Pousada Palacio Estoi – Faro Hotel

Bruno at reception was especially nice and friendly, as were the rest of the staff. The views and the surroundings inside are stunning. This combination of a historical mansion and a modern hotel is a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend it.

The restaurant food was superb, and the staff were friendly and attentive without hovering. The hotel sits around a heritage building about 8km from Faro airport. Reception, the bar, restaurant, and seating areas are in the original palace, while the excellent bedrooms are set into the hillside around it so they don’t overwhelm the old building. It’s an ideal spot to treat yourself to some luxury at the start or end of an Algarve holiday, especially with the airport so close.

We had a fabulous four-night stay with plenty of peace and comfort for the last of this year’s sun. It was a last-minute package booking. The staff were friendly, attentive, and informative, and the facilities were unusual in a way we enjoyed. The pool was quiet, with lots of sunbeds and towels. We were upgraded on arrival to a spacious, modern, well-equipped superior room with a good-sized private balcony. The food was excellent, especially the generous, nicely presented breakfast. I’ve seen reviews that seem a bit harsh to me, particularly about whether it really deserves five stars. It’s not the Four Seasons or the Mandarin Oriental, but it isn’t priced like them either. At well under 200€ a night including breakfast, there are bound to be differences from high-end luxury hotels. We were very happy, had no complaints, and will likely return.

The pool and grounds were beautiful, and all the staff were friendly and happy to accommodate what we needed. We had a great, relaxed getaway and would definitely come back.