“An authentic, cozy stay in a family property in Tavira”

We chose the city of Tavira as the base for the Algarve part of our Portugal vacation mostly on the recommendation of the Rick Steves' guidebook. It was definitely less touristy with quaint streets, local people, cozy restaurants, and no giant hotels. The Quinta do Carocol was a great choice as the property is large with authentic looking rooms filled with local furniture and decor. As the property is older, it could use some improvements and unfortunately there was some mold and mustiness in the closet areas which could be a problem if you have allergies. The property had nice landscaping, ponds, and many places to sit. Unfortunately we came during a somewhat cold and rainy time. The heater in the bedroom was necessary and led to a pleasant sleep. Also the bathroom has a heater which helped a lot. Free wireless in the indoor lounge area iss a must for us and it worked just fine to check our email on our Android phones. The place is a good 10-15 minute walk to the river and main parts of town which was just fine for us and the area seemed safe. Two supermarkets (chains) are nearby and a couple of take-away food places. Overall it was perfect for our stay. Afterwards we drove to Faro and then took the train to Lisbon.