Monte dos Avós Apartamentos, Albufeira

A simple but lovely place, with really nice staff and a clean pool. Our studio had a good bed and views out to the sea in the distance, as well as the pool and garden. There's a small kitchen with everything we needed, plus strong wifi everywhere and free parking. Restaurants and shops are close by, and Salgados is the nearest beach, about 6 km away. It's a long sandy stretch, great for walks.

We were pleased with the apartment and would happily stay again. It was spotless, the pool area and loungers were tidy, and there was a BBQ spot we used, a pool table, and laundry appliances and an iron by the pool. The apartment had everything to get us started, including towels, a safe, good air con and all the kitchen gear. The TV was good, and wifi worked throughout the property. Everything was an easy 5-10 minute drive, so we took Ubers, usually about €5-€10 and there were plenty, arriving in five minutes or less. You can rent a car too, with free parking at the hotel. It was peaceful and relaxing, and I'd recommend booking. I was surprised by the low ratings, since it met our needs so well. One little snag: we arrived late without check-in instructions and weren't sure how to get in until the owners answered the phone. We didn't get check-out details either, so we left the key where we'd found it. It wasn't a big deal.

We've been returning for 8-9 years. Most days are spent lounging by the pool and having frango de guia (piri piri chicken). The furnished apartments have what you need to cook, though plenty of places nearby make that optional. It's quiet and relaxing, and there's a grill if you want one. For extra fun, there's a pay pool table and fussball.

The apartment is nice and has a shared pool. It's quite remote, so I'd strongly recommend having a car.