What We Cherished: The W Algarve felt refreshingly fashionable and clear, with a definite model that stood out from different lodges within the space. The customer support was excellent, and we actually appreciated the spacious room—it made enjoyable after an extended day extremely straightforward.
The complimentary valet parking was a welcome comfort that eradicated any parking issues, whereas the pet-friendly coverage makes it a superb alternative for vacationers who need to deliver their pets alongside on their Algarve journey.
What We Didn’t Love: Though the seashore is only a 10-minute downhill stroll from the lodge and gives a extra secluded vibe than the busier vacationers seashores, it wasn’t precisely the Algarve’s most interesting. After a full day of swimming, the uphill stroll again felt like a mini exercise. On the next days, we ended up driving out to a few of the area’s extra iconic seashores as a substitute.
The way to e-book: This lodge participates within the Marriott Bonvoy program and sometimes requires 50,000–105,000 factors per evening. Longer stays are roughly 20% much less attributable to Marriott’s Fifth Night time Free profit when reserving with factors. Money charges vary from €500–4,000 euro per evening relying on the season and room/suite class, plus taxes and costs.
In the event you’re reserving a money charge, remember to get in contact with our journey company, Prince Assortment, for a quote. This property participates in Marriott Luminous, which suggests we will give you additional perks like complimentary breakfast, a $100 USD resort credit score, and extra — all at no extra price to you. On the time of writing, the property is providing a fourth evening free promotion by Prince Assortment, however be aware that gives might range relying on if you e-book or journey.
Guide Luxurious Resorts with Prince Assortment
W Algarve – In regards to the Property
The W Algarve represents a totally completely different hospitality idea from what this southern Portugal area has historically provided over the previous 30 years—transferring past the family-oriented, standard lodges that dominated the area.
Till lately, the Algarve was by no means actually acknowledged as a luxurious vacation spot–a notion that they’re actively working to disrupt.
Whereas solely three years outdated, the foundations had been already in place from a property that had sat deserted for about 30 years earlier than being utterly rebuilt as a lodge, giving option to the larger-than-usual footprint of every room.
All 111 visitor rooms are similar in dimension, with the variations being their location and views. The Fabulous rooms are situated on the bottom flooring with direct backyard entry, the Fantastic suites occupy the center two flooring, and the Spectacular rooms are positioned on the fourth flooring providing the most effective sea views.
This lodge options two-bedroom suites inside the primary constructing, plus separate residential models in one other constructing which might be privately owned condominiums. 134 models, 111 are rooms, the rest are suites. The rooms are extremely configurable choices with lockoff suites, making it effectively suited to households or teams touring collectively.
Along with the lodge, a separate constructing consisting of personal residences sits on the identical property. These residences vary from one to 4 bedrooms and are owned by people who use them as full-time houses, trip properties, or funding leases.
Many homeowners take part within the lodge’s rental program, the place the property manages the models however maintains strict design requirements. Rooms within the Residences might be booked instantly on the Marriott web site.
The residences mirror the lodge’s model and supply full kitchen services, making them standard with households and small teams. Residents get pleasure from entry to all lodge facilities plus their very own personal pool space.
Location
W Algarve is located roughly quarter-hour from downtown Albufeira in a quiet, upscale residential space that gives a peaceable various to the busy outdated city.
The world is greatest explored by automotive, with a number of native eating places inside strolling distance for eating choices past the lodge. The Faro Airport is situated about 50 kilometers away, and Lisbon Airport is 260km away.
The hillside location gives a extra relaxed ambiance away from the crowds, although it’s much less walkable than central Albufeira. The elevated place offers an intimate resort-like really feel whereas nonetheless being conveniently near the city’s points of interest.
Reserving
My accomplice and I booked the Fantastic Visitor Room for 5 nights for 244,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors. With my Marriott Platinum Elite Standing, we had been upgraded to the Spectacular Room, which has the identical footprint of the Fantastic Room, however is situated on a better flooring with an Ocean View.
On the time of my keep, an equal room would have price roughly $1,200 CAD per evening.
W Algarve – Verify-In Expertise
From the second that we pulled up, we had been enthusiastically greeted by the valet and promptly provided a welcome drink of Portuguese wine as they unloaded the car and ushered us towards the verify in desk.
Instantly upon moving into the entrance door, friends are greeted by an attention-grabbing artwork set up. This spectacular ceramic wall set up options 613 distinctive items from a talented Portuguese artisan based mostly in northern Portugal.
The rigorously curated show creates a powerful first impression and sense of place. I used to be later knowledgeable that the identical craftsman additionally designed customized tableware used all through the property’s eating places, making a cohesive Portuguese aesthetic that connects the visible and eating experiences.
The doorway ceiling design attracts inspiration from the pure rock formations discovered alongside the close by shoreline, significantly the well-known Benagil Cave. This delicate reference to the area’s dramatic geological options creates a right away connection to the encircling panorama.
All through the property, comparable considerate references to Portuguese setting, tradition, and structure are woven into the design of visitor rooms, eating places, and customary areas, making a cohesive sense of place that celebrates the native heritage.
The check-in desk is conveniently situated down the corridor to the best, the place the workers offers persistently pleasant service. The crew has a genuinely welcoming method that makes friends really feel like returning pals reasonably than strangers.
After reviewing the lodge map with us, the identical pleasant valet escorted us to our room, finishing up baggage for us.
W Algarve – Spectacular Room
The Spectacular Room lives as much as its title. Getting into the Spectacular Room delivered an instantly spectacular expertise. The area felt ethereal and vibrant, with a contemporary design that managed to really feel each recent and intentional.
The welcome amenity that greeted us on the lounge desk was a handwritten card, a bottle of glowing wine and a cookie designed to seem like a standard blue and white Portuguese tile.
The designers efficiently integrated genuine regional components all through the room.
The mattress’s headboard echoes the distinctive architectural shapes present in conventional Algarvian villages, whereas the mini bar attracts inspiration from the attribute chimneys that outline the native skyline.
A big, plush sardine adorning the mattress added a playful Portuguese contact that we significantly loved. Whereas we hoped to buy one as a memento, the lodge doesn’t at the moment supply them on the market – although they definitely ought to take into account it given their appeal.
We additionally significantly loved the balcony and ocean views from the fourth flooring. It’s potential to have the identical room at a extra modest value level on a decrease flooring; nonetheless, you wouldn’t have an ocean view.
The exception to this might be when staying in a twin room with single beds, you’d have a bigger toilet and smaller front room area.
Whereas the lavatory was massive sufficient to accommodate us each, mirror area was restricted, which may pose a problem for 2 folks preparing without delay.
Throughout my keep, the lodge graciously provided a behind-the-scenes tour, showcasing a few of their most distinctive suites, together with the WOW Suite and the Excessive WOW Suite.
The Excessive WOW (EWOW) Suite serves because the W Algarve’s presidential suite, boasting a two-story structure with a non-public pool, terrace, and premium facilities.
The WOW Suite additionally includes a two-story design with a rooftop terrace, and choose models embody a non-public plunge pool.
W Algarve – Meals & Drink
W Lounge
The bar space options stay DJ performances within the evenings and incorporates hanging design components impressed by the native coastal setting.
Just like the primary entrance space, the design within the ceiling attracts from the pure erosion patterns of close by rock cliffs, whereas seating areas mimic ornamental seashells and oysters, including genuine maritime touches.
A nod to Moorish design is integrated above the primary bar. The colour palette displays the various hues of the ocean, creating an immersive oceanside ambiance.
Eating
With breakfast included by my Platinum Standing, we took full benefit of Market Kitchen, the lodge’s foremost eating venue. The restaurant options distinctive tile work that displays native design traditions and serves each buffet breakfast and dinner.
The menu makes a speciality of Portuguese delicacies whereas incorporating standard worldwide dishes from different Market Kitchen places at W Resorts worldwide.
For breakfast, we obtained an a la carte menu to order from, with the added choice of choosing objects from the in depth buffet.
Every morning, we selected one thing completely different from the menu, together with eggs benedict, avocado toast, and pancakes, whereas supplementing with recent fruit, toast, and bacon from the buffet choice.
The mixture proved scrumptious and supplied glorious gasoline for a full day of exploring the Algarve.
Past Market Kitchen, the lodge gives a number of extra eating choices for friends preferring to remain on-property. Paper Moon serves Italian delicacies for dinner, whereas Past Sushi offers Japanese eating within the night.
Vino, the lodge’s wine bar, gives a great setting to look at the sundown with a glass of wine. For a extra relaxed expertise, informal meals and drinks can be found close to the pool space.
W Algarve – Different Amenities
The Away Spa’s aesthetic options pure supplies like wooden, stone, and water. Conventional touches embody Portuguese tiles, fishing buoys, and bobbin lace particulars that mirror native tradition.
The spa gives a mixture of up to date wellness therapies and conventional therapeutic approaches, offering a calming setting that pulls inspiration from each the Algarve’s coastal setting. Company can get pleasure from a wide range of conventional spa therapies, or go to the moist spa circuit outdoor.
The health services are effectively geared up, with numerous choices for cardio and weight coaching. A gaggle health schedule is circulated and whereas we didn’t take part, the lessons seemed to be well-attended.
The pool space provided ample area with loads of seating choices, although our early June go to might have meant fewer crowds than throughout peak summer time months.
Whereas the pool and services had been glorious, the setting felt considerably enclosed, surrounded by the lodge on one aspect and personal residences on the opposite.
Given the proximity to the ocean, the shortage of any sea views from the pool space was a notable missed alternative that left the area feeling disconnected from its coastal location.
Company can discover extra areas of the property, together with a small playground and a grassy clifftop space that gives ocean views for lounging.
A brief path leads off-site to the close by rocky seashore for these in search of direct coastal entry; nonetheless, the seashore itself is mediocre in contrast with different seashores within the space.
I used to be knowledgeable that tennis and pickleball courts are deliberate for the close to future, which is able to broaden the on-site exercise choices for friends.
Conclusion
The W Algarve supplied a welcoming retreat that felt like coming residence every time we returned from exploring the area. The customer support was distinctive – workers had been persistently pleasant, enthusiastic, and genuinely caring all through our keep.
Having visited different elements of the Algarve beforehand, we appreciated the lodge’s peaceable location away from crowded vacationer areas, although friends and not using a automotive would possibly discover it considerably remoted.
The clear, vibrant, and fashionable design aligned completely with our preferences. Regardless of the lodge working at close to capability throughout our pre-peak season go to, it by no means felt busy or overcrowded – a testomony to the considerate property structure and expert administration.
At roughly 48,000 factors per evening, we felt we obtained glorious worth and would gladly return, whether or not utilizing factors or paying money.
