Ponta Grande Villa 21

We were on a budget and planned to cook, so I booked this well-priced two-bedroom place with a kitchen. It worked well as a central base for the water parks and other activities we'd planned. The property and pool were nice and clean, and the staff were courteous in my couple of interactions. Booking through their website gets you the best price.

A really relaxing, family-friendly place. We loved the pool, and there's a local sports restaurant. The amazing beach is a 10-minute walk away.

There are great pool and dining areas, both inside and out, and the apartment villa has its own front door. The rooms are a good size and the kitchen and patio areas are large. It can sleep 8-10, and my first trip to Portugal became a memorable one here. You do need a car, though, because it's at the top of a steep hill. With a car, it's ideally placed for exploring the nearby areas and beyond.

We booked Room 54 a year ahead and asked to see it because we'd had a very run-down room previously. When we arrived, we were told we had been moved to Room 55. The bedroom was a big disappointment: it had two twin beds instead of the double we'd requested. For a couple staying two weeks, that was unacceptable. Our adult daughters joined us for the second week. The bathroom and toilets need locks so people can have privacy. At the end of the first week, we returned late at night to find a family letting themselves into the apartment with all their suitcases. Thank goodness we got back just then; we could have been in bed. We think this may have been the apartment they originally booked before changing to Room 54, perhaps because of the bed issue, which would explain the key mix-up. It was quite a shocking experience. We also had to buy extra pillows, as there was only one per bed, as well as mugs and more coat hangers.