Hotel Baía Cristal Beach & Spa Resort

Love this hotel especially manager he just so helpful and truly wants his customers have great holiday .The location is great loads sun beds so your not fighting for space lovely walks along cliffs into carvoeiro or the local beach excellent hotel hope the refurbishment goes well.

Second time staying here and we love it. Staff are lovely. Views are incredible. Only slight issue is there were ants in the kitchen

We booked to stay here as a last minute booking so were limited in the room availability which we understood. When we arrived to check in at 1pm we were greeted by a surly girl on reception who informed us check in was 3pm but try in an hour to see if the room was available. We tried at 2pm to be met with one word "no". At 3pm we eventually were able to check in after she had a bit of trouble trying to contact housekeeping. I realise the hotel has a time to check in but when you have arrived on a flight you don't have much choice in the time you get to the hotel and after travelling for 12 hours all you need is to change and unpack! Our room was very clean, plenty of space with an adequate sized balcony. There was a fridge which was useful for keeping drinks, water etc cool. There was no kettle which is the first time we've never had one in a hotel room, we could probably have requested one but managed without. The hotel is in a lovely location on a cliff top overlooking the sea. To get to the nearest beach is a 10 minute walk turning right from the hotel front and down a steep road. To visit the town of Carvoeiro there is a 20 minute walk turning left from the hotel front, there is a shuttle bus which you pre-book if you want to avoid walking. It seems a shame that this only runs in the day to approx 5pm as it would be very useful in the evenings also. We walked back a few evenings, the road is a steep road, you could take a taxi if required. The breakfast buffet was good, plenty of choice. We ate in the restaurant on two occasions in the evening, again it was a buffet, great value with plenty of choice. There is a spa and indoor pool. Also 2 outdoor pools and a small one for children. The water was freezing so they would benefit from being heated. Lovely views of the sea from the garden and pool area. It was nice and quiet when we stayed so plenty of choice of sunbeds. The garden was a nice spot to sit in if you wanted shade from the sun. I've read previous reviews regarding the staff and I have to say certain staff members looked very unhappy being there which made an awkward experience when they served you and other staff were so pleasant so there was quite a mix depending on who served you! I believe that the hotel is closing for a few months and it will be reopening as a 5* hotel. There are a few areas that need improving. The sun beds are quite old and uncomfortable, the building is quite dated and could do with an improvement or two but overall it is fine and we enjoyed our stay!

The main thing we did not like was the wall outside our room was covered in black bugs, that came into the room when you opened door. We mentioned that to management. When we came back to room we found a can of bug spray? Otherwise, pool area was great. Lovely view.

A wonderfully quiet, safe, and overall good stay. Big buffet breakfast included was delicious, staff was friendly. Only thing keeping it from getting a perfect score is the mold in the bathroom tiles, very uncomfortable beds, and the sofa stain (or at least I hope it was soda) on the ceiling of the room.

We were a bit disappointed by the standard of the hotel. Our room was very sparse, with a cupboard, storing a sink, a hob and a fridge. Very strange. There wasn’t a kettle, no cups or plates, but the fridge was useful for the two complimentary bottles of water. The bathroom was clean, the shower, lovely, but no complimentary toiletries, other than a shower cap and two very small bars of soap. There was a bar of soap stuck in the plug hole, not been cleaned properly. Outside on the terrace, was a hole with bits of tiles smashed, just left , not swept up, very tatty. The main hotel was very nice, the pool area and bar also. Plenty of sun loungers around the pool and further into the grounds. The beach and town is only a short walk, which was ideal. The staff weren’t very friendly, they looked so miserable and unhappy, which made us feel awkward.

The was a problem with checking they gave us a room in the old part with No view and no elevator had to climb the steps with our luggage and had a really bad start my wife started crying and couldn’t sleep next morning we begged for a good room they finally gave us a different room in the newer section and wasted time to check in again the room was much better but never forget the start Thank you and regards

We were not expecting much, but were very pleasantly surprised by this hotel. It's a 1km walk to the fabulous bustling town with endless restaurants or anything you would need so it's super convenient. We walked into town every night along the paths and boardwalk on the top of the hill from the gate of the hotel enjoying spectacular sunsets and many hidden stunning views and surprises along the way. Its a quick walk to 2 main beaches with Kms of stunning walks from the hotel doorstep. The pools are clean and warm, lots of suncahirs available with a great sea view. Breakfast buffet was included which was ample and delicious. Lunch menu from the bar was great too. We didn't have dinner at the hotel as we're spoilt for choice with all the restaurants in town so went somewhere different every night. Hotel and room was very clean. Our room was modern and spacious with a gorgeous sea / garden view. It had an Aircon and balcony. All staff are super friendly and accommodating. Fee fast wifi. Free hotel taxi to town and back a few times daily. The Jacuzzi and spa were warm and clean and always empty so was nice to go relax there after a day at the beach. Hotel facilities are great, including a tennis court.

It was basic. Beds not too great, sheets thin and pillows not great. The pool is nice, the breakfast decent. It has free parking. No swimming beaches nearby, and the Benagil caves are now closed.

This hotel needs a make over - wallpaper falling off the walls. The bath in my bedroom was filthy. The room had a terrace, one day I was subjected to my room after a very nasty fall in the hotel outside near the swimming pool. You need to keep the door closed and locked as maintenance guys are around. The food and drinks were nice though. The breakfast was mediocre.