Our Winter Retreat
by Balam about Hotel Alvor Park
The hotel is part of The Pestana group of hotels and resorts, one of 5 in Alvor. beautifully furnished rooms with all the amenity's you would wish for, (there are 55 apartment type rooms). the staff are friendly and helpful. The first year we stayed there the restaurant was open in the evenings and the food if not a little pricey was first class, but in 2007 they had decided that it was not worth opening in October because it was not that busy and so it just opened in the afternoon for lunch which was a great disappointment and also proves inconvinent for people who do not wish to walk into or around Alvor when it may well be cold and raining. Another great let down is the hotel bar, now we don't want long nights of loud disco music and alcohol fuelled conversation but a few drinks with a bit of music would be nice, instead all you get is a TV with football on or silence. absolutely no atmosphere at all, something that they really do need to do something about. Just some music would help.
In Oct 2008 i have arrived to find that they are now charging for use of the wireless internet and at €8 per hour it can work out very expensive for people who have work to do or just like to keep in touch with friends.
The Aparthotel offers a swimming pool, Health club, sauna, spa, laundry, Restaurant/snack bar
all in all it is a nice hotel but it really does need a few points addressing
View from our Balconey
Steak on a stone
by Balam about Buganvillia
The Buganvillia is a great Restaurant that serves traditional Portuguese food with a few extras, Although it's not a traditional looking restaurant and does indeed look more like a hotel dining room or a couple of Apartments made into one big room with an open kitchen it still looks great, modern with a few traditional bits of decor and great family service.
The food is great and has that home cooked taste that you would expect from a Family run restaurant like this one and probably second only to Taverna Do Guedes, but the main speciality is Steak On A Stone which is a steak (either fillet or Sirloin) served raw on a hot piece of stone with chips and a selection of dips. It really is good but a word of warning, your shirt (or blouse) can get a bit splattered by the cooking steak and wearing a white one is not recommended. As I found out on one visit and had to get my shirt Cleaned at our hotel, I have not had this problem on other occasions though so maybe the stone was extra hot on that occasion making it sizzle and spit more than normal but its worth being careful.
I suppose the only problem is that I like the steak on a stone so much here that when we go (which is normally on our first night after dropping our bags off at the Alvor Park) I just can't have anything else lol
However I have had the Biscuit Cake though and that is really delicious :) Steak on a stone
Biscuit Cake
Forum Posts
Fitness Gyms in Alvor
by juenbecks
Hi,
I know most of the hotels have fitness gyms, most of which to my knowledge can only be used if your a guest of that hotel, are there any though that would allow me to use their gyms if I paid a daily charge???
Or are there any public gyms within Alvor I could use whilst on Holiday in Sept/Oct.
Re: Fitness Gyms in Alvor
by Balam
I have not seen a public gym but then i have not looked for one, Many of the large Hotels have gyms and although they are for the use of guests nobody has ever come down to check while i have been in the one in the Alvor park. If you go in and use the stuff or other facilities and look like you belong you would have been ok.