I have played it Sean - it is a wonderful seaside links in a modern style. Hotel was not open when I was there. Downside might be building work, but the course itself was great. Definitely one of the very best courses in southern Europe.
The other course I would highly recommend nearby (actually closer to Lisbon - about 75 min away) is Oitavos, near Sintra. It has some holes which are heathland in character, and a few holes closer to the sea. I would play both these courses ahead of any course on the Algarve, except San Lorenzo, and even then I think they are much on a par. Only warning is that Oitavos is quite expensive.