Marriott Residences Salgados Resort

I felt I needed to write a review as I read them before we went and was really worried. I needn't have been. It is a really good place and fab for kids. I didn't give it 5 stars because it could be better but we honestly had a super fortnight. Food The food is really good. The three restaurants provide variety and you'll soon decide on your favourite. Maybe not ideal for a vegan but nice veggie options and lots of great fish. Always pasta and fab pizzas. The restaurant staff are brilliant and just so lovely with the kids. It is a pain to have to book every day and isn't the case at all resorts, but it's just something to get used to really. 10am breakfast does mean they're tidying up around you and some things are taken away so it's not ideal. There are paper plates and bowls to take extras for by the pool/for the beach/for anyone who didn't make breakfast. The wine was a bit disappointing as there was only one white wine option, no fizz which was sad, and it wasn't great. White, red, rose or sangria (which was lovely) or lager. Plastic glasses at dinner and you have to get up to refill. I guess that's a difference between 4/5 star maybe but it's fine. Being able to take a bottle of water to your table would be handy when there's a few of you but that's not allowed so lots of wandering back and forwards for 6 of us. Pools A real bonus. 10 different ones and all different depths. You'll find your faves. We tended to go between 3 main ones. The central one is great and get the inflatable a few times a day so we tended to go over there when that was on but stayed manly at one of the quieter ones which was shallower for the children. Some vary in depth and some are constant across so you'll pick your favourites. One of the pools by Birdie restaurant gets entertainment for the younger children about 4pm each day with ball games which my younger children loved. The staff are so lovely with them and all speak at least 2 languages. Pool bar by the main pool with fab staff. Staggering how many people don't say basic thank you and please which is embarrassing really. Variety of cocktails included which is very civilised and my daughters had almost constant slushes. The pools could do with more toilets but never had to wait too long. Kids club This was a bit of a shame as there isn't a proper kids club, but this is in the information before you book so not a shock. There is a big kids' club building but I've no idea what is in it as the kids don't seem to go in it. There is entertainment there in the evening with disco, games, films etc which my children loved and Zoing the mascot was a big hit. Big thanks to the staff who are fab. It is a shame they don't offer more as they are lovely but it just doesn't seem to be set up that way. The park is good and there was often impromptu football matches in the evening with groups of children. We didn't go to the evening entertainment in the lobby bar because it was a bit late for the children so can't c

We have just returned from our week stay with our two children aged 2 and 6. We travelled with friends who had a 5 year old and 1 year old also. First of all the positives:- - Rooms are lovely, spacious with huge balcony’s and we had a sink, microwave, fridge/freezer and kettle in the room. Air con worked well as did the shower. Only downside was no where at all to put clothes except one tiny rail, no draws, which is strange considering the size of the rooms. Always cleaned well and fresh towels. - 10 pools all of which were great temperatures and not too cold even for the little ones. - Majority of the restaurant and bar staff were friendly and plenty of drink options including cocktails - we enjoyed karaoke night and some of the other entertainment they had in the evening - the spa in the adjacent hotel is lovely and worth a visit but you do have to pay 10 euros to do so. - the little train which takes you to the beach is nice and runs every half an hour. One day we went just for a ride and didn’t even get off as my toddler liked the train. It’s still a little walk from The train drop off to the actual beach. - loads of sunbeds even in July in summer hols we didn’t have to rush to reserve beds or ever have difficulty getting sunbeds Now the negatives:- - the food is limited in options and quality. It’s not what we would call 4 star and one of the most basic and limited menus/options we’ve come across on an all inclusive. We went to the marina one night for a meal which was only around 5 euros in a taxi. We only needed to do this due to the lack of decent dinner options in the hotel. - the booking 4 hours before your meal is ridiculous and just doesn’t work. If we were told about this before booking we wouldn’t have booked. Having said this we were always let into dinner but you just feel like you’re being told off or an inconvenience every time. - kids club is not supervised, in that you don’t sign them in or leave them and have to stay with them the whole time which really defies the whole point which again wasn’t made clear when booking. - there’s only 2 bars, the pool bar which is only open in the day and then the lobby bar. For the size of the hotel it’s quite ridiculous, and did mean long queues at times. - the check in process was tediously long even though we got a private transfer so we were the only ones checking in, check out was fairly slow too. - there’s a lack of day time entertainment for the children. The blow up slide but that’s really the main thing - 20 euro deposit per towel - the hotel shop is small ridiculously overpriced even more than usual so take your own floats etc or jump in an Uber to the nearest shopping centre for around 4 euros - the transfer time is over an hour and a half so we instead decided to pay for private transfers which was 50 euros for an 8 seater. We had a good week because we were on holiday and making the most of time together, great weather and being with friends but we wouldn’t