We booked this hotel for a fairly cheap October half term holiday and were very impressed with the facilities provided. As it was late in the season we had no problems with queues for either food or sunbeds. The hotel was spotlessly clean and very well presented throughout. The buffets at both breakfast and dinner were excellent. Our five year old son adored the children's playground and couldn't wait to be left with the childcare assistants who provided well thought out activities. Whilst I can understand it would be busy in August, I would have no hesitation in recommending this hotel for a holiday with small children.

The Best part:
We were upgraded to a Double Bed Appartment on check-in, at ground level, just as we asked for. Reception staff is very kind.
The beach is a 5 minute car trip away (2100 mts). The beach and facilities, staff and confort are the best. The payed parking costs about 5,50€ for 3h30m. If you get there early (in August) you can park outside.
You also have a free train every hour.
Breakfast is great. But the restaurant for the appartments only opens at 9:00.
The Kids club and staff are great for children over 5. They aloud children under 4 years old to get in when with parents.
Very good and free 24h opened gimnasium. Still you have to ask for the card in the reception, because they don´t tell you about it...

The not so good ones (considering it's a 5 star):
The rudeness from the pool's "young" staff is unbeleivable. The manners when talking to Portuguese clients, yelling at each other, calling names, throwing sun beds on purpose from 18:00 on, when pilling them.
Both major (nevertheless small) pools are only opened from 9:00 till 19:00. You are gently "invited" to go away from 18:00 on...And the sun only went down past 20:30.
There's no space for all the sunbeds. It's too crouded. There´s a sign indicating that no one can reserve sunbeds...but everyone does it...and management does noting about it.
Equipment maintenace is a problem. The DVD didn't work (solved in 10 minutes) and the phonewas out of work too (and stayed that way).
The air-conditionig is not automatic, and it's very dificult to get a good temperature. No advisable for cuples with very young children.
There are sharp edges on the WCs, wich are dangerous for small children.
We were given no information on check-in about the Appartments and Hotel facilities, namely the gimnasium.
Quality at the pool bar is very poor. I advise you to make your own Hot dogs...Cheaper and much better.

On and all, there are better 5* Hotel/appartment facilities in Algarve. I prefer the older Sheraton Pine Cliffs and the Real Santa Eulália...but they are not this close to Vilamoura.

Stayed here for 4 nights in 2 bed apartment as a last minute booking to get some sun. Absolutely fantastic break at a first class resort. Staff were extremely helpful and friendly, dealing with any issues quickly and professionally.

On arrival, allocated apartment 215, but on entering we found that it did not live up to the website accommodation description - no stools in kitchen, no tv in bedrooms and no hifi/dvd player. We complained to reception and were moved to another apartment that perfectly matched expectations - very well equipped and spotlessly clean. From that point, our break was fantastic and the resort amenities were 1st class.

Maid service was totally unobtrusive and the best we have experienced.

The pools were spotless, with plenty of shade and although we had no problem getting sunbeds, there was the usual reserving of sunbeds but with no action taken to remove towels.

The apartment is a fair distance from the Marina - I would guess around a 30 minute walk, but far too hot for us to have tried! We used the excellent free shuttle bus to get to the beach and to the Marina in the evening. We had to wait for maybe 10 minutes for the bus in the evenings, but didn't find this to be a problem. Shuttle bus drivers were very friendly and polite. We would get a taxi back in the evening at a cost of around 5 euros. (Taxi rank is up the road at the side of the Haagen Dazs shop),

The beach was beautiful with free sunbeds and towels. You almost felt like you had your own private stretch of beach because it was quieter than other parts.

Breakfast was included in our rate and offered so much choice that even the fussiest of eaters, like our daughter, could find something to eat. We went for breakfast at around 8am and and found service to be excellent.

The nearest supermarket (Alisuper) was about a ten minute walk. It's quite small and with limited stock, but provided basics of water, milk, bread, tea, coffee etc. There's a large Jaffers supermarket near McDonalds in the Marina, although we didn't go there and it was always closed when we passed after 9pm.

We went to the Marina each night for our food and the best place we found was Il Lamparo Ristorante (we went on nights 3 and 4 - wish we'd discovered it earlier). More expensive than some of the other restaurants in the marina, but food was delicious, desserts were to die for and the staff were so polite and efficient.

Already looking at dates to return for next trip. This hotel and apartment resort puts other European places we have stayed in the shade. We would compare it with the standard of accommodation in Orlando (Hilton Grand Vacations International Drive and Floridays resort).

We had been in As Cascatas for a weak in August and we love it so much that we return last weakend for 2 more lovely days.
The apartments are amazing, kitchen has everthing include Tv!, Bedrooms are very confortable and beds fantastic. We stay in 2 bedroom apartment with a nice living room with big plasma TV, Tv in all bedrooms too, 2 bath with amenities ( 1 one then is a litle bit smart but is O.K ), 2 terraces, one of then with table with 4 chais and the other with 2 sunbeds. Our apartment is on 1º floor with pool view but there are groundfloor apartments, excellent for families with small childreen.
Staff is VERY friendly and helpfull. When we arrive to resort, they couldn´t be more pleasant and during our stay they do everthing to guests be an excellent stay.
Breakfast is very good with fruits, milk, juices, fresch bread, egs, a 5 stars breakfast.
Pools area is very good, plenty of sunbeds, parasol, poll towels, bars with nice dinner meals and drinks all day, security and a excellent miniclub for kids.
As Cascatas are not on the beach but there are free and cortesy bus to beach during all day and on the beach there are free sunbeds, parasol, towels and a bar with lunch meals, drinks and ice cream. however is only 20/25 minutes walking to beach or Vilamoura marina.
We never dinner in the apartment but kitchen has averthing to cook and there are supermarkets in Vilamoura. There are 2 restaurants in resort at dinner time and food is great,, expensive too. However, Vilamoura marina is plenty of excellent restaurants.
I can´t say thet is a cheaper resort, foods and bars are a litle bit expensive but is a good value because is really a 5 stars resort, foods are excellent, staff is very profissional and friendly, apartments are hight standart, very clean and well care and garden is lovely.
I will return again!