Hotel Pestana Dom Joao II

The Pestana Dom Joao is in Alvor, 4 miles away from Portimao, approximately 37 miles west of Faro international airport (1h by car). Once in the city, pass the aerodrome (on the right), keep on following the billboards indicating the hotels, one is the Delfim, turn right before the footbridge and keep straight on. Follow the sign "Hotel Dom Joao". Go into the hotel zone and turn right before the Alvor Atlantic.

There is no real nautical base on the hotel beach. To do jet ski, parasailing, banana, sailing, kayak, pedalo or water ski, you have to go to Praia da Rocha a dozen miles away.
The clientele is mostly German and English.

The Dom Jao is an impressive L shaped five-floor building, erected in 1972. With its eclectic decoration in the common areas (lobby, lounge-bar), restaurant room and electronic games room), it has a comfortable size and is bright enough so that you don't feel smothered. Outside, the garden is also large (lawn, palm trees, and maritime pine trees). You must go through it to go to the pool ( appropriate size - 33 x 20 m, filled with seawater and heated in winter) which is surrounded by a terrace with several sunshades, deckchairs, a shower, toilets and a bar. A little farther on, the Atlantic is at your feet.

The 247 rooms (including 19 suites) are not too large (from 14 m² with a 3 m² balcony to 25 m² suites with a 6 m² terrace). You get to the rooms through gloomy corridors. The decoration is simple (pink white furniture, colorful fabrics) but the essentials are there : individual air conditioning, direct international telephone, a safe ( 14 € a week), a (small) satellite television (22 channels), a radio but no mini bar except in the suites. The bathroom with a bathtub has some welcome products and a hair dryer. There are modest balconies with chairs and plastic tables and a garden or sea view. Several rooms communicate.

The main restaurant, the "Pavillon du Roi" is an imposing room with a strange decoration. Two massive lion statues guard the entrance. Here, three meals are served buffet style (+ a menu at night). The cuisine is international and Portuguese, thematic evenings are organized (barbecue, Algarve or Portugal specialities). The choices are quickly made: 3 to 4 dishes are offered (pizza, bologna escalope, grilled chicken...). We recommend the fish. On the edge of the swimming pool, the snack bar serves until 15h. Concerts and shows are held every evening at the bar.

The Dom Joao has direct access to the pleasant monitored " Três Irmãos " (the Three Brothers) beach : approximately 2 miles long, a decent width, clear sand, and a line of cliffs to the east. Here you will have lots of space, clear water, and some pedalos to warm up your legs but no deckchairs and sunshades. To do sailing or water skiing, you have to go to Portimao beach.