Tourist Information
Tourist accommodation in Portugal is classified as follows:

Hotels: Offering a diversified supply of services and the possibility of meals; classified from 1 to 5 stars, depending on the quality of the facilities and services provided, as well as the location of the hotel.
Aparthotels: Offering all the services of a hotel, as well as greater independence; classified from 2 to 5 stars.
Boarding Houses (Pensões): classified as "Albergarias" of the first, second or third category, “Pensões” are seen as a less expensive alternative to hotels.
Inns (Estalagens): friendly and welcoming hotel accommodation offering visitors all the typical characteristics and comforts of the surrounding region; classified from 4 to 5 stars.
Motels: Offering direct access from outside and equipped with private parking facilities; always located close to the main road; classified from 2 to 3 stars.
Pousadas (State-run Luxury Hotels): located in areas of exceptional beauty or in ancient monasteries, castles or palaces; divided into four categories: Historical, Historical Design, Nature and Charm. Accommodation is best booked in advance (ENATUR - Pousadas de Portugal: www.pousadas.pt).
Tourist Villages: Accommodation classified from 3 to 5 stars; located in areas that include various services and support facilities.
Tourist Apartments: For those who wish to enjoy complete autonomy; classified from 2 to 5 stars.

Note: Hotels and Boarding Houses that only offer bed and breakfast and have no restaurant service are classified as Residenciais (B&B). In all forms of hotel accommodation, restaurants and travel agencies, a complaints book is always available.

Tourism in the Country (Turismo no espaço rural – TER)
Offers a wide range of private accommodation at magnificent country estates, manor houses and farms, where guests are welcomed into a warm family atmosphere. Guests enjoy a unique opportunity to mix with the local people and discover the regional traditions, in a special environment where they can commune constantly with nature.
This type of accommodation is identified with a metal plaque bearing the letters "TER" and is classified as follows:
Tourism in a Manor-house (Turismo de Habitação - TH): Manor houses or residential houses of recognised architectural, historical or cultural value and adequate dimensions, with quality furniture and decoration.
Rural Tourism (Turismo Rural - TR): Rustic houses having the characteristics of the rural environment in which they are located, being simultaneously used as the proprietor’s home.
Agricultural Tourism (Agro-turismo - AG): Houses or their complements forming part of a farming estate, where tourists may take part in the work on the farm or in complementary activities.
Country Houses (Casas de campo - CC): Private houses or shelter houses located in rural areas and providing accommodation, whether their proprietors live on the premises or not.
Tourism in a Village (Turismo de Aldeia - TA): Accommodation services provided in a tourist development consisting of at least five private houses. Located in a historic village, rural centre or village, maintaining the traditional urban, aesthetic and scenic appearance of the local region.
Rural Hotels (Hotéis Rurais): These family-run hotels are located in country areas, away from the large urban centres. They are run directly by their owners or relatives, who also use them as their own homes.

Camping Campsites are divided into two groups, classified from 1 to 4 stars: public campsites, open to all those who pay at the entrance; and private campsites where admission is restricted to members or special beneficiaries. These latter sites must display the letter "P".
To stay overnight, campers will need to identify themselves either through their passport, identity card or a camper's card issued by a national organisation or the "carnet camping" from the F.I.C.C (Fédération Internationale de Camping et Caravanning).

A very personal way of doing, feeling and celebrating
Much more than its magnificent beaches and favourable climate, the Algarve offers up its broad and diverse ethnographic heritage as a wonderful complement to its sun and sea. Indeed, such heritage justifies its very own consideration. The Algarve is home to customs dating back centuries, traditions that have survived the ages in the company of the region's built heritage and can be enjoyed all year round. And the customs particularly come to life on the occasion of festivals (such as Easter, Christmas, Spring or many others) set against a backdrop of buildings dating back to both distant and recent times. Naturally, such dates include the very best of the regional cuisine. Throughout the centuries, the Algarve's inhabitants have stood guard over a legacy that so richly deserves a closer look.

All you need to live life to the full!
Simultaneously cosmopolitan and rustic, the Algarve may be enjoyed in all its calm or all its excitement, depending on your mood or preference.
For those seeking the best in bars and discos, the Algarve nightlife features the very latest in music, and every kind of hot spot has its own respective cult followings. All across the region, there is a plethora of café terraces, discos, marinas, casinos, bars and restaurants providing atmospheres to satisfy all tastes.
There is also a great deal on offer during the day. From the theme parks to the shopping malls, including every type of cultural event, quality is guaranteed to ensure your holidays take on that very special dimension.
For those wishing to take a calmer approach to life, the options on offer range from the sophistication of Thalassotherapy centres to the healthy life of a Spa resort or the peace and quiet of a rural estate.