Rua do Parque, Olhos de Agua, Albufeira, Portugal | (618) 248-8274
Minutes' walk from the picturesque Olhos de Agua beach
Walking distance from restaurants, bars, and supermarkets
Most apartments have sea views with lovely sunsets
All apartments have well-equipped kitchens and outdoor spaces
Fresh and saltwater pools, one under all-weather dome
Small cafe serving breakfast and light meals
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Free on-site parking
One apartment block lacks an elevator
Apartment furnishings are dated
Hotel lacks a gym
Uphill return journey from beach
The mid-range Apartamentos do Parque is a fairly typical Algarve apartment complex set on hillside a few minutes' walk from the pretty beach at Olhos de Agua. Its 47 apartments are clean and bright, albeit dated, with sufficient cooking facilities and either spacious balconies or private gardens -- most with lovely sea, and even sunset, views. There's a choice of two pools, fresh and saltwater, with the latter housed under a protective dome for cooler months. Beyond a simple cafe, there's not much in the way of dining, plus no health facilities. Overall, however, it's a good apartment-style hotel pick with some lovely views; the nearby Aparthotel Oceanus tends to be a little cheaper though, with more pool space and dining options.
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Scene
Relaxing apartment complex with tiered terraces and sunset views
Check-in at the Apartamentos do Parque takes places in a small low-rise building topped with terra-cotta tiles and decorated with traditional blue tiling. Inside is more functional and modern with little more than a front desk, the usual reams of tourist leaflets, and a rather impressive collection of books for borrow. Apartments are spread around two whitewashed buildings of three and four floors -- only the taller of which has an elevator. While there's little in the way of gardens, colorful flowers and plants line walkways, and one of the apartment blocks overlooks a sheltered and spacious pool terrace. The tier down is a second pool terrace (featuring a distinctive plastic dome that covers the pool during chillier months). The atmosphere is quiet, friendly, and relaxing, and the complex is excellently positioned not only for soaking up the daytime sunshine, but also for enjoying spectacular evening sunsets over the Atlantic. Clientele are an even mix of vacationing couples and families with kids, mostly from the U.K.
Location
Overlooking Olhos de Agua beach and a short stroll from supermarkets
The Apartamentos do Parque is located in the Algarve resort of Olhos de Agua, a 15-minute drive east of the popular holiday spot of Albufeira. It's just a few minutes' walk to the golden sands of Olhos de Agua Beach, though down a footpath with over a hundred steps, so the return journey might be taxing for some. The larger Maria Luisa beach is also within walking distance, as are numerous bars and restaurants; there are also a couple of supermarkets less than 10 minutes' walk away. The lively nightlife of the renowned "Strip" is about a 10-minute drive. The nearest airport is Faro, about a 35-minute drive, while the capital Lisbon is two and a half hours away.
Rooms
Bright, clean apartments with decent cooking facilities and sea views
The hotel's 47 apartments range from fairly modest-sized studios (390 square feet or 36 square meters) to roomier one-bedroom (592 square feet or 55 square meters) and two-bedroom (750 square feet or 70 square meters) units. Interiors are clean, bright, and well-maintained, but furnishings are dated and lacking coordination. Ground-level apartments open to small private gardens with loungers, while the rest have furnished balconies, all with either pool or sea views. All have kitchens with fridges, microwaves, electric hobs, ovens, and coffee machines; Studio kitchenettes form part of open-plan lounge and sleeping areas. Other amenities include flat-screen TVs (with a couple English-speaking news channels) and free reliable Wi-Fi (which is fairly rare for the resort). Traditionally tiled bathrooms have shower/tub combos, wall-mounted hairdryers, and basic toiletries.
Features
Two swimming pools, one saltwater with dome covering for colder months
Certainly the most distinctive feature of the complex is the saltwater swimming pool that is enclosed within a plastic dome during cooler weather, making it a pleasantly warm place for a swim. The second, larger pool is filled with fresh water and has a separate splash pool for kids and an adjacent cafe. This is also where breakfast is served ( not included as standard) together with a good selection of light meals, drinks, and snacks throughout the day. There's little else in the way of on-site facilities, though loungers around both pools are plentiful and there's no shortage of free parking on-site.
