Apartment

Sao Rafael. Stunning 2 Bed G.Floor Apt. Beach/pool 250m. Albufeira 5Mins by Taxi

Photo gallery for Sao Rafael. Stunning 2 Bed G.Floor Apt. Beach/pool 250m. Albufeira 5Mins by Taxi

Such a pretty apartment. South Facing & lovely gardens right on your door step.
What to chill? We have just the place!
South facing bliss!
Dine out in style!
Bright and airy. A good sized sized living room.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Albufeira, Faro District
  • Sao Rafael Beach
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Albufeira Marina
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Albufeira Old Town Square
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Faro (FAO-Faro Intl.)
    ‪41 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Common area 1

1 Double Futon

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

En Suite Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Bidet · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Sao Rafael. Stunning 2 Bed G.Floor Apt. Beach/pool 250m. Albufeira 5Mins by Taxi

This delightful property was acquired by the owners in Spring 2015. It's a beautiful ground floor apartment, built to exceedingly high standards with marble floors, lovely woodwork, and air conditioned throughout. "The apartment is placed, we think, in the best position on the complex, sat on the outer edge, providing wonderful garden space, midway between the local beaches and the pool. The ground floor covered terrace invites alfresco dining, a relaxing shady area, and lots of room to spread out onto the south facing lawns and landscaped gardens to soak up the sunshine, and so brilliant for little ones! There are excellent restaurants, bars and couple of small supermarkets within easy waking distance, or maybe have a couple of rental bikes delivered to your door! Albufeira's marina, with its shops, bars, cafe's and water sports is less than 5 minutes by car, or a lovely 20 Mins walk. Golfers are spoilt for choice with several local options including Salgados Golf Course, just 5kms away. Altogether, it's a great choice for a wonderful holiday. Do check out the reviews, of which we are really proud! The ground floor aspect and garden space makes this an ideal choice for families with little ones, and also wheel chair users. It's pretty near perfect for adults too! No pets please." "If we set out again on a property search, we would buy this outstanding holiday home all over again!"

Property manager

Bruce Shepherd

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Travel Cots & High Chairs are available for rent.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Cancellation charges: 13+ weeks Deposit only. 10+weeks 50% of Rental. 8+weeks 60%. 6+weeks 70%. 4+weeks 80%. 2+weeks 90%. Less than 2weeks 100%.
Travel Cots (Eur25 per week) & High Chairs (Eur20 per week) can be made available as optional extras. Please let us know in advance.
Requests made for extra guests staying after an original booking has been made will be subject to an extra charge for energy, cleaning and hot water.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Property Registration Number 21956/AL

We should mention

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Albufeira

Located in Albufeira, this apartment is near the beach. Albufeira Marina and Balaia Golf Village are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Sao Rafael Beach and Gale Beach. Travelling with kids? Consider Aqualand Algarve, or check out an event or a game at Albufeira Stadium.
Map
Albufeira, Faro District

What's nearby

  • Sao Rafael Beach - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Arrifes Beach - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Albufeira Marina - 3 min drive - 1.9 km
  • Peneco Beach - 5 min drive - 3.7 km
  • Albufeira Old Town Square - 5 min drive - 4.1 km

Getting around

  • Albufeira - Ferreiras Station - 16 min drive
  • Portimao (PRM) - 32 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪El Barrio - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Praia de São Rafael - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Gate 4 Café - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Clube Pesca e Náutica Desportiva de Albufeira - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Jack's Irish Pub - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Sao Rafael. Stunning 2 Bed G.Floor Apt. Beach/pool 250m. Albufeira 5Mins by Taxi have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Sao Rafael. Stunning 2 Bed G.Floor Apt. Beach/pool 250m. Albufeira 5Mins by Taxi pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Sao Rafael. Stunning 2 Bed G.Floor Apt. Beach/pool 250m. Albufeira 5Mins by Taxi?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Sao Rafael. Stunning 2 Bed G.Floor Apt. Beach/pool 250m. Albufeira 5Mins by Taxi?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Sao Rafael. Stunning 2 Bed G.Floor Apt. Beach/pool 250m. Albufeira 5Mins by Taxi located?

This family-friendly Albufeira apartment building is located by the sea, within a 10-minute walk of Arrifes Beach and Sao Rafael Beach. Albufeira Old Town Square and Albufeira Marina are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 74 out of 98 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 18 out of 98 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 6 out of 98 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 98 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 98 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Sandra P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stay at Sao Rafael # 133

We enjoyed our stay. Would definitely recommend it. The Location was great. Being late spring it was nice to have access to a pool ( ocean still a little cool). Outside patio area was lovely and nice to have a charcoal barbecue. If you plan on doing a mix of cooking and going out for meals this was a great choice. Kitchen was well appointed and there were restaurants within walking distance. The owner was quick to respond to questions and minor concerns.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2025

6/10 Okay

Marijke H.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Check-in

Ok

The toilets had a problèmeThe juice machine did not work
Stayed 25 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Heather A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent

This is our 4th time staying at this property. It is an amazing villa, 3 mins walk to the beach and 6 mins walk to the pool. We always consider going elsewhere but as this place is perfect, we always go back. Very quiet area, with beautiful gardens, enormous patio, 2 bathrooms, a great kitchen/lounge area. A delightful place and we are so glad we found it.
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Fernando D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Trip

Overall we enjoyed our stay. We had been to Albufeira previously at another location that had more amenities. Also Albufeira is more geared for a younger demographic. We enjoyed other parts of the Algarve better.
Stayed 11 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Darina H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely apartment close to fabulous beaches.

Lovely spacious apartment close to beautiful beaches.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Neil H., west sussex

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place in great location

Well equipped property with comfortable beds and spacious patio area. Good location in west central Algarve
Stayed 34 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Graham C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Week in Portugal

Lovely apartment well located near two beaches and a pool. Pleasant 20 minute walk to the Marina.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

John T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Outstanding stay in Albuferia

Apartment well laid out and in a fantastic location. We super enjoyed our stay. Hope to return again sometime. We definitely recommend this VRBO. John and Nancy
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Steven B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Holiday

Great holiday
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Julie C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely apartment, great location!

This is our second stay in this great apartment and it once again was perfect for our needs. Clean, spacious apartment in great location with lots of outdoor space. Fantastic beaches and swimming pool close by. Would most definitely recommend!
Stayed 13 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Julie C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Apartment

This was our third time to this apartment and once again it did not disappoint. Such a great location, peaceful gardens and close to beautiful beaches. Spacious apartment with everything you need. Would highly recommend and do hope to return in the future
Stayed 15 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

George J., London

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely apartment in pretty gardens a short walk from great beaches.

The property is spacious, and well designed and equiped. The shaded patio looks out on pretty shared gardens. The apartment is located in a quiet area, within easy walking distance of two attractive beaches, each with a cafe/bar. Albufeira marina and then on to the old town is a longer walk, but we found using bolt app (taxis) very reasonable and fast even for longer outings.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jane M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Location

We stayed 10 nights , with my daughter and 18 month old grandson, Apartment had everything we needed , It was a very hot spell , air-con was needed , although with windows open a nice breeze came through , the outside covered patio area was our favourite spot for breakfast & dinner , out of sun looking at beautiful gardens , such a quiet spot . Only a lovely 4 min walk to beach , or 10 mins to bigger Sao Rafael ,both with great beach bars , Car is needed to get to bigger supermarkets and restaurants.We had a great holiday.
Stayed 10 nights in Jun 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Drew S.

Excellent Holiday in an Excellent Property

Have recently returned from a most enjoyable holiday at Sao Rafael. The property itself was excellent with every amenity we could wish for. As we were off season most of the local restaurants had closed for the season however the local supermarkets detailed in the Information Folder were all well stocked and reasonably priced and we wanted for nothing as far as utensils within the apartment were concerned. Glorious sunshine every day of our stay with temperatures around 20C. It was cold at night though.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2017

8/10 Good

Mauricio d.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Excellent house for families.

We had an excellent week in S.Rafael. The location and nearby amenities are great. The two closest beaches are beautiful, but small and always crowded. Bruce was an excellent and friendly host, but Amanda the property manager at Cerro Novo was far from polite and refused to attend to two basic requests. A shame really for such a nice property. Overall an excellent house for families really close to the beach!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Sara C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely apartment, well equipped, close to the beach.

Lovely week in well equipped spacious apartment close to the beach, very quiet. Guest pack was hidden away and very out of date. No up to date maps of local area showing shops bars etc. Local mini supermarkets very expensive and the larger supermarkets shown in pack we couldn't find.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Paul F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Little piece of Heaven

What a great place, the taxi who originally dropped us off from airport left us a wrong location but we eventually found the apartment. It took us a day to get our bearings. Pool and pool bar very good, beach less then 10 minutes away. Apartment was well above expectations and Bruce was a pleasure to deal with. We actually tried to extend our stay but the apartment was already booked up. Luckily Cerro Novo could help us.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Heather A., SOUTHPORT

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

We had a wonderful stay. This is our third time at the property and we keep coming back for more. We have already booked for a fourth visit next year. The property is very spacious for the two of us. The patio, which is on the ground floor, is large and is set by large communal gardens which are exceptionally quiet. The kitchen is extremely well equipped with lots of crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils. The beach is nearby and the pool is a 7 min walk away. The pool is a good size and there is a cafe that sells delicious cocktails. This apartment is a fabulous find and Bruce, the owner, is extremely responsive at all times. It is a pleasure to stay there.
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

stephen s.

A LOVELY SPACIOUS APARTMENT IN ONE OF THE BEST AREAS OF THE ALGARVE.

YOU HAVE A VERY SPACIOUS, COMFORTABLE APARTMENT ON ONE OF THE BEST POSITIONS ON SAO RAFAEL. WE REALLY ENJOYED OUR STAY ESPECIALLY AS WE KNOW THE AREA SO WELL AND HAVE FRIENDS IN NEARBY.YOUR APARTMENT HAS A VERY RELAXING FEEL, PARTICULARILY HAVING AN OUTSIDE AREA TO BB-Q. SO GOOD WHEN THE WEATHER IS VERY HOT. THANK YOU FOR DEALING WITH THE INITIAL PROBLEM SO PROMPTLY AND THANK YOU FOR A LOVELY HOLIDAY. HOPE YOU ENJOY THE G & T! KIND REGARDS STEPHEN AND MARY SAUNDERS
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2016

10/10 Excellent

Heather A., SOUTHPORT

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent. A touch of paradise.

This is our second visit and it is quite idyllic. Set in a beautiful set of gardens it is a spacious and quiet apartment on the ground floor with air conditioning. It has two bathrooms, a good well equipped kitchen area and a very spacious lounge with a dining area, both inside and outside. There is a lovely communal pool about 7 mins walk away. The beach is nearer and takes about 3 mins to get there with a beautiful fish restaurant on the beach (we liked it so much we’ve booked to go for a third time next year. The owners are really friendly and very easy to communicate with. Would thoroughly recommend it. Slight niggles - no welcome pack as promised, no washing up equipment.
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

jackie thomas

A well equipped quiet apartment

This apartment offers a comfortable & spacious holiday home. It offers a good base to explore the Algarve. If you like a very peaceful surrounding area you will be very happy, the gardens are particularly pretty & it is a short walk to the Arrifes beach, although we preferred Sao Rafael beach which is still only a short walk away. The beach bar at Arrifes beach is particularly good, serving freshly caught fish & also good quality meat. The swimming pool is only a short walk away, it is a good size & offers a clean environment. Overall the area & the apartment is well kept & should accommodate most peoples holiday needs. I did find the apartment a little dark inside, but i realize because it is ground floor this cant be helped. personally i prefer to be above ground floor & have a balcony with a view, but this is a personal preference. The owner of the apartment was very helpful & genuine. I would happily recommend to any of my friends or family
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Heather A., SOUTHPORT

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous

We thought this apartment was fabulous. It was clean, airy, spacious and extremely well equipped. The location was great: it was about a 4 minute walk to a small beach with a beautiful restaurant. It was a slightly longer walk to a bigger beach with kayaks , sunbeds and parasols. It was a 7 minute walk to a large pool with a snack bar and was deep enough to dive in. The gardens at the apartment were beautiful and it was lovely to be able to escape back to the apartment after a day out. We could relax on the sun loungers and enjoy the shade, the sun or the air conditioning inside the apartment. The welcome pack on arrival was very helpful and we appreciated our accommodation being serviced half way through our stay. Bruce has been nothing but helpful from our initial enquiry to the end of our holiday. We also appreciated the books that we could read, the music system and the 2 fridges. We definitely would love to go back next year as we thought we had found paradise.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2019

8/10 Good

Sharon P., SURREY,UK

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Algarve23

Ground floor apartent with beautiful gardens. Large spacious apartment, well equipped with all required for our stay. Garden furniture all well used including bbq. Pool facility very good clean and welcoming. Los Arrifes beach nearest small beach with well regarded restaurant but found it quite pretentious and welcomed if you had deep pockets!!. Sao Rafael 10mins walk was beautiful beach with fabulous restaurant with such welcoming staff,food was excellent. Uber to Marina 3-4€ and Albufeira old Town 5-6€ longest wait was 10mins quick drivers but dont expect conversation! Only issue we had was with drainage from 2nd bathroom shower. Runaway overflowed so had to mop up if used. Main bathroom also ended with ankle bath during shower so is an issue that seems site is aware of. Advised the Cerro team who sent change of towels. Had what we thought was power cut but seemed the electric had tripped,only by re reading book to end we sought out box and reset which solved issue.
Stayed 10 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Near Albufeira

The condo unit was clean on arrival and we were able to access the unit from the given directions from the owner. While not being able to get dropped off at our door, we did manage to finally find the unit, in the dark, when we arrived. The unit has patio furniture(under lock and key) that we unlocked to use for our 3 week stay. Also in the closet we’re beach towels and beach umbrellas for us to use at the beach which was an easy walk from the condo. Because there was only two of us we chose not to use the dishwasher but wash the few dishes we used. Beware!! This unit only provides the minimum of necessities. We each had about a half roll of toilet paper, half filled bathroom soap containers and no dish soap, wash cloths or sponges in the kitchen. When we questioned the owner he said Sorry, we don’t provide that. We paid a fair amount for 3 weeks and we’re amazed that simple things were on us as well. It wasn’t a huge expense but it was a shock. Needless to say, we bought those items, used them and took them with us! It’s a comfortable accommodation, albeit a bit far from Albufeira, so either a rental car or Uber(very reasonable pricing) was necessary. The property was beautifully kept but our patio was full of dead leaves, spider webs, etc. Perhaps it’s cleaned during the busy season - it wasn’t terrible just something they missed cleaning. All in all, a good stay even though there is no view of the water from this unit. Communication from the owner, when we had questions, was always quick!
Stayed 20 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

A.J. B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 7 nights in May 2025

About the host

Hosted by Bruce Shepherd

Host profile image
We have spent many happy holidays in the Algarve. Just recently we have made the decision to buy our very own apartment. We have chosen carefully. The location, the build quality, and the fixtures & fittings are all just excellent. So after flying into Faro, just 40 minutes later, we, or you, can be relaxing on the terrace of a delightful apartment, enjoying the sunshine, the garden views, and making plans on how best to enjoy your stay. You have so many activity choices. In which case, I have written some notes on some of the options you may wish to consider. Have a look at the "location" section. Alternatively, check out tripadvisor on the web and search for "Albufeira" and "Things to do". Or just simply relax! Garden, beach or pool? Each comes with sunshine! Whatever your choice, we are confident that you will enjoy your stay.

Why they chose this property

It's location is just perfect. For Summer long holidays, the gorgeous beaches and good size family pools are both less than 5 minutes away. The biggest decision each morning will be to turn left for the pool, or right for the beach! Or perhaps try out one of the many first class golf courses nearby. Salgados is just 5kms away by car. During the winter months, the weather is warm, the complex is quieter, but just as gorgeous, with lovely walkways built along the beaches. Albufeira is just 30 minutes walk (5 mins by car/and around 5Eur by taxi) passing the new marina (15 mins walk) along the way. You might also take time out to visit Guia, a pretty and very "Portuguese" old town with some 25+ restaurants. It's also the home of Piri Piri. We haven't eaten in all 25+, but those we have were excellent! 10 Mins away (by car/taxi).

What makes this property unique

Enjoy the day long sunshine on the south facing terrace. We chose ground floor purposely, to provide that extra terrace space. More room for dining. More room to spread out onto the lawn, so it's also brilliant for youngsters with plenty of energy. Meanwhile, you sit back, relax and enjoy the garden view, in the sun or the shady areas. Unlimited Wi-Fi is included, so you can catch up with the world if you feel the need! Before dinner, take a stroll around the gardens, before eating alfresco, using the BBQ, wooden table and chairs provided. Or even further out? There are four good restaurants, within a ten minute walk. That's your 2nd decision of the day! And what sets us apart? Well, we feel quite privileged. Our apartment has been purchased and fitted out as our own holiday home, not just as an apartment for renting out, albeit that, for just a few weeks each year, that's what we'll do. Our choice of interior fittings might tell you that. It also means that you are sharing something really special with us. So if you do choose to stay, be sure to enjoy yourselves.

Languages:

English