Oceano Atlantico Apartamentos

Oceano Atlantico is housed in a striking modern building that, true to the hotel's name, looks a bit like an ocean liner. Guests enter to a contemporary lobby with floor-to-ceiling windows that let in natural light. This amplifies the monochromatic black-white-grey motif, though at night the lobby is bathed in a cool blue color from lights above. The restaurant also has a sleek, modern aesthetic, and helps put this just a step above most mid-range offerings in the area. Unfortunately, apartments are a little more bland in their look, though still reasonably modern. Guests gather around the outdoor pool, which is a bit small given the number of rooms here. The hotel draws couples to its excellent facilities, spacious apartments, and location not too far from the beach. Families with kids benefit from the children's pool, playground, and kids' activities. 

Oceano Atlantico is at the edge of Portimao's bustling hotel zone, outside of the city center. There's a supermarket and some other hotels nearby, but not much in the way of things to see and do in the immediate area. The hotel is about a three-minute drive or a little over 10 minutes on foot from Praia dos Tres Castelos, which is quieter than Praia da Rocha, just to the east. However, the latter is where most of Portiamao's tourist-ready bars and restaurants are located, and will take about five- to 10-minutes to reach by car. Portimao's city center, which has local shops, restaurants, and the historic Colegio Church, is a little under a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Those looking for a historic slice of the Algarve should head to either Alvor or Ferragudo, which are 10 and 15 minutes away by car, respectively (and in opposite directions). Faro Airport is 45 minutes away by car, and it's a two-and-a-half-hour drive to Lisbon and its airport.

Oceano Atlantico has 120 studio, duplex, one-, two, and four-bedroom apartments. Rooms have a modern, but slightly bland look, with inexpensive wood furnishings and largely bare walls. The color palette is a neutral white, beige, and brown, but many units add a punch of color with elements like burgundy sofas, red lacquer kitchen cupboard doors, and orange-and-yellow striped throw pillows on the beds. Space is an asset: units range from 538 square feet (50 square meters) to 2,691 square feet (250 square meters) in size. Apartments are generally in good condition, but there are a few complaints of leaking air-conditioning. Unlike many other apartment hotels, units here are cleaned daily. Standard features include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and kitchens with sinks, ovens, four-burner stovetops, microwaves, toasters, blenders, cookware, and tableware. Appliances, cookware, and tableware are all high quality. There are no in-room irons or electric kettles, but both can be requested from reception. Unfortunately, safes are not free to use. Some living rooms include sofa beds, and many apartments have balconies or terraces plus ocean views. Bathrooms are spacious and come with bidets, a decent amount of counter space, and shower/tub combos. Toiletries are limited and not restocked.

There are a number of features here that help make this a solid value for an apartment hotel in the Portimao area. Oceano Atlantico features an outdoor pool and small children's pool. The main pool is not very big for a hotel this size, though the deck gets good direct sun, and there are very few complaints about not getting a sun lounger. The hotel is in an area with fairly high wind, and this can cause dirt and debris to slightly discolor the water, but it doesn't make the pool unusable. A poolside snack bar serves drinks and light fare during high season. The on-site health club (also open to the public) is excellent. It features a great range of cardio and weight equipment, as well as fitness classes and personal training (both for a fee). It also has an indoor pool, hot tub, and massage treatments (for a fee). The Oceano features an outdoor playground and activities for kids. A restaurant serves Portuguese and Mediterranean cuisine for lunch and dinner, as well as a breakfast buffet (though the latter isn't included in room rates). Room service is available. The bar serves a good menu of cocktails and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The hotel also has a business center and 24-hour front desk. Outdoor parking is free of charge, and private and secured parking is available for a fee. Wi-Fi is free.