Pros

  • Bright and modern apartments have decently equipped kitchens
  • All rooms have flat-screen TVs, kettles, and dining tables
  • Eight minutes’ walk from the Praia do Inatel
  • 10-minute walk from the escalators leading to Fishermans’ Beach
  • Large, sunny pool terrace overlooking Albufeira and the ocean
  • Pool bar serving snacks and drinks
  • Buffet breakfast receives positive reviews
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Cons

  • Rooms lack air-conditioning
  • Fees for in-room fans and safes
  • Some decor could use a refresh
  • Wi-Fi only available in the hotel’s lobby
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Bottom Line

The three-pearl, apartment-style Hotel Almar offers a good value in Albufeira. The hotel is an eight-minute walk from the Praia do Inatel, and 10 minutes from the center of town and the escalators leading down to Fisherman’s Beach. Decor in the hotel’s shared areas could use an update, but its 44 apartments are fresh and minimalist, with decently equipped kitchens and large terraces that overlook the Atlantic. However, there's no air-conditioning and fans require a fee, as do safes. A large sunny terrace houses a main pool and adjacent kiddy pool, and overlooks the ocean and surrounding rooftops. The buffet breakfast (fee) receives positive reviews, but guests will have to cook or go elsewhere for other meals. People looking for a resort-type hotel with more amenities might want to try the Auramar Beach Resort.

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Internet
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel Almar

Scene

Apartment-style property with underwhelming decor in common areas, but terraces with scenic ocean views

From the outside, Hotel Almar's stark-white concrete makes an impression, but interior design is far from its strong point. The lobby is a dim space with a scuffed stone floor, dominated by a heavy blond-wood reception desk, and featuring a small waiting area with a single couch, coffee table, and oversized red urns. A tiny bar doubles up as its breakfast room: It has a ceiling clad in blond wood, bent-wood chairs at tables covered in white linen, and banquettes in muted shades of ochre and sage. Outside -- and in the apartments -- things pick up, though. The hotel has a large lap pool set in a terra-cotta terrace surrounded by a stretch of green lawn. The terrace overlooks the clay roofs of Albufeira and the blue Atlantic. Attracting both families and couples, this is a good self-catering option at an affordable price.

See More Scene

Location

Eight-minute walk to the nearest beach, and 10 minutes to Fisherman’s Square

The Hotel Almar is ideally located for guests looking to stay in the center of Albufeira. It’s an eight-minute walk to the Praia do Inatel, and the escalators leading down to Fisherman’s Square are a 10-minute walk away. There is a small supermarket a three-minute walk away, for guests to stock up, and there are plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants nearby. The Strip, which is home to much of Albufeira’s nightlife, is a half-hour walk away, or an eight-minute drive. Expect transfers to Portimao Airport to take between 30 and 40 minutes, while Faro Airport is a 40- to 50-minute drive away.

See More Location

Rooms

Minimalist, modern apartments with kitchens, outdated bathrooms, and terraces

The Hotel Almar’s 44 apartments are a bit minimalist, but they are far more contemporary than the common areas. They have either one or two bedrooms, and are decorated with dark-wood floors, white popcorn walls, and furniture in moody shades of navy blue and cool gray. On the downside, rooms lack air-conditioning, and fees are required for both fans and safes. Bedrooms are large, and have two single beds pushed together to make a double, as well as a desk and chair. The apartments have a sizable living and dining space, with the two areas separated by a low cabinet unit painted gray. The living area has a coffee table, two couches, and a flat-screen TV, while the dining room has a table and chairs next to a serving hatch. 

Kitchens have outdated patterned tiles, but everything else is sleek and modern. They're equipped with a two-burner stove, microwave, mini-fridge, kettle, and toaster, as well as the usual cookware and crockery. Some older tiling also remains in the bathrooms, but they're kept clean. They have a shower/tub combo with a plastic curtain, bidet, and magnifying mirror, plus toiletries. All apartments have good-sized terraces with plastic furniture, and either ocean or garden views.

See More Rooms

Features

Lap pool set in a sunny terrace, pool bar, and breakfast buffet

The Hotel Almar is a bit light on amenities, though that's a bit to be expected for an apartment-style property. The centerpiece is undoubtedly a large lap pool in a terra-cotta terrace surrounded by a stretch of well-kept green lawn. A smaller, shallow pool for kids is also here, and both are surrounded by a handful of white plastic loungers. Dining-wise, a pool bar serves drinks and snacks throughout the day, plus a buffet breakfast is served in a small dining room. A computer and printer are available, but for a fee. Free Wi-Fi is limited to the lobby.

See More Features

Things You Should Know About Hotel Almar

Also Known As

  • Apartamento Almar

Address

Rua Bartolomeu Dias 5, Cerro da Alagoa, Albufeira 8200-995, Portugal

Website

Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel Almar

Scene

Apartment-style property with underwhelming decor in common areas, but terraces with scenic ocean views

From the outside, Hotel Almar's stark-white concrete makes an impression, but interior design is far from its strong point. The lobby is a dim space with a scuffed stone floor, dominated by a heavy blond-wood reception desk, and featuring a small waiting area with a single couch, coffee table, and oversized red urns. A tiny bar doubles up as its breakfast room: It has a ceiling clad in blond wood, bent-wood chairs at tables covered in white linen, and banquettes in muted shades of ochre and sage. Outside -- and in the apartments -- things pick up, though. The hotel has a large lap pool set in a terra-cotta terrace surrounded by a stretch of green lawn. The terrace overlooks the clay roofs of Albufeira and the blue Atlantic. Attracting both families and couples, this is a good self-catering option at an affordable price.

See More Scene

Location

Eight-minute walk to the nearest beach, and 10 minutes to Fisherman’s Square

The Hotel Almar is ideally located for guests looking to stay in the center of Albufeira. It’s an eight-minute walk to the Praia do Inatel, and the escalators leading down to Fisherman’s Square are a 10-minute walk away. There is a small supermarket a three-minute walk away, for guests to stock up, and there are plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants nearby. The Strip, which is home to much of Albufeira’s nightlife, is a half-hour walk away, or an eight-minute drive. Expect transfers to Portimao Airport to take between 30 and 40 minutes, while Faro Airport is a 40- to 50-minute drive away.

See More Location

Rooms

Minimalist, modern apartments with kitchens, outdated bathrooms, and terraces

The Hotel Almar’s 44 apartments are a bit minimalist, but they are far more contemporary than the common areas. They have either one or two bedrooms, and are decorated with dark-wood floors, white popcorn walls, and furniture in moody shades of navy blue and cool gray. On the downside, rooms lack air-conditioning, and fees are required for both fans and safes. Bedrooms are large, and have two single beds pushed together to make a double, as well as a desk and chair. The apartments have a sizable living and dining space, with the two areas separated by a low cabinet unit painted gray. The living area has a coffee table, two couches, and a flat-screen TV, while the dining room has a table and chairs next to a serving hatch. 

Kitchens have outdated patterned tiles, but everything else is sleek and modern. They're equipped with a two-burner stove, microwave, mini-fridge, kettle, and toaster, as well as the usual cookware and crockery. Some older tiling also remains in the bathrooms, but they're kept clean. They have a shower/tub combo with a plastic curtain, bidet, and magnifying mirror, plus toiletries. All apartments have good-sized terraces with plastic furniture, and either ocean or garden views.

See More Rooms

Features

Lap pool set in a sunny terrace, pool bar, and breakfast buffet

The Hotel Almar is a bit light on amenities, though that's a bit to be expected for an apartment-style property. The centerpiece is undoubtedly a large lap pool in a terra-cotta terrace surrounded by a stretch of well-kept green lawn. A smaller, shallow pool for kids is also here, and both are surrounded by a handful of white plastic loungers. Dining-wise, a pool bar serves drinks and snacks throughout the day, plus a buffet breakfast is served in a small dining room. A computer and printer are available, but for a fee. Free Wi-Fi is limited to the lobby.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Beach

  • Business Center

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Children's Pool

  • Cribs

  • Full Kitchen

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Room Service

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.