Dom Pedro Lagos

Dom Pedro Meia Praia Beach Club is a mid-sized apartment hotel housed in a six-story pale yellow structure surrounded by grassy lawns dotted with palm trees. The beach is clearly visible across the road. Interiors are simple, and common areas are limited to a small lobby/bar area with wicker patio chairs and red-tile floors. Two elevators lead up to rooms. Most guests are vacationers, and the hotel attracts a lot of families in particular, owing to its self-catering facilities and rooms that sleep up to eight.

Dom Pedro Meia Praia Beach Club is located in the north of Lagos, right on the sand and in an area dominated by other hotels and restaurants. It takes just under 10 minutes by car to reach most of the shops, restaurants, and sites of Old Town (or about a half-hour on foot). Forte da Ponta da Bandeira is a 16-minute drive from the hotel, while it's a 15-minute drive to the oft-photographed cliffs at Ponta da Piedade. The closest airport is in Faro, about a half-hour away by car. Driving to Lisbon takes around two and a half hours without traffic. 

Dom Pedro Meia Praia Beach Club offers Studios and One- and Two-Bedroom Apartments, all with balconies or direct outdoor access in the case of ground-floor units. All come with fully equipped kitchenettes, complete with toaster ovens, toasters, mini-fridges, kettles, and two-burner stoves. Decor is simple and bright, with white furniture and olive-green upholstery and accents, plus red-tile floors and wood trim. However, some show minor signs of wear and tear, such as scuffing. Bathrooms are simple, with white tile-tile shower/tub combos and large marble vanities, but, like the rooms, some show signs of wear and tear, with faded shower curtains and some stained grout.Studios measure around 38 square meters (409 square feet) and come with sofa beds in the living areas, while One-Bedroom Apartments are around 84 square meters (904 square feet). Two-Bedroom Apartments are 91 square meters (980 square feet) and have two bedrooms plus two sofa beds in the living rooms. Bedrooms across apartment types feature two twin beds that can be pushed together for couples. Note that because kitchens are located in the middle of apartments, they don't get the best ventilation and thus cooking odors can linger.

Dom Pedro offers decent amenities for an apartment hotel, with facilities aimed at tourists, and families in particular. There's a privately managed restaurant -- Atlantico -- which serves lunch and dinner a la carte daily, with both Portuguese and international items on offer. Breakfast is served (for a fee) at the on-site Bar Bela Vista, continental style. The bar stays open throughout the day and into the evening and sells light meals and snacks.At the center of the hotel's grounds is a large rectangular pool surrounded by patio tiles and grassy lawns with lounge chairs for sunbathing, and a smaller whirlpool hot tub off to one side. There's also a game room with a pool table, foosball, an old-school arcade game, plus a small lending library. The colorful and grassy outdoor playground has a seesaw, a slide, a swing set, and monkey bars. Other services include babysitting, bicycle and car rentals, and excursion-planning assistance. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and there's plenty of free outdoor parking.