Algarve Hotel Tips by Bwana_Brown

When I was planning our Portugal trip, I decided that after our first 3 nights in Lisbon, we should head south to the Algarve where we would spend another 2 nights so we would have a little time to look around. I specifically chose Aljezur because I did not want to be in a big tourist high-rise type situation. I also wanted to be able to take a look the Algarve's much less developed western coast and the mountainous area around Monchique.

Unique Qualities: The 'O Palazim' was recommended in my DK Eyewitness Travelguide as a good spot in Aljezur, and there really are not a lot of choices. It was a simple job to pick up the telephone and call them from Canada regarding my intended dates. There was no muss, no fuss and not even any money put down - they trust that you will keep your word! We paid E35 per day (US$45) including breakfast.

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Theme: Pension/Guesthouse
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$20-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 282-998-249
Address: On the N120 highway outside Aljezur
Directions: The left side of the N120 as you descend down toward Aljezur when arriving from the north.

The rooms at the 'O Palazim' were very nice - we were impressed by the window shutter arrangement that works like an outside blind, very common in Portugal as we found out later, that enables the rooms to be kept cool in the heat of the day. The photo shows the large parking lot in front of the premises as well as their covered bar/restaurant area. It is attached to the part of the building where breakfast is served.

Unique Qualities: I never did get used to Portugese breakfasts - a little too bland for my taste. No matter where we went, the usual was a bun with slices of cheese and ham, or you could switch to packages of jam. Juice and strong coffee with hot milk were also the standard - this I liked! Sometimes there was a choice of fruit. At the O Palazim, they had a couple of oranges in the fruit selection - I picked one up that had a splotchy skin on it, not very impressive looking. However, when peeled it, the juice absolutely flowed out of it and it was so sweet and tasty!! I have never had an orange that good in my whole life! Also, at breakfast one morning there was another couple talking in a Spanish/French mixture to our hostess. She mentioned to them in Portugese that we were from Canada and they then began to talk to us. It turned out that they were Belgians who had been living in Hull, Quebec for 17 years! He had actually been born in Kinshasa, Congo in the 1960's so we really got into it after I mentioned that I had also been to the Congo a few times in the early 1970's while working in Zambia!!

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Theme: Pension/Guesthouse
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$20-40  » Currency Converter