PortoBay Blue Ocean

Overall good hotel with beautiful amenities - pool, sunset bar, sauna etc. Staff was very friendly. I just think there’s small little details missing that would make for a better hotel experience - no poolside towels (need to take from room), can’t order and eat food by the pool, no room service after 10:30pm.

This is a lovely hotel although overall I thought it was very expensive for what you actually get hence the four stars. Throughout the hotel, the decor feels fresh, stylish, and thoughtfully put together after the renovations. The reception and serving staff were all consistently warm, friendly, and helpful, which really added to the overall experience. I only booked bed and breakfast and did not dine at any of the restaurants on site. However my flight to Faro was very delayed, and I ended up arriving at the hotel at around 9 pm. The hotel offers room service with meals, snacks and drinks at reasonable prices, so that was a real bonus to be able to order room service that evening! Breakfast was excellent - there was a wide selection of food, including cooked options, eggs, yoghurts, cheeses, meats, fresh fruit, sweet treats, salads, and even some bubbles. There were also plenty of juice choices, and the coffee from the machine was decent. You can sit indoors or outside on the terrace. The terrace was definitely the better option overlooking the pool, with comfortable seating. I had to check out before breakfast on the day of my departure, so was able to get a ‘breakfast box’, which included a sandwich, fruit and a yoghurt. The pools are a good size and they never felt crowded. Green towels for the pool are already in your room, which is handy! I always found a free lounger, even in the afternoon, and there are plenty of umbrellas when some shade is needed. My room was very clean on arrival. The air conditioning / ceiling fan kept the room cool. There is a small fridge in the room. The bathroom was spacious and the shower had good pressure, although not all of the bathroom had been renovated, which took away from the overall look slightly. I would say only few minor negatives were: - There is no access to free drinking water. There was a 1L glass bottle in my room when I checked in, but this was never replaced throughout my stay. You can get water at breakfast, if you have a reusable bottle. Bottled water is available at the Lima Bar, but it costs €5 for 1.5L, which feels expensive. There’s a supermarket 10 minute walk from the hotel though, and you can get a 1.5L bottle for €0.65, so worth stocking the fridge. - There’s no iron in the hotel rooms, but you can ask reception to bring you one to use as soon as one is available again. - The staff at the pool bar are great in bringing drinks to you, but don’t seem to come round and collect any dirty glasses, so some of these were flying about in the sea breeze! You can also visit and use the facilities of the next door sister hotel (PortoBay Falesia). You can access the beautiful Falesia beach through the hotel. However I would say in general, and in comparison to Blue Ocean, the hotel felt much more crowded and tired. Overall, a really great stay!

This four-star superior hotel is a complete transformation of the former TUI Blue Falésia. With 348 not fully renovated rooms, it forms part of the new “PortoBay Village” alongside PortoBay Falésia via a connecting walkway Travel And Tour World ✅ What Impresses: Prime beachfront location, with direct access to Praia da Falésia and over 700 m of shared shoreline between the two hotels The Portugal News .Full compliment of amenities: three outdoor pools, one indoor NOT heated pool, a wellness spa (with hydrotherapy, sauna and four treatment rooms), gym, tennis court, and lush 35,000 m² gardens . Excellent gastronomy: two signature restaurants — Mercado (theme buffet and showcooking by Chef António Guerreiro) and Flor de Sal (seasonal, Algarve-focused menu by Chef Pedro Spínola) — plus four bars including Sunset Bar with Falésia views . ⚠️ A Few Considerations: Despite being a modern lifestyle property, some common areas can feel crowded, especially around peak mealtimes or pool periods if linked guests from both hotels converge. Beach proximity is not excellent, but there can be noticeable foot traffic and occasional noise due to shared resort operations. Though the indoor pool is heated, the outdoor pools remain unheated, which could be chilly for less tolerant guests—even in summer months .