Praia da Balbina

Lovely little hotel tucked up side street minutes from the square but far enough away to not be disturbed by night life noise. The hotel is a little dated but it was spotless the water was hot air con and WiFi was excellent. Lovely little pool on the roof with a few sunbeds you can basically do what you want. Breakfast is very basic it’s fine for me as I don’t really do breakfast but if you like your traditional fry up then there are plenty of restaurants in the square to chose from. We hired a car and parking was tight near the hotel but at the top of the road was two large carparks. The owners fernando and his wife are lovely and helpful I will be returning later in the year. Good restaurants are ones in the square and through the tunnel to catch the little train go to the end of the beach and go up the escalators the train stop it at the top. They do take cards.

A beautifully situated and well appointed boutique hotel graced with courteous, efficient, multilingual staff. The pool and decking is framed with magnificent Mediterranean pines and rosemary. Gym is well equipped and the breakfast buffet abundant. Bedlinen is the finest, softest most silken cotton and the pillows provide a sweet slumber. Clientele in July was a mix of Portuguese ( a good sign when you stay in a country that its own people choose it) and some English, Irish and Italians. Guests were mostly well behaved.