Varandas Do Castelo

The balcony was huge, with a sea view, even though the property is 500m from the beach. The apartment was relatively new, well kept, and had super-cold air conditioning. It's a furnished one-bedroom place with a kitchen and washer, and I absolutely loved it. There's no cleaning service, but who cares. Olive restaurant is on the ground floor, though the service there is slow. When I visited, there was plenty of parking right by reception. I was impressed by the value and amenities, including a nice pool.

We really enjoyed staying here. The apartment was very clean and comfortable, and the kitchen had the appliances and cookware needed for regular meals. We loved the pool and the Olive Restaurant downstairs. There are lots of lovely beaches, walks, and restaurants nearby. A car is a good idea since most other places aren't walkable, but they're only a 5-20 minute drive away.

The apartment was new and very comfortable, with a huge terrace facing the pool and the sea on the horizon. It got morning sun until lunchtime, which kept the inside from getting too warm. The bed and the terrace sofas and table were comfortable. The kitchen is tiny but practical, and we managed fine with the stove, oven, and microwave if needed. There was also a washing machine and dishwasher. Since the apartments are so new, some everyday kitchen items were still missing: an electric kettle, oven gloves, dish detergent, dishwasher tablets, and pool towels. The place is extremely quiet and has its own parking. There are a couple of restaurants within walking distance that are worth trying for dinner. Olive bistro in the same building was the best restaurant in the area, with very good food, traditional cooking with a gourmet touch, and a very good price for what you get. It's highly recommended, and booking a table is a good idea so it isn't full. W hotel has two restaurants, Market kitchen and Paper moon. Down by the beach there's Castelo, along with a few others we didn't try. Castelo Beach and Praia de Coelha are a 10-minute walk away, but getting down involves stairs, and the waves can be quite high. My favourites were Praia Gale Este & Oeste, just five minutes by car, with easy access and plenty of space.

The breakfast had such a huge range of choices that we couldn't finish it. We had a gorgeous one-bedroom apartment and an immaculate stay. It's well located near restaurants and the beach. We'd definitely stay again ✌🏽