After a relaxed 40-minute drive from Faro Airport, we arrived at the gently curved, low-rise Hotel Maritur. The first sign that the hotel was rather special came with our delayed arrival: Manuela, the receptionist, was expecting us and knew about the flight delay. To our great appreciation, the restaurant stayed open because the staff were concerned we might be hungry. Thoughtful gestures like these give the Pierre & Vacances Group’s intimate hotels a clear advantage over larger establishments.
The welcoming platter of little Portuguese delicacies in our room was appreciated, not that we had any space left following our delicious buffet dinner in the hotel restaurant!
Built in a gentle curve in 2002, the hotel is a small, gleaming white pearl set above the fabulously wild beaches of Sao Rafael and Arrifes; conversely the spacious rooms have lofty ceilings, original parquet floors teamed with butter-soft pastel grey carpet. Neutral, calming decor, outer walls following the gentle curve of the building, pleasing to the eye.
Furniture is fashioned from attractive warm Portuguese oak, including a wardrobe big enough to walk in, which is in perfect harmony with the modern dark wood feature walls. The bathroom is a joy to behold, resplendent in pink and black marble, a good strong power shower and a long bath to stretch out in . All designed to give maximum comfort with a minimum of effort.
There is an exceptionally good air-conditioning system in the rooms, as mid-way through September the temperature was unseasonably high even for the Algarve.
There is no need to leave the hotel during your stay, as there is an abundance of facilities; a high-tech gym, a welcoming, warm indoor pool adjacent to a freezing cold one – not for the faint hearted (no, thank you!) and a powerful jacuzzi to unknot those muscles. There is also a spa, a suite of showers, a tropical room, and a cool, dim, covered space for resting when the temperature soars. The hotel is inclusive; there are ramps, lifts and wide doors for the less abled.
There are two outdoor pools – a kidney-shaped pool with a water feature, and a cool blue mosaiced outdoor pool with submerged benches and tables for those sizzling hot days when a cocktail from the aquabar is just the best thing ever. We found comfortable sun loungers aplenty, with substantial parasols to shade you from the heat – no need to reserve with your towel!
We spent long, lazy periods gazing at the sea views from our large balcony, the Atlantic ocean shimmering like a blue slate mirror, the only movement was pleasure boats from the nearby marina. By late afternoon, the water turned turquoise, glittering like a constantly shifting multi-faceted mirage. You could lose yourself in this tranquil idyll, time passing gently with the feeling of wellbeing. Wellness is a concept much bandied about in modern life, particularly as we get more solvent and affluent and look for ways to ease the daily grind. Here at PV Hotel de Maritur where there is no stress or the need to hurry, it is a given. My companion and I came here hoping for a well-earned break from the rigours of high-powered working in the City or running a livery in deepest, darkest Kent. This respite exceeded our expectations.
Isobel, the general manager accompanied us on a tour of this small but beautifully formed residence. There are seventy-one charmingly-appointed single, double and triple chambers, many graced with sea views. We discovered that the ground floor has just been freshly refurbished with rooms finished to an extremely high specification with their own personal terraces with expertly- tended gardens.
The hotel will continue its renewal program over the winter, beginning with the spectacular roof terrace, which offers breath-taking views stretching for miles across the Atlantic.
Isobel pointed out the tennis and paddle courts, and that golf was a 5-minute drive (my companion is a golf widow who would not be averse to whiling away sunkissed afternoons around the pool while her beloved slogs it out on the green). There is no shortage of first-class greens in the Algarve; the main golf clubs in Albufeira are Salgados, Balaia and Pine Cliffs. Further afield in Vilamoura you can find Laguna, Millenium, Old Course, Pinhal and Vila Sol.
Other sports facilities in the vicinity include water sports – the beaches of Praia de Arrifes and Sao Rafael are a short walk from the hotel; there is also fishing and horse riding nearby. The hotel is situated at a top of a gentle hill that leads to the ocean in an incredibly quiet, exclusive, residential neighbourhood with luxury designer homes.
There are two roads heading to the beautiful beaches at Sao Rafael and my personal favourite, Praia de Arrifes. The coast has been eroded since the Cretaceous era – more than a hundred million years ago, and the Atlantic ocean relentlessly batters the rock formations – where you can see dinosaur footprints in the cliffs. The beach is spectacular and is manned by two lifeguards, as brave souls like to swim, despite the crashing waves -this stunning beach gives the wild coast of my Cornish heritage a run for its money. A short walk across the coastal path, where the landscape is dominated by hardy coastal vegetation, such as the salgadeira and the junco-das-areias, brings you to the Marina. This is an area of outstanding natural beauty.
Isobel is immensely proud that her team are also from the environs of Albufeira and there is virtually zero staff turnover, they have been in the Hotel Maritur family for years. Isobel is also native to Albufeira and proud of her heritage. Her team are capable, proactively so, and genuinely care about their hotel and the guests’ wellbeing.
The restaurant is wonderfully comfortable with two terraces for dining al fresco. The gardens are resplendent with lush lawns and trees – we ate a leisurely breakfast in the shade of a pomegranate tree, the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. The excellent buffet breakfast features fresh food, catering for all diets and is substantial enough to make lunch unnecessary. Offerings include six different cheeses, several types of ham, a fruit platter comprising of papaya, melon, banana, grape, strawberries, nuts and seeds. And a delicious full English breakfast for those stronger constitutions! There is also a juice station, as well as a bread centre with a choice of breads, pasties, butter and conserves and those little Portuguese custard tarts, Pastéis de nata -a firm favourite.
Dinner is equally impressive, with plentiful, high-quality, locally sourced dishes catering to all dietary needs. Andrea in the restaurant insisted that we sample fresh Portuguese sea bream cooked by Chef in front of us because it had just been landed and we would enjoy it. We dined outside on the terrace watching the splendid sunset until the sun dipped below the horizon, matchless hues or rose, purple and gold above a perfect cerulean sea. It was magical. Additionally, after our first night’s order, wherever I sat down I would immediately receive a glass of refreshing local vinho branco seco. This is service. There is absolutely no queuing, no rushing, no hassle. The restaurant caters for all tastes and has a large and varied selection of food.
We did intend to take a stroll down to the Marina but somehow ended up ensconced in the comfortable seats on the upper terrace in the warm summers evening, with drinks from the delightful bar. Our fellow hotel guests joined us and agreed they did not feel the need for culture, exercise or shopping, just friendly conversation with a nice cool glass would serve!
Many of our new friends holiday repeatedly at this hotel, choosing to return for the quality and service they experience at the PV Hotel de Maritur. It is exclusive and secluded, spotlessly clean and the service is superb.
We relaxed so much, it was heaven. If we wanted ‘action’, old town Albufeira is a six-euro cab away, or the more sedate marina, 4 minutes in a cab – or twenty minutes walking via the coastal cliff path! Many people avoid Albufeira because of its busy, chaotic night life but at Hotel de Maritur, just moments away, you find tranquil repose and natural beauty.
My only regret was that our sejour at this jewel in the Atlantic was far too short. We left this oasis of calm, feeling rested, replete, and renewed.
The Pierre et Vacances hotel group are committed to positive-impact local tourism, and I am happy to say they have delivered this in spades at Hotel Maritur.
@pierreetvacances_es | pierreetvacances.com
R. dos Corais, 8200-613 Albufeira, Portugal
