Sao Raphael is a small village near the main town of Albufeira in the Algarve. There are a couple…read moreof hotels in the area but it is mainly made up of apartment blocks which are generally let out for holiday rentals. There are a few supermarkets in the area, although they are a little bit more pricey compared to the bigger superstores. There are a few restuarants dotted about and also some bars and pubs. Sao Raphael has 2 beaches which can be easily accessed by foot or car. The beaches are quite small but the views are breathtaking with cliffs surrounding the beaches. They can get quite busy at weekends as locals chill out here too. It is a good location to spend a holiday in the algarve as you are away from the hustle and bustle of the main town Albufeira but it is close enough to visit if you want nights out and more variety for restaurants.

I stayed here with a group of friends for a week recently. It was a fantastic destination! 4 rooms…read morewith great ensuites; 2 double and 2 twin. They also let us add a single bed to one of the rooms so an extra guest could stay. The Villa has a huge living room with a big U-shaped sofa and marble floors throughout. It also has a dining area which leads into a decent sized kitchen with a mammouth fridge. Best of all though, is the pool and outside area (which is where you will spend most of your time if the weather is as good as it was for us). The marble continues, keeping the ground cool even under the hottest sun, there is a large patio area under cover so that you can eat lunch in the shade, and a lovely kidney-shaped pool. There are 8 sun loungers with waterproof mattresses and the plastic patio table could sit 10 comfortably. There are also a couple of good BBQs for use. The paintings and fake flowers inside are a little naff, but somehow add to the charm of the place. The beds are comfortable and the rooms stay pretty cool. Mosquitoes didn't seem to be a problemthere were quite a lot of ants outside, but they were rarely found in the villa. Carvoeiro itself (a small fishing village a 15 minute walk or a quick drive down the hill) was a little touristy for my tastes, but still contained a few decent restaurants and was useful for buying flipflops and lilos etc. There are plenty of other beaches and towns nearby though, and also a big supermarket and a few different water parks. On the way down to the beach in Carvoeiro is a small square with a collection of very British-friendly pubs and restaurants, including a pizza place, a Tandoori, a Steak-on-the-stone grill and a French-style bistro. I can definitely recommend it for big families and groups of friends alike.

Nice hotel with friendly and helpful staff. The spa is closed outside of peak season. You can get…read moreto the popular, area of old Town for about 5 euros and the marina area where the boat tours depart, for about 10 euros.

Great hotel for the value! The rooms are very clean, modern, and nicely air conditioned. The…read morebalcony view of the sea and pool is beautiful. The pool is very well kept and the lifeguard wipes down the pool chairs in between uses which is very great to see in the middle of a pandemic. The location is perfectly close to everything you need. The main square is a very short walk away filled with many restaurants and bars. There is a supermarket just two blocks away filled with all the snacks and drinks you could need for your room. There are also several restaurants on the beach just minutes away with some great offers. There are mini fridges in the room which is very convenient for keeping a couple cold beers or some cheese and crackers to have on your balcony for a snack. Beds were very comfortable and there's a safe to keep all your valuables. The breakfast here is not great but for how inexpensive this hotel is, it's really jot an issues. For me it was better to walk down to the local bakery and get a fresh Portuguese pastry and coffee. There are two wonderful bakeries near by so do not hesitate to branch out! Great stay will be return again soon. Ps. Pro tip: Bring your own beach towel or by one at the little shops in the area. They will charge you an arm and leg to rent one!

DJ was the third hotel we stayed at while visiting Portugal. It has decent amenities and our room…read morehad a great view. This hotel is right in the middle of all of the exciting shops and restaurants on the boardwalk. I would recommend staying here, but I do have a few tips for you. There is a private pool, but it is small and there are not many chairs. You also can't book the chairs, but people will put out their towel and hog the chair all day. Be weary of this. Bring your own towels! If you don't you will have to buy elsewhere as the hotel does not provide this service. Do not buy the towels on the boardwalk, but rather walk along the main street and find a cheap vendor as they sell the same towels for less than half price outside of the busier areas. The beach access is nice as well. If you are staying for awhile, consider buying an umbrella or bringing your own. Otherwise, you will have to rent their permanent umbrellas for 12 euro if you stay at the hotel. The reclining chairs come with a nice mat that is comfortable to relax on all day. Food nearby at restaurants is great as well. Restaurants stay open way past midnight and people do not start their meal until almost 10pm. Expect dinner to last 2-3+ hours without a rush.

Pine Cliffs is one of the top resort destinations in the Algarve. Centrally located in Albufera,…read morePine Cliffs is a sprawling compound that feels like a self-contained island unto itself. You could spend a week here without leaving campus and be perfectly happy, though its central location to both Lagos and Faro allows for day trips to visit the towns and partake in their outdoor experiences (kayaking, hiking, etc.). Rooms are large and clean, and restaurant options are myriad. There are so many things on offer, from high-end seafood and sushi to Indian cuisine. All are good, though none are truly great. Sunsets should be experienced from the Champaign Bar, overlooking the cliffs and sea below. Those looking for exercise will be impressed with the well-apportioned gym. Note that it seemed crowded throughout our 5-day resort stay. The resort also boasts plenty of leisure and athletic facilities. The 9-hole golf course is sufficiently challenging and includes a hole with a cliff-to-cliff canyon carry. Clubs and golf shoes (required) and available for rent. The driving range was somehow closed before our tee time because of its proximity to the soccer (football) fields and upcoming soccer (football) practice. These professional fields are prominently featured on the resort's website, but were used by a professional club and off-limits to resorts guests during my stay. (Note to the resort: do not trumpet facilities that are off-limits). The resort also includes tennis courts (two clay) and a basketball court. The only real drawback to the resort is that it is rotten with kids, from which adults simply cannot escape. My advice to the resort would be to designate at least one of the pools or restaurants as "adults only." As things currently stand, there is no place to escape the crying and enjoy a mid-day catnap.

Wow, Pine Cliffs Hotel is fantastic...it's not really a traditional hotel though. We had a 2…read morebedroom, 2 bathroom condo on the golf course...with a full kitchen, dining/living room, balcony with great views and a washer and dryer! And it is top notch. We will definitely be back!

We spent two nights at this hotel. First, Alvor is a lovely…read moretown- there are beautiful beaches and a nice little area full of bars and restaurants. However it is much more quiet than Portimão, which I think makes it better for a beach vacation. Everything went smoothly at check in- everyone who worked at this hotel was kind and helpful! The room and bathroom was nice and clean- no complaints whatsoever. Breakfast was okay. It was included so I had no problem with it. My one serious problem was the noise level. People in the rooms around us were partying very loud ALL night (on the first night only-thank goodness!) and we woke up at 8AM to the sound of our neighbours vomiting -.-

Beautiful hotel. Not like any Holiday Inn I've ever been to. The tiled walls, the marble staircase,…read morethe spacious room, the manicured lawn, the big pool, it's a great place to stay

It was a solid stay with friendly folks, good food, and the closest thing to American…read moreaccommodations. One thing I'd say is that there's one level that smells a little funky (floor -1). It may be backed up pipes or just the humidity. Other than that I'd come back. There's also a tram that runs into town but it only runs on the weekdays and not the weekends...At least it didn't on Sunday.

Jo and Cris, the owners of this hostel, are the absolute sweetest. People like them SHOULD be in…read morethe hospitality industry because they radiate warmth and keep you coming back (and convince you to bring all your loved ones :D) The hostel itself has a great location-- it's about a 5 minute walk away from the city center and about 5 minutes from the closest grocery store. It's about 10 minutes from the nearest beach and 15 minutes from the bus station. Rooms come with sheets, blankets and a towel (which most places charge). I'll definitely be back in the summer. I came in January which is during their off season. Weather cooperated for the most part, but even despite the rain, the Algarve is a wonderful place to visit.