Name: Pestana Blue Alvor Beach Hotel
Price range: from £635.16pp (7 nights includes flights and transfers)

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Pool

Very nice room on level 9 facing the sea. Shower pressure was pretty low, but the bathroom was clean and nice. 

A very short walk down to a lovely beach. The wind around the hotel could be pretty extreme at times.

They have great pools, especially the adults-only infinity pool. Foam parties in the main pool for the kids through the days, plus the kids play-pool. A mini disco for the kids at night.

The friendliest and most pleasant staff of any hotel I’ve visited. All really sweet and very patient with kids. The Italian restaurant Luigi was lovely and the waiters are great (Victor Hugo really looked after us). The buffet meals were very nice every day. Cocktails at the bars were okay.

Would recommend for family holidays

We had a lovely week at this hotel as a family with two young boys. We had mostly pros but some cons during our stay:

Pros- 
1. The staff at this hotel are amazing and friendly, especially the animation team who work so hard every single day with a smile on their faces. The restaurant staff are helpful and friendly as are the reception staff and the lady in the shop onsite. 

2. We LOVED the relaxed atmosphere at this hotel. Could get a sun lounger at any time of the day round the pool and there is no rush. It was such a nice change after going to some hotels with sunbed wars. This was probably our favourite thing about this hotel as it really meant we could relax and enjoy our holiday.

3. Hotel is very clean and the drinks selection and variety is excellent. Cocktails were really good and made fresh with branded spirits. Beer was good too and branded soft drinks.

Cons-
1. The food selection for the kids wasn’t great, it could do with a bigger kids station and a bit more variety. The hot dog van was much appreciated and used  by our boys most days though and the ice cream was very good!

2. Some parts of the hotel feel a bit “unpolished”. The light on our balcony had come off slightly and there was a loose plug in our room. Didn’t bother us but just looked a bit unsightly on what was a lovely hotel overall.

We did a day at Zoomarine and I would highly recommend this to any one with children. The TUI rep at the hotel is absolutely useless and very unhelpful so we booked it on the TUI app but would book directly with Zoomarine if we came again now that we know the jist of it.

The beach is just down the hill and is lovely. There is also a really nice boardwalk into town which I would recommend. It’s about a 25 min walk from the hotel.

We also play mini golf which is on the hotel grounds (free of charge) and the boys made use of the football pitch. Both things were a really welcome attraction.

All in all we would absolutely return and had a lovely week in this very nice hotel. It’s not a 5 star but a good 4 star I would say.

Lovely weeks’ stay

If you’re someone who loves an all-inclusive experience—complete with dining in your flip flaps and that trusty swimsuit—and you’re eager to show off your 5-star Algarve vacation with poolside selfies, then Pestana Blue Alvor Beach might just be the spot for you.

But if you’re expecting true 5-star luxury, well, you might want to keep looking.

This was our unfortunate reality during our stay in August 2024. Yes, we know—August beach hotels in Europe are typically laid-back, right? But laid-back doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style and service. True 5-star experiences are still out there, even at beach resorts, as long as you follow some basic rules.

Here’s What a Real 5-Star Should Avoid:

	•	Festival Vibes at Dinner: Sure, festivals are fun, but no one wants to feel like they’re at one while entering a restaurant. Let’s skip the wristbands at dinner - well, just suppress them - okay?
	•	Temperature Control: When it’s August, guests expect cool, comfortable spaces—don’t forget the air conditioning in public areas and restaurants.
	•	Dining Essentials: A proper dining experience starts with cotton linen, decent cutlery, and real glasses for water and wine. Eating off a bare, scratched-up table with just a paper napkin and cutlery? That’s hardly 5-star treatment.
	•	Food Quantity Over Quality: At both the Acqua restaurant and Luigi, which is a paid dining option, the focus seemed to be on quantity rather than quality. While there was plenty of food, it didn’t live up to the standards one expects from a 5-star experience. Unfortunately, we also experienced gastrointestinal issues at least twice during our stay, which only added to the disappointment.
	•	Staffing Levels: If you’re offering restaurant service, make sure there are enough staff members to manage the guest load. No one wants to feel like they’re waiting forever at a luxury resort.
	•	Staff Training: And speaking of staff, they should be well-trained and ready to deliver excellent service. No one wants a crash course on hospitality during their meal.
	•	Clearing the Tables: Guests shouldn’t have to play hide-and-seek with waiters just to get their used dishes cleared. Piled-up plates and leftovers lingering on tables don’t exactly scream luxury.
	•	Housekeeping Shortfalls: Housekeeping doesn’t seem to operate late in the afternoon, meaning there’s no preparation of the room for the night. No further towel changes when used, no opening of the bed, no arrangement of pajamas, and certainly no small chocolate on the pillow—details you’d expect in a 5-star hotel.
	•	Bathroom Makeovers: Swapping out the faucets and basin is nice, but if the toilet, bath, and decor still scream last century, it doesn’t exactly say luxury. Not to mention, our en-suite had no functional window or forced ventilation, which made it far from comfortable.
	•	Towel Situation: A single bath towel and a basin towel? Guests deserve a little more comfort—also small towels for the french bidet and a cozy rug and a proper bath mat should be standard.
	•	Locked-Up Soap: Strapping liquid soap to the wall feels more like a public restroom than a resort. And don’t forget the basics—hair conditioner, shampoo, and body lotion should be available in every bathroom.

And with all that said, the value for money here is truly disappointing. For what you’re paying, you deserve far better.

Terrible - won’t ever stay there again

Lovely hotel. Clean and well maintained.  Great food selection and really enjoyed ala carte.  Great selection in the Italian restaurant and the entertainment was fabulous, especially Celina. Good swimming pool facilities. Bar choices great - fabulous selection of premium brands.

Lovely holiday

Just returned from a weeks holiday here.  Requested a high floor and we weren’t disappointed!  We were in 16th floor and the room, balcony and view was fabulous!  Room was very clean with ‘free’ safe.  Staff pleasant although the bars would have benefitted from additional help.  I would say whilst there was a decent food choice it wasn’t very warm.  Lunchtimes seemed to be better than evening, I did mention this to one of the more senior members of staff but she just said ‘no one else has complained’.  No salt and pepper on table which is a downside.  Also a soup noted as unsalted and when I asked what sort was the soup only to be told ‘no salt’.  The loos indoors by the buffet restaurant are not nice!  A loo seat was missing all week and the hand dryer was broken.  The main pool is nice although very cold.  The adult pool doesn’t have its own bar and the childrens pool area doesn’t have any drinks available (by this I mean soft drinks).  Entertainment in bubbles bar is a bit hit and miss.  The hotel is about 25 mins walk into Alvor in the boardwalk!  Or a taxi is about 5 euros.  The beach is a short walk away but no hotel facilities down there.  Sunbeds are charged apparently but we didn’t venture down there.  Booked both a la cartes (2 included if staying 7 nights).  Both were good but we preferred the Italian as it seemed to have a better atmosphere.  If you have booked through TUI the transfers are 2 hours and pretty horrible.  We were due to be picked up at 5.35 this morning for a 10.10 flight.  The coach was 15 mins late, picked up at about 6 hotels and we arrived at the airport at 8 am… Obviously this is separate to hotel review but worth knowing.  Overall the holiday was lovely apart from the couple of minor points above

Great in parts

Enjoying panoramic views over the beaches of Três Irmãos and Alvor, this elegant hotel is situated on a hill directly beside the sea. The nearest beach is just a 5-minute walk away, the centre of Alvor with numerous shops, restaurants and bars can be reached within a short stroll. Several excellent golf courses are within easy reach, the international airport of Faro is 74 km away.

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Pestana Blue Alvor Beach Hotel