Velamar Boutique Hotel - Adults Friendly Reviews

Just returned from a 9 night stay at Velamar & literally couldn't find fault with this hotel. I was a bit apprehensive about booking a 3* hotel, but the reviews convinced me otherwise & I'm glad I did. The public areas - reception, lounge bar, lobby loos, pool area, breakfast room - were modern & kept spotlessly clean by the hardworking staff. The bedroom was very clean too & the bed was very large & super comfortable. Breakfast had a decent choice of hot food, pastries, bread, fruit etc available & it was nice to be able to sit on the terrace to enjoy it. The food at the pool bar was also good & reasonably priced. The deals with various food options plus a drink were particularly good value. The cocktails in the lounge were really good & made with premium spirits. These were also pretty well priced. Every member of staff we came across was very polite & happy to help, but also discreet & not too in your face. The location may be too quiet for some, but we liked having a base out of the throng of Albufeira. There were some nice restaurants close by & a cool cocktail bar (Cabana) that seemed a bit undiscovered. We also visited 3 lovely beaches within walking distance. Maria Luisa was a particular highlight. The bus into Albufeira was really easy & the taxi back only about 12 euros. We also got a bus into Villamoura & taxi back, which wasn't too bad either. I think Velamar is 3* because it doesn't have loads of facilities - gym, entertainment programme etc - but it does definitely have a feel of a 4* boutique hotel. We definitely plan to return.