The hotel is very big. We stayed on the 5th floor with a beach/garden view which was simply beautiful. The sunsets were perfect.

The rooms were perfectly adequate and comfortable with two single beds pushed together, table, TV, chairs etc. The bathroom had two sinks, bidet, toilet and shower/bath. The only downside to the room was the shower. It was very small, low down the wall (we are quite tall) and the shower curtain was too long so sat constantly at the bottom of the bath and didn't dry out very well.

We stayed B&B and the breakfast was very nice. You had the usual choice of cooked English breakfast, cereals, meat and cheese with a selection of breads and rolls etc. They had a lady who would make omelettes or fried/scrambled eggs to order.

During breakfast and dinner, they had a piano player which was a wonderful start/end to the day

We had dinner once in the hotel and the buffet was again very nice with the usual selection of foods. They had a different cuisine each night and you also had the opportunity to order from their a le carte menu.

The beach is lovely with the hotel supplying beach towels and sun beds. There is also a lift to the beach if you don't fancy the garden walk down. The pool is very large (and deep over 3 metres at the deep end) although in October it was quite cold. Plenty of sun beds available.

We used the mini golf but they only had one ball left. It took us ages with a dog coming over and stealing our ball but we managed to get it back and it was a nice hour spent in the mottled shade of the trees. It is actually quite difficult and worth a go, especially as it is free.

The restaurants along the beach were all good but watch out with the fish of the day dishes because they are expensive, just as much as a restaurant in town (if not more).

We used the local dive centre at the sister Pestana hotel and have no complaints other than we had to pay in cash as they didn't have a card machine. It may be worth checking this before you go ahead and book lots of diving.

The diving was a bit murky at this time of year. Think we will stick to warmer, clearer waters.

The hotel is a 15/20 minute walk away from the main town or the hotel can call you a cab which costs about €4 per trip. The main town is full of bars and restaurants and the hotel will book you any restaurant on your behalf.

I picked the Alvor Praiai wanting a nice quite holiday and got exactly what I was looking for. Pestana owning a number of hotels in the area and this one is geared towards the more discerning traveller and to buiness people with conference rooms available. As a result the hotel does not tend to attract too many familes with young children which tend to veer more towards the Pestana Dom João II next door. The facilities are excellent and service first rate. The hotel is located on top of a cliff but there is lift at poolside which will take you down to the beach and the sunbeds reserved for hotel guests only. As a resukt of this however sea view rooms do tend to only get a glimpse of the sea and I'm not sure whether paying extra for one would be justified.
My only negative comment was that I would rate this hotel more four star than five star compared to other hotels I have stayed at over the years. Facilities in the room itself could be improved on for example with tea/coffee making facilities.

I have stayed in many hotel's all over the world and this is a hidden gem. The guest here is treated so well and there is an old fashioned hospitality which speaks of a more gracious and gentler age, where service is always with a smile and every need is attended with an unasumming courtesy and style .This was my first stay and all the staff from Angela the Manageress to Louis at the Reception were exceptional and went way beyond their normal duties to make our stay memorable and made us feel special .

We have just returned from a lovely relaxing 5 day stay at this fab hotel. When we arrived there was a problem with the garden view room we had booked so we were put into a time share apartment for one night and the following morning we were upgraded on our original booking to a beautiful sea view room for the inconvience. We also received a gift of assorted fruit from the hotel which was an added gesture and very much appreciated. The ladies on the housekeeping staff were unbelieveable even turned our beds down at night and left chocolates too.Bathrobes and slippers provided in the bathroom. Sleeping at night was peaceful no noise in the corridors of the hotel. Antonio the bar manager was brilliant very welcoming for all of the nights we were there and he makes a top class club sandwich and is a professional at cocktails. Breakfast was to die for and all staff involved were lovely. The only small suggestion I would have is perhaps a kettle in the rooms would be nice for a late night cuppa. We will return for another holiday to this hotel without a doubt.