Hotel Belavista da Luz — Hotel in Lagos

We visited this hotel from 24th July - 27th July 2024. The hotel has recently been undergoing some improvements and this has aided in making it feel like a 4 star hotel.

Pros Breakfast was great - lots of choices such as hot food, cereal, pastries, fruits, cheeses and meats. Also lots of choices of hot drinks from the machine and cold drinks such as juices.

Pool - the swimming pool and loungers didn't get too busy and were very relaxing to be around. There is a heated pool and a larger pool but both were extremely cold. There are also lots of soft chairs in the bar area/ sofa type chairs to relax on as well as a paddle board court.

Room - the room was better than we expected and was clean and modern. The shower was really good and we enjoyed having a balcony. Each room comes with a TV, fridge and safe. Although we had twin beds, they were pushed together to feel like a double bed.

Hotel - all of the staff were friendly and helped us when we needed it. The hotel looks beautiful and the makeover has added to the feel. Our rooms were cleaned daily and we were given a bottle of water on the first day. We went with the bed and breakfast option but there is a pool bar to order food and you can eat in the hotel's restaurant on an evening if you wish but this is an a la carte menu and it's the same every night. We got to the hotel at 12 but we weren't allowed to check in until 3pm. Reception looked after our bags for us and we went and explored the town until we could check in. You are given a set of towels for the loungers but will be charged if you lose these but you can swap them for fresh ones each day.

Location - the hotel is located in a great spot. It is at the top of a hill but if you are ok with walking, this is fine. It was a 6 minute walk to the beach and town and there are plenty of shops and restaurants. If you are into your fitness or running, there are plenty of roads to run around and explore (as long as you have the correct running shoes)

Cons:

Gym and spa - We were told via two websites and our 3rd party booking, that the new gym and spa would be ready by 6th July. However, we rang the hotel just before we went and were told they would not be ready. This was one of the main reasons we decided to go with this hotel so this was very disappointing. I understand that work can go over the deadline, but the websites should have reflected this and not advertised it as ready. If you are going later in the year, I am sure the gym and spa will be lovely but unfortunately, we missed out.

No iron or ironing board - I asked for an iron / ironing board for the room but was told they would have to find it. As a 4 star hotel, I think each room should have their own. After ten minutes, an iron was brought to me but I was told they couldn't find the ironing board so I had to use a desk to iron my clothes which wasn't ideal at all.

Overall, we really enjoyed our stay here and would have stayed longer. Praia da luz is absolutely beautiful and we fell in love with it. We will definitely be returning to Portugal and we would visit this hotel again. Thank you so much for your...

I have visited this hotel for many years and the new management have changed it too much. I believe for the traveler who wants a base to sleep in it is still good value for money. For an old time Portugal devotee of fine dining and cocktails in the evening, this is no longer a desired destination. Only 2/3 years ago, the restaurant had a menu to be proud of - non-residents booked for its quality of choice, chef skills and atmosphere. An excellent restaurant and chef have now been replaced by a cook with such a limited menu, that the only option for a non-fish lover are chicken or steak. Even the minimal menu, does not have full availability. Served sadly with a helping of non- negotiable, non-identifiable vegetables (maybe boiled aubergines and courgettes with a tin of carrots and peas thrown in is my best guess). Cocktails in the evening are not an option - the previous menu and skills discarded. Ingredients to make holiday treats, no longer even available. Everything was sadly no, it hadn’t been reordered. Bar snacks gone and no option to purchase anything. Oddly, the heath makeover of the resort does not extend to offering a choice of healthy eating - instead the same greasy chips were served noon and night with every meal, cheese oozed but fresh salad choices as main or side dishes were unavailable. The only respite was the oft requested ‘punched’ potatoes - less greasy but not to be confused with crushed, sautéed or any other restaurant quality side dishes you may have expected at a 4-star hotel. Staff remain amazing - 5 out of 5 for staff. If we hadn’t had mobility issues in our party, we would only have...

Definitely not a 4* star hotel even with the refurbishment. |Have stayed prior to refurb and post refurb.|Rooms are clean and have been repainted, the chest of drawers that used to be there have been replaced by a desk with one very slim drawer …. Storage has been reduced not improved. Wardrobes are exactly the same no refresh or replacement.|Bedside unit: only one by the bed with 2 drawers, other side a small table - no storage!|Tea/coffee: a kettle with teabags/sachets of coffee - no coffee machine or milk for the tea!! - disappointing |Same brand of fridge and on arrival setting was on ‘0’ so full of water - had to call housekeeper to sort the issue - again disappointing as should of been checked by staff prior to guest arrival.|Bath has been replaced by a walk in rain shower - a good improvement. |Toilet Rolls - when do you ever need to ask at reception for toilet rolls !! absolutely a standard in ANY hotel daily housekeeping should always leave replacement.|Breakfast: the same food, presented in a slightly reduced capacity - reduced choice of fruit, limited sweet cake selection - pre refurb was amazing.|Hotel seems to cater now for ‘group’ booking so larger family groups, groups of young men whilst we were here, so the quiet hotel that it was where you could really relax is very hit and miss!!|Well Diamond Hotels more negative than positive reviews which is a real pity as it was once a real gem, sadly not...