Hotel Mirachoro Praia

As it's surrounded on three sides by gardens and undeveloped landscape, the Hotel Mirachoro Praia is more quiet and peaceful than many of the other hotels in town, especially with the outdoor parties and concerts that are so common throughout summer. It has a simple, traditional look, with terra-cotta roof tiles and rows of arched balconies, but inside there's an explosion of color that some may find jarring. In fact, the look throughout is quite dated -- something from the late '90s or early 2000s. Other than a few beachy touches like tiled floors, breezy window dressings, and striped upholstery, there's no rhyme or reason to the decor. The walls tend to be painted in a primary blue or alarmingly bright red, with an attempt at creating a washed-out look or some kind of patina, but the overall effect is shockingly amateur for a chain hotel that claims upscale status. There is an abundance of wicker furnishings paired with glass-topped tables and more bright red, or blue cushions. As this is a quiet place, without the family-friendly amenities of other properties in the Algarve, the hotel is mostly popular with couples.

There are an abundance of restaurants and bars around the hotel, with more all along the road into the center of town. It's an eight- to 10-minute walk to both the beach and to the center of Carvoeiro, a top tourist spot for dining, shopping, and nightlife. Summer months bring beach parties, live music in the streets, and outdoor movie screenings. Another major beach, Praia do Vale de Centianes, is a four-minute drive in the other direction. The Gramacho Golf Course and Vale Da Pinta Golf Course -- both considered among Europe's best courses -- are each under a 12-minute drive away. The stunning natural formations at the Benagil Caves are seven minutes away by car. The closest airport is outside of Faro, a 45-minute drive from the hotel. 

The hotel's 121 rooms are dated and bland, though relatively well maintained, with plain tiled floors and off-white walls that are sparsely decorated with framed prints of modern art. Furniture comes in bland oak-veneer finishes, and the dark bedspreads and heavy striped curtains don't do much to update the overall look. On paper they're huge by any standard, but much of each Standard Rooms' 645-square-foot floor plan (60 square meters) is devoted to a cavernous furnished balcony. These would be more welcome if the views were remarkable, but most lack sea views. All rooms have simple sitting areas with chairs and small tables, along with basic wooden desks. Mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, and air-conditioning come standard, and while some rooms have dated tube TVs, others have flat-screens. Suites add living rooms with full-sized couches, and Family Rooms add second bedrooms; both with sea views. The tiled bathrooms have bidets and shower/tub combos.

The hotel's outdoor pool has a small island feature and a swim-up snack bar with covered seating. The sun deck has plenty of space for relaxing on striped lounge chairs -- this means there's no need to wake up at the crack of dawn to throw a towel down on a lounge chair for the day. There's also a hot tub and a small kids' pool set into the grass nearby. The indoor pool is less appealing, housed under an uncomfortably low ceiling, and has a second hot tub. There's no fitness center, though there is a small spa with basic massages and a sauna. The hotel's buffet-style restaurant serves regional cuisine and a free breakfast with a nice range of hot and cold options. The cocktail bar is even more colorful than the lobby, with a pool table and seating amid lime-green and bright-pink deco. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and there's plenty of free on-site parking.