Pestana Alvor Park Hotel

A low stone wall runs around the the family-friendly Pestana Alvor Park Hotel, separating its cobbled driveway from the neighborhood street. The well-kept grounds set a relaxed tone, with fountains and green lawns beset by Mediterranean flora. The functional interiors won't win any design awards -- they lack the decorative flourishes typical of other advertised four-star hotels in the area -- but they're bright and tidy. Time-share couples, families, and groups on golf outings make up the majority of guests. Families seeking a kids' club and beach access but who still want the option of cooking in-room should consider sister hotel Pestana Dom Joao Villas, which shares some facilities with Pestana Dom Joao II and also has apartment-style rooms available. 

The hotel is tucked into a quiet residential neighborhood, and there's little in the immediate area, though there are a few restaurants and local shops as you head towards the beach; the beach itself is a 15-minute walk. Downtown Alvor is within a 10-minute walk, where there are ancient cobbled streets bustling with tourists, riverfront seafood restaurants, shops, and nightlife. The old fishing town also has historic attractions such as Alvor Castle and the 16th-­century Matriz Church. There are numerous golf courses within a 20-minute drive (two of which belong to the Pestana Hotel Group). The much larger town of Portimao is about a 15-minute drive away, while Faro Airport takes closer to an hour to reach by car.

The hotel has 55 Studio, One-, and Two-Bedroom Apartments with private furnished balconies, most facing toward the sea. The airy rooms benefit from lots of natural light, with tiled floors and colorful artwork. Handsome wood furnishings mix with plain couches and dated window dressings, and there are still old tube TVs. Overall, while the decor has some contemporary elements, many will feel that the aesthetic does not live up the expectations for an advertised four-star hotel. Studios have kitchenettes with two-burner stovetops, microwaves, coffeemakers, and cookware. The larger apartments add ovens and four-burner stovetops, but all have half-sized fridges. Living areas have sofa beds and dining tables. The bathrooms have bidets and shower/tub combos, and One- and Two-Bedroom units add second bathrooms with walk-in showers. 

There are many on-site facilities, including an outdoor pool and sundeck with a kids; pool, along with an indoor pool with an adjacent hot tub, a Turkish bath, and a sauna. There's also a small fitness room with several cardio machines. A poolside snack bar has recreational games such as a giant chess board and a pool table, and there's a sparse game room with a additional ping-pong and foosball tables. The on-site Adega restaurant serves steaks and grilled fish, along with an international breakfast buffet (not included in room rates). Parking is free, but Wi-Fi is only free in common areas and costs extra to access in rooms. Guests have beach access via the sister property, Pestana Dom Joao II, but it's a 15-minute walk through the neighborhood to get there.