Our opinion
The Sheraton Algarve is an immensely popular resort with a wide range of excellent accommodation and facilities, land and water activities, and kids' club.
Hotel description
Set admist acres of umbrella pines alongside a dramatic cliff top, the Sheraton Algarve and Pine Cliffs Resort offers a welcome combination of an outstanding range of accommodation, excellent leisure facilities for adults and children and access to a magnificent beach at the bottom of sandstone cliffs. The resort’s area covers 168 acres and includes an immaculate yet challenging 9 hole golf course, a golf driving range, indoor golf academy, a shady children’s village, tennis courts, spacious lawns under the pine trees where you can relax in the shade and then four distinct types of accommodation including the 215 roomed 5 star Sheraton Algarve Hotel, the Pine Cliffs Townhouses, the Pine Cliffs Golf Suites and the Pine Cliffs Residences with 5 star two and three bedroom apartments.
Each area offers a slightly different feel. The Pine Cliffs townhouse area offers self catering apartments and townhouses and they have quite a village atmosphere yet are within a short walk of the main Sheraton Algarve hotel building, a lavish construction of arches, marble floors, grand columns, blue tiles and fountains in classic Portuguese style with typical Moorish elements, where you find the beauty salon, the health club with indoor pool, two outdoor pools, a games room, boutique and newspaper shops and seven restaurants (of which O Pescador, the gourmet fish restaurant, is not open to younger children in the evenings).The self-catering Pine Cliffs Golf Suites are more comfortably furnished than the townhouses and overlook the golf course and have nearby the club house for drinks and lunches as well as a heated swimming pool. Then at the furthest end of the resort, also overlooking the lush golf course (served by electric train running at half hour intervals) are the Pine Cliffs Residence apartments. Justifiably marketed as part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection these five star apartments offer spacious, elegant and contemporary accommodation with fully-equipped kitchens but with luxury hotel service provided by the Casa Pine Cliffs with its O Grill restaurant, bar, swimming pool with shallow end for children, children’s paddling pool, gym and spa. A deli provides snacks including chilled meals made by the hotel chefs. The landscaping at the Pine Cliffs Golf Suites combines the natural pines and olive trees of the area with Mediterranean flowers such as lavender, bougainvillaea and agapanthus. An attractive tiered water feature greets you at the entrance to the Casa Pine Cliffs.Facilities of the Pine Cliffs Resort are extensive and all guests have access to all throughout the resort. There are golf and tennis pros if you want to book lessons, or you can hire some golf balls and clubs for driving or pitch and putt. There are five floodlit tennis courts; two clay and three all weather. Indoor facilities include an indoor pool, fitness centre and beauty centre for a wide range of treatments. Children are very well catered for with the magnificent Porto Pirata children’s village for those under 8. You can book children in here for a variety of durations and they can enjoy activities with other children of similar ages. The village is dominated by two life-size galleons with climbing frames and slides but there is also a bouncy castle, 18 hole mini golf, children’s pool and ‘race’ track with cars and carts, volleyball and basket ball court and sand pit. All children can use these facilities so long as they are accompanied by their parents. In addition there is a Junior Club for 8 to 12 year olds with a programme of activities such as table tennis, mini golf, football and bowls.Falesia Beach is at the foot of the sandstone cliffs upon which the resort is perched. It is reached by lift from the gardens in front of the hotel and then you proceed along a wooden platform interspersed with two or three steps at a time built above the protected sand in the narrow gorge below for a couple of hundred metres. The beach is very long and of a fine sand. It is a public beach but the resort has a beach facility with towels, sun beds and shades together with a water sports concession. There is also a beach bar and restaurant for lunch.Your entire stay can be completely cashless as everything from golf lessons, meals and even the delicious ice creams you can buy from the bars throughout the resort can be billed to your room. If you elect to buy half board, you can eat in the main buffet restaurant, the Jardim Colonial or you have a credit towards food in any of the other restaurants.This is an excellent resort in a beautiful location and perfect for an active holiday for families with children of all ages.
Distance from airport
30 minutes
Room types
215 hotel rooms, 154 Pine Cliffs Residence Aprartments and 45 Townhouses.
All rooms have private bathroom, air conditioning and heating, in-room safe, direct-dial phones with data port, minibar, satellite television, in-room movies, private balcony or terrace.
Pine Cliffs Residence
154 Pine Cliffs Residence 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, each with own bathroom (main bedroom has bathroom with bath and separate walk in shower), air-conditioning, balcony or terrace, fully equipped kitchen with microwave, stove, oven, coffee machine, water heater, fridge, freezer and separate utility room with washing machine and tumble dryer, iron and board, living room with SAT TV, one king sized bedroom and one twin bed room each with SAT TV, dressing robes and slippers. The Pine Cliffs Residences are furthest from the hotel building but many overlook or face towards part of the golf course. You can opt to pay extra to have a ground floor residence with garden access.They have their own restaurant, pool, gym and delicatessen. There are now also private 4 bedroom villas that can be rented.
The hotel
215 rooms with private bathroom, air-conditioning, safe, phone, bathrobes and slippers, turn down service, mini bar, SAT TV, private balcony or terrace and 24 hour room service.
The townhouses
45 townhouses of 2 to 4 bedroom units each with own bathroom, air-conditioning, kitchenette with fridge, washing machine, dishwasher, oven, water heater, toaster, ironing board, TV, microwave, outside terrace with barbecue. These units are closest to the hotel and are also the oldest in the resort.
Hotel facilities and services
7 restaurants, 2 bars, 9-hole golf course, 5 tennis courts, Spa, Fitness, Boutiques, Children’s village, Catamarans, three swimming pools including a children`s pool, private sand beach that is supervised by a lifeguard during the summer between 9am and 6pm.
Water sports
Water sports are available at a charge. The beach is supervised by a lifeguard from 9 am until 6pm.
Land sports
Golf, mini-golf, tennis, bike rental - all chargeable. Yoga sessions. Table tennis is complimentary.
Out and aboutnearby/local interest
8 km from Albufeira, with its beautiful old town and the thriving nightlife of the new town. The region is best known for its many beautiful beaches.Highlights for families include Zoomarine, Water parks, Krazy world. Other excursions include a One-day Lisbon trip, boat trips along the coast, Jeep safari, Unispoilt Algarve and river cruise, Algarvian evening.
Children
Children under 18 years must be accompanied by an adult in the gym. Children under 16 years need to be accompanied by an adult to use the Jacuzzi and sauna. Children under 13 not allowed in O'Pescador restaurant.