Da Balaia Portugal

I recommend this hotel because it had everything: A warm swimming pool, a beautiful sandy beach, trapeze (with really nice GO's), tennis, golf and more! It was very disappointing to find out there is no active teens club close to end of season. Good to know that early check-in might cost extra, and that lunch upon arrival is not given automatically like in all other all-inclusive hotels we have been to.
Pros:
Very good staff.
We came especially for the circus and went to the trapeze every day. Special thanks to Louise, Max, Lucille, Morgan and Charles. I and my younger daughter managed finally to do the knee hang catch!!! My older one managed to do also many other tricks and positions.
We (me and my daughters) also participated in the tennis lessons every day. Special thanks to Charles, Ann Tuan and Peran.
My wife had a great time stretching every day: special thanks to Lucie on the ground and Thor in the pool.
Thanks to Lucas for his hospitality and orchestrating the whole team.
The highlight of every lunch and dinner - superb ice cream!!! The best I've ever had in any hotel I have ever been. Great desserts - best in all the hotels I have been to.
Large rooms and shower. We had a large balcony in both of our rooms.
In both restaurants the staff sang for my daughter's birthday - she loved it!
Bar was really good. Great staff!
Pancakes at breakfast were plentiful and very tasty.
Very nice sandy beach. Very clean waters - much cleaner than in other places we have been to. But sometime very windy, with strong currents, and cold water - so not always very inviting to swim.
Swimming pool was great for us. Always found loungers and enough space to swim. Water temperature was good.
Cons:
Teens club was practically closed when we visited
A very large variety of food but a bit repetitive, with very few salad and cheese options (even at breakfast), aimed especially for fish and seafood lovers. Meat usually overdone
Practically only 1 restaurant. The second Vasco restaurant serves only part of the menu and mainly fish and seafood.
Aircondition in our room was loud and a bit weak and stopped working on the second day. But fixed the same day!
The extra food corner near the bar in the afternoons was, in our opinion, not good enough to use. Fruit cut and or pancakes and or ice cream would be much better.
The food at the meals was taken away very quickly at the end of every meal.
The Zen pool was disappointing. Quite a long walk from reception - the main pool was better