Casa dos Arcos - Charm Guesthouse

The room was adequate for the price, but the shower is oddly designed and leaves the bathroom floor wet. This historic building looked nothing like the picture I saw when booking online. It's right in the middle of the tourist area.

We felt safe here, and the people were friendly and helpful. The guesthouse is right in the centre, close to restaurants, supermarkets and other places. Its antique decor gives it a cosy, time-travel feel, and everything was clean, well maintained and well equipped. There was a kitchen with a freezer, fridge, oven and more, plus a lovely outdoor balcony where we could sit and eat. We had a great stay and would fully recommend this shining star in Albufeira.

You could legally have refunded the booking. We stayed at 11 hotels around Portugal during our trip, and this issue never came up anywhere else. The official website of Portugal’s Immigration Bulletin, which hotels use to register guests, lists three document options: passport, residence permit or other document. Here, though, you were just copying information by hand into a notebook. The staff made no effort to be polite or help us sort out the situation.

The beds were made and towels provided every day, which was really nice. The facilities are good, and there's an open terrace where you can relax at the end of the day. It's well placed in the heart of the old town, with easy access to the beach, restaurants and pubs. I'd recommend the place, though guests should know that, unlike some hostels, there aren't activities planned for them. That's not a negative, just something to keep in mind if you're looking for that during your stay.