink at any time.

They ask you to leave your room key at front desk every time you leave the building. What?! So, basically anyone can just walk in and point to one of the room keys hanging visibly behind the front desk and say that's me and then unlock my hotel room and drug me and remove my kidneys and sell them on the organ market? Ok, I've seen too many movies. But, I don't understand the logic. And frankly, it doesn't seem safe at all. The front desk lady was terrible at selling Faro as a tourist destination. We asked for recommendations on what to do at one night's stay. She randomly circled places on a xerox copy of a map with illegible print and mumbling something about "it's a small place, really not that much" and then saying something about what I assume was a Synagogue, "here is something Jewish, I don't know what it is". The room was so noisy at night, I could hear people walking in and out, talking loudly on the street, crazy dogs barking. The bathroom light switch is connected to the fan, so if your room partner needs to use the bathroom at night, expect the sound of an army helicopter waking you up from your sweet sleep. The shower was ice cold, was advised that they could not turn on the heat until 7AM. When I came back to the hotel at night I asked to buy a bottle of water. The night porter just stared at me. I stared back and tried in Portugese...Agua? Botella? Doing a drinking water motion, gluck gluck gluck....the man stared for a moment and then responded with a perfect English accent: Yes, I do know what water is. Are you a guest here? Gosh, just very awkward mannerisms a la Fawlty Towers. The immediate area is not the prettiest, but the location is good as it is just a quick walk to the water front area. It is also walking distance to the train station and manageable even with suitcases. Breakfast didn't have much to choose from, the toast is not on the buffet table, you have to ask for it, which was first time I had seen that.