Placid Village ★★★★

The dictionary defines placid as ‘serenely free of interruption or disturbance’, and Placid Village has certainly taken that to heart. Surrounded by the beautiful Algarve countryside, the apartments are only a short walk away from the restaurants, shops and bars of Carvoeiro, but still perfectly secluded.

Each morning, you’ll wake up to soft sunlight breaking in from the terrace or balcony. The rooms are spacious and modern, newly decorated in soft, neutral tones to create a space as calming, serene and yes, placid, as the rest of the Village. The bathrooms are well equipped and clean and in the kitchen the kettle or juicer provide drinks to go along with the breakfast basket.

Outside, the pool is kept warm by the sun overhead with loungers scattered around and parasols for when guests need a shady retreat in the heat of day. For lunch, the kitchen in the apartment has every amenity you need: an oven, hob, fridge, freezer and, of course, a washing machine; no holiday should be spent around the sink.

The walk down into the centre of town is brief. Here, there are plenty of restaurants and bars near the beach when you’d prefer to dine out. Tapas and traditional Portuguese dishes as well as international restaurants and plenty of fresh seafood are all available. When you eventually head back to the apartment, the open plan living room is waiting for you and guests to spend the evening in peace, serenely free of interruptions or disturbances.