Alvor Baia Resort Hotel

We recently stayed at Alvor Baía Resort Hotel in Alvor on an all-inclusive basis, and overall had a mixed experience.

On the positive side, the hotel is very clean and well-maintained throughout. The rooms are exceptionally spacious, which is ideal for families, and the air conditioning was excellent. Housekeeping was consistent, with the room cleaned daily and a complimentary bottle of water provided, which was a nice touch.

The food, however, was fairly average. There was a reasonable selection, but it became repetitive and nothing really stood out in terms of quality.

The biggest issue for us - and something other parents should be aware of - was the kids club. If you’re booking this hotel expecting to get a bit of a break while your children are entertained, this may not be the case. Our child described it as boring, and we didn’t feel comfortable leaving him there. The staff seemed disengaged and uninterested, making little effort to interact with the children, often just sitting back while the kids entertained themselves. There were very few children attending, which really reflected the overall atmosphere.

It’s also worth noting that the hotel is a bit of a walk from the centre of Alvor. For adults it’s manageable, but with children it can feel quite far - especially on the way back. We’d definitely recommend bringing a buggy, and even older kids may find the return walk tiring.

Alvor itself is a lovely place with a relaxed atmosphere, but it is quite a small resort, so it’s worth keeping that in mind depending on what you’re looking for.

Overall, while the hotel scores well on cleanliness and room quality, it falls short in areas that matter for families. We wouldn’t rely on the kids club as part of your holiday experience.

Just returned from a week’s stay at Hotel Alvor Baia. Overall I’d rate it 3/5.

• The hotel is big and has a somewhat corporate appearance, but is well kept and clean. There isn’t a lot around the hotel and Alvor town is a little walk away (it does only take about 10-20 mins to get there but, once you’ve walked around, the walk home can feel longer in the heat). You can easily get taxis though and they’re not expensive at all (about 4 Euros).
• Our room (for me, my husband and 4 year old) was spacious and clean, with a good quality shower, fridge/kitchen area and huge balcony. The air con was great. My son had a little bed that was between a patio door and a sofa, so we didn’t have to worry about him falling onto the floor from a height.
• The main pool is massive and also well maintained. There is a little pool area for kids with a small slide and climbing frame. The play park is great and older kids were also enjoying it. There are sports pitches but I think you have to pay for the tennis courts.
• The all inclusive bar is fine - I’m not a huge fan of all inclusive but it was as expected and staff were generally friendly. The pay bar is great and you can access a small private terrace when buying from here. Cocktails are all made from scratch and drinks are well priced (e.g. 4 Euros for a beer).
• Food was ok - not as bad as some reviews make out but nothing special either. They do a BBQ night and that was good. I have been to lesser star hotels where there was a greater choice of food.
• My biggest disappointment (and why I wrote this review) was the KIDS CLUB. I hate to complain but it was so poor, and we had been looking forward to using it - parents for a break and my son as he loved the club we went to in Ibiza last year. Staff were so unfriendly and cold, as though they didn’t want you there. There were no smiles or pleasant exchanges and we typically waited outside the locked gate for a few minutes until they decided to acknowledge us. The first time we went to see it, my son didn’t even want to stay. He did go a couple of times but I suspect this was because of his positive experience last year and as he liked the look of some of the equipment there. When I left my son, I would go back to check on him and he always wanted to leave. The last time he went he was the only kid there and was alone in the garden when we went to get him, with the staff member inside. I don’t think I ever seen them engage or smile at him. He told us after that it’s boring and nobody plays with him. They also don’t offer water or ice-creams to the kids, as we have previously experienced . I’m not one to complain, but do feel strongly about this and therefore want to highlight it in the hope it can be addressed.