Sitio do Garrao, Vale do Garrao, Portugal | (888) 989-6591
Near the beach and a short drive from area golfing
Variety of apartments with one to three bedrooms, all with equipped kitchens
Villas that sleep up to 12; with ocean views and private pools
The Saudade restaurant with Portuguese and international food, plus room service
Two bars, including seasonal Pool Bar and year-round Cocktail Lounge
Excellent fitness facilities include gym, exercise classes, and personal trainers
Spa with beautiful indoor pool, plus two outdoor pools, kids' pool, and whirlpool
Kids' club plus wide variety of on-site and nearby activities for kids and adults
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Mini-mart sells simple food items and toiletries
Not directly on the beach
Fitness center hours are limited, especially in winter
Pool Bar only open in summer
Dunas Douradas Beach Club is an upscale vacation property consisting of 132 privately owned condos for rent plus six villas with private pools and ocean views. All units have fully equipped kitchens and laundry machines, and some have terraces with whirlpools. The resort offers tons of amenities, including an excellent fitness center with personal trainers and classes, a luxury spa with a beautiful indoor pool, and three additional outdoor pools, one of which is for kids. Other family-friendly amenities include a kids' club, a playground, and babysitting on request. The only major drawback is that the nearest beach is a six-minute walk away, though direct beach access is hard to come by in the area. Travelers may want to compare rates at the similar Formosa Park Hotel & Apartments nearby.
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Scene
Upscale apartment resort popular with vacationing families and golfing groups
Dumas Dourdas Beach Club is an upscale condo hotel located right near the coast. Rooms and facilities are spread out across a number of white-washed structures with rust-hued tiled roofs interspersed by terraced gardens landscaped with shrubs and palm trees. Indoor common areas, such as the lobby and the on-site restaurant, feature neutral color schemes in off-white tiles and light-wood fixtures and furniture. While the property does get some couples, it's most popular with vacationing families of all sizes as well as golf vacationers traveling in groups.
Location
A short walk from the beach and within easy driving distance of multiple golf courses
Dunas Douradas Beach Club is located in Almancil on the southern coast of Portugal. The area is known for golf courses -- popular places to tee off include San Lorenzo Club, a 16-minute drive away, and Vale do Lobo Ocean Golf Course, which takes around 10 minutes to reach by car. Despite its name, the hotel is not on the beach, though there is a lovely stretch of beach just a six-minute walk away. Lounge chairs are available for rent on the sand. The nearest major airport is in nearby Faro, a 25-minute drive away.
Rooms
Privately owned apartments and villas with various decor, all with kitchens
Dunas Douradas Beach Club offers 132 One- to Three-bedroom Apartments and eight Villas. All units are individually owned, so while they all come with home-like amenities such as fully equipped kitchens, washers and dryers, and barbecue grills, decor varies quite a bit. Common decor themes include off-white walls with light-wood floors and frames, plus spacious bathrooms with walk-in showers and mosaic tiling in shades of light turquoise. Some of the Two- and Three-Bedroom Apartments feature extras such as whirlpool hot tubs and/or terraces furnished with lounge furniture. Many units have sea views. Villas sleep 10 to 12 guests and all have views of the Atlantic Ocean and their own private swimming pools.
Features
Great selection of features, including a restaurant, spa, multiple pools, two bars, and kids' club
The Dunas Douradas Beach Club offers an excellent range of on-site facilities. Dining options include Saudade, the main restaurant, which serves both Portuguese and international fare at all three meals. Room service is available. There's also a Cocktail Bar & Lounge as well as a seasonal Pool Bar. Guests can also buy toiletries, snacks, wine, and simple food items at the on-site mini-mart. There's a fitness center with all sorts of weight-training and cardio equipment available. Trainers are available and there's a regular schedule of classes ranging from Pilates to circuit training. Hours are limited and the fitness facilities close an hour earlier in the summer. There are also four swimming pools, including two large outdoor pools, a kids' pool, and an adjacent natural stone whirlpool hot tub. There's also a spa with a gorgeous indoor pool and a wide range of massages, facials, and beauty treatments.Family-friendly facilities include the Golden Kids' Club, which offers regular activities for kids aged three to nine, such as arts and crafts, karaoke, swimming, and the ever-popular Playstation. There's also an outdoor playground with a swing set and a slide. For adults, the resort offers a wide range of activities in the area, and can make arrangements for guests to go golfing, cycling, fishing, or play tennis. Wi-Fi is free throughout.
