After some truly awful holidays and hotels over the years our expectations were set on the low side. However this hotel was excellent. From the moment you arrive the experience starts to chill you out. The rooms are very spacious and clean. Large lounge, dining area, kitchen (all the kit to eat in if you so wish) with en suite toilet and shower. (kids don't have to use yours) Large bedroom with en suite. Both rooms have access to balcony. Room standard is just about five star all they need are dvd/cd players and LCD tvs to finish it off. Rest of hotel spotless and modern. All done tastefully in marble. Pool area great kids really safe. Nice and quite, no single sex groups! The place to go for a truly peaceful break.

Location: The hotel sits a little outside of the main town on the road from Rocha to Alvor. A walk into the centre of town would take you no more than 5 mins (brisk) 10 mins (slow lollop, my preferred method). The main beach can be seen from any of the sea view rooms, we could see the carpark for the beach from the one we had. If it takes you more than 5 mins (using my preferred method) to get to the beach you must have taken a wrong turn.

Alvor Town: Like most Algarvian towns it has it's own "strip" where most of the eating places/bars are. Go off strip and you'll find other places. The strip leads down to the River front where you'll find plenty of fish places grilling the days catch to order.

Eating: There are plenty of places to eat. I would recommend that you go into town to eat rather than take the lazy option of the places close to the Hotel. Avoid Al Dente, slow service, poor portion size and over priced compared to the town, it will always be busy when you pass it, don't be tempted. Places to eat: Goodvilles, Vagabondo (sic?), Tarverna del Guedres (sic?) the one off the strip with the green door, I think it's number 25 and has Tipica in the address plate above the door. You'll know it because it's the only place with benches instead of seats. This place serves good portuguese fish dishes, try the pork and clams or the fish and rice. Goodvilles and Vagabondo are owned by the same man and have similar menus, he also owns a place on the front.

Drinking: Make your choice, there are planty of places, we avoided the more English/Irish places so can't comment on them.

Beaches: The main beach stretches for about 5 kilometers. You could walk to Lagos if it wasn't for the river disecting the beach. Walk the other way and you'll discover cove after cove, each with it's own bar and each with a view you could put on a postcard.

Hotel: There are 55 rooms at this hotel but only 14 of them are actually for paying holiday goers, the others are timeshare/long term owners. This means the place is always quiet, you'll always get a place by the pool and in the bar. When we were there breakfast was made to order, no evening meal although you could go to the other Pestana hotels nearby (we didn't the town was more than enough). Rooms are cleaned everyday, towels changed and bed made along with the usual shower bits and pieces. We had a studio room, large with a kitchenette (fridge, microwave/combi, two electric plates, cups, glasses plates et el). Balcony that had the sun from morning until around 1630, summer it could be a lot longer. Staff are friendly and always attentive. The breakfast man seemed to appear Mr Benn like to take our order in the morning and then disappear only to magically appear with the full order (sometimes more) just as you finished munching down your cereal.

I wanted to say never go here because it's a terrible place. I wanted to keep this place as closely guarded a secret as possible. But. Go. Eat. Drink. Relax. Unwind. Walk along the beach, discover the coves and cliffs, eat freshly caught grilled fish drink the roughest wine you can find to go with it and bathe in the Algarvian sunshine.

I'm going back, might see you there.

Stayed here for 3 nights over a Portuguese Bank Holiday weekend. We arrived just after 6pm on a Thursday eve - parked the car right outside and checked -in straight away.
We given a room on the top floor (4th Floor) - one bed apt - lovely decor/air con/mod kitchen- with all amenties for cooking at home - not that we did - lots of places to eat in Alvor.
Two televisions - two bathrooms - large king bed - table and chairs both inside and out on the balcony - great for a having breakfast with fab views of the sea and the pool area.
We used the pool/indoor and outdoor/table tennis/gym and games room - all very clean. Staff were very polite and helpful - snacks and coffee at the bar were good but a little on the expensive side - the main restaurant was closed for eve meals but the hotel is located a 5min stroll from Alvor which has plenty of restaurants to appeal to all tastes and budgets.
All in all a very good weekend was had - would recommend to all ages - would go again.

We booked via Travel Republic and used Polotur for taxi from Faro Airport plus return, 100 euros all in and no problems with pickups at all,courteous and on time. Will use them again.All booked via the websites.
Now to the hotel itself, if you are looking for a hotel that is modern,clean, with lovely rooms,courteous staff,who actually care for their guests, then this is the place for you.
We booked the larger apartment room & had a large living room plus kitchenette, large bedroom with super king sized bed,plus ensuite and a separate shower room. TV in bedroom and living room. Large balcony facing the sea, complete with table and chairs. The rooms were cleaned daily and towels changed regularly,plus bedding.
The pool area very well maintained and clean, and also beach towels provided which you can take to the beach,so do not bring your own and waste that valuable space in the suitcase.
We would definitely use this hotel again as it is in a excellent location, 10 mins walk approx into Alvor town, 10 mins walk to beach,which is lovely & clean, sunbed hire on beach is 10 euros daily, 7 euros after 2pm.
The hotel provides a free coach to Portimao each day and we caught the bus to Lagos from town for 13Euro return.
Excellent stay and town fab,with plenty of restaurants,we did not eat in hotel due to the restaurants so cannot comment on food. Reception staff,expecially Jose, very helpful on local advice.