RIA PARK HOTEL

The Ria Park Resort Hotel is set within an area of natural beauty, surrounded by tropical gardens, waterfalls, palm trees and a vast pine forest, just a couple of hundred yards from the beach, 20 minutes from Faro International Airport and two hours from Lisbon and Seville.

It manages to combine a laid back and relaxing atmosphere with the luxury of a true five-star hotel. The  175 rooms here, including nine suites, are spacious, contemporarily furnished and enjoy views over the renowned Ria Formosa Natural Park, the hotel's gardens or the ocean. They are typically equipped with direct dial telephone, mini-bar and safe deposit box. Guest services include laundry, dry cleaning and room service.

Dining options include the best regional specialties served at the restaurant, Lusitano, or refined international cuisine at Flamingo, where you can enjoy your meal al fresco on the elegant terrace. You can also unwind with cold glass of your favourite tipple in the Lobby Bar, Cocktail Bar or Pool Bar, which is open during medium and high seasons.

The spa here is comprehensively equipped and contains an indoor jet thallasso pool, sauna, Turkish bath, and twelve treatment rooms offering a wide variety of cold and hot baths. In addition, there's a gym, Thermo Spa and massage. For the more active, there is two tennis courts, three outdoor swimming pools, indoor swimming pool and beach facilities including sunbeds and shades.

Nearby you can enjoy deep sea fishing, water skiing, windsurfing, scuba-diving, sailing, paragliding, mini cruises along the coast, horse-riding, 4x4 safari and clay pigeon shooting. And, of course, there's golf, and lots of it. Due to the beautiful natural terrain, some of the Algarve's most hallowed golf courses at Quinta do Lago, Pinheiros Altos, Vale do Lobo, and Vilamoura are located close to the hotel.