Vitor's Village

Popular with couples and families, Vitor's Village Resort opened in 2008 and still has a like-new sheen, with a colorful contemporary style that mixes well with its more traditional cobbled walkways and riverfront setting. The grounds are divided into five blocks of two-story apartment buildings, each with the name of a local bird (Heron, Stork, Flamingo, etc.). Limestone-cobbled paths connect the buildings across manicured lawns, and some are joined by partially covered walkways. Inside the main building, a modern lobby has a decorative slatted-wood ceiling and square, mossy-green couches on a polished stone floor. The space opens into a small lounge with a back-lit bar and sleek white stools. The hotel sees an even split of couples and families, though features aren't too extensive for the latter. In any case, the atmosphere here is casual and relaxed, though in high season it's predictably a bit livelier (especially around the pool). 

The hotel is situated on a hill on the edge of Ferragudo, with views of the Arade River. There are a cluster of shops and restaurants in the quaint, cobblestone center of Ferragudo, which is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. The Praia da Angrinha beach is a 15-minute walk away, though it's an estuary beach and not exactly the nicest. Additionally, the hike back is all uphill. Getting anywhere else requires a car. It's only a five- to 10-minute drive across the river to the much larger town of Portimao depending on the destination, but most of the restaurants and entertainment options are along the Praia da Rocha beachfront, which is closer to a 12-minute drive away. For those who enjoy golf, the Gramacho Golf Course and Vale Da Pinta Golf Course are both about an 11-minute drive away. Expect a 45-minute drive to Faro Airport.

The resort features 95 one-bedroom and five two-bedroom apartments apartments housed in two-story buildings with river, pool, or garden views. Each unit has neutral, contemporary decor with striped fabric accents, and pictures depicting local birdlife or the village of Ferragudo. It's a sharp, if simple, look that's complemented by modern wood-veneer furniture with clean lines and IKEA-esque seating. Some of the rooms do have an abundance of empty space, making them feel a little underdecorated. All have living rooms with sofa beds, along with kitchenettes with mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and two-burner stovetops. Apartments facing the river might not all have the best views (some are partial views of the river at best), but they're quieter than those facing the pool or the garden-facing units near the playground. There are also six conventional hotel rooms with balconies, each with one double or two twin beds. Work desks come standard, as do 35-inch flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and free spotty Wi-Fi. Bathrooms have bidets and shower/tub combos. 

The resort has an outdoor hot tub and two outdoor pools, one of which is adult-only. The larger main outdoor pool has a zero-entry shallow end, and is surrounded by a stone sun deck with lounge chairs and umbrellas. There's a separate nearby section with a kids' pool. Other family-friendly amenities include an outdoor playground and a small game room with a pool table and foosball, but there's no kids' club. Note that there's no spa or fitness center here either. A computer room also has a small lending library, and there's a mini-mart for those looking to (modestly) stock their kitchenettes. For dining, Purple Restaurant is open for breakfast (not included in standard rates) and dinner. There's also a lobby bar and a poolside snack bar for light meals and snacks throughout the day. The rooftop Skyline Bar has a daily happy hour and a great terrace with views over Portimao and the Arade River, but is only open during high season. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, but the connection is not always that reliable. A free shuttle to the village of Ferragudo and its beach runs a couple times a day.