Apartamentos Rossio Mar

This is an aparthotel for divers who prefer a useful base to a full-service resort. You get apartment-style accommodation, a kitchen for the days when restaurant food can wait, and the practical advantage of staying right in Albufeira rather than somewhere that requires a taxi for every coffee and evening meal.

The property occupies two separate buildings. One is close to the beach, while the other puts you near the lift down to the sand and has the pool. That split matters when you book: the address works particularly well if you want the freedom to choose between cooking, eating out and simply sitting on the sun terrace with the Atlantic in front of you.

Air conditioning, free WiFi, daily housekeeping and a private bathroom keep the basics in order. The style is simple rather than dressed up, which is no bad thing when your main requirements are a cool room, a place to sit and somewhere to put the food you bought on the way back.

You are in Albufeira, Portugal, at Rua Latino Coelho, nº 16 e 53. One building is 150 metres from the beach; the other is 50 metres from the lift that takes you down to it. Peneco Beach is the closest named beach, while Pescadores Beach is about 0.3 miles away on foot.

The setting is properly urban. Restaurants such as Iguana Cafe and Rossio are just outside, and Sugar Rabbit Kaffe is a short walk away. Blue Bell Bar and Steps Bar are around 0.3 miles away, so an evening drink does not require a logistical operation worthy of a liveaboard departure.

Albufeira's old town is close enough to explore on foot, with the Old Town Square about 0.4 miles away. The Clock Tower, the Municipal Museum of Archaeology and the Church of Sao Sebastiao - Sacred Art Museum are all within roughly half a mile. Faro Airport is 15 miles away, with a drive of around 40 minutes.

The useful distinction here is between a studio and an apartment. A studio keeps things compact for two, while a one-bedroom apartment gives you a separate sleeping area and a little more room to spread out after a day outdoors. For a couple who values space, the 44-square-metre one-bedroom options with sea views are the more comfortable choice, particularly when access to the pool is part of the plan.

Several apartments and studios have sea or ocean views, and some have balconies or a terrace. The Standard Studio without Balcony is the straightforward option when the room is mainly a place to sleep; the Studio with Terrace suits you better if outdoor space matters with your morning coffee. The one-bedroom apartments are the sensible pick when you want a sitting area and dining space rather than living entirely around the bed.

Every unit has a fully equipped kitchen with a refrigerator, microwave, oven, stovetop, toaster, kettle, coffee machine and kitchenware. There is also a dining table and seating area. That means cold water and food can be waiting when you return tired, rather than a hunt for an open shop. Air conditioning handles the warmer nights, heating is available, and the rooms include a wardrobe, linen, towels, hairdryer and a drying rack for clothes.

Choose carefully if the pool is important. The pool is in one of the two buildings, and standard studios, the Standard One-Bedroom Apartment, and the standard sea-view one-bedroom apartment do not include pool access. The sea-view apartments with pool access are the categories to focus on; the room choice changes the daily routine more than the label suggests.

There is no hotel dining plan to organise your day, so your meals revolve around the apartment kitchen and Albufeira's nearby restaurants. That gives you two workable rhythms: breakfast at your own table before heading out, or a short walk for coffee and something prepared by somebody else. After a long day outside, the refrigerator and microwave are particularly handy for keeping the evening gloriously uncomplicated.

The kitchen is properly equipped for more than assembling sandwiches. You have an oven, stovetop, microwave, toaster, kettle, coffee machine and dining table, so a simple supper is entirely within your control. The apartments also include a seating area, useful when one of you wants to eat while the other has already claimed the sofa and the television.

For eating out, Iguana Cafe is almost on the doorstep, with Rossio restaurant just as close. Sugar Rabbit Kaffe is nearby for a lighter stop, while Blue Bell Bar and Steps Bar are around a five-minute walk away. The arrangement suits you if you like having choice without committing to an all-inclusive timetable.

The main in-house decision is whether you want the beach or the pool. One building has an outdoor pool, while both buildings offer access to sun terraces with outdoor furniture, sun loungers or beach chairs and umbrellas. Pool and beach towels are also available, so the transition from water to a dry seat is not left entirely to improvisation.

The rooftop pool gives you another place to settle when you have had enough sand for one day. It is attached to the building with pool access, so check the accommodation category before booking if you want to use it. The other building keeps you closer to the lift down to the beach instead. This is less a question of facilities than of choosing which version of the day suits you.

Away from the property, Albufeira supplies the walking. The old town, Clock Tower, churches, museums and viewpoints are all close enough for a gentle wander, while Parque da Alfarrobeira is about 1.3 miles away. You can also rent a car and use the aparthotel as a base for exploring further along the Algarve.

Apartamentos Rossio Mar is split between Rua Latino Coelho numbers 16 and 53, so the building attached to your accommodation matters. One is 150 metres from the beach; the other is 50 metres from the beach lift and has the outdoor pool. Pool access is tied to selected room categories rather than being a universal feature.

Check-in runs from 15:00 to midnight, and you need to tell the property your expected arrival time. Check-out is available from 05:00 to 12:00, which is useful for an early airport departure or an unhurried final morning. Faro Airport is about 15 miles away and Portimão Airport about 18 miles away; the drive from Faro takes around 40 minutes.

Free WiFi is available throughout the property and in the rooms, and daily housekeeping is provided. Cash is accepted. Children of any age are welcome, with cots available on request for children aged 0 to 2, subject to the accommodation option. The property is non-smoking, parties and events are not allowed, and quiet hours run from 23:00 to 07:00.