Lynn Houghton
Freelance Travel Writer
Lynn was born in Calgary and writes about adventure travel, plus covers cultural stories and hotel reviews for national consumer titles, travel magazines, as well as national newspapers
Hotel Review
Praia do Canal, Aljezur, Portugal
WHAT WE LOVE...
In the midst of the remarkable Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Rota Vicentina on the Algarve's western Atlantic Coast sits the 56-room Praia do Canal Resort. There's so little development anywhere in the area to compete with the stars that it's a dark skies reserve too. Decorated with natural materials, wood sculptures, stone features and reflecting the colours of the terrain, there's a unique hand hewn look to the resort. Those who arrive here feel immediately relaxed and welcomed. Views out from the rooms over the hills and cliffs to the ocean beyond are breathtaking. Healthy food options at the Azeitona Restaurant are really well thought out, attractive and tasty while the fantastic Esteva Spa has two treatment rooms as well as a heated indoor pool.
Your expert reviewer
THE DETAILS
Location
The peace and quiet of naturally diverse local area, with its cliffs, beaches and rural backdrop, is a location you can happily visit again and again.
The hotel is in a remote location in a national park, with access down a steep rocky road.
By plane: flights to Faro take around 3 hours from London and Manchester and 2 hours 30 mins from Bristol. The drive to the hotel takes 1 hour 10 mins. Free parking on-site. skyscanner.com
Style & Character
This resort is already a firm favourite with families but also attracts nature-lovers of every stripe. We love the fabulously large infinity pool with a small garden planted not at the edge - but in the pool itself.
Service & Facilities
The lovely cleaning staff looking after the rooms switched our mini-bar non-alcoholic beers for the real thing.
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Swimming pools
- Terrace
- Spa
- Fitness centre
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
Rooms
Without a doubt, the bathroom is a triumph, and it's clever to have the ample storage there on the wall behind the bedroom. The rain shower cubicle is enormous. The open plan of our space and the natural ambience really appeals - the views beyond the balcony seem to be invited into the room.
Deluxe Room, Junior Suite, Junior Suite Rooftop, Family Suite, Grand Suite Rooftop
Facilities include: ensuite bathroom, Elemis toiletries, tea and coffee facilities, TV, free Wi-Fi
Food & Drink
The service is excellent, very personal and thoughtful. Advice for wine is on offer but you never feel pressured into trying something if you don't want to. The torta de laranja (orange roll) was a favourite, not a pastry as such but a creamy sorbet with orange flavoured accoutrements.
Azeitona: contemporary Portuguese cuisine, organic produce. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Medronho: cocktails, light meals and afternoon tea. Open daily 12 noon until late.
Zimbro: grilled fish and meat, seafood, pizzas. Open for lunch and dinner.
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Rooms available from £233.73 per night
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