"I would strongly advise anyone considering staying at Balaia Golf Village in Albufeira to think twice before booking.
We arrived on 29th April for a one-week stay, and our experience started badly from the moment we arrived.
The staff at reception were extremely unfriendly, unhelpful, and showed very little interest in assisting guests. Despite arriving on time, we were forced to wait around 8 hours before we were finally allowed access to our room, which is completely unacceptable.
To make matters worse, when we tried to check in, we were informed that we had to pay a €200 deposit per person. There were five of us, meaning they wanted €1,000 in deposits before we could even begin our holiday. We later discovered that other guests weren't asked to pay any deposit at all. It appears they simply pick and choose who they charge, which is unfair and inconsistent.
When we eventually got into our accommodation, the problems continued. The condition of the apartment was shocking. One of the shower heads was literally being held up on the wall with tape. TAPE. This is supposed to be a holiday resort, not a temporary construction site.
There was also a lack of basic essentials such as toilet roll and towels. When we ran out, we had to walk all the way to reception and request more. Nobody ever brought them. In the end, we had to practically beg a maid who happened to be working near our room to give us some supplies.
The pool areas were equally disgraceful. The water was full of dead bugs, leaves, and other debris. It was obvious that the pools were not being cleaned or maintained properly. It looked neglected and unhygienic. Children were swimming in that water and could easily have swallowed some of the dead insects and other creatures floating around. It was disgusting.
Finally, the issue of the deposit was handled terribly. At checkout, we were told our deposit would be returned within a few days. A few days turned into weeks. In reality, it took an entire month before we finally received our money back. Having €1,000 tied up for that length of time after a holiday is completely unreasonable.
Overall, this was one of the most disappointing hotel experiences we have ever had. Poor customer service, unacceptable waiting times, inconsistent deposit policies, badly maintained accommodation, dirty pool areas, and a month-long wait for our deposit refund. We will not be returning and would not recommend Balaia Golf Village to anyone."
