Pestana Delfim Beach & Golf Hotel - All Inclusive

The positive (notice this is singular) was the shower. We arrived at 1pm, the room wasn't available until 3pm which is pretty standard. We left our cases and went for lunch. I paid extra for a superior family room. The room we were given was a standard double room with a fridge with wires hanging out of the back and a hairdryer that didn't work. I queried this with reception but no, that was their idea of a superior family room. The mealtimes were an assault course, trying to access the food/drink whilst trying to avoid colliding with the vast amount of mainly Portuguese, badly disciplined children. The noise levels were something to behold and made mealtimes a dreaded occasion. The food was basically the same every day with an added speciality here and there (that delicacy pork curry, yum). They then adopted the process of making you queue for the lunchtime meal with no explanation as to why. There was a "smile board" in the restaurant urging people to smile (not sure if this was aimed at staff or patrons) because the staff were certainly not heeding this advice. Coffee was good as was the prosecco (although you could only get this in the restaurant). The white wine available in the bars was not disimmilar to drinking turps (I imagine). The pool area was unclean and as per another recent reviewer mentioned, my son said there was excrement in the pool. It's a salt water pool so It was expected to be a little chilly. It was absolutely freezing. Again, children running around everywhere totally unsupervised. I am not sure how an accident was avoided. Our room wasn't cleaned every day and barely any toilet roll was left meaning you had to ask at reception. This is basic and not acceptable. The staff in general were very miserable and looked like they were doing you a favour by serving you with drinks. The smell of urine in the ladies toilet on the 2nd floor was gag inducing. It was evident some people were not flushing the toilet paper after use and putting it directly in the bin by the toilet. Disgusting. Snacks were put out between 3.30 pm until 5.30 pm daily. However, on Thursday there was a pig being cooked on a spit by the pool. If you enjoy the smell of rancid pork fat cooking in the heat whilst trying to enjoy a drink in the sun, this may be for you. We didn't usually have the snacks but that day my son fancied one but oh, there were no snacks at all that day because there was roast pig on offer. So if you didn't like this, you were getting nothing! I must say, I have travelled to quite a few hotels in Europe over the past few years and I accept there are good and bad points to all. This was not a cheap holiday and it failed to deliver on all counts. Basically if you want a holiday where the parents allow their ferrell children to run riot with no supervision whatsoever, enjoy bland, fatty food with off the scale noise levels (mainly whining, shrieking and crying) then this hotel is a must. I appreciate children make noise (I have one myself). This was the worst hotel I have ever stayed at and how it got a four star rating is incomprehensible. The only reasons I can think of is that they are offering a fridge and hairdryer in the room (barely functional) and a separate Italian restaurant which was only bookable three days a week plus a beauty salon which I didn't sample. I don't like to overly criticise businesses unduly but feel on this occasion this review, although harsh, is warranted.

All-inclusive hotel from top Portuguese Pestana brand located at walking distance (a few minutes) from Alvor long sandy beach ("long" meaning several miles), with a few smaller beaches eastwards. I would recommend to stay there when it is low tide in the morning (around noon), as it is just perfect for kids (lots of small pools appear in the sand, the water soon becoming warm, then hot indeed - I do mean hot, above 40 ºC). Those beaches located a few hundred meters eastwards have cliffs and caves, and are perfect for exploration, again in low tide. Seagulls are everywhere, including their chicks learning to fly. As for the hotel, it has everything you'll need: good clean rooms, nice views from the ocean, plenty of tasty food (people should refrain from eating too much; don't expect to come back home any thinner...), friendly helpfull staff, a big pool and a pleasant garden with lots of trees for the shadow. A good value for money, this hotel is a very good choice for families. Let your kids make news friends, and maybe come next year to meet them again. That's what I am going to do, anyway.

After reading recent reviews my husband & I were not expecting such a fantastic time at the Delfin. From the very start the reception staff were super and throughout the whole stay we had nothing to complain about. The hotel does need updating but our room on the 16th was cleaned everyday and the views of Alvor were simply amazing. What a beautiful place one of the best beaches we have ever seen so clean. Then before leaving today I used the beauty salon Ceo & Tania were superb and very reasonable. We will be back next year as this hotel really was value for money.

Food was average , meat was always tough , excrement in pool and 2 lots of sick , pool staff didn't react very quickly due to staff shortage , breakfast was very fatty , and little choice of cereal or juices . Hotel shabby in need of update , 4 lifts for whole hotel , found this frustrating . One member of staff asked if we had read the rule book when we had our friend visit for a drink , felt like a criminal . Beach was lovely , but felt pool should of been closed for a day to clean , I didn't swim in it after seeing what was floating in there .

Having just returned from a wonderful weeks family holiday at the Pestana Delfim Hotel, and having read some of the negative reviews prior to traveling it left me wondering if somehow we had stumbled on another hotel that went by the same name. The hotel was excellent, food good and always plentiful, the rooms always kept clean, we were on the 12th floor with outstanding sea views.The staff were friendly and helpful,always a sun bed around the pool area very few reserving beds with towels. A four minute walk to an outstanding beach that must rate as one of the best in Europe. Perhaps the only let down was the evening entertainment that wasn't all that great. Didn't hear any noise in corridors on a night allowing us to enjoy a peaceful and quiet sleep. All in all we had a wonderful week. Is there another Pestana Delfim hotel in Alvor?

Second time at this hotel. Arrived about midnight, quickly checked in and delighted that we had been given a room on the fifteen floor with a beautiful sea view.A tray with sandwiches,cake,fruit and water in the room - very much appreciated Never had an issue waiting for the lift , food was ok and plentiful. Always plenty of fresh fruit and wonderful desserts, self service drinks mean that you can get yours before sitting down to eat and not having to wait to be served. In some hotels the drinks would arrive as we finished our meal. The beach is spotless and very large. When we were there the red flag was up for two days but still the idiots thought it ok to swim in the sea. Don't they realise they put the lifeguards life at risk as well as their own. We were impressed at how quick the lifeguards were to blow their whistles to get their attention and tell them to come out. The reception staff are very helpful and will ring for a taxi if you want a night out in Alvor. It is between €4 or €6. Two sunbeds and parasol is €12 for the day on the beach - you can safely leave towels etc while you go for lunch. Downside - the barman at the poolside bar could really do with some help. Tables outside were rarely cleared and the bins were overflowing by mid afternoon. At least people were using the bins. Very large room/bathroom. Towels and bed linen changed regularly. Room cleaned every day by cheerful ladies. Staff in the shop are very friendly and never pushy if you cannot make your mind up. We enjoyed our holiday, the staff are very hard working, think they could really do with more staff in the restaurant at dinner.

Yes there are problems at the Delfim the main one is the lifts but as we have gone to the Delfim over the last 10 years it has not put us of. Compared to the other hotels near/in Alvor the Delfim is low cost. So if you feel the need you can eat out in Alvor very cheaply. The pool and sunbathing areas are magnificent, second to none. You will find a number of Portuguese families staying at the Delfim. It is easy to complain but you get a fair/good deal at the Pestana Delfim Alvor. The hotel Reception staff were very helpful to us as I needed a wheelchair to get me around and they sorted this out, no problem.

The Delfim is a good all round hotel , There was always room around the pool and while we were there no one reserved the beds with towels could not believe it . The meals in the resturant were good with a good choice ,and again there was always a table available. The room was fine but for us being OAP we had trouble using the shower could do with update. We will use this Hotel again

This is definetly not a 4 star hotel. I would say it's a 3 star. We have just come back from a weeks holiday. When we arrived at this hotel it was 12.00 and we had travelling for 12 hours when we got there to be told our room was not ready until 3.00pm. She said there was no where to keep our suitcases and we would have to keep them with us. We asked there was a room that we could change into are swimwear as it was hot and we just wanted to relax by the pool in the sun and she told we could in the toilets. The only toilet we could find to change into as we didn't know our way round the hotel didn't have a lock on there.so that wasn't a good start. When we got to the pool area there were loads of kids running around and really noises as we were sold this holiday as a couple hotel and not a family hotel. The food was not that good as it was basic food and the same food was out every day. The eating area had kids running around with an accident waiting to happen with hot drinks and hot food I people's had. Again not 4 star food. The day before we left we asked for an early morning call at 4.30am as we need to get up early for our coach to pick us up for our flight back and we didn't get one. In positive note the staff were very friendly. The room needed updating but was large foom with a balcony and sea view. It had 3 big mirrors and a powerful hairdryer which is great from a women's point of view. Clean room with nice bathroom and great shower that got cleaned every day. There was clean beach towel every day for you to use. It was 5 mins walk away from the beautiful beach and 20 mins walk from the beautiful Alvor town centre. Also the Thompson rep Claire was so lovely and cheerful and very friendly and approachable.