Pine Cliffs Village

We have visited Pine Cliffs resort 20+ times now, and have stayed in the residences, hotel and townhouses. Our most recent visit was by far the worst experience. Having stayed in a townhouse last year and very pleased with the location and standard of the accommodation, we decided to book a townhouse again for a relatively short stay. The unit we were allocated was truly dreadful - I appreciate that the townhouses are individually furnished, but there should be more consistency and monitoring of the properties. The one we were given was not 5 star luxury by any stretch, mould in the bathrooms, kitchen was filthy - we had cheap plastic furniture on our patio whilst our neighbours had a glass topped table and rattan chair set. Reception staff were unable to provide any resolution until the following day, meaning a significant part of our stay was ruined. They did move us to a residence property which was appreciated, but we had to stay the first night in the horrible townhouse - woken by traffic noise and sunshine as there were no adequate curtains. Also the hassle of not being able to unpack properly and hanging about all day to move property. Our holiday didn't start until the 3rd day. With the prices that they charge it is just not acceptable that any property on the resort should be in such disrepair. After visiting the resort for so many years I really think this will be the last time. It is saved by the beautiful setting, but the greed of Marriott is off putting. Prices throughout the resort have inflated massively, 10% tips added to absolutely everything and they now even add a daily €20 resort fee to the bill which is outrageous - everyone was complaining about it. I would hesitate to recommend the resort to friends and family now.

We have visited Pine Cliffs resort 20+ times now, and have stayed in the residences, hotel and townhouses. Our most recent visit was by far the worst experience. Having stayed in a townhouse last year and very pleased with the location and standard of the accommodation, we decided to book a townhouse again for a relatively short stay. The unit we were allocated was truly dreadful - I appreciate that the townhouses are individually furnished, but there should be more consistency and monitoring of the properties. The one we were given was not 5 star luxury by any stretch, mould in the bathrooms, kitchen was filthy - we had cheap plastic furniture on our patio whilst our neighbours had a glass topped table and rattan chair set. Reception staff were unable to provide any resolution until the following day, meaning a significant part of our stay was ruined. They did move us to a residence property which was appreciated, but we had to stay the first night in the horrible townhouse - woken by traffic noise and sunshine as there were no adequate curtains. Also the hassle of not being able to unpack properly and hanging about all day to move property. Our holiday didn’t start until the 3rd day. With the prices that they charge it is just not acceptable that any property on the resort should be in such disrepair. After visiting the resort for so many years I really think this will be the last time. It is saved by the beautiful setting, but the greed of Marriott is off putting. Prices throughout the resort have inflated massively, 10% tips added to absolutely everything and they now even add a daily €20 resort fee to the bill which is outrageous - everyone was complaining about it. I would hesitate to recommend the resort to friends and family now.

I visited Panicliffes in Olhos d’Água and had a marvellous experience! The staff were extremely friendly and attentive. For starters, we had burrata and some fried bites, both very tasty and nicely presented. My main course was a mushroom risotto, absolutely delicious – creamy and cooked to perfection. A special mention to chefs Adriana and Ronald, who came to our table and were incredibly welcoming — they truly made the experience even more memorable. The atmosphere is cosy and perfect for a lovely dinner. I would highly recommend this place and will certainly return!

We visited Pine Cliffs at the end of June during the first major heat wave of the summer affecting Southern Europe. What was meant to be a relaxing luxury stay turned into a series of frustrations, safety concerns, and disappointments that made this feel more like an overcrowded Marriott Vacation Club than a true Luxury Collection resort. We booked through Amex Travel (which promises noon early check-in), and before arrival, the concierge reached out to me proactively. I responded promptly, explaining that my plans had changed and I would need to upgrade to a larger room and merge two back-to-back reservations. No one ever replied. I then had to chase the issue via Marriott app chat, where I spent hours going back and forth with the front office staff—who clearly had no training in Titanium Elite benefits. Even when I offered to pay the difference, it became a long, frustrating ordeal just to confirm the obvious: that a larger room was available. This lack of basic coordination is embarrassing for a property that brands itself as luxury. At check-in, there was no acknowledgment of my Titanium Elite status—not even a thank you for loyalty—and despite the Amex Travel noon check-in benefit, our room was still not ready by 2 p.m. We waited in the lobby with three young children in 35+ degree heat. The resort layout is sprawling, but not in a good way. There are no designated walking paths, and cars, golf carts, and pedestrians are all forced to share the same narrow roads. This created a real safety hazard. In fact, my daughter fell off a shuttle because the driver accelerated too quickly with no warning and no seatbelt. There were no safety protocols in place, and this could have resulted in a serious injury. Once you get to the pool or beach, the issues continue: • You’re handed a towel card, which you need to exchange each time for a towel. This system feels more appropriate for a budget resort, not a luxury one. • There are no tables next to loungers at the beach to rest food or drinks on. When I asked for a bucket of ice for bottled water, I was told it’s only allowed for champagne. This level of inflexibility during a heat wave is not just inconvenient—it’s baffling. • Service was wildly inconsistent. At Piri Piri, a waitress rolled her eyes at me when I asked to take food to go. At multiple outlets, we had to wave down staff just to get water. The reservation system was a mess. Despite booking dinners ahead of time, several reservations were lost or confused. We had to rearrange our plans more than once due to mismanagement. The beach was chaotic and overcrowded, with not enough loungers or shaded areas. Vendors roamed the beach offering to braid hair, sell fake designer bags, and beach blankets, which guests were actually buying just to create makeshift shaded seating. It felt like a poorly managed public beach, not a private resort. The Ocean Suites hallways were bare and unwelcoming, more like a corporate Delta Hotel than anything

It was our 4th time in Pinecliff resort. We love it but the reason why we keep coming back is Estima Sports. Our son Joley did 12 days and loved every minute of it. Ben and the team are amazing , always making sure Joley is happy. 2 hours training every morning and 2 evening matches in the week. Great teaching methods with fun! Thank you for everything, we will definitely come back next year! X

I was drawn to this hotel by the glowing reviews and kind words about the staff, which led me to believe it would be a luxurious, 5-star experience. Unfortunately, from the moment we arrived, that expectation was completely unmet. There was no assistance with our luggage upon arrival—we had to struggle over uneven ground with our bags. At reception, we were greeted by an unfriendly staff member, which set the tone for our entire stay. The general demeanor of the staff at the front desk and over the phone was cold and unwelcoming, as if every request was a burden. There was no warm greeting, no welcome drink, and not even a kind word. I wanted to stay in the main building and was confused when I noticed our room was at the furthest point from the main building as possible (over 30 minute walk) I asked to change rooms. The receptionist didn’t make any effort to accommodate this request—he simply said no without checking availability. Our room was spacious, but it clearly hadn’t been properly cleaned. There was trash left under the sink, and visible marks on the furniture. Initially, we noticed a few ants, which didn’t seem like a big deal. But when we returned from lunch, the apartment was crawling with them, marching in lines across all rooms. After some searching, we discovered food and sweets left behind in the cupboards—more evidence the room hadn’t been cleaned thoroughly. Despite multiple calls to reception requesting help, no one ever came. Housekeeping continued with their usual rounds, completely ignoring the ant infestation. When I again asked to change rooms, the receptionist placed me on hold and then refused to accept any further calls from our room phone that day. Beyond our room issues, several general shortcomings made the stay underwhelming. One of the reasons we chose this hotel was the variety of activities it offered. However, there was no one available on-site to help us book them. Staff kept directing us to an app, which wasn’t functional for making reservations. We eventually managed to book some activities in person, but availability was poor—particularly at the tennis academy, which was fully booked for our entire stay. We also discovered other activities like a driving range only by accident, as no one proactively informed us of what was available. While the restaurant and shuttle staff were generally friendly, even this didn’t feel like 5-star service. For instance, when I arrived with several bags and a large suitcase, the shuttle driver made no move to assist me. I had to ask multiple times just to figure out where my room was, and even then I had to request help with my luggage—help that wasn’t readily offered. The food at the resort was also a disappointment. Portions were very small for the price, and overall quality was mediocre. While they did accommodate gluten intolerances at most restaurants, dishes like a full English breakfast or a protein bowl were sparse and beyond expensive for what you got. As for