The Algarve is a region in southern Portugal best-known for its beaches, nightlife and warm year-round weather. It is a traditional summer retreat and winter escape for city dwellers from Lisbon and the north who appreciate its laid-back manner and many entertainment options. Praia de Gale is a small resort town in the Algarve, about half a mile from Albufeira.
Vila Gale Atlantico is the original member of the Portuguese Vila Gale hotel chain, which owns properties throughout Portugal and Brazil. A favorite choice of locals, the Vila Gale Atlantico is a hotel and resort 300 yards from the Gale beachfront. Outdoor activities at the resort are based around the large swimming pool and its palm tree-ringed stone patio. Entertainment options include a game room, children's playground and club, health club with heated indoor pool, hammam (a Turkish bath), gym and Jacuzzi, and several shops where basics and souvenirs can be purchased.
The Allegro Restaurant serves buffet or a la carte steaks, seafood and pasta dishes, and the hotel's two lounges have a Portuguese-heavy wine list and nice spaces for relaxation. Meeting rooms are available for business travelers. Guestrooms are equipped with kitchenettes plus satellite TV, radio and 24-hour room service. Rates for a double start around at about $188 as of January 2011.
The award-winning Vila Joya calls itself a boutique resort. It offers a personalized experience and a higher level of service than you will find at traditional properties in the Algarve. Located on a cliffside over the Mediterranean Sea, the Vila Joya blends traditional Arabian touches with modern design to create a space that feel more like a private villa than a hotel. Standout features include the nicely designed full-service Joy Jung Spa, where guests can select treatments a la carte; the Vila Joya Restaurant, the only two-star Michelin-rated restaurant in Portugal, with a 12,000-bottle wine cellar; and the Vila Joya Golf Academy, where pros help you develop and perfect your long game, short game, iron game or putting.
The resort can deliver a world-class experience on several levels, not least in the rooms and private suites. The 12 guestrooms range from small and simple doubles to deluxe terrace rooms, all with terrace or balcony. The suites have ocean view, large open rooms, Portuguese textiles, original artworks, and balconies or terraces. The larger suites have fireplace, heated pool or steam room. Rates for a Coachman room start around $650 as of January 2011.
The Vila Gale Praia is another member of the Vila Gale chain. The hotel stands just off the beach and also provides easy access to the Albufeira town center, a few minutes' walk away. The hotel welcomes guests with free parking and an intimate setting, with only 40 single- or double-occupancy guestrooms and the "Ambiance & Wellness" concept designed to promote health and relaxation through service and setting. The property features several relaxation options, including a large outdoor swimming pool with patio and greenery, reading room, gardens, and the Satsanga Spa, where guests can enjoy Jacuzzi, sauna, gym, hammam and a full menu of treatments.
If you want to be active, the hotel has tennis courts, game room, a disco, nearby golf and, of course, the beach. The Inevitavel Restaurant serves Portuguese fare, and the hotel bar is a social venue. Each of the large guestrooms has full wall windows at one side, veranda, flat-screen TV with English news channels, modern furnishings, DVD player, high-speed Internet and 24-hour room service. Rates for a double start around $325 as of January 2011.
The CS Sao Rafael Suite Hotel is marketed as providing "affordable luxury." As an all-suite property, the CS Sao Rafael provides large rooms with separate sleeping area and kitchens. The hotel has a five-star rating and features an array of activities for traveling families, including a Kid's Club, Relax Center & Spa complete with Jacuzzi, hammam, full treatment menu and heated swimming pool, 18-hole putting green and nearby hotel-owned course, and easy access to the beach. The hotel has both a la carte and buffet dining options as well as three bars and lounges. All suites are double rooms with additional double sofa bed, balcony, flat-screen TV with English channels, air conditioning, refrigerator, microwave and coffeepot. Rates for a double start around $255 as of January 2011.
