---
title: "3HB Faro vs Occidental Faro"
description: "Old-town five-star with spa and flat-high guest scores against a Praça & Marina four-star — Cidade Velha proof, or a marina-side Barceló midrange."
url: "https://travelshifu.com/hotels/faro/compare/3hb-faro-vs-occidental-faro/"
type: "hotel comparison"
reviewed_on: "2026-08-06"
source: "TravelShifu"
---

# 3HB Faro vs Occidental Faro

Old-town five-star with spa and flat-high guest scores against a Praça & Marina four-star — Cidade Velha proof, or a marina-side Barceló midrange.

## Why this pair

Same Faro shortlist for many Algarve arrivals, opposite centre products. One has old-town POI distances and a 9.8 headline; the other has marina-side presence without kilometre proof. That is a real map-and-spend fork.

## Verdict

Take 3HB for old-town distances, spa and the 9.8 supplier score; take Occidental if Praça & Marina, earlier check-in and four-star rates fit — accepting cleanliness at 7.88 and no spa/wellness in the cited list.

Position proof is one-sided. 3HB puts Faro Old Town at 0.4 km, Igreja do Carmo at 0.5 km, Ria Formosa at 0.9 km and the airport at 4.5 km. Occidental Faro has no POI rows in our seed — we judge it on Praça D. Francisco Gomes / marina address and an 8.89 out of 10 location score, not invented walks.

Guest scores favour 3HB across the board: supplier rating 9.8 out of 10 from 4,003 reviews as of 10 January 2026 against 8.4 from 6,028 as of 6 December 2025. Room quality is 9.68 against 8.34; cleanliness 9.68 against 7.88 with odor and noise named at Occidental. Parking costs are the named con at 3HB.

Facilities: both list restaurant, fitness, pool, parking, family rooms, sauna and airport shuttle. Only 3HB lists spa/wellness. Occidental lists Beach in amenities without a spa/wellness centre. Chains: 3HB Hotels against Occidental Hotels and Resorts by Barceló Hotel Group.

Check-in edges to Occidental (from 02:00 PM against 03:00 PM). Check-out is 12:00 PM at both. Occidental publishes FAO on the seed row; 3HB does not.

**Best for:**
- Deciding between a scored old-town five-star and a marina-side four-star
- Travellers weighing spa kit and POI proof against Barceló midrange rates

**Not for:**
- Anyone who needs Praia de Faro on the doorstep — 3HB puts it at 6 km; Occidental has no beach-km row
- Readers looking for a budget two-star — that is the Made inn Faro matchup

## Head to head

| Criterion | 3HB Faro | Occidental Faro | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Official classification | 5-star | 4-star | 3HB Faro |
| Position | Rua Vasco da Gama. Old town 0.4 km, Ria Formosa 0.9 km, airport 4.5 km. | Praça D. Francisco Gomes (Praça & Marina). No our hotel data provider POI distances in seed; location score 8.89/10. | 3HB Faro |
| Supplier rating (our hotel data provider, /10 — display only) | 9.8 from 4,003 reviews, as of 10 January 2026 | 8.4 from 6,028 reviews, as of 6 December 2025 | 3HB Faro |
| Room quality (third-party guest score, /10 — display only) | 9.68 | 8.34 | 3HB Faro |
| Cleanliness (third-party guest score, /10 — display only) | 9.68 | 7.88 — odor issues named among cons | 3HB Faro |
| What guests complain about | Parking costs; minor service issues | Noise; odor issues; parking difficulties | 3HB Faro |
| Spa / wellness | Spa/wellness centre and sauna listed | Sauna listed; no spa/wellness centre in cited facts | 3HB Faro |
| Pool | Swimming pool listed | Swimming pool listed | tie |
| Check-in | From 03:00 PM | From 02:00 PM | Occidental Faro |
| Chain | 3HB Hotels | Occidental Hotels and Resorts by Barceló Hotel Group | tie |

## Which is better for Faro Old Town?

3HB Faro — our hotel data provider puts Cidade Velha at 0.4 km. Occidental Faro has no POI kilometre rows in our seed, so we will not invent a walk from the Praça.

## Is the five-star worth the extra spend?

On this sample, usually yes if room quality and spa matter — 9.8 against 8.4, with cleanliness 9.68 against 7.88. Pay Occidental rates if marina-side four-star is the ceiling and you accept the noise/odor cons.

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