Choromar Apartments

This apartment-style property is composed of several different buildings, giving it a vibe akin to a humble holiday village. A stone gate with columns and life-sized statues marks the entrance to the main block, which features a courtyard in front. Tropical vegetation and flowers grow on the sides of the stone buildings. The reception desk is tucked into a corner of the main building, and the restaurant and bar are in the next room, which can get loud at times. Hallways display signs for excursions, tours, and bike rentals, adding to the no-fuss style. The atmosphere is friendly and laid-back, attracting both couples and families. It's also popular for group gatherings. 

This hotel is situated in a quiet area about a 15-minute drive outside of Albufeira, which has tons of restaurants, bars, and a beach. There is an open field and some houses around the hotel, but otherwise there's nothing to see or do within an easy walk. A supermarket is a two-minute drive down the road (or five minutes on foot), and there's a lively strip of restaurants, bars, and cafes in Santa Eulalia, a five-minute drive from the hotel. Golfers can get to the Oceanico Old Course in about 20 minutes by car. The hotel provides a shuttle that takes guests to Oura Beach and Albufeira, though it can get crowded and driving may be a better alternative (though parking in Albufeira isn't great). Faro Airport is about a 35-minute drive from the hotel, and it's a two-hour-and-15-minute drive to Lisbon and its airport.   

Choromar Apartments has studios plus one-, two-, or three-bedroom apartments. All have kitchenettes or kitchens, and some have pool views. Decor is basic and plain, with a mixture of tile and wood floors, medium-toned wood furniture, mostly white walls, and minimal decoration. In some cases, it looks like unframed pictures have simply been affixed to the walls haphazardly. Living and dining areas have wood-framed sofas and dining tables and chairs. Bedrooms are on the small side. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and safes. Wi-Fi isn't available in the rooms. Studios have efficiency kitchenettes that include toasters, microwaves, and mini-fridges, though they're not appropriate for self catering. Apartments add cook tops, as well as cooking and dining supplies. Larger apartments have sofa beds and balconies or terraces. Some bathrooms are sunny and bright, with white and green tile, marble countertops, bidets, and showers or tub/shower combos. Others lack windows. Some apartments have been updated, so it may be worth requesting a newer unit, while others will pick up noise from the hotel's bar.

The hotel has an unsurprising number of features that are on par with the other budget and mid-range apartment hotels in the area. The restaurant and bar is a cozy space with stone walls, old-world columns, booth and table seating, and several flat-screen TVs. Breakfast is served here each morning. In high season, it offers nightly entertainment and karaoke. For lunch and dinner, the menu features bar food such as pizzas, sandwiches, soups, and salads. It's all reasonably priced and gets mostly solid marks from previous guests. An outdoor barbecue area with a sink and grill provides a place where guests can gather to cook their own food and dine alfresco at the large table with benches. Lovely flowers and tropical vegetation surround the space, which is enclosed by stone walls. A mini-market in the basement of the hotel sells travel essentials, convenience items, snacks, and drinks, including wine.There are two outdoor pools with adjacent whirlpools, separated by a wall, though Block 3's pool has usage restrictions. The spaces are a bit crowded, with lounge chairs and umbrellas lined up on the pool deck. Palm trees provide additional shade and a tropical touch. The fitness center has several cardio and weight training machines, but the space is cramped and the machines are dated. There's also a sauna, Turkish bath, and indoor whirlpool. A small game room offers billiards and foosball tables, plus a couple of other games, but they all look outdated as well. An internet corner provides two stations with computers set up for guests to use for a fee. Free Wi-Fi is only available in the reception area. Parking is free. A free shuttle runs to Albufeira and Praia da Oura during high season. Keep in mind that the bus is small and fills up fast.