I'm afraid of new things.  When someone gives me a food that has even an accent mark over the vowels, I scuttle back into my shell like a timid hermit crab.  But something's got me poking my little eyestalks out of my snail shell home. Just on the horizon is the opening of the next Conrad hotel in the Algarve region of Portugal and the crabby world of its sun-soaked southern coast is is all atwitter with talk of its guest rooms that would put any shell to shame. Coming in fall of this year, the new luxury hotel will be right at home in the Ria Formosa National Park, home to as many Roman ruins as it is sandy barrier islands. 158 rooms leave ample space around lakes and gardens that play host to the very best in Iberian flora.  Moving inside, you'll find balconies and marble bathrooms aplenty.  Eat with Gusto at the signature restaurant (guess the name?), offering the only grilled-to-order meat and seafood that the region is so famous for.  And would it be a luxury hotel if it didn't have a spa that claims to be one of Europe's best? You'll just have to come try it out to see if it stands up to the hype when this regional beauty opens its doors.  I might even come out of my shell to visit.

In the meantime, why not check out our other hotels in the Algarve region?