Hi,

me and my colleagues spent some days in pedras d'el Rei in our last school year and we found it very good.
We didn't like the beach, it was a bit dirty, so we spent most of the time in the pool and we went out at night to a disco in tavira, it was a week to remember. The resort has a good relation price-quality.

My mother had just died and I wanted to take my Dad somewhere for 10 days for a change of scene that would offer new sights but not be too frenetic.

The taxi from the airport was very quick!! but we got there safely. The resort is beautifully laid out and as we had arrived before our apartment was ready we dumped our luggage in reception and took the toy train to the beach for a cold drink. The train is so quaint and it's marvellous to be in the middle of the reserve which lies between the resort and the long sandy beach. There are a few different eateries at the beach and a gift shop and sunbeds, parasols etc are plentiful and available (at a price). There are 10s of anchors along the beach from when it used to be a main tuna fishing area which was unusual.

We had a 1 bed apartment. Dads room had twin beds and I was in the main room with 2 beds again. Yes, the beds are concrete plinths with a mattress on top but we didn't pay a lot for our stay and it was regularly cleaned and the beds were made up most days and the linen was changed at least 3 times during our stay.

The kitchen was adequately equipped, the bathroom basic but the whol place was secure. My Dad is used to far better but my sister then took him youth hostelling in Scotland a few weeks later so I didn't feel too bad.

We hired bikes from reception which were reasonably priced and well maintained. They're dynamo lit and have a big basket on the front as well as a luggage rack. We ccycled to Tavira a couple of times and then another place that I can't recall the name of about 15 miles away but Tavira was nicer. - especially cycling along the salt beds between Santa Luzia and Tavira which also makes it a short cut and there was no other traffic!

We ate at the resort restaurant for quite a few lunches and the menu selection is very good. Breakfasts we always had in as we had taken a box of cereal with us and Dad went for a pre-breakfast stroll each day and always returned with fresh figs or pomegrantes that he had found on his travels!

The weather was hot but not humid for 90% of our stay and the cooler days were the ones when we cycled further as the breeze was welcome and the light shower refreshing!

Most of the nights we cycled or walked into Santa Luzia and ate at 4 different restaurants and yes, Canto Azul is as good as previous reviewers say and such a warm welcome!

I'm a bit of a pool layabout when I go on holiday and this pool was deep and a good size. Sunbeds are available but are cheaper than at the beach and there is a library/book swap in reception as well as internet facilities and the safe room.

Overall it was just the break the two of us needed. We explored new places, read lots of book, ate different things (fantastic seafood) and chilled. Yes the accomodation was basic but it had everything we needed and more importantly was clean.
If you like nightlife and hustle bustle I'd say got to Tenerife instead. I loved looking about and not seeing a single building above 2 storeys and the grounds are covered in bouganvilla, pomegranete, fig, olive and lemon trees.

Pedras d'el Rei Santa Luzia Portugal.
Having read several reviews on this hotel including one by Clive & Gill who have been eight times and think its marvelous, we booked a week via the internet.The flights were with easyjet out of Liverpool and were great both ways ,no fuss, on time great!
We took our pre booked transfer to Pedras d'el Rei no problem. On arrival the place looked really nice...oldish but nice.The girl in reception was very nice and very efficient and we got our key after about 20 mins.
Well we opened the door to the appartment,a studio, and my wife nearly fainted.....It was terrible! Very old and tired with the most feable excuse for beds we had ever seen...........literally four bits of wood knocked together with a mattress on top covered in a Candlewick bedspread that came from Noah I think. The bathroom was smelly and decrepit and the kitchen was worse. So straight back to reception to request a move, No Problem and we were given the key to another one.This one was similar but had obviously had a little money spent on it as the bathroom fitments were newer and the kitchen a little better. We decided to settle on this knowing we would only sleep there! We made the best of a bad job really.The resort "village" itself was beautiful, set in gardens with lots of grass etc.We and maybe half a dozen others were the only people there so peace and quite was in abundance.Cafe on site ok for snacks:restaurant on site very good.
We took Clive & Gills advice and walked the 15mins into Santa Luzia and located the "Canto Azul" restaurant owned by Leoni & Gert! WOW.what a fantastic place to eat.The food was marvellous and if like us you are carnivours, the steak is to die for.Leoni is charm itself and really makes you feel welcome.......MASSIVELY RECCOMMENDED
Taviral is a beautiful Olde Worlde Town and we were very impressed. A must see if you are in the area!
So all in all we had a terrific time and the weather was magnificent.
Location fantastic.....nice gardens,good pool etc....
Accomodation abissmal..........no clean towels or sheets ever appeared!
So if we ever go back that way again.....WE WOULD NOT STAY AT Pedras d'el Rei.

Having seen the photographs and read the previous comments on this site I thought I would give this place a go. What a dump! As stated by the previous reviewer the accommodation was dated, dirty and lacked the basics like a kettle etc. It was overrun with ants and a lizard obviously thought it was better than I did because it had taken up permanent residence behind the curtains..

The place was just tackey, toilet seat yellowed and covered in cracks, patio tiles broken and missing, uncomfortable beds, terrible pillows, the whole place needed disinfected before use.

After a thunder storm the rain poured in through the cooker hood and soaked the electrics in the kitchen

After speaking to the man at the reception desk who looked permanently drunk, we were moved to another place which was a little cleaner and had a kettle at least.

We looked around the complex which was dead and the swimming pool which obviously was the focus of attention in the summer, was filthy and the sun loungers were all chained up.

What a disappointment, the only good thing was the beautiful beach which was accessed by a rickety old train which I suppose had a certain charm.

This place is not for the faint hearted or over 50's who I guess like me would be looking for something a bit more comfortable.