Colegio Charm House

Style

Charm school

Setting

Gilão brick road

Charming by name, charming by nature: family-owned Colegio Charm House woos hearts as smoothly as a doting lover with handwritten notes, fresh-out-the-oven cakes and oh-so-dreamy interiors. Housed in an 18th-century palace turned Catholic boys school, the building’s most recent iteration comes thanks to hotelier duo Cristina and Josè who have bestowed each space with pleasingly personal touches; rooms are individually decorated with a smattering of curious antiques, while communal spaces are adorned with artwork and trinkets collected on the couple’s travels to Africa and beyond. Spend sun-dappled days along the poolside deck, be delighted by the restaurant’s pot-luck Portuguese fare or enjoy a classic cocktail on the upper terrace as the rooftops of Tavira stretch out.

Facilities

Rooms

19, including 17 suites.

Checkout

Noon, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in, 4pm.

More Details

Rates include a breakfast personalised to your taste.

Also

Guests with accessibility needs should enquire about the Patio das Laranjeiras double room.

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Pool

On-Site Restaurant

Room Service

At the Hotel

Pool and sun deck, bar, traditional Portuguese restaurant. In rooms: Beach towels, air conditioning, Nespresso machine, mini bar and Castelbel amenities.

Our Favourite Rooms

No two rooms are the same here at Colegio Charm House, though we do have our favourites. Let angels watch over you in the Chapel room, an ecclesiastical boudoir of white and gold, or splurge on the Royal Suite where a private plunge pool and sun-baked terrace make for splash-happy afternoons. The Patio da Vila Suite has an alluring charm, but low ceilings may make it challenging if you're on the taller side.

Poolside

The main pool is set on the edge of the hotel’s lower deck, where sleek black loungers and matching parasols make a fine spot for topping up your tan. For those staying in Patio das Laranjeiras rooms, there’s a second option, set in a garden where notes of citrus circulate from the surrounding orange trees.

Spa

There’s no spa, but in-room massages can be arranged upon request.

Packing Tips

All the tools for optimum rest and relaxation; a stack of lusty novels and playlists of low-fi, lazy pop.

Also

Hitting the beach? Let reception know and they’ll prepare you a packed lunch to go.

Children

Welcome, though not particularly catered for. Babysitting is available with one week’s notice, subject to availability.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Take dinner on the terrace for views of Tavira rooftops and the snaking Formosa river.

Dress Code

Boho-chic with a Mediterranean edge; think billowing maxi skirts à la Sienna Miller paired with a golden tan and a fiery red lip.

Hotel Restaurant

Take that lie in, breakfast is an all-day sport. Fill up on fresh cheese from São Brás de Alportel, locally sourced honey, homemade jams and granola, or opt for something personal; eggs any which way or a stack of buttery pancakes, say. Dinners are a pot-luck of traditional Portuguese dishes courtesy of head chef Robson Becker’s ‘surprise and delight’ concept; choose from fish, meat or vegetarian fare and let the kitchen take care of the rest.

Hotel Bar

Take your sundowners among the rooftops of Tavira at the hotel bar and terrace, where Portuguese wines, a list of classic cocktails and a substantial selection of gin.

Last Orders

Light bites are available from noon until 6pm. Dinner is served from 7.30pm and the bar pours through to 11.30pm.

Room Service

Available 8am-11pm, subject to an additional charge.

Planes

Faro Airport is 40 minutes away by car. The hotel can arrange transfers for €65 each way.

Trains

The unassuming Porta Nova station is a ten-minute walk from the hotel, and connects Tavia to the western Algarve. Be sure to have cash handy, though – there’s no ticket office so fares are paid on board directly to the ticket inspector.

Automobiles

Want to explore the unseen corners of the Algarve at your own pace? Hire wheels at the airport. There’s free overnight parking is available at the hotel (€20 a night as of 2023).

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Sun seekers can spend days beach-hopping along the coast; Praia da Ilha de Tavira is the most popular, a 10-kilometre stretch of white sand and crystalline sea, though if you’re looking for a little more privacy, catch a boat to Cabanas beach, east of Tavira’s island, where shell-smattered shores and neighbouring fishing village make a fine spot for parallel parking on some sort of lounger. The hotel can arrange outings like boat trips and quad tours, as well as activities such as bird watching and sport fishing; enquire at reception to arrange. In the centre of town, take a stroll through the impressive Praça da República where people-watching and laid-back cafe culture are soundtracked by trickling fountains. If you’re lucky, you may happen upon one of the many local events that take place in the square annually; look out for the Carnival in February, the Sea Gastronomy Festival in May and Summer fairs throughout July and August. Elsewhere in the old town, explore Tavira’s Muslim history at the Islamic museum or climb the stone steps of the imposing Moorish fortress Castelo de Tavira.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .