Quinta do Caracol

Really nice grounds to walk around and relax in. Staff were very friendly and giving us some great advice on things to see in the local area. Short walk in to the main part of Tavira for restaurants in the evening. We had a very nice couple of days here.

Lovely typical Portuguese style apartments (b & b) within their own grounds which included a swimming pool (a lovely converted old water tank), bar, breakfast room and comfortable sunbeds with umbrellas. Grounds well kept and attended by a gardener every day. Toaster,microwave, kettle, fridge and electric hob in the kitchen area with basic utensils (i.e. plates, pans etc). About 15 minute walk from the lovely town of Tavira.

The hotel was an oasis in the small city of Tavira. Very conveniently located, a ten minute walk into the centre. Lots of character within the hotel and helpful friendly owners. Will definitely be going back.

Friendly and quiet ,beautiful gardensetting very individual rooms of converted farm buildings with grass and fruit trees around you. Free parking and internet a good base to explore from but set on the edge of town, 15 min walk to town centre a car is needed in my opinion.

A friendly welcome from the lady whose grandfather (if I remember correctly) converted this farm into B&B apartments/rooms, set in lovely gardens (with ponds, an aviary, a plunge pool, a terrace, a barbecue... and probably more!). Unfortunately we hadn't had time to learn much Portuguese, but luckily Margarita spoke good English. Our apartment was really nice - spacious, cool, comfortable and well-equipped, with a handy kitchenette. Breakfast was served in a kind of marquee in the gardens (heated, as the March mornings were cool), and included a good selection of bread, pastries, cereals, cold meat, yogurt, coffee, tea, and freshly-squeezed orange juice, from the Quinta's own orange trees. We also had eggs on the first morning, which we think were probably from the hens we saw in the grounds. Despite the things that have sprung up around the Quinta - it is wedged between a railway line/station and a road - we had quite a peaceful stay... there was some noise from the road and from trains coming and going, but it was less intrusive than you might expect - in fact it adds to the kind of 'oasis' feeling of the place, and I say this as a light sleeper... I think the only things that woke me up were the birds and the frogs getting quite vocal in the morning! The only other aspect which may not suit some people is the location in relation to the town centre. The setting is obviously very handy if you're arriving into (or leaving) Tavira by train, but it's a bit more of a walk (perhaps 15 mins) from the bus station, and maybe 10 mins or so walk into town, although we quite enjoyed that. There's a Lidl supermarket just next to the station, and one or two cafes just a few minutes' walk away. Incidentally, we really enjoyed our meals at Restaurante Bica, just across the old bridge in the centre of town (a street back or so), but careful, it seems very popular and fills up quickly. Overall, we found both Quinta do Caracol and the town of Tavira very likeable indeed.

We chose the city of Tavira as the base for the Algarve part of our Portugal vacation mostly on the recommendation of the Rick Steves' guidebook. It was definitely less touristy with quaint streets, local people, cozy restaurants, and no giant hotels. The Quinta do Carocol was a great choice as the property is large with authentic looking rooms filled with local furniture and decor. As the property is older, it could use some improvements and unfortunately there was some mold and mustiness in the closet areas which could be a problem if you have allergies. The property had nice landscaping, ponds, and many places to sit. Unfortunately we came during a somewhat cold and rainy time. The heater in the bedroom was necessary and led to a pleasant sleep. Also the bathroom has a heater which helped a lot. Free wireless in the indoor lounge area iss a must for us and it worked just fine to check our email on our Android phones. The place is a good 10-15 minute walk to the river and main parts of town which was just fine for us and the area seemed safe. Two supermarkets (chains) are nearby and a couple of take-away food places. Overall it was perfect for our stay. Afterwards we drove to Faro and then took the train to Lisbon.