Pedras Da Rainha

“Nice hotel, nice location”

Having visited the western Algarve a number of times, for this trip we decided to head east and stay in the Tavira area. We came across Pedras da Rainha on several websites and although some reviews were mixed, it sounded nice. It is sitiuated in a good location about 10 minutes from the main mot… more

Having visited the western Algarve a number of times, for this trip we decided to head east and stay in the Tavira area. We came across Pedras da Rainha on several websites and although some reviews were mixed, it sounded nice. It is sitiuated in a good location about 10 minutes from the main motorway and in the village of Cabanas - about a 5-10 minute walk to the main promenade. We arrived early afternoon and fortunately our accommodation was ready. The guy at reception was friendly and welcoming and gave us directions on how to find our apartment - good job we had a rental car otherwise it would have been quite a trek with our luggage. We hired a wifi router from reception - well worth it!. The accommodation we had was a two bedroom apartment on the edge of the site. It was rustic and comfortable and quiet. About a 4-5 minute walk back to the pool area, bar and reception. We were booked in for bed and breakfast - breakfast was average but enough for us. A nice touch was the complimentary bottle of wine in our apartment on my wife's birthday - thank you. The site overall is pleasant, but as other reviewers had said, it looks a bit tired in places and could do with a little attention. Reception were helpful in organising some food on our last morning as we needed to leave before breakfast was served. Overall a comfortable stay - recommended if you want a quieter and more authentic part of the Algarve.

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“The old Algarve still exists.”

The hotel is a series of studio apartments (larger villas available) situated in lush and well maintained gardens. We received a very warm greeting from the reception staff, who took the time to explain the layout of the complex etc. we hired a wi fi router at a cost of 1€ per day, which worked f… more

The hotel is a series of studio apartments (larger villas available) situated in lush and well maintained gardens. We received a very warm greeting from the reception staff, who took the time to explain the layout of the complex etc. we hired a wi fi router at a cost of 1€ per day, which worked flawlessly. The studio apartment was in an excellent location, away from the pool area, which suited us fine, so it was nice and quiet. The apartment can best be described as rustic (which we found charming) contains a small kitchen area with everything you need to cook for yourselves if you are that way inclined. The bathroom was modern. It was clean and comfortable with a balcony that gave a nice place to chill out. We opted for the breakfast to be included, which was plentiful and situated by the pool area. We were issued a card which we had to show to the staff on each visit. You also use the same card to show to the pool lifeguard and the boat taxi. The pool is clean and well maintained, with no mad rush for sunbeds or towel terrorists (you do have to provide your own beach towel for the beds). They do have an on site shop, but a large Spar supermarket is a small stones throw away. We used it daily for pastries or fresh rolls for lunch etc. room service/maids are very hit and miss and will leave you wondering what they actually do, apart from straighten the bed covers, but we were fine with this. You are well situated within the fishing town of Cabanas and an easy 4 minute stroll to the shops and restaurants. Our visit was in the 2nd week of Sept and it was still busy, so booking a restaurant ahead to guarantee a table is highly recommended. There is a small estuary that separates the town from the main beach that is reached by water taxis. It’s a free service for the hotel users and runs from 0900/1700hrs on a daily basis. There is also a small train like vehicle that runs from reception to the boat jetty if you cannot be bothered walking. The boat ride is actually a really nice few minutes journey and we never waited anymore than 5 minutes for a boat. You then walk via the boardwalk provided a few hundred metres to the beach, which is vast and beautiful. You can hire sunbeds for around 20€ or be like us and just lay a towel by the waters edge. Being the Atlantic it never really warms up, especially as there is a deep shelf a half mile offshore. I’m a seasoned open water swimmer and submersing my head gave me brain freeze. We tended to hit the beach in the morning and spend the afternoon by the pool (which is warm). The main town of Tavira is easy accessible by train 1.50€ or Uber 5 to 10€ and is worth a visit. I will sum up by saying, if you want a quiet relaxing holiday away from Brits on Tour then I wholeheartedly recommend this place. If you want a noisy/lively ‘I want to be entertained and have a 2€ full Monty breakfast then look elsewhere.

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“Good but not for us”

Pedras da Rainha is well located with lovely well kept grounds, a supermarket and chest on site. The staff are all really helpful and pleasant, especially at reception. The studio in which we stayed was extremely well equipped. It was spotlessly clean and had everything you could want for a studio … more

Pedras da Rainha is well located with lovely well kept grounds, a supermarket and chest on site. The staff are all really helpful and pleasant, especially at reception. The studio in which we stayed was extremely well equipped. It was spotlessly clean and had everything you could want for a studio for two people. However the studio in which we stayed was so dark that if you closed the front door you had to have the light on all of the time. Apart from extremely early in the morning our balcony never saw the sun. As we had, not surprisingly, gone on holiday for the sun, we asked if we could be moved but was told the complex was fully booked. However the apartments around us were all empty and remained so for the duration of our one weeks holiday. There are lots of positives about Pedras da Rainha but we wouldn’t go back.

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“Needs modernising”

Friendly, if regimented, check in. Hired wi-fi router on the second day, €20 deposit, and €1.00 per day. All but one of the staff were friendly - perhaps she would be better suited behind the scenes rather than at breakfast. Breakfast quality was good. The bar was good, and so were the staff. Our … more

Friendly, if regimented, check in. Hired wi-fi router on the second day, €20 deposit, and €1.00 per day. All but one of the staff were friendly - perhaps she would be better suited behind the scenes rather than at breakfast. Breakfast quality was good. The bar was good, and so were the staff. Our studio was located up some very steep, short tread steps, I was scared going up and scared coming down from our accommodation. The bathroom stank, there was no ventilation, and it shared a wall with the bathroom of the studio immediately behind us. Pathways cracked, broken, and potentially dangerous. We couldn't work out when the cleaners would turn up or what they were supposed to do, I cleaned up myself as they were so inconsistent. When the cleaners did show up, it was for three minutes, three times in a week. Overall, this outdated accommodation could be lovely if someone spent some money on painting the buildings, mending the pathways, and assigning the cleaners to do a better job.

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