Apartamentos Turisitcos Presidente

A quiet atmosphere pervades throughout the Apartamentos Turisticos Presidente, since most guests relax in their apartments or at the beach instead of hanging around the limited common areas. The sand-colored building has a striking architectural design, shaped like the number three (from above), ringed by balconies and exterior walkways that give it an almost honeycomb-like appearance. The main entrance sits at the base of an angled tower in the middle of a long courtyard, laid with small cobblestones that form concentric geometric patterns. Inside, a staircase is the first thing you see, ascending the tower to access the floors above. Around the corner, a blue-and-white tile mosaic depicts sailing ships from Portugal's golden age, and there's a wood-paneled reception desk with cushioned rattan chairs and a few potted plants laid around the perimeter of the lobby. 

The hotel is located on the cliffs overlooking Praia dos Castelos, in a subdued residential area with undeveloped lots on either side. This is a quieter alternative to the more touristy Praia da Rocha strip, which is a six-minute drive from the property. The colorful town of Portimao and the fishing village of Alvor also are about 10 minutes away, as is the Fort of Santa Catarina. There's not much immediately around the hotel besides the beach and a few restaurants, so guests who want to explore will probably need to rent a car. Both the Slide & Splash water park and the Vale Da Pinta Golf Course can both be reached in about 20 minutes by car. The Algarve International Autodrome is a 30-minute drive away. Faro Airport will take 50 minutes to reach by car. Lisbon is a two-and-a-half-hour drive.

The hotel has 107 One- and Two-Bedroom Apartments with white tiled floors and simple wood furnishings with blue accents. Entryways with wood-beamed ceilings and arched doorways add some character, but the fabrics are dated and the decor is showing its overall age. All have open-plan kitchenettes with stovetops, small refrigerators, microwaves, toasters, and coffeemakers, along with cookware and dishware. Breakfast bars have stools on one side and a pair of chairs on the other. The One-Bedroom Apartments have two twin beds and living rooms with sofa beds, while Two-Bedroom Apartments add double beds and dining tables. Flat-screen TVs come standard in the living areas, and Wi-Fi is an extra fee. Tiled bathrooms feature bidets and shower/tub combos. Wraparound balconies are furnished with white plastic tables and chairs. Some have ocean views, but about half face inland, with views of the countryside, or nearby Portimao. 

Typical of other apartment hotels, the facilities are limited. The outdoor pool is sheltered from the road by a hedge wall and the sun deck has loungers with reed shade umbrellas, but the whole area could use updates. Some tiles are cracked, and many of the sun loungers are worn out. There's a seasonal restaurant with a wood-paneled ceiling that serves a la cart international cuisine, and a breakfast buffet for a fee. The restaurant has an adjoining bar with an espresso machine, and it opens onto an outdoor poolside terrace, set with orange chairs and plastic tables with canvas umbrellas. There's also a game room with pool tables. Bikes are available to borrow from the reception desk, which is open 24 hours. Free parking is available.