Adriana Beach Club Hotel Resort

The Adriana Beach Club is a vast, sprawling place with a number of low-lying buildings with red clay-tiled roofs, spread over 17 hectares (42 acres) of lush green lawn. While some areas look modern and attractive -- the glistening, bright lobby and serene Al-Gharb Restaurant, for example, many areas are dated and furnished with mismatched decor. Where this hotel really shines is outdoors, where a freeform pool and plethora of sports and games facilities are available. The decent all-inclusive packages and array of amenities primarily attracts families who are typically content to spend all their time on-site.

The Adriana Beach Club is an isolated property, but it’s one that is set up so that its guests won’t need to leave until it's time to head to the airport. That said, the resort offers a free shuttle bus to the two nearest towns, Vilamoura and Albufeira, but they are both about 25 to 30 minutes away by car, in opposite directions. Closer to home, the resorts backs onto the golden sands of the Praia do Poco Velho. Guests have to take a flight of wooden stairs down a red sandstone cliff to reach the beach. Expect transfer times of 35 minutes to and from Faro Airport.

The hotel’s 438 bright rooms are similar to the rest of the property, as they're furnished with a mix of dated and contemporary furnishings. It's mostly room fabrics and some of the furniture that feels old-fashioned, and the neutral-tone tile floors, white wooden furniture, and mostly white walls combine for an underwhelming feel. However, bright-blue accent walls, artwork, and pops of teal from throw pillows in some rooms add a bit of cheer. Standard Rooms have either two twin beds or one double, a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall, mini-fridge, safe, small desk, and AC, while large rooms have space for an extra bed for kids. Each room also has a large, furnished terrace. Bathrooms are similarly basic and in need of a refresh, equipped with outdated floral tiles, a shower/tub combo with a plastic curtain, and a bidet. A hairdryer and toiletries are provided. In-room Wi-Fi is not available.

The Adriana Beach Club has lots of family-friendly amenities, which are designed to ensure that guests never need to leave the resort. Many guests choose to go the all-inclusive route, which includes local spirits, wine, and beer, and food at the hotel’s three restaurants. The dining options consist of a large buffet restaurant serving broadly Mediterranean food three times a day, and two smaller buffet eateries that need to be booked in advance. There are also two bars -- one by the large freeform outdoor pool. Also by the outdoor pool are a kiddy pool, and dozens of loungers and Balinese beds, the latter of which requires a fee. A curving indoor pool is on-site, but the space isn't very attractive. There are tons of activities to keep guests busy: the hotel has a mini-golf course and several tennis courts, as well as a fun adventure playground for kids with zip-lines and a volleyball court. Additionally, a small gym and an outdoor spa for massages and wellness treatments  are available. Kids are amply catered for by entertainment that the hotel’s animation team puts on daily during high season. The hotel runs a free shuttle bus service to the nearby towns of Vilamoura and Albufeira. Wi-Fi is limited to the hotel’s shared areas.