Bad points-

1 - Yes,you read that correctly,no food or drink,not even a snack bar! For breakfast you had to walk down the road every day to one of the other Pestana hotels,same if you wanted a drink at night or a bite to eat.

2 - The other hotel that we had breakfast in ( Pestana Don Joao 2) was a lot better than the Pestana atlantico. In fact the Dom Joao was more like a 4 star,the Atlantico was definitely more of a 3 star.

3 - The swimming pools were absolutely freezing,even the indoor ones.

4 - The rooms are tired and dated.

5 - The photos on the website make it look better than it actually is.


Good points -

1 - Very clean and tidy rooms,maids did a really good job every day.

2 - Perfect hotel position,right near the beach,only ten minute walk from Alvor (which we loved) Far enough out so that it was pretty quite so you could get some sleep at night.

3 - Cheap bus service right outside the hotel door,going to Alvor and Portimao every 15 minutes.

4 - Nice and helpfull staff.

We had a great holiday,the weather was perfect and Alvor was really nice,I would definitely recommend the resort to people,I would stop in the Dom Joao next time though.

My wife and I stayed in Pestana Atlantico for 5 days in June 2009. The hotel is part of the Dom Joao II village at Alvor.

The Atlantico was clean and comfy but not as good as the adjacent Dom Joao II. Staff were very friendly, helpful and polite.

When we stayed there, the restaurant that would normally have been used was closed and we were able to use the restaurant at the nearby Dom Joao II Hotel. Breakfast and evening meal were excellent buffets and the service was first rate.

We enjoyed our stay in Alvor and will return.

Based on our 5 day stay, I would have no hesitation in recommending the Pestana group. My preference would be to stay at the Dom Joao II on our next trip but would have no problem returning to the Atlantico.

Having stayed in, and been pleased with, other hotels in the Pestana group we were very disappointed with the standard of accommodation at the Alvor Atlantico. It is very very tired and needs an urgent upgrade especially as it is being advertised as 4 star when in reality it is more 2 star. The good news is the rooms are large and very clean (thanks to the hard working chambermaids) the outdoor pool area is excellent, the Staff very helpful and the breakfast good. If it was advertised as 2 or at a pinch 3 star then we would have been quite happy but we expected 4 star and did not get it. One other thing, do not make telephone calls from your room, the telephone outside the hotel was not working, we had a close relative in hospital and needed to keep in touch so phoned from the hotel, over the 11 days we spent 18 and a half minutes on the 'phone and were presented with a bill for 76 euros 30 cents (£63.00) this is scandalous and regulations should be introduced to stop hoteliers profiteering in such a manner.

We recently returned from staying at the Pestana Alvor Atlantico. We had a suite on the top floor of the hotel which has a double bedroom, living room with sofa and dining table, kitchenette and bathroom. The terrace was very big with amazing views (11th floor). The atlantico could do with a refurb to update the decor but it was clean and in very good condition. The Dom Joao has been recently reurbed (2008) but is not as tall so perhaps not so good views. The beach is fantastic and very close to the hotel, but it was our first time to the Atlantic and didn't realise the water is FREEZING - (although the locals don't seem to mind swimming in it). It gets a bit windy on the evenings. There is a free bus every morning to Portimao, returning in the afternoon or you can take a bus into Alvor. We had the full board option. The food is good with lots of choice and the staff great.