Palmares Signature Apartments

There are 37 apartments in total, ranging from one to three bedrooms, all with a modern, clean look and the sort of space you don't get in a standard resort room. Each one comes with a private terrace or balcony with sea views across Lagos Bay and Meia Praia, which is a pretty good backdrop for a post-round recap.

Inside, you've got a comfortable seating area, a cable flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with shower and complimentary toiletries. The kitchen setup is properly geared for self-catering, with a fridge, oven, dishwasher, hob, toaster, coffee machine and kettle. Handy if you're teeing off early and want breakfast on your own schedule, or if your group prefers a relaxed dinner in after 36 holes.

From a golfer's point of view, the location covers the essentials nicely. Being next to the course means you can keep mornings simple and avoid the faff of shuttles and rigid timetables. You can also split the day easily, nine holes and lunch, then beach, or the other way round. The apartments give you the flexibility to run your trip the way you want, which is exactly what self-catering should do.

The terrace is the real draw. Every apartment opens onto a private balcony with panoramic views across the bay, framed by the estuary of the Ria de Alvor. It's the kind of view that makes a morning coffee feel like an event and turns post-round debrief sessions into something worth lingering over. The layout is generous, the light is excellent and the sense of space is a welcome change from the usual resort formula.

If you plan to eat out, Lagos is close by with plenty of options for dinner and drinks. The self-catering setup means you control the schedule, which suits groups who want to keep things low-key or families who prefer the freedom of cooking in. For golfers planning a multi-course trip across the western Algarve, this is the kind of place you'll be happy to return to each evening.