Macdonald Monchique Resort and Spa

Francesca Vinci

I stayed at Monchique Resort & Spa for two nights over New Year’s Eve, participating — as no other options were available — in the program dedicated to the holiday. My expectations, shaped by the description on the website, were of a mountain resort focused on relaxation, wellness, and connection with nature, combining high-level comfort with tranquility (see attached photo). Unfortunately, the reality was far from this promise. Rather than an authentic retreat, the resort turned out to be primarily oriented towards families: very crowded and noisy, a context poorly compatible with the idea of a peaceful getaway and contact with nature. The pools, for example, were essentially inaccessible for those seeking relaxation: consistently overcrowded and mainly used by children playing loudly — perfectly legitimate, but not aligned with the resort’s advertised positioning. The experience in the room was also disappointing. Despite an initial upgrade, our assigned room was directly adjacent to the spaces dedicated to New Year’s Eve events, including live music and a disco. Noise from the restaurant further echoed through the double-height ceilings, making rest difficult. The surrounding corridors were often crowded and noisy as well. Internal communication appeared unclear: incomplete information about the pools and wellness activities, no Wi-Fi password provided, and little clarity regarding the timing and organization of the activities advertised on the website. Circulation within the floors and public spaces was confusing and difficult to navigate, adding to the overall sense of disorder. Finally, a detail not to be overlooked for a property that presents itself as a five-star retreat: the pillows were completely inadequate, further compromising the quality of rest. In conclusion, Monchique Resort & Spa presents itself as an elegant and authentic mountain retreat, but in our experience, it is primarily a family-oriented resort, far from quiet and poorly suited for anyone seeking a true mountain getaway.

Nikita Ingratta

Can I give this establishment 10 stars? I cannot recommend it highly enough! Stay in room B 827. The view is magical. The hotel (and room) is modern, stylish, chic and comfortable. So many vegan options at breakfast 🙏. Super friendly staff. Absolutely will stay here again and recommend to everyone I know.

Rob Taylor

I stayed at this hotel with a group of friends and would definitely stay again after having a great experience. The room was very spacious, clean and well presented. I had an issue with a sliding door not locking and it was corrected within 15minutes. There was a buffet option in the evening and the food was delicious with a massive amount of variety. The staff were very professional, polite and attentive. Overall 10/10.

Clifgoo H

We had a very enjoyable stay, staff were always excellent and very professional. I cant comment on room value as our friends paid, but the bar and restaurant were reasonably priced, with a good but basic gym and games room. The breakfast was excellent with a good mix of all the English and continental options you would expect, the barista coffees and made to order omelettes were a real delight. A couple of small negatives were the condition of the pool decking in places and a slow out flow on one of the bathroom sinks other than this the room was perfect. All in all a fantastic hotel that we recommend and will return to again!

Victoria Krapivina

Hotel is in a beautiful setting but doesn’t entirely live up to a 5 star hotel. The facilities (rooms, spa, yoga classes) are nice but the food is not good. Breakfast is crowded and tasteless, dinner is a buffet. Also the rooms are not sound proof, had a hard time sleeping, could hear all my neighbours and people walking by and the pillows are terrible. Improvements to be made.