Hotel Baltum

Hotel Baltum is a small, simple hotel on the Avenida 25 de Abril in the heart of Albufeira’s old town, right on the promenade above the sea. With only 51 rooms, it is a modest, friendly place rather than a big resort, and it is the kind of hotel that makes sense for travellers who plan to spend their days on the beach and their evenings in the old streets. Its position is the main reason to choose it: you step out of the door and the sand, the cafes and the restaurants are all within a minute or two on foot. The rooms are compact and practical, with air conditioning, free WiFi, a safe, a television and daily housekeeping. The choice includes double rooms, double or twin rooms with a balcony, superior twin rooms with a balcony, and family rooms for up to four guests. A balcony room is worth requesting if you want a place to sit with a drink and watch the evening stroll along the promenade, though rooms facing the street may hear noise at night in summer. There is no pool, but the rooftop terrace offers a place to sunbathe and look out over the old town and the sea. A restaurant and bar are on site, with a buffet breakfast that may be charged separately, and a coffee shop for something lighter. A 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, tour and ticket help and an area shuttle are available, which is useful if you want to arrange boat trips and excursions. The hotel is smoke-free, and check-in is generally in the afternoon, so ask about early arrival or storing your bags if your flight lands in the morning.

Albufeira’s old town is the most atmospheric part of the resort, with whitewashed lanes, small squares, the ruins of the castle wall and a busy scene of restaurants and bars. Peneco Beach and Praia dos Pescadores, the fishermen’s beach, are each about a two-minute walk away, and Praia dos Alemães is a ten-minute walk.

The old town square is only three minutes away, and boat trips to the sea caves and dolphin-watching excursions leave from the nearby marina and beaches. Oura Beach and the Strip, with its bars and clubs, are a short taxi ride away, and Faro Airport is roughly forty minutes by road.

This hotel is a good fit for couples, friends and independent travellers who want a central, low-cost base and who prefer to spend time on the beach or at the table. It is less suited to families who need a pool and a children’s club, or to light sleepers who want guaranteed quiet, since the old town can be lively on summer nights. If you need a pool, a spa and space, look at the larger resorts outside the centre. If you value being able to walk everywhere, this is a convenient and affordable choice.