Areias Village Hotel Apartamento

Areias Village Hotel-Apartamento is one of the more modern hotels that we've seen in the Albufeira area, and it sits on nicely manicured grounds, with a stone walkway winding past lawns, trees, and hedges. Guests enter to a high-ceilinged contemporary lobby, and interiors here are a bit more imaginative and colorful than at competing properties. The bar features distinctive black pod-shaped chairs and vinyl furniture, and rooms sport a plum and violet motif. At the center of the property is a fairly large outdoor pool and children's pool that serves as the social hub for the hotel. It's worth noting that while the hotel is right near Avenida Sa Carneiro, the atmosphere is quiet (with the exception of occasional noise from a nearby nightclub in some rooms). In fact, some may find the vibe a bit boring, since the hotel offers little music or entertainment. Mature couples and families are the most frequent guests, drawn to its spacious apartments and location near the beach, though the lack of a kids' club may be a bummer to some parents.

Areias Village Hotel is surrounded by similar hotels and condos, and is a five-minute walk from the Avenida Sa Carneiro strip of shops, restaurants, bars, and clubs. This is also a convenient spot for beach-goers: Aveiros Beach is just over a five-minute walk; Oura Beach is a three-minute drive or 10-minute walk; and Alemaes Beach is a five-minute drive or 15-minute walk from the hotel. Albufeira's old town is a little under a 10-minute drive from the hotel. A tourist train also runs to old town, and there's a stop on the Avenida Sa Carneiro. Zoomarine Algarve showcases marine life and dolphin jumping -- it's 25 minutes away by car. Albufeira's train station is a little over a 10-minute drive and Faro Airport is about 35 minutes by car from the hotel. Expect a two-and-a-half-hour drive to Lisbon's airport.

The spacious studio and one-bedroom apartments here are fairly basic in their look, but the contemporary look puts them above much of the competition in this category around town. Colors like plum and violet liven up the look, while dark wood furniture, light wood accents, and white tile floors create a fresh and modern effect. A nightclub is next to the hotel, so rooms on that side of the building may experience a few noise issues -- check ahead with the hotel. All 63 units come with kitchens with sinks, four-burner stovetops, microwaves, toasters, and mid-size fridges. Appliances, cookware, and tableware are all in good shape and up-to-date, though there are no ovens, dishwashers, or coffeemakers. Each unit also has free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV, and private balcony (some with pool view). Bathrooms are spacious and have a dash of style, with square vessel sinks and stainless steel fixtures. All come with hairdryers, bidets, rainfall showerheads, and shower/tub combos. Rooms and public spaces at the Areias Village are all non-smoking.

Areias Village Hotel-Apartamento has a limited array of features, though there's enough to keep guests happy while on-site. The outdoor pool is about 20 meters long, and the deck gets good sun. Occasionally there are issues with lounge chairs all being taken up early in the day. There's also a small children's pool next to the main pool. A poolside bar serves drinks and light fare. The hotel has no full kids' club, but there is a colorful indoor play room. The breakfast buffet (for a fee) has a decent range of hot and cold items. The restaurant also serves Portuguese fare for lunch and dinner, and gets solid marks from previous guests. The adjacent cocktail bar overlooks the pool. There are complaints of high drink and food prices, particularly at the poolside bar -- local spots outside the hotel will have lower prices, of course. The Areias Village also has a business center/library and free parking. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.