Stayed here before with golf buddies but decided to take my wife for a long weekend before Christmas and also to escape the chill of -7C at home. Everything was great, the sea view room, the cleanliness of the room and the hotel and the staff were very cheerful and helpful. Very nice buffet breakfast provided and even allowed us in the breakfast room early due to an early flight home. Thank you to the lady in the bar for staying open until midnight to allow us a bedtime nightcap. As a Pestana member from the last time I stayed here, the cost of the stay was really competitive, Hope to be back in the future.

We have stayed at this hotel many times during the past five years as its in such a great spot on the beach and a lovely ten minute walk to all the fab restaurants in the pretty fishing village of Alvor. The refurbishments earlier this year are really great, particularly as there are now hairdryers in the rooms. Due to the current Covid situation, we were a little concerned about the breakfast restaurant but had no need. As guests enter, wearing masks (only to be removed when eating or drinking) they are asked to use the hand sanitiser, then taken to their table, which is sanitised, with each person having a disposable paper table mat with cutlery and a napkin, in small paper bag. Tables are well spaced and guests follow the arrows on the floor, to the next hand sanitiser station, where they are each given food tongs to use along the buffet, before dropping them off at the end of the line. I think the staff are doing all they possibly can to keep us safe in the circumstances. It must be difficult for them working in the heat wearing face masks all day long, but we are so grateful that they are doing their very best to keep everyone safe. A massive thank you to the lovely Manager, Pedro, who arranged our fantastic sea view room on the top floor. To open the doors onto the balcony to the sound of the sea and the beautiful views, is just great. There’s only one small thing I could fault, for some reason the sun beds area nearest the pool bar was not as spotless as everywhere else yesterday, but I’m sure this will be rectified today. The Dom Joao is always our first choice of hotel in Alvor and in the current circumstances, we feel very safe here.

The hotel has had a facelift inside and we stayed for 3 weeks this time. I had some difficulty with my membership number so booked through Expedia for the same price the hotel was offering. I had to make two bookings for the three weeks as it looked full for the last two days but I think cancellations made it available just before we came so booked a sea view. The carpets decoration in the lift halls and circulating areas are very nice and as always the views from the upper floors is wonderful. Most staff and especially the cleaning staff and those on breakfast reception are lovely. Special mention to Raquel who was on both reception and breakfast sometimes and always pleasant and helpful. Breakfast is pretty much the same as the past with personal tongs to save multiple handling but no champagne for the same reasons but COVID control aside is pretty much bedlam. The fruit is lovely and became our staple starter and the usual toast and cheeses and cold meats were fine. The cooked buffet not so good with occasionally finding some hot food but mostly it was lukewarm and sausage wee Willie winkie type hot dogs which I never enjoy. We spent a lot of time at the pool which was a bit cold but mostly pleasant in the heat. There were staff around and option to change towels every day. One criticism is the cleanliness around the pool which could have been better with spilled drinks from the night before along with masks and old towels and masks left from days before all attracting flies which became a pest when sunbathing. It would also have been good to sweep the areas in front of the toilets to remove small stones and fruit from trees more regularly as most in bare feet found it a bit sore to walk on. There are showers around the pool and a couple in the toilet changing area along with a few changing cubicles. The gents was cleaned regularly and fine but my wife complained about the smell in the ladies. The hotel is a pleasant walk to Alvor either using the walkway or road and so many choices and places to eat. Capacho and Steak on the Stone among our favourites but so many we ate in a different place most nights. Taxis are plentiful and about €5 into town. Buses are on the doorstep though timing can be 20-30 minutes late but only €4.30 to Lagos each way. We took the water taxi from Alvor to Lagos for €25 each for the return and well worth the journey to see fishermen windsurfers and water sports along the coast. The hotel is full of golfers as usual and it’s what attracted us all those years ago with multiple nationalities but most were courteous and pleasant though some didn’t want to share a lift even when wearing masks (which up till this week was compulsory. We still have a few days to go but overall a lovely place to stay and hope the criticism is constructive to help make our next stay even better.