Mirachoro Sol

This was our third stay in the Mirachoro Sol in 13 Months and I'll be back before the year's out. A hire car is a great help as the Hotel is slightly of the main roads and will pay for it's self if you want to see more of the Algarve than just the beach?. The Hotel is spotless the food is better than some are willing to admit and the staff are the most friendly and helpful my wife and I have ever met since we started going to Portugal in 1997, the rooms are big enough for your needs with beds, bath, shower, tv, phone, a safe & cleaned daily. Anyway who goes on holiday to stay in a room you could do that at home. The Hotel is most underrated where Stars are concerned and I have recommend it to all my friends who go to the Algarve on holiday. As far as I am concerned the Mirachoro Sol is A1 +.

Seamus Mooney, Dublin Ireland
Mature Couple (36+)

The Mirachoro Sol is excellent ,rated as 2 star,probably should be 3 +. I read the reviews before I booked and they are all reasonably accurate. A hire car is not a bad idea because the hotel is off the beaten track,although the hotel does run a bus into Portimao and the beach,but it doesn't start until 10.00am and runs sporadically. Another reason for a hire car is the time it takes on the coach, from the airport, to reach the hotel, sometimes more than 2 hours,depending on the number of drops on the way,the hotel is 45 miles from the airport.it takes 45 minutes in the car. It's not the easiest place to find,the map on the website is totally wrong,so get your own. The key to finding the hotel is to look for Tres Bicos,so follow the motorway from the airport, to junction 5, then follow the signs for Portimao and then just keep going straight until you see a sign for Tres Bicos just after a Repsol filling station turn right and then after leaving the slip road turn right again,then onto to a small roundabout and turn right again,follow the road the hotel is on the left. As far as the meals go they are O.K. Book half board if you can,it doesn't cost much more than bed and breakfast. We only paid an extra £16 for the week for the 2 of us. You can then afford to miss a few evening meals as there is an excellent resturant close by called Quintinha,which is just past the small roundabout you came in on. Go on from Quintinha to Tres Bicos and you will find a Farmacia,a few bars and 2 supermarkets. If you just fancy a snack or a cheap evening out,turn left out of the hotel doors,go towards the outdoor pool and look left,you will see Pastelaria Pomba,full of locals and drinks and food at local prices. The clientelle at the hotel seem to be more mature types which is good as everbody seems to communicate and thats good. Evening meals are O.K,breakfast is good ,but the times are wrong. Breakfast 8.00am to 10.am and evening 6.30pm to 8.00pm. In my opinion breakfast should start earlir and evening meal should start later and run later. On our last day when we needed to get to the airport, we went down for breakfast at bang on 8.00am,unfortunately although they say breakfast is ready at 8.00am,it's not,that's when they start cooking it,if you want a continental breakfast at 8.00am you are O.K,if you want a cooked breakfast leave it to 8.30am. On the whole a good holiday,you get what you pay for and this was better than what you paid for,recommended!

jon ellis, swindon
Mature Couple (36+)

The room was small but comfy , hotels don't have studios just bedrooms. It had a telly with English chanels , was clean and tidy so what more do you want from a base to stay ? The staff were excellent , especially Alex behind reception who was really helpfull. The Shopping complex was only 10 minutes walk away around a very attractive residential area and there was 4 resteraunts only a 5 minute walk away. All very reasonable in price and packed with locals at lunchtime. A testament to how good the food is. Stayed half board for 6 nights and never tired of the food. Breakfast excellent , a choice of English or continental. The Evening meals were varied well cooked and very tasty. The courtesy bus returned at the latest time of 17:25. A taxi into the resort was 5 Euros or you could walk the mile in 20 minutes. All in all a superb 6 night stay

steven oldroyd, huddersfield
Mature Couple (36+)

I was a solo travler at the end of May and before my trip I went on the net checked for maps of Portimao, put in the Hotel NAME and "presto" a Map with an arrow showing the Hotel and all the main roads around it. I drove from Faro and only had to ask one person where the hotel was and it was 75 yards away I was on the road but could not see it as it is set back in off the road. I can not add to my review from May but my wife Mary was over-whelmed with the kindness we received from all the staff, how clean every part of the hotel we were in was, our room, the dining room, both pools, the food she was in heaven and enjoyed every moment of our stay. Sly old me I new she would. For would by travelers get a Map from the internet for free of where your going before you go and remember your in another Country away from home so enjoy it by been ready before you go. Thankyou Alpharooms, Seamus & Mary Mooney Artane Dublin Ireland

Seamus & Mary Mooney, Dublin Ireland
Mature Couple (36+)

Very good value for money hotel with excellent staff but located in a difficult position and missing some facilities. I agree with a previous review about the location. If you are an independent traveller it is hard to find and Portimao is difficult to navigate because of its one way system. We found lots of different ways of getting lost but somehow always ended up finding our way. The rooms are plain and simple - no air-conditioning but with a fan which was adequate for cooling. However the bed we had was appalling - it squeaked continually and – well, say no more! It also wasn’t possible to get snacks in the hotel. It was necessary to go to the pool which stopped serving at 16.30. Unfortunately, although the cleaning was good, we did have a day when there was a smell of what seemed like raw sewage emanating from somewhere. It was cleared reasonably quickly after we mentioned it but it really did stink while we had to put up with it. There is a good free bus service to Portimao and Praia da Rocha. Breakfast was ok – other’s comments about the drinks being poor are true - but it was served next to the pool. It sounds idyllic yes? Well this pool was two floors down in the depths of the hotel so if you like breakfast in a bunker……………….! The other pool outside was fine. It might sound as if we didn’t enjoy ourselves too much. We did. In fact we had a great time. The only real disappointment being Ferragudo which seemed over-priced except for the beaches. Portimao is more like the “real” Portugal and has some great restaurants even if some of them are a bit hidden away. The people are friendly and helpful which made for a relaxing and peaceful time. We would definitely go back.

Keith, Wisbech, UK
Mature Couple (36+)

We were a group of four and arrived at the hotel late evening. The receptionist ran down two flights of stairs to make sure we could still get a meal as the resteraunt had closed half an hour earlier then sorted out our rooms for us .We found the rooms to be a good size and spotless as was the rest of the hotel.The food was of a good standard with plenty of choice. All the staff were very helpfull and couldnt do enough to help to make our stay more enjoyable. Yes dogs did bark but thats what they do. Didnt hear the cockeral (must have cooked for dinner) The hotel is in a good location for getting to other towns such as Alvor which was beautiful and we went there several times during our weeks stay. We used taxi`s a lot which reception ordered for us. We found all the drivers polite and helpful. A great time was had by all. Thanyou you all at the hotel. John & Enid Miller (Chepstow)

John Miller, Chepstow
Group of Mature Friends/Couples

I arrived at the Mirachoro Sol on Monday 21th of May for 7 Nights, to be greeted by the very freindly manager who explained everything I needed to know regarding the hotel's facilitys as I was been checked in. The room was spotless and cosy in fact every part of the hotel I was in from the bar to dining area and swimming pools ware spotless even the lift. The food was the best I have had since my wife and I started going to Portugal in 1999. My wife and her friend have dropped the hint already for my next trip geuss where. I can not leave out any of the staff their gracious manner in all respects left me without any revervation where i'll be staying next time. If there was a kettle in the room I would rate this hotel a 4 Star Hotel

Seamus Mooney, Dublin Ireland
Solo Traveller

The hotel was good value for money as a two star establishment.

The staff were friendly and helpful and the rooms were comfortable and clean with a good service.

The down sides were:'

1. As we had hired a car, the hotel was difficult to find as the address on Alpharooms only gave a district and lot number, which did not appear on any web site maps, or on a map we bought at a garage. This aspect needs attention for travellers who are making their own travel arrangements.

2. The breakfast was only average. The cereals being of poor quality. The buffet cooked food was not too bad but was often put out later than the time stated and each item appeared separately, so by the time the final choice arrived, the earlier ones were only warm due to the hotplate not being very hot. Also the single toaster took a long time to toast the bread, resulting in a queue to use it when several people arrived for breakfast at the same time. The coffee and tea machine delivered very poor drinks.

3. We ate an evening meal the first night, but it was not a very good selection of food and the problem of keeping it warm was the same as breakfast. While a half board price was good value. Buying the evening meal at the hotel was extremely poor value, We ate at restaurants the other evenings for less cost and much better quality food and selection.

Summing up, the accommodation was good value, but the food side needs to improve.

Eddie Clark, South West England
Mature Couple (36+)

I have to say that I fully enjoyed my stay here. The staff are excellent, facilities are good for a two star hotel. The complimentary bus into town is great, and the outdoor pool/bar is lovely. I didn't hear ANY dogs barking and had no trouble getting to sleep! I stayed a week here and it was fantastic. Not sure why the place gets so many complaints. If you pay for a 2* Hotel, don't expect the Ritz but it has everything that you need for an enjoyable stay. As a solo traveller, I felt safe and secure in the place, and I will definitely return!!!!

Grace, Dublin,Ireland
Solo Traveller

I just return from the algarve were i stayed in mirachoro sol hotel for two weeks i had a great holiday i didn´t expect so much for the rate i had to pay [ GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY ] staff   very friendly , great breakfast buffet ,the free courtesy bus to beach and town center was a very good help .
I reccomend this hotel for all people wo want to have a great holidays without spending to much money .

Jim Jones, Codsall staffs wv8 1de
Mature Couple (36+)