Sun,sand and sardines! (Hotels in Alvor)

Member Name: janharper

Product:	Hotels in Alvor
Date:	21/11/03 (297 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: sun, sand, sardines

Disadvantages: 7 days is not long enough

I have just returned from a week in Alvor, which is a pretty, little, fishing village on the Western Algarve. I really didn't want to come home.

We flew in Faro International Airport (there lies another tale), and travelled by coach to Alvor. The journey to our hotel the 'Dom Joao 11' took around an hour.

My first impression was one of slight aprehension. The exterior of the building, in the half light, looked quite dated and a bit like those tower type hotels that the lager louts frequent in Benidorm.

However, I'm pleased to admit that I was very wrong.

I had a little difficulty explaining to the bell boy that I could manage my own luggage, since he was only pint-sized and had a mountain of suitcases to deliver to guests in their respective rooms. He wouldn't listen. His job was delivering luggage to rooms and that was what he intended to do. Twice I lifted by bags and twice he wrestled them from me. I gave in gracefully and made a mental note of where the nearest bar was.

Reception was slow and disorganised and it took ages to sign in and get a room key. Once I found my room I waited 30 minutes for my luggage to arrive. It didn't. I called reception and was politely told that it was 'on zee way, madam.' I did wonder how long I would have to wait if it had been peak season and the hotel had been full.

Eventually it arrived and the bell boy stood in the middle of the room grinning. He was clearly waiting for a tip as a reward for a service that I did want, and wasn't very efficient after all the fuss. However, I was on holiday and I decided not to get on the wrong side of the hotel staff. I parted with a handful of change and was thanked with the biggest smile I've ever seen. I realised afterwards that I had parted with a handful of Euro coins and not cents as I had thought.

By this time it was diner time. The restaurant was buffet style and there was lots of cho

ice of salads, fruit, fish, meat and desserts. All tastes are catered for here and there is also a selection of local food including freshly caught sardines .

I did think that the drink in the restaurant were expensive though. For example, a glass of house red wine was 75c more at restaurant prices (that made it 3.25E).

Next stop was the lounge bar where there was a different caberet act each night. One or two of them were very good but there is also the option of walking the half mile down to the village for a drink.

Rooms are comfortable and clean and there's lots of hot water, security safe (at a charge) and sattelite TV. My first room was at the front facing the car park and I asked to be moved somewhere quieter. The second room was on the thiord floor facing the sea. Wow! What a sight. There is almost 4 kilmetres of silver sand out there and the waves roll onto it from the Atlantic.

Breakfast was fine but I am not keen on full English breakfast so I didn't sample that menu. Those who did seemed to think that the bacon was always salty and the eggs rubbery. However, the cereal, yoghurt, toast, fruit and coffee were excellent.

During the day time drinks are available at the main bar, the pool bar and at a little beach bar about a hundred yards down the shore. Snacks were available all day and the prices were quite reasonable. I paid 6.30Euros for a minute steak, onion rings, salad and chips. (That's around £4).

The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, a games room, crazy golf, volley ball and childrens play area and guests get an ID card which allows them to use the sauna, indoor pool, fitness room, restaurants, etc in the other hotels in the group (Atlantica and Delfim.)

The staff were friendly and helpful although of course, they don't hurry. I did find that I soon got used to them taking their time.

I stayed on a half board basis for 7 days and the holiday including
insu
rance, flights, and hotel cost £328 (through Portland Direct.). That was as a single, so there's a small supplement in there as well.

This hotel is excellent value for money and the weather glorious, even in November. If you try it you won't be disappointed.

Summary: