Hotel Riu Palace Algarve

This was our first trip to Portugal and we searched high and low for a nice location and hotel! We eventually settled with the Riu Palace Algarve and we could not have made a better choice! The location of this hotel is excellent, its in a really nice fishing village which has lots of lovely cafes and restaurants right on the beach, as well as excellent links to the nearby towns - Vilamoura being our favourite! We walked to Vilamoura Marina along the beach a few times and caught the bus back! The hotel itself is beautiful and is the nicest 4* hotel we have ever stayed, in fact it deserves a 5* because of the service of the staff, the beautiful location and surroundings, as well as the indulgent food we ate everyday! The maids cleaned the rooms every day and gave fresh towels etc, immaculate hotel. Great breakfast buffet, excellent choice in the evening, and even a portugese resturant which doubles up as the grill - which you can eat at free of charge! Big recommendation to fratelli's pizzeria in the centre, lovely food, great atmosphere and the staff go out of their way to make you feel welcome! The owner makes his own tirimisu and it is out of this world!! We were worried as a young couple that we would be bored at night, certainly not the case! In Olhos D'Agua there are plenty of nice bars which put on entertaintment at night, and also you can catch the bus to Vilamoura for 3 euro each and get a taxi back for 15euro, this is a great place to go for tea, drinks and entertainment. Also to Albufera it is only about 6-8 euro in a taxi which has endless amounts of clubs and bars if that is your thing! Bull fight worth a visit too, good night out with the locals and they don't kill the bull. Its a great traditional portugese evening, and we really had such a laugh with the locals who we met there. Overall excellent place, stunning hotel, definately the best in the area! You would not be disappointed with the hotel!