Cascade Wellness Resort

The grounds are beautiful. The staff are lovely and the room we were given exceeded our expectations. We were actually given an entire apartment equipped with washer and dryer which we much appreciated after having traveled for several weeks. Very clean. Response to questions were promptly answered.

Chicken piri piri was nothing more than 1/2 a backbone cut up, literally a rib cage/backbone! Hardly any meat. The piri piri sauce tasted like vegetable oil with sauce chili oil. The tomato salad was unripened tomato’s, on a plus, lots of red onion and garlic! The anchovy appetizer was...

Chicken piri piri was nothing more than 1/2 a backbone cut up, literally a rib cage/backbone! Hardly any meat. The piri piri sauce tasted like vegetable oil with sauce chili oil. The tomato salad was unripened tomato’s, on a plus, lots of red onion and garlic! The anchovy appetizer was good. The service is five star…. The food is a 2…at best!

My wife and I stayed at the Cascade Wellness Resort for 8 nights as part of a five week trip in southern Portugal and Spain. We paid the equivalent of about 130 Euros per night for a “1 bedroom apartment”, booking 4.5 months in advance through Expedia. We spent considerable...

My wife and I stayed at the Cascade Wellness Resort for 8 nights as part of a five week trip in southern Portugal and Spain. We paid the equivalent of about 130 Euros per night for a “1 bedroom apartment”, booking 4.5 months in advance through Expedia. We spent considerable time selecting this property from dozens of options for both hotels and short-term rentals throughout the Algarve. We weren’t specifically aiming to stay in Lagos, nor were we set on a hotel/resort (rather than an apartment rental). We selected the Cascade Wellness Resort because it seemed like a higher-end place (nice for the end of our trip) and the price was very competitive. Check-in was quick and easy. We were directed to our apartment, which was in one of the buildings surrounding the main hotel. It had one of the pools directly behind it. While the grounds and main hotel building look like a 4-5 star property, the apartment we occupied was showing its wear, including considerable stained and peeling paint, and a major kick-plate in the kitchen that would fall out every time we opened the dishwasher. There were also minor maintenance issues that hadn’t been attended to. We had light bulbs that did not come on (we assume were burned out); the freezer portion of the refrigerator was so frosted over that we had to completely remove one drawer (for the length of our stay) because it was too difficult to open and close with the accumulated frost. A simple occasional defrosting would have solved this. None of these were fatal to our enjoyment of the stay, but it gave us the sense that the place probably wasn’t what it used to be. The wi-fi was okay, but it didn’t work at all for an extended period one morning, and we got very regular buffering interruptions when streaming video on our laptop in the evening. The room itself was a very good size with a large living room, a reasonably big kitchen, a good size bedroom (with king size bed) and a bathroom split into a separate “toilet room” and “bathtub room” each with its own sink. There was a small patio on the “street” side of the room and a large (but largely useless) enclosed patio area on the pool side. It was unclear what this space was designed for, as it was completely walled off with tall stucco walls (leaving only a view of the walls if you were in it). The hotel grounds are somewhat sprawling with relatively convenient access to the paths and boardwalk area around the cliff edges. Oddly, the route from our building to the Ponta da Piedade/lighthouse area requires you to go way out of your way to avoid a wire fence that seems to serve no purpose (since you have open access to the grounds on both sides of the fence). The pool areas looked nice, although we didn’t use them because we were out exploring in the day and by the late afternoon, it was a bit cool to be sitting by the pool. There was no one staffing the towel cart, so we “borrowed” a couple towels at the beginning of our stay and used them for our various beach days, then returned them at the end of our stay. Pro tip: go out to the pool near closing on your first day there and grab a couple towels. That way you don’t have to deal with the hassle of presenting and collecting your “towel cards”. There is one hot tub, although it didn’t seem very hot when we dipped a finger in, so we didn’t go back. The location is great for the Lagos part of the Algarve. We spent our days all over the Algarve, although we never made it further east than Faro, so we probably missed out on some of the eastern third of the Algarve just because of the location. The only real problem we had were cockroaches. We appreciate that bugs thrive in this type of environment and will find their way indoors, especially on the ground floor where we were. My wife found two cockroaches in the first six days we were there. We dealt with them, and it wasn’t a big deal. However, on the 7th night, she found at least five move, scurrying under the carpet and under the bed around midnight. They move quickly and it took us a while, moving heavy furniture back and forth to trap them (except the one that got away into a crack in the wall, which we tried to stop-up using tissue). The next day we went to the front desk asking to be moved and not to be charged for the previous night. The first fellow we dealt with said there was nothing he could do and we would have to talk to a manager, who wouldn’t be in for at least three more hours. We went back later and talked to a different staff member who said she could move us (but we would have to wait for a manager to discuss compensation). We did get moved on request to an equivalent room and appreciated that. Once the manager arrived and we had a chance to speak to him, he said he was unable to refund the room night – blaming that on the fact we had booked through Expedia. After some very heavy prompting (i.e., not of his own suggestion), he eventually agreed to provide us a free dinner in the buffet restaurant (for two), which we also appreciated. It was unfortunate that the desk staff are not empowered to deal with these issues themselves. It would have left a stronger impression. We also felt that we had to get a bit lucky with the desk staff to get moved to a different room and that we had to twist the manager’s arm (figuratively) to get a “free” dinner as token compensation. The question I always ask myself is “Would I stay here again?”. If I was coming back to the Algarve, I’d almost certainly pick somewhere a bit more central. If I had a specific reason to return to Lagos, I’d be willing to stay at the Cascade Wellness Resort. But it isn’t one of those situations where it would be my first pick by default. Ultimately, this property is not one of the best 5% I’ve ever stayed at, so it isn’t a 5-out-of-5. It isn’t a clear 4/5, but isn’t as “average” as a 3/5. Ultimately, it should score a 3.5/5. Given the muted response to the insect issue, I’ve rounded my rating down to 3.0 rather than up to 4.0.

Booked hotel as a special treat as was advertised as 5* but sadly this was not the case in our opinion as the decor and furnishings were very dark and dated We had to have lights on all the time which still didn’t make much difference to the brightness of...

Booked hotel as a special treat as was advertised as 5* but sadly this was not the case in our opinion as the decor and furnishings were very dark and dated We had to have lights on all the time which still didn’t make much difference to the brightness of the room A light bulb was broken which we reported several times to reception and were told it would be replaced but still up until check out it was not done as was the blind which fell off its rails when we opened it on arrival and remained on the floor throughout our stay The AC was not able to be adjusted and the room remained in a very cold atmosphere having to sit with towels around us to keep warm and is unacceptable and this we reported several times as well with the the above issues Reception informed us the AC had been adjusted but this was not the case and the only way to turn off the AC was to take the card out but then the room was in darkness with no electricity The take away breakfast was very poor white bread sandwich with thin piece of ham and no butter offered coffe but this was not in the bag The dining room and breakfast selection were excellent with good choice staff worked tirelessly and always pleasant and welcoming The housekeepers were very good and always willing to offer service if required On checkout reception staff never asked if we enjoyed our stay or even a goodbye The hotel needs major investment to do the justice of a 5* hotel with tiredness of the rooms Unfortunately we would never recommend this hotel or return ourselves unless there was major improvements

The drive-up showed a very nice entry. Check-in was easy and the staff was pleasant. The carpet in the hallways was stained and dirty. A return vent cover was broken in the hallway the entire time we were there. Our room was ok, with multiple outlets not working. The resort...

The drive-up showed a very nice entry. Check-in was easy and the staff was pleasant. The carpet in the hallways was stained and dirty. A return vent cover was broken in the hallway the entire time we were there. Our room was ok, with multiple outlets not working. The resort will not permit the air conditioner to be lower than 21C, which is a very warm 69.8 F and uncomfortable for sleeping. There was no iron or ironing board in the room. The one provided by housekeeping was defective and ruined an expensive dress shirt. When I brought it to the manager's attention I was told the setting was too high. Sorry to say I have been ironing my clothes for 50 years and never damaged anything before. I was provided a drink voucher which the bar would not honor beyond house wine at the bar. The breakfast area is a free-for-all. The coffee machine was broken one morning, and loud children running around, with rude parents walking in front of us when we were in line for food. The bar area was nice, and the bar staff and food were very good. Again, children running around and disturbing any semblance of relaxation. The pool area was well-maintained and very nice. The best part of the location is the walking paths behind the property that lead along the spectacular cliffs and ocean. This is not a resort for couples seeking relaxation and a romantic experience. I would not return to this property, nor would I recommend it to anyone.

A perfect spot to relax with the choice of 3 pools and many walks direct from the hotel. Quiet and peaceful. A lovely spa are. Excellent breakfasts and restaurants. We came here as a couple for some late autumn sunshine and have enjoyed our stay very much. We will return...

A perfect spot to relax with the choice of 3 pools and many walks direct from the hotel. Quiet and peaceful. A lovely spa are. Excellent breakfasts and restaurants. We came here as a couple for some late autumn sunshine and have enjoyed our stay very much. We will return next year.

Lovely resort in a fabulous setting. The service was first class - very attentive. We enjoyed the pools, breakfast, bar and the Gastro Pub restaurant. The location is great with easy access to scenic boardwalks along The Ponta da Piedade. The beach is also a short walk. We'll be back!

Lovely resort in a fabulous setting. The service was first class - very attentive. We enjoyed the pools, breakfast, bar and the Gastro Pub restaurant. The location is great with easy access to scenic boardwalks along The Ponta da Piedade. The beach is also a short walk. We'll be back!

Absolutely best position in Lagos on top of the cliffs allowing easy access for early morning walks before the heat of the day and the crowds. Facilities were great with a bar overlooking the pool, restaurants on site ranging in price and formality, and staff were very accommodating and friendly....

Absolutely best position in Lagos on top of the cliffs allowing easy access for early morning walks before the heat of the day and the crowds. Facilities were great with a bar overlooking the pool, restaurants on site ranging in price and formality, and staff were very accommodating and friendly. Would have loved to stay a couple more days just to lounge around the pool and enjoy the resort.

We absolutely loved our stay here. The grounds and our apartment were stunning. Housekeeping was excellent and very professional. We loved having a kitchenette and it was a lifesaver to have a washer/dryer. Food was generally very good and one of us eats gluten-free. It was pleasantly surprising how many...

We absolutely loved our stay here. The grounds and our apartment were stunning. Housekeeping was excellent and very professional. We loved having a kitchenette and it was a lifesaver to have a washer/dryer. Food was generally very good and one of us eats gluten-free. It was pleasantly surprising how many gluten-free options there were (including pastries at breakfast and what seemed like fresh-baked hamburger buns at lunch). The shower/water pressure was the best we've ever had at a hotel. While we were there, the resort hosted a community event with dancing and food stands. It was really cool and made us feel part of the community. Also Lagos is a great little town. We loved the area. Suggestions for the resort: * would have loved to have a full-length mirror somewhere in the apartment and/or a small mirror for makeup * it would have been nice if the gym offered group exercise classes maybe in the mornings for a small number of guests

A little bit away from everything but if you want to relax this is the place. Very quiet and good for walking the coastline. Uber is a godsend and we used it daily. Real shame about the bar area which is like a waiting room. Some evenings were too cold...

A little bit away from everything but if you want to relax this is the place. Very quiet and good for walking the coastline. Uber is a godsend and we used it daily. Real shame about the bar area which is like a waiting room. Some evenings were too cold to sit outside and there were not enough places for people to sit and buy a drink 🤷‍♀️ Service also so so slow. Would have given 5 stars but for these reasons. Staff are lovely but overstretched.

This is a huge complex, comprising of the main hotel and numerous apartment complexes. At times it felt like a ghost town as outside of the main hotel it seemed very empty. We stayed in a sea view suite and it was wonderful. We had a fabulous balcony overlooking the...

This is a huge complex, comprising of the main hotel and numerous apartment complexes. At times it felt like a ghost town as outside of the main hotel it seemed very empty. We stayed in a sea view suite and it was wonderful. We had a fabulous balcony overlooking the pool with the sea in the distance. All the rooms in the suite were beautiful There were plenty of sunbeds and as it was very quiet there was no shortage at any time. The breakfast was excellent, and ALL the staff were extremely efficient and friendly There are beautiful walking trails which can be accessed from the grounds A lot of the activities like yoga and golf as advertised on the promo video were not available. I was hoping to do some yoga!! There was no evening entertainment which was very disappointing especially as it is a 30 minute walk to Lagos, and something I was expecting from a 5 star very expensive hotel. Unfortunately the hotel lacked atmosphere

We've been to this resort twice in two years. Simply one of the best, relaxing holidays of our lives. Everything is quiet, elegant and high quality. The structure isn't new and it's possible to find some defects, but the staff is always ready to fix it. Food is amazing, especially...

We've been to this resort twice in two years. Simply one of the best, relaxing holidays of our lives. Everything is quiet, elegant and high quality. The structure isn't new and it's possible to find some defects, but the staff is always ready to fix it. Food is amazing, especially breakfast, while gastropub and lighthouse could differentiate a bit more the menus and choose better bread for hamburgers. We will come back again for sure.

All the way up until we got to our room I was excited for this stay. The photos looked phenomenal, the amenities looked great, and the activities they promoted on site looked perfect for what we wanted our vacation to entail. Unfortunately that is not how this trip ended. After...

All the way up until we got to our room I was excited for this stay. The photos looked phenomenal, the amenities looked great, and the activities they promoted on site looked perfect for what we wanted our vacation to entail. Unfortunately that is not how this trip ended. After check-in we went to our room, which was a double sea view room. Compared to photos online the room was much smaller. However the view was amazing! Immediately after dropping our stuff we start to hear beeping in our room, but it's none of our stuff. It's the safe next door, because we are staying in a room with a conjoined door that was super thin. Not only could you hear every conversation and moment the next door neighbors baby was uncomfortable, but there was a large key hole that you could see right through into the other room. My wife is a very accommodating traveler, but this was even too much for her. I went to the front desk to raise this concern and was only met with a no due to a complete sell out of the property. One of the front desk staff gave me a dirty look when I mentioned the request to not be connected to a room with a small child as we were not traveling with children. Also the furniture in the room and on the patio hasn't been updated in many years as the whicker on the patio table was missing on half the table and the lamp shade was missing trim where only glue was exposed now. The only trash in the room was in teh bathroom and that was broke as well. These things, while small, are not what I expect when paying nearly $500/night for a five star hotel. Leaving the room we went to the bar to get our free welcome drink, which was limited to items off menu and hardly drinkable. So then we went for a walk. The outdoor area that they use in their promos that looks like a beautiful place to do yoga on a lush green lawn was completely dead. Oh and they don't offer yoga classes either. We continued our journey to the gym, and while they do offer classes they are sporadic and the facilities are across the street in a weird complex that is also very run down. My wife also tried to go to the gym at 7:15am one day and the gym was inaccessible. If you were trying to work on your golf swing on property as their ads in the lobby suggest you can, that is a no go. The driving range looks like it's been run down for at least several years. Rusted garage door and no semblance of a range anymore. Food was fine, but significantly overpriced. Service staff was nice as was the breakfast. If I were to book in Lagos again I would definitely look elsewhere, especially for the money we spent here. Not even a sea view could overcome the mountain of disappointment this property gave us.