Ria Park Hotel & Spa, Almancil

The Hotel Ria Park Resort is situated in the Vale de Garrão resort development, south of Almancil and west of Quinta do Lago, within five kilometres of six golf courses. The 175 guestrooms over five storeys all have furnished balconies and feature terracotta-tiled floors with blue rugs, contemporary art and maple-coloured furniture.

All are equipped with satellite television, climate control and minibars. The marble bathrooms come with slippers, terry-cloth bathrobes, hair dryers and complimentary toiletries. The hotel's marble lobby is located in a five-story rotunda and features fresh flowers, potted plants and original contemporary paintings. The property is surrounded by palm trees, gardens, waterfalls and a sundeck with loungers and parasols.

There are two outdoor pools, including one for children, a heated pool in a solarium and two floodlit tennis courts (available for a fee). The health club includes a fitness room, steam room, massage room and a relaxation room with a three- person spa tub. During summer, supervised outdoor activities are on offer to keep children occupied. The business centre provides full support to business customers and the hotel houses 15 meeting rooms that can be arranged in a variety of configurations with accommodation for up to 1,100 people.

The Lusitano Restaurant is decorated with Portuguese tiles, ceramics and art and serves regional specialities. The Flamingo, with terrace seating in warm weather, offers an international a la carte menu. The Lobby Bar serves cocktails, sandwiches and desserts, and features live music nightly in summer. The Pool Bar is open from May until September for sandwiches, salads, pizza and tropical drinks.

The hotel runs a free shuttle service to the beach, 800 metres away, from May to October. Wireless Internet access is available in the lobby for a surcharge. The Quinta Shopping Centre and Quinta do Lago, a resort with good golfing, are both within four kilometres of the hotel. Faro Airport is 20 kilometres from the hotel, with an approximate driving time of 30 minutes.