Hotel Sol e Mar

This little place was built in the 1960s, and since some parts have not changed since then. The reception area is on the fifth floor, along with the restaurant and bar. Rooms are on the floors below, and the outdoor lounge bar and indoor swimming pool are on floor zero. The lobby is a long, narrow space with tile floors, a long wooden reception counter along one wall, and a colorful abstract mural above. A sofa and two arm chairs provide places for guests to sit. The terrace behind the hotel, which overlooks the beach, is a bustling hive of activity day and night, drawing plenty of visitors from other hotels across Albufeira. The Sol e Mar attracts mostly mature couples, but families and groups of friends also make their way here. All are almost exclusively from the U.K. and Ireland.

The hotel is located on a narrow street that runs parallel to the waterfront in Albufeira's old town. It's a prime spot -- not many of the city's hotels abut the beach -- and almost everything travelers would be interested in is within an easy walk. The old town sprawls along a series of busy plazas and narrow cobblestone streets leading away from the water. There are all manner of international and Portuguese restaurants, plenty of bars, nightclubs, and tourist shops in almost every direction. The hotel has direct beach access and great views of the ocean. Zoomarine Algarve can be reached in 15 minutes on foot. Parking can be found on the streets surrounding the hotel in the old town, but spaces may be few and far between -- especially on the weekends. Expect about a 35-minute drive to the Faro Airport. It's a little over two hours to Lisbon and its airport by car.

The hotel's rooms are basic. Flat-screen TVs are mounted on the wall, and other amenities include air-conditioning and small safes. Unfortunately, there are fees for the safes, and the rooms lack electric kettles for making coffee or tea. All-white bathrooms are small, with bidets, pedestal sinks, and tub/shower combos. Toiletries come in little packets, and hairdryers must be requested from reception. All rooms have a balcony or terrace furnished with a table and chairs, and all have nice views of the sea. While it's generally not an issue, rooms on higher floors will pick up less noise from the terrace restaurants and bars -- otherwise, the sound of the surf can be nice into the night.

Given its city-center location, the Sol e Mar is a bit restricted in what it can offer, though it manages to pack a decent amount into a small footprint. The highlight is the hotel's terrace over the beach, which includes its restaurant, a bar, cafe, and ice cream shop. Breakfast and dinner get mixed reviews, though the ocean views and sunshine are abundant. All-inclusive and half-board rates are available, and breakfast is included with all bookings. The expansive Rainbow Bar has a retro vibe, with multicolored lights and big globe light fixtures above the circular bar and disco lights over the small dance floor. Seating is on black and white leather sofas atop a black-and-white tile floor. Big windows look out over the beach, and a pool table and TVs provide entertainment. The hotel doesn't have its own seating on the beach, which bums out some guests, though chairs and umbrellas are available all over the sand for a fee. The indoor pool is small, but it's heated and large windows look out onto the alfresco lounge area and the beach. A couple of chairs provide limited poolside seating. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, though the only parking is on the street, which can be a beast to find in Albufeira.