Pros

  • Walking distance to dining and nightlife in Carvoeiro
  • A 10-minute walk to the town's beach
  • Outdoor pool, hot tub, and kids' pool, plus indoor pool with hot tub
  • Buffet restaurant with free breakfast plus poolside snack bar
  • Cocktail bar with a pool table and large outdoor terrace
  • Small spa and sauna
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
  • Free on-site parking
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Cons

  • Not on the beach and most rooms lack sea views
  • Dated rooms, some with tube TVs
  • Decor throughout needs an overhaul
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Bottom Line

Despite its name ("praia" means beach), the three-pearl Hotel Mirachoro Praia isn't a beachfront property or even in view of it. Still, it's situated near everything in Carvoeiro and the beach is a 10-minute walk away. For some, it's an ideal spot away from the crowded town center, yet within easy walking distance of key attractions while rates are a relative deal. The decor leaves much to be desired, however, and while the 121 dated rooms have big private balconies, the views are nothing special. On the plus side, the pools and lounge chairs are plentiful, and breakfast is free at the buffet. It may be worth looking around, though, and travelers who want to be on the beach could check out the comparably priced Pestana Palm Gardens. 

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Internet
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel Mirachoro Praia

Scene

Humble, outdated resort with a relatively quiet vibe

As it's surrounded on three sides by gardens and undeveloped landscape, the Hotel Mirachoro Praia is more quiet and peaceful than many of the other hotels in town, especially with the outdoor parties and concerts that are so common throughout summer. It has a simple, traditional look, with terra-cotta roof tiles and rows of arched balconies, but inside there's an explosion of color that some may find jarring. In fact, the look throughout is quite dated -- something from the late '90s or early 2000s. Other than a few beachy touches like tiled floors, breezy window dressings, and striped upholstery, there's no rhyme or reason to the decor. The walls tend to be painted in a primary blue or alarmingly bright red, with an attempt at creating a washed-out look or some kind of patina, but the overall effect is shockingly amateur for a chain hotel that claims upscale status. There is an abundance of wicker furnishings paired with glass-topped tables and more bright red, or blue cushions. As this is a quiet place, without the family-friendly amenities of other properties in the Algarve, the hotel is mostly popular with couples.

See More Scene

Location

Walking distance to dining, nightlife, and the beach 

There are an abundance of restaurants and bars around the hotel, with more all along the road into the center of town. It's an eight- to 10-minute walk to both the beach and to the center of Carvoeiro, a top tourist spot for dining, shopping, and nightlife. Summer months bring beach parties, live music in the streets, and outdoor movie screenings. Another major beach, Praia do Vale de Centianes, is a four-minute drive in the other direction. The Gramacho Golf Course and Vale Da Pinta Golf Course -- both considered among Europe's best courses -- are each under a 12-minute drive away. The stunning natural formations at the Benagil Caves are seven minutes away by car. The closest airport is outside of Faro, a 45-minute drive from the hotel. 

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Rooms

Dated rooms with mini-fridges and huge balconies

The hotel's 121 rooms are dated and bland, though relatively well maintained, with plain tiled floors and off-white walls that are sparsely decorated with framed prints of modern art. Furniture comes in bland oak-veneer finishes, and the dark bedspreads and heavy striped curtains don't do much to update the overall look. On paper they're huge by any standard, but much of each Standard Rooms' 645-square-foot floor plan (60 square meters) is devoted to a cavernous furnished balcony. These would be more welcome if the views were remarkable, but most lack sea views. All rooms have simple sitting areas with chairs and small tables, along with basic wooden desks. Mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, and air-conditioning come standard, and while some rooms have dated tube TVs, others have flat-screens. Suites add living rooms with full-sized couches, and Family Rooms add second bedrooms; both with sea views. The tiled bathrooms have bidets and shower/tub combos.

See More Rooms

Features

Indoor and outdoor pools, spa, cocktail bar with outdoor terrace, buffet restaurant with free breakfast 

The hotel's outdoor pool has a small island feature and a swim-up snack bar with covered seating. The sun deck has plenty of space for relaxing on striped lounge chairs -- this means there's no need to wake up at the crack of dawn to throw a towel down on a lounge chair for the day. There's also a hot tub and a small kids' pool set into the grass nearby. The indoor pool is less appealing, housed under an uncomfortably low ceiling, and has a second hot tub. There's no fitness center, though there is a small spa with basic massages and a sauna. The hotel's buffet-style restaurant serves regional cuisine and a free breakfast with a nice range of hot and cold options. The cocktail bar is even more colorful than the lobby, with a pool table and seating amid lime-green and bright-pink deco. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and there's plenty of free on-site parking.

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel Mirachoro Praia

Scene

Humble, outdated resort with a relatively quiet vibe

As it's surrounded on three sides by gardens and undeveloped landscape, the Hotel Mirachoro Praia is more quiet and peaceful than many of the other hotels in town, especially with the outdoor parties and concerts that are so common throughout summer. It has a simple, traditional look, with terra-cotta roof tiles and rows of arched balconies, but inside there's an explosion of color that some may find jarring. In fact, the look throughout is quite dated -- something from the late '90s or early 2000s. Other than a few beachy touches like tiled floors, breezy window dressings, and striped upholstery, there's no rhyme or reason to the decor. The walls tend to be painted in a primary blue or alarmingly bright red, with an attempt at creating a washed-out look or some kind of patina, but the overall effect is shockingly amateur for a chain hotel that claims upscale status. There is an abundance of wicker furnishings paired with glass-topped tables and more bright red, or blue cushions. As this is a quiet place, without the family-friendly amenities of other properties in the Algarve, the hotel is mostly popular with couples.

See More Scene

Location

Walking distance to dining, nightlife, and the beach 

There are an abundance of restaurants and bars around the hotel, with more all along the road into the center of town. It's an eight- to 10-minute walk to both the beach and to the center of Carvoeiro, a top tourist spot for dining, shopping, and nightlife. Summer months bring beach parties, live music in the streets, and outdoor movie screenings. Another major beach, Praia do Vale de Centianes, is a four-minute drive in the other direction. The Gramacho Golf Course and Vale Da Pinta Golf Course -- both considered among Europe's best courses -- are each under a 12-minute drive away. The stunning natural formations at the Benagil Caves are seven minutes away by car. The closest airport is outside of Faro, a 45-minute drive from the hotel. 

See More Location

Rooms

Dated rooms with mini-fridges and huge balconies

The hotel's 121 rooms are dated and bland, though relatively well maintained, with plain tiled floors and off-white walls that are sparsely decorated with framed prints of modern art. Furniture comes in bland oak-veneer finishes, and the dark bedspreads and heavy striped curtains don't do much to update the overall look. On paper they're huge by any standard, but much of each Standard Rooms' 645-square-foot floor plan (60 square meters) is devoted to a cavernous furnished balcony. These would be more welcome if the views were remarkable, but most lack sea views. All rooms have simple sitting areas with chairs and small tables, along with basic wooden desks. Mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, and air-conditioning come standard, and while some rooms have dated tube TVs, others have flat-screens. Suites add living rooms with full-sized couches, and Family Rooms add second bedrooms; both with sea views. The tiled bathrooms have bidets and shower/tub combos.

See More Rooms

Features

Indoor and outdoor pools, spa, cocktail bar with outdoor terrace, buffet restaurant with free breakfast 

The hotel's outdoor pool has a small island feature and a swim-up snack bar with covered seating. The sun deck has plenty of space for relaxing on striped lounge chairs -- this means there's no need to wake up at the crack of dawn to throw a towel down on a lounge chair for the day. There's also a hot tub and a small kids' pool set into the grass nearby. The indoor pool is less appealing, housed under an uncomfortably low ceiling, and has a second hot tub. There's no fitness center, though there is a small spa with basic massages and a sauna. The hotel's buffet-style restaurant serves regional cuisine and a free breakfast with a nice range of hot and cold options. The cocktail bar is even more colorful than the lobby, with a pool table and seating amid lime-green and bright-pink deco. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and there's plenty of free on-site parking.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Beach

  • Cable

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • 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.