Largo de Santa Maria da Graca 9, Lagos, Portugal | (618) 248-8274
A short walk from the beach and from Old Town
All apartments have kitchenettes with stovetops and microwaves
Flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and safes come standard
Some one-bedroom units are spread over two floors, with rooftop terraces
Outdoor pool and hot tub surrounded by lounge chairs
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Limited amenities -- no restaurant, gym, or parking
Rooms show signs of wear and tear, such as scuffs and stains
Dated decor throughout
Pool is small
Baluarte da Vila Apartments is a simple, two-pearl apartment-style hotel located a short walk from the attractions and restaurants of Old Town. The 28 air-conditioned rooms here come in Studio and One-Bedroom configurations, and all have kitchenettes equipped with stovetops, microwaves, and coffee- and tea-making facilities. Decor, however, is dated, and the rooms are showing wear. Features here are limited to a smallish outdoor pool and free Wi-Fi, as there are no fitness, dining, or parking facilities on-site. Travelers should compare rates and amenities at the Apartamentos Turisticos Marsol, which offers units with kitchenettes, including some two-bedroom options, but it's farther from the city center.
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Scene
Budget apartment-style hotel popular with tourists on a budget
This compact apartment-style hotel is housed in a lovely off-white building on a pleasant cobblestone street. The lobby lacks windows and thus feels dark, despite bright orange-and-cream floors and extensive use of off-white furnishings. In addition to the reception area, the only other public space is the outdoor pool set in a brick terrace with little greenery. Most visitors to the hotel are tourists looking for rooms with self-catering facilities who don't want to pay a lot to stay.
Location
Central location, a few minutes' walk from the beach and Old Town
Baluarte da Vila Apartments is located in Lagos, a seven-minute walk from the coast and just under 10 minutes to the the shops, restaurants, and sites of Old Town. Forte da Ponta da Bandeira is a 10-minute walk from the hotel, while the Mercado dos Escravos takes six minutes to reach. It's a six-minute drive to the picturesque cliffs at Ponta da Piedade. The closest airport is in Faro, about an hour away by car, while getting to Lisbon takes upwards of two and a half hours without traffic.
Rooms
Apartment-style rooms with kitchenettes, some with rooftop terraces
Baluarte da Vila Apartments offers air-conditioned Studio and One-Bedroom Apartments, as well as a two-level Rooftop Terrace One Bedroom Apartment (with, as the name suggests, a lovely rooftop on the top floor). All apartments have kitchenettes with two-burner stoves, microwaves, and coffee- and tea-making facilities, plus basic cookware. Flat-screen TVs and key-lock safes are also provided. All at least sleep two adults, though One-Bedrooms have separate living rooms that can sleep one or two children. Decor is simple and dated, but it's pleasant enough, with terra-cotta tile floors, dark-wood finish cabinets and chairs, and simple white beds and sofas accented by solid-print bedspreads and throw pillows. However, much of the furniture shows wear and tear, such as scuff marks and stains. Bathrooms feature shower/tub combos with rainfall showerheads, as well as wall-mounted hairdryers, bidets, and basic toiletries.
Features
Features limited to an outdoor swimming pool and free hotel-wide Wi-Fi
Baluarte da Vila Apartments offers little in terms of amenities, most notable being that there aren't any dining or parking options on-site. There is a small pool for swimming laps that's surrounded by lounge chairs and a couple of wicker tables. An above-ground hot tub is also in this area. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.
