Adelaide Hotel

For a two-star hotel, this was very good. The room was basic but comfortable, and had a balcony, though the view wasn’t much. The harbour area is about a 10-minute walk away, so the location was great. The gentleman at reception was fantastic and helpful. He pointed us to local attractions and the local theatre, where we were lucky enough to see Nico Wayne Toussant, a fantastic jazz and blues artist.

For the price, this hotel is a good deal. I’ve stayed in four-star places that were much worse, and I was happy with my experience here. The staff spoke English, so it was easy to communicate. Breakfast was only bread with jam and coffee. If you can book a room without breakfast, I’d recommend doing that since it isn’t worth the extra cost. The annoying part was having to leave the key at reception whenever I went out, then ring the bell to get back in.

We got a decent room for a very affordable night before an early flight from Faro airport, and the concierge arranged a taxi for the early morning that arrived right on time. The building looked pretty sketchy from outside, but inside was fine. The main problem was the noise from people partying nearby, which went on until around 4 a.m. It was hot enough that we had to leave the windows open, so sleep was pretty rough.

The staff were warm and helpful, and the place felt homely, almost like staying with family. Our room had a lovely bright balcony, though the rooms weren't all equally attractive. Breakfast was generous, the heating worked really well, and the beds were comfortable, if a bit too firm for me. I ended up sleeping on top of the blankets. We had a fridge and a good shower, but no kettle. The terrace had cigarette ash and ends on it when we got back, which was the one letdown. Great location and excellent value.