Pros

  • Quiet location about a 10-minute drive from Albufeira's old town
  • Studios and apartments with kitchenettes and balconies or terraces
  • Free parking and shuttle to beach and Albufeira's old town
  • Two outdoor pools, including one for children
  • Outdoor playground, tennis court, and indoor game room
  • On-site coffee shop/restaurant and bar plus a mini-mart
  • Library and computer stations (fee)
  • Free Wi-Fi in reception area
  • Pet friendly
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Cons

  • Entire property is tired and dated, and some rooms are noisy
  • Wi-Fi isn't available in guest rooms
  • No air-conditioning, and fans carry a fee
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Bottom Line

The 135-unit Silchoro Apartments is a budget aparhotel about a 10-minute drive outside Albufeira's old town. Guests can walk to The Strip for entertainment in 10 to 15 minutes, and the hotel provides a free shuttle to the beach and the old town thrice daily. The entire property, including the rooms, is past due for an update, but many budget-conscious guests find that it meets their needs. A coffee shop/restaurant serves all meals, and there's a bar, too. Studios and apartments all have kitchenettes and a balcony or terrace, but lack air-conditioning and Wi-Fi. The two outdoor pools include one for the kids, and there's a playground as well. As an alternative, units at the Solaqua Apartments are more modern and within walking distance of the beach. 

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Internet
  • Kids Club
  • Pets Allowed
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Silchoro Apartments

Scene

Tired aparthotel that's past due for an update but suitable for non-fussy bargain hunters

Housed in an eight-story white-washed building with yellow trim, this apartment-style hotel has seen better days. It's showing wear and tear throughout and is overdue for a refresh. Guests climb a few stairs and enter the property through double glass doors. The lobby is an interesting space, with a couple of wooden park benches for seating against the wall, as well as some cushioned wooden chairs. Bright yellow and orange accents stand out against the white walls and terra-cotta tile floor. A few potted plants seem to be an attempt to warm the space up, but ultimately this isn't exactly the place to hang out and socialize. In fact, with its limited number of features, most of that will need to happen outdoors, either by the pool or at the playground. Given its shabby style and self-catering digs, the Silchoro draws mostly budget-conscious and non-fussy couples, families, and groups. 

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Location

Quiet location close to N125 access road, a 10-minute drive from Albufeira

This hotel is situated in a quiet area next to one of the N125 access roads and about a 10-minute drive from Albufeira. There is a supermarket nearby, as well as a few snack bars and restaurants, and guests can walk to The Strip in 10 to 15 minutes. There, travelers will find even more dining and drinking options, plus plenty of tourist-friendly haunts. Praia da Oura can be reached in less than 10 minutes by car. The hotel provides a free shuttle to the beach and town three times a day in high season. Zoomarine Algarve is about a 10-minute drive away. Budget 40 minutes to reach the Faro Airport by car, and two-and-a-half hours to reach Lisbon. 

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Rooms

Drab and dated apartments with kitchenettes and balconies or terraces

Silchoro offers studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments, all with kitchenettes and a balcony or terrace. Decor is dated, with tile floors, white walls, old fabrics, and cheap dorm-style wooden furniture (plus a few pieces that look lifted from grandma's house). Still, the talavera tiling we spotted in some kitchens was a nice touch. One-room studios have two twin beds (which double as daytime sofas), wooden dining tables, and kitchenettes with stove tops, microwaves, mini-fridges, sinks, kettles, and toasters, as well as cooking and dining supplies. Many rooms still have old tube-style TVs. There is no air-conditioning, but fans are available for a fee, and Wi-Fi is unfortunately not offered in rooms. All rooms have a balcony or terrace furnished with plastic chairs and a small table. Apartments are similar to studios, with the same style twin beds in the living area that double as sofas. Bedrooms also have twin beds. Bathrooms are dated as well, with old fixtures, stained sinks, and chipped tiling. They include bidets, shower/tub combos, and pedestal sinks with little counter space. Noise complaints include traffic from the nearby road, barking dogs, and the sounds of neighboring guests through walls -- consider yourself warned.

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Features

Coffee shop/restaurant, bar, game room, playground, tennis court, two pools, and a mini-mart

All meals are served at the hotel's coffee shop/restaurant, a cozy, casual space with a tile floor, wooden tables and chairs, cheerful yellow and blue tablecloths, and a flat-screen TV across from the bar. There's also a snack bar next to the pool that's open in warmer months. An indoor bar has pool and foosball tables, plus arcade games and TVs for showing sporting events. 

An indoor game room also offers billiards, foosball, air hockey, and other games, but they are dated. Likewise, the on-site tennis court has seen better days, but it's playable. For the kids, a playground has swings, a slide, and climbing equipment on a grassy lawn. 

The hotel has two outdoor pools, including a large main one and a smaller one for the kids. Both are out in the open with no shade, but lounge chairs and a few umbrellas are available on the pool deck and adjacent grassy lawn. Although it's a large area, it can get crowded at times, and some guests complain there are not enough lounge chairs. 

The small business center has two computers set up for guests to use (fee), and there are a few books in a library. A mini-market sells food items, snacks, beverages, and essentials. Wi-Fi is available for free only in the lobby area. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Silchoro Apartments

Scene

Tired aparthotel that's past due for an update but suitable for non-fussy bargain hunters

Housed in an eight-story white-washed building with yellow trim, this apartment-style hotel has seen better days. It's showing wear and tear throughout and is overdue for a refresh. Guests climb a few stairs and enter the property through double glass doors. The lobby is an interesting space, with a couple of wooden park benches for seating against the wall, as well as some cushioned wooden chairs. Bright yellow and orange accents stand out against the white walls and terra-cotta tile floor. A few potted plants seem to be an attempt to warm the space up, but ultimately this isn't exactly the place to hang out and socialize. In fact, with its limited number of features, most of that will need to happen outdoors, either by the pool or at the playground. Given its shabby style and self-catering digs, the Silchoro draws mostly budget-conscious and non-fussy couples, families, and groups. 

See More Scene

Location

Quiet location close to N125 access road, a 10-minute drive from Albufeira

This hotel is situated in a quiet area next to one of the N125 access roads and about a 10-minute drive from Albufeira. There is a supermarket nearby, as well as a few snack bars and restaurants, and guests can walk to The Strip in 10 to 15 minutes. There, travelers will find even more dining and drinking options, plus plenty of tourist-friendly haunts. Praia da Oura can be reached in less than 10 minutes by car. The hotel provides a free shuttle to the beach and town three times a day in high season. Zoomarine Algarve is about a 10-minute drive away. Budget 40 minutes to reach the Faro Airport by car, and two-and-a-half hours to reach Lisbon. 

See More Location

Rooms

Drab and dated apartments with kitchenettes and balconies or terraces

Silchoro offers studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments, all with kitchenettes and a balcony or terrace. Decor is dated, with tile floors, white walls, old fabrics, and cheap dorm-style wooden furniture (plus a few pieces that look lifted from grandma's house). Still, the talavera tiling we spotted in some kitchens was a nice touch. One-room studios have two twin beds (which double as daytime sofas), wooden dining tables, and kitchenettes with stove tops, microwaves, mini-fridges, sinks, kettles, and toasters, as well as cooking and dining supplies. Many rooms still have old tube-style TVs. There is no air-conditioning, but fans are available for a fee, and Wi-Fi is unfortunately not offered in rooms. All rooms have a balcony or terrace furnished with plastic chairs and a small table. Apartments are similar to studios, with the same style twin beds in the living area that double as sofas. Bedrooms also have twin beds. Bathrooms are dated as well, with old fixtures, stained sinks, and chipped tiling. They include bidets, shower/tub combos, and pedestal sinks with little counter space. Noise complaints include traffic from the nearby road, barking dogs, and the sounds of neighboring guests through walls -- consider yourself warned.

See More Rooms

Features

Coffee shop/restaurant, bar, game room, playground, tennis court, two pools, and a mini-mart

All meals are served at the hotel's coffee shop/restaurant, a cozy, casual space with a tile floor, wooden tables and chairs, cheerful yellow and blue tablecloths, and a flat-screen TV across from the bar. There's also a snack bar next to the pool that's open in warmer months. An indoor bar has pool and foosball tables, plus arcade games and TVs for showing sporting events. 

An indoor game room also offers billiards, foosball, air hockey, and other games, but they are dated. Likewise, the on-site tennis court has seen better days, but it's playable. For the kids, a playground has swings, a slide, and climbing equipment on a grassy lawn. 

The hotel has two outdoor pools, including a large main one and a smaller one for the kids. Both are out in the open with no shade, but lounge chairs and a few umbrellas are available on the pool deck and adjacent grassy lawn. Although it's a large area, it can get crowded at times, and some guests complain there are not enough lounge chairs. 

The small business center has two computers set up for guests to use (fee), and there are a few books in a library. A mini-market sells food items, snacks, beverages, and essentials. Wi-Fi is available for free only in the lobby area. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Children's Pool

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Full Kitchen

  • Gameroom / Arcade

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Kids Club

  • Pets Allowed

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Supervised Kids Activities

  • Swim-Up Bar

  • Tennis Court

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.