Silchoro Apartments

Housed in an eight-story white-washed building with yellow trim, this apartment-style hotel has seen better days. It's showing wear and tear throughout and is overdue for a refresh. Guests climb a few stairs and enter the property through double glass doors. The lobby is an interesting space, with a couple of wooden park benches for seating against the wall, as well as some cushioned wooden chairs. Bright yellow and orange accents stand out against the white walls and terra-cotta tile floor. A few potted plants seem to be an attempt to warm the space up, but ultimately this isn't exactly the place to hang out and socialize. In fact, with its limited number of features, most of that will need to happen outdoors, either by the pool or at the playground. Given its shabby style and self-catering digs, the Silchoro draws mostly budget-conscious and non-fussy couples, families, and groups. 

This hotel is situated in a quiet area next to one of the N125 access roads and about a 10-minute drive from Albufeira. There is a supermarket nearby, as well as a few snack bars and restaurants, and guests can walk to The Strip in 10 to 15 minutes. There, travelers will find even more dining and drinking options, plus plenty of tourist-friendly haunts. Praia da Oura can be reached in less than 10 minutes by car. The hotel provides a free shuttle to the beach and town three times a day in high season. Zoomarine Algarve is about a 10-minute drive away. Budget 40 minutes to reach the Faro Airport by car, and two-and-a-half hours to reach Lisbon. 

Silchoro offers studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments, all with kitchenettes and a balcony or terrace. Decor is dated, with tile floors, white walls, old fabrics, and cheap dorm-style wooden furniture (plus a few pieces that look lifted from grandma's house). Still, the talavera tiling we spotted in some kitchens was a nice touch. One-room studios have two twin beds (which double as daytime sofas), wooden dining tables, and kitchenettes with stove tops, microwaves, mini-fridges, sinks, kettles, and toasters, as well as cooking and dining supplies. Many rooms still have old tube-style TVs. There is no air-conditioning, but fans are available for a fee, and Wi-Fi is unfortunately not offered in rooms. All rooms have a balcony or terrace furnished with plastic chairs and a small table. Apartments are similar to studios, with the same style twin beds in the living area that double as sofas. Bedrooms also have twin beds. Bathrooms are dated as well, with old fixtures, stained sinks, and chipped tiling. They include bidets, shower/tub combos, and pedestal sinks with little counter space. Noise complaints include traffic from the nearby road, barking dogs, and the sounds of neighboring guests through walls -- consider yourself warned.

All meals are served at the hotel's coffee shop/restaurant, a cozy, casual space with a tile floor, wooden tables and chairs, cheerful yellow and blue tablecloths, and a flat-screen TV across from the bar. There's also a snack bar next to the pool that's open in warmer months. An indoor bar has pool and foosball tables, plus arcade games and TVs for showing sporting events. An indoor game room also offers billiards, foosball, air hockey, and other games, but they are dated. Likewise, the on-site tennis court has seen better days, but it's playable. For the kids, a playground has swings, a slide, and climbing equipment on a grassy lawn. The hotel has two outdoor pools, including a large main one and a smaller one for the kids. Both are out in the open with no shade, but lounge chairs and a few umbrellas are available on the pool deck and adjacent grassy lawn. Although it's a large area, it can get crowded at times, and some guests complain there are not enough lounge chairs. The small business center has two computers set up for guests to use (fee), and there are a few books in a library. A mini-market sells food items, snacks, beverages, and essentials. Wi-Fi is available for free only in the lobby area.