Algarve short break
We knew we wanted to stay in Albufeira Old Town as it's one of our favourite areas and we love the restaurants in the Old Town Square. It didn't take us long to decide that Rocamar Exclusive Hotel & Spa was the perfect choice for us. Stunning views, easy walk to the square and funky interiors made it very appealing and we were not disappointed. As it's more of an adults hotel, Cameron felt very grown up at being allowed to stay there and was not concerned at the lack of kids facilities as he knows there are other holidays planned this year with him in mind.
We stayed in a Superior Sea View room on a B&B basis and could not have been happier with our room 422. Furnished in a very contemporary style with a cool and calming feel and views to die for, we were very comfortable. As our balcony wasn't overlooked, we were able to leave our curtains open so that we could wake up to a beautiful sunrise every morning - stunning! The hotel is a small boutique style with 88 rooms in total, a lovely spa area, sea view infinity pool, restaurant and bar area. Throughout the hotel there are funky interiors and interesting design touches that make it a really modern but comfortable choice.
Once you walk out of the front of the hotel, your eyes are drawn to the fabulous vista in front of you. There are steps or a lift down to the wide, sandy beach where you can take a walk along to the new town area. Alternatively, you can take a walk through the cobbled streets of the Old Town to the main square where you will find lots of lovely restaurants and bars. The streets off the square are like a rabbit warren and each once has shops full of trinkets, souvenirs and specialities. Street performers and live music are not uncommon in the streets of Albufeira Old Town and make it a lovely place to sit and people watch. Sand sculptures are also a big feature on Fishermans Beach.
Albufeira also has a new town known as 'The Strip' where you will find a large range of bars, restaurants, shops and a couple of nightclubs. This area is popular but is less traditional than the Old Town but still worth a visit. It's possible to walk between the two towns but is quite a distance so I'd recommend a taxi (around €4 each way) or the land train that takes you around the resort.
As we were only on a 4 night break, we didn't venture too far but a trip to Vilamoura Marina is always a must. Top notch restaurants, trendy bars and people watching is the order of the day and of course looking at the beautiful (and very big) yachts. There are some beautiful 4* and 5* hotels in Vilamoura and some equally stunning golf courses catering for varying abilities.
Just outside of Albufeira is Guia which is home to many of the villas in the area and also home to Piri Piri Chicken! A large shopping centre with food court and cinema is also situated in Guia plus a vineyard that you can take a guided tour around.
The Algarve has lots to offer both families and couples and is one of my favourite places in Europe. Rocamar Exclusive is a beautiful hotel that I'd thoroughly recommend to couples who like stunning views, quirky interiors, nice restaurants nearby and relaxation. I'd definitely recommend upgrading to a Superior Sea View room as they are more spacious, individually designed and the views are worth the supplement! Although the hotel offers Half Board, I would recommend doing B&B as there are so many nearby restaurants to choose from.