Holiday Inn Algarve Albufeira

Holiday Inn Algarve Albufeira is a large, family-oriented hotel in the Correeira area of Albufeira, a few minutes’ drive from the old town and the best-known beaches. It is built for families and groups who want a dependable, easy holiday, with plenty for children, a free breakfast and a pool area that keeps everyone busy. It sits a little inland from the seafront, which keeps prices friendlier than at the cliff-top resorts and gives it a calmer feel than the town centre, while still putting the beaches and restaurants of Albufeira within a very short ride. The facilities are the headline. There are two outdoor pools and an indoor pool, so swimming is possible in the cooler months as well as in high summer, along with a poolside bar, a garden and a terrace. A free children’s club, a playground, an arcade and game room, billiards and a gym give families and teenagers plenty to do. The Eatery serves a Mediterranean buffet for breakfast and dinner, and the Corner Bar and a poolside bar cover drinks. Free breakfast is part of the offer, which is a real saving for a family, though you should check what your rate includes when you book. The rooms are modern and practical. They include standard rooms with a double bed and a balcony, twin rooms, rooms with a sofa bed for an extra guest, premium rooms with more space, and one-bedroom suites with a separate sofa bed for children. Air conditioning and free WiFi are standard. A free shuttle runs to the beach, a round-trip airport shuttle is available for a fee, and parking is offered at a small daily charge, so you can arrive with or without a car.

Albufeira is the Algarve’s liveliest resort town, and this hotel keeps you close without putting you in the middle of it. Praia dos Alemães and Peneco Beach are a couple of minutes by car, as is the old town square, with its tunnel to the beach, cobbled lanes, restaurants and street musicians.

The famous Strip, with its bars and clubs, is an eighteen-minute walk, so you can visit for the evening and return to a quiet room. Oura and São Rafael beaches, and the cliff-backed coves along the coast, are also a short drive. Faro Airport is roughly forty minutes away by road.

This hotel is a strong choice for families with children of all ages, for groups of friends who want a pool-and-beach holiday on a budget, and for travellers who prefer a modern, branded hotel with predictable standards. It is less suited to those who want to walk out of the door onto the sand or into the old streets, since you will use the shuttle, a taxi or a car for the beach and the nightlife.

If you want a romantic, quiet stay, look at the boutique hotels of the western Algarve. If you want a lively, practical base, this works well.

A few tips will help. Book a room with a balcony if you want a place to sit in the evening, and look for family rooms or suites if you are travelling with several children. The free beach shuttle is a big help in July and August, when parking near the beaches is difficult, so check the timetable on arrival.

Rates are highest in the school holidays and lowest in spring and autumn, when the sea is still pleasant and the beaches are quieter. The children’s club hours vary by season, so ask about them when you book.