We booked a twin bedded room facing the village in Don Manuel I.
When we arrived at reception we were taken around the pool, out a security gate, up the road, through another security gate to an annexe.
This room was actually in Don Manuel II, it was very modern but had no character.
When questioned why we didn't have a room in the main hotel we were advised that the hotel was fully booked and the annexes were considered as part of Dom Manuel I .
We insisted that we had booked a room in the hotel and went to reception each morning.
On the second day we were offered a room in the main hotel ,which we accepted.
The hotel is very quiet and clean.
Breakfast is very good with a selection of cereals, breads, cakes and a limited range of hot items. Coffee is good, but the fruit juice is disappointing.
The hotel is in a quiet residential area, with a short stroll down to the old quarter, going past a supermarket.
It is long walk to the bus station, even further to the railway station.
Buses to Sagres, Luz and Salemena pass nearby so you don't need to go all the way to the bus station to get one.
Lagos is around 80km from Faro airport, when we booked our holiday we took the option of a transfer to and from the hotel with Best Transfers 4 U, which cost £22 return per person.
The downside is that you have to endure the other passenger drop offs, but our return pick up was exactly on time, and with all the other pick ups our journey time to the airport was less than 2 hours.
Taxis charge around 70 euros each way.
We ate in various restaurants in the Rua 25 de Abril, all meals were competitively priced, and in a week we were only disappointed with 2 main courses.
Don Toro Steak House R Lancarole de Freitas 12
Good portion of ribs, chips and salad lots of sauce, too much if you don't like your chips soggy.
Desserts include a generous portion of lemon and strawberry ice cream
Restaurante Os Arcos Rua 25 de Abril, 30
Menu includes a traditional lamb cataplan for 2.
Generous portions of lamb and vegetables
Restaurante Bar O Castelo Rue 25 de Abril, 47
Menu items include a large filleted sole in orange sauce and a generous sirloin portugese style
Dessert options limited to selections from frozen food items.
Select your item from the menu and watch the waiter take it out of the freezer and return to your table
Restaurante Caravela, Rue 25 de Abril, 14
Delicious large portion of ham on the bone served with vegetables,large swordfish filleted with potatoes.
Great selection of reasonably priced desserts including lovely mango mousse crepes, strawberries and cream or ice cream.
- Hotel Dom Manuel
