Penina Hotel & Golf Resort

Penina Hotel & Golf Resort is situated on 360 acres of rolling golf courses and manicured lawns. The championship course was designed by the legendary British golfer Henry Cotton, and was the first 18-hole course in the Algarve. Another notable highlight is the massive pool, billed as one of the largest hotel pools in the region, which is surrounded by a fleet of bright yellow umbrellas. Interiors have a gracious feel, with elements like classical art and Portuguese azulejo blue ceramic tile. Restaurants and bars are particularly handsome at the Penina. The grill has striking red carpeting, dark-wood paneling, and a tremendous lobster tank. The main restaurant has pretty vaulted ceilings, tables with decorative wrought iron legs, and regional pottery in display cases. There's a convivial atmosphere at this resort, and while the it draws mostly golfers, couples also enjoy the setting, and families with children benefit from the range of kids' activities. 

Penina Hotel & Golf Resort is in a quiet rural setting off N125, one of the major east-west roads running through the Algarve. The town of Mexilhoeira Grande has a train station and some commercial activity, but there's not much to do near the hotel. A former fishing village, Alvor is a quaint and scenic town with restaurants, bars, a boardwalk, the 16th-century Igreja Matriz church, and Alvor Castle. It's about a 10-minute drive from the resort, as is Praia do Alvor beach. It's a little lesst than a 10-minute drive to Portimao, which features the Portimao Museum, medieval Fort of Santa Catarina, Portimao Marina, and Praia da Rocha beach. Faro Airport is 45 minutes by car from the Penina Hotel. 

Guest rooms and suites at the Penina Hotel are spacious and contemporary, with dark wood furniture upholstered in cheery hues, such as lime-green and tangerine-orange, and traditional terra-cotta floors. Some guests may find the overall look plain, but spaces are pleasant, comfortable, and nicely equipped. All come with high-quality bedding, flat-screen TVs, minibars, electric kettles, china cups, free instant coffee and tea, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms have balconies, and many boast views of the Serra de Monchique mountains or the pool and golf course. Suites feature living rooms, and some have dining areas. Bathrooms are also well-equipped, with shower/tub combos with sleek, modern fixtures, bidets, terrycloth robes, ample bath products, hairdryers, and make-up mirrors. All units are non-smoking. 

Penina Hotel offers a superb array of leisure facilities. Its centerpiece is the 18-hole championship golf course, which has hosted the Portuguese Open. The course design and layout are excellent, though some past guests have commented about unrepaired pitch marks. The hotel also has an 18-hole resort course and a nine-hole academy course for novices, plus a pro shop, driving range, practice bunker, putting and chipping greens, and a golf academy with two PGA professionals. 

The Penina offers a free shuttle to its seasonal Alvor Beach club, with cool drinks and snacks for purchase and free use of sunbeds and towels. Back on-site, the hotel has a huge outdoor unheated swimming pool, a FIFA-sized grass soccer field, a jogging track with 12 fitness stations, and five floodlit outdoor hard tennis courts (use for a fee) with lessons available (for a fee). There's no spa -- perhaps the hotel's only drawback in amenities -- but indoor facilities include a 24-hour fitness center, sauna, massages (for a fee), and snooker table. The excellent kids' club features an outdoor pool (about 50 feet long), outdoor playground, toys, movies, video games, and art-making. 

The breakfast buffet (fee) offers a range of cold items plus cooked-to-order eggs and other hot fare, and the fine-dining restaurant serves Algarve regional cuisine, with outdoor dining available. The hotel also has an Italian restaurant; a grill with Portuguese and international cuisine; an ocean-facing seafood restaurant next its beach club; an elegant cocktail bar with live music; and a golf club bar with drinks and light fare. Other amenities include meeting rooms, a business center, beauty salon, concierge service, boutique gift shop, and free parking. Wi-Fi is free throughout.