Tivoli Marina Vilamoura

This is my first review ever on trip advisor. Ive never seen the point on complaining but I felt it was necessary this time. This hotel is definitely not a 5 star hotel & definitely not worth the money you pay. When I first walked into the lobby I was really chuffed. It looked stunning. Reception staff were lovely and very friendly. We got offered water on arrival. Water? Where???s my cheap bubbles? 😂 We arrived around 12pm and couldn???t check in until 2.30/3pm which was fine. We dropped our luggage off and went a wonder outside the hotel. The front of the hotel is absolutely fantastic and u really get the holiday feel. However, the more we looked around the outside of the hotel the more disappointed we were. The pool area is really unkept. Broken tiles were lying beside the pool one day, grass/weeds were growing through the slabs on the walk way to the beach. The slabs look like they needed a good wash. I know that sounds pathetic but it???s not 5 star. Whilst we are on the subject of pathetic - the sun beds were really crap & definitely not 5 star standard. We got to our room. The cleaning was high standards from the maids, I???ll give them that but the shower needs grouted. It???s minging seeing a black shower. I had to run my hand along the floor of the bathroom as I thought it was dust lying on the floor but the floor was just really worn & looks awful. Some days we got free water & coffee. Other days I had to go to reception and ask for it. Shouldn???t have to do that. First couple of nights we got chocolates left on our bed which was a lovely treat coming in, never saw that again for the rest of the week. Last but not least, the half board set up!!! An absolute con!! Please do not choose half board at this hotel. Our first night we got really dressed up, we were starving & really excited for our meal. We got to the restaurant ( red pepper ) to be handed a menu? A menu for half board? Strange, of all the hotels I???ve stayed at it???s always always being a buffet. You get a choice for about 3 starters, 4 mains & 4 deserts. This menu is for the whole week!!!!! My heart was sinking and I was so upset. My husband came to the conclusion that maybe it was a small menu because everything is freshly cooked. So I started to look forward to my meal. I ordered bbq ribs. That & the steak were the only 2 things I would eat of the menu. My husband chose the steak. Well honestly, his steak arrived and it was smaller than the palm of my hand. It was tasteless. My ribs were disgusting & was making me rench ( I???m not exaggerating ) there was a weird taste and it was full of gloopy fat, ( I wish I had taken a photo of the amount of fat I scrapped off ) I???m a true Scottish girl who will eat anything but that was just awful standards. I was utterly heart broken at the amount of money I had spent on this hotel. I decided to speak to the manger. He offered us to use our half board at lunch time in the pool side restaurant. The pizzas here were amazing, the baguettes were beautiful & my husband loved the calzone. Unfortunately this restaurant closes at 3pm and I didn???t really sign up to having lunches, it was dinner we paid for. We always have big breakfasts on holiday & don???t eat until night time. We ended up eating out most nights. The restaurants around the marina are absolutely insanely beautiful. We never had one bad meal. I think every night we said, that was the best meal ever! There is another restaurant at the hotel but again it was only open at lunch times. We never tried this as we didn???t want to eat a massive meal at lunch time. The only thing I would say is 5 star about this hotel is the location. I???m far from a snob but I expect better for the money I???ve paid & will definitely not be returning. It???s the most expensive 5 star hotel I???ve been to and the most disappointing.

Unhelpful security man .. popped in today to have a look around as currently staying at Dom Pedro and if we book for next year was considering the Tivoli. and was told to leave building by security. Not a way to win over new potential customers!

Recently returned from a weekend stay at the Tivoli and had the most fantastic time. Firstly I would like to say I have never stayed in a hotel where every single member of staff, from concierge to front desk to bar to cleaner, are so friendly and helpful. We had a lovely room on the 1st floor overlooking the marina. A fantastic view no matter what the time of day or night. Breakfast was lovely with a very large choice. We also had lunch at the hotel on our first day and this was extremely tasty and again very good service and several nice cocktails from the pool bar! Pool is a really good size and didn't seem to be a problem getting a sunbed. Location is brilliant. Lots of nightlife a very short walk away. I would highly recommend this hotel and wouldn't hesitate to go back.