Hotel do Golf

We had a really good two-week stay at Hotel do Golf. The staff were generally friendly and helpful, and the room was cleaned every day, which was a nice surprise. The room itself was spacious, clean, and practical. Its kitchenette had a fridge, double electric hotplate, microwave, cookware, dishes, and cutlery, enough for breakfasts and other meals. The bathroom had a good hot shower and two washbasins. Our balcony looked out over the gardens and a residential area, and was perfectly pleasant. We used the pool in the late afternoon. It was a good area and not crowded then, though the water was cool, as you might expect in September/October, and took a little getting used to. The hotel's daily three-course dinner for meat eaters was good quality and good value at €17.50. My vegetarian partner wasn't as impressed by the available choices. We also ate twice at the nearby Indian restaurant, which was good but a little expensive, and tried places farther away that meant quite a bit of walking. That was fine for us, though it might not suit everyone. There are two supermarkets within easy walking distance. We particularly liked Pingo Doce for its range of products and nice café serving hot food and drinks. The free shuttle to the marina was useful, but its first departure at 10:30 am felt late to us, so we often walked instead. It's a lovely route of about 3.5km. A great holiday and positive experience. We'd stay again sometime.

Basic but clean and tidy, with no problems during my stay. It's a cheap hotel and a handy base for the nearby golf courses.

If you're after peace and quiet, this small hotel and apartment complex is a good fit. I loved sitting on my balcony above the quiet parkland, trees, and birds. The locals were very friendly, and it's near the old golf course. The apartments are single storey and arranged around a decent-sized pool. I went in May, when hardly anyone used it because the water was so cold. The beds were very hard. The decor is basic, but the place was clean and had enough for making meals: a fridge with a small freezer section, kettle, microwave, toaster, two-ring hob, dishes, pots, pans, and cutlery. A free shuttle runs three times a day to the marina and beach and back. The drive takes eight minutes, or you can walk for about 50 minutes if you're not in a hurry. There's a snack bar, small restaurant, bar, games room, and 24-hour reception. I didn't use the games room, though I saw other guests happily doing so. The nearby supermarket has a bakery and a small selection of hot food and coffee to take away or eat at its two outdoor tables. It's handy for fruit, rolls, ice cream, and breakfast basics.

We wanted somewhere peaceful, and this hotel suited us. There isn't evening entertainment, but there's a bar where you can sit outside and watch the sunset, and food is served until around 9ish. We were out exploring and on excursions, so quiet evenings worked well. The staff were lovely and helpful. The apartment had two balconies, a spacious bathroom, two TVs, two wardrobes with lots of hangers, and a hob, fridge, and toaster for self-catering. Cleaning is available every day if you want it. There may be a few steps up to the apartment. There's also a pool table at reception and a book swap library. A Spar is close by, and there's a bus stop at the roundabout where excursion buses also pick you up and drop you off. We visited Silves, Monchique and the mountains, and Loule on Saturday morning for its gypsy market. The town was bustling and beautiful, though it shuts down at 1pm. We also went on a jeep safari. All were fantastic days out, full of culture and information. In Albefuria old town, we shopped, visited bars, and spent a great 11 hours exploring. We took Uber using the Bolt app and found it quite cheap. The old town was busy with plenty to see and do. Don't go to 'the strip' in Albefuria, it was awful and smelly, with street cameras everywhere. The rest of the Algarve is beautiful and safe, and there were no lucky lucky men harassing us. We walked down to the marina too, clocking up 32000 steps in a day. There are bars and higher-end shops, but no tat shops. Just explore and enjoy it. We'd go back in a heartbeat.