Baia da Luz

The area was quiet and felt safe, with beaches, cafes, restaurants, and shops close by. Everyone in my family enjoyed staying here, and we’d be delighted to return when we’re next in the Lagos area. We had a two-bedroom apartment for four nights, and it had everything we needed and more. The rooms were spacious, the bathrooms a good size, and the kitchen was well equipped. Both balconies had a partial water view. It’s a beautiful place with a beach resort feel, and the staff were lovely.

The pool is pleasant and the bar there is reasonably priced, but it can get windy and chilly for small children when they’re out of the water. I’d choose an apartment outside the pool complex, since the ones there seem to have less privacy and could be noisier during the day. The other complexes are only a minute’s walk away and feel more pleasant. The hotel is in a good location, less than ten minutes from the beach. Luz is easy to get to, and the eateries are generally of a high standard. The two-bedroom apartments are spacious, clean, and very well appointed, with a safe and pool towels included. I preferred Baptista Supermarket to the Spar. They were about the same price, but Baptista felt nicer.

We had the two-bedroom loft, so there was plenty of space, and the kitchen was great. The upstairs beds were better than the main bedroom’s, though you have to climb a ladder-like staircase to reach the loft. It was good to have a bathroom up there, so we didn’t need to use those stairs at night. The main bed was a problem: the mattress was awful, with the springs easy to feel, and the bedding was worn out. Dogs barking and street noise also echoed. Reception was hard to locate around the corner, since there are several buildings. The signs point you in a general direction, but they only make sense once you realize that.

We loved the living and dining areas and the terrace, and the apartment was comfortable for our family: me, my mother, and our 1.5-year-old had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, 120 m², and balconies on both the quieter and busier sides. It was a great place for families, with gates at the entrances to each apartment building and a secure pool. The pool was heated, about a two-minute walk away, with a toddler area and playground. The beach was close too. I did miss having a place to rinse off after the beach. There were showers by the pool, but if you came back sandy you had to use the apartment bathroom or walk around to the pool area, which wasn’t convenient. The apartment had a fridge and freezer, plenty of cookware, and all the utensils we needed. It came with two bottles of water, two packs of milk, eight Nespresso cups, a few tea bags, and sugar. Reception sold us ten more coffee cups for €6. If you plan to cook, bring your own salt, oil, and ingredients. Two dishwasher pods and two washing machine pods were replenished every three days on cleaning days. Sheets were changed after six days. The bathrooms had Rituals shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, soap, a hairdryer, and a well-stocked first aid kit. The AC in the living room and bedrooms was a lifesaver on hot days, and everything worked properly. There was plenty of street parking. I also saw a garage on site but didn’t ask about it. It wasn’t very busy when we stayed in June. The restaurant onsite was reasonably priced, with good food for lunch or dinner, and takeaway was an option. We got takeaway a few times and kept drinks and ice cream in the fridge rather than spend extra at the restaurant. We hired a car, which was best for getting to Lagos, Cape st Vincent, and Lidl for supplies. Praia da Luz is a five-minute walk, with more cafes and restaurants and a small market. Lagos is a ten-minute drive and has Lidl, larger shops, restaurants that were far better priced, boat tours, and more of a city feel. We also visited a few beaches and took a one-hour boat tour of Ponta de Piedade, which our toddler enjoyed. At check-in, they asked for a €250 deposit, to be reimbursed if there was no damage. Green beach towels were already in the room and included. We asked for a baby chair and were first told it would cost €10 a day, which seemed ridiculous for a simple IKEA chair that costs €20 max. It would have added €100. It turned out to be a gift from the hotel, so we didn’t pay in the end, but I think it should have been included in the apartment price, which was already quite high. We only contacted or visited reception a few times to ask for details. Check-out was quick: we handed the cards to security. We’d love to return to Baia da Luz. Thanks for a comfortable stay!