My wife and I stayed in Pestana Atlantico for 5 days in June 2009. The hotel is part of the Dom Joao II village at Alvor.

The Atlantico was clean and comfy but not as good as the adjacent Dom Joao II. Staff were very friendly, helpful and polite.

When we stayed there, the restaurant that would normally have been used was closed and we were able to use the restaurant at the nearby Dom Joao II Hotel. Breakfast and evening meal were excellent buffets and the service was first rate.

We enjoyed our stay in Alvor and will return.

Based on our 5 day stay, I would have no hesitation in recommending the Pestana group. My preference would be to stay at the Dom Joao II on our next trip but would have no problem returning to the Atlantico.

Having stayed in, and been pleased with, other hotels in the Pestana group we were very disappointed with the standard of accommodation at the Alvor Atlantico. It is very very tired and needs an urgent upgrade especially as it is being advertised as 4 star when in reality it is more 2 star. The good news is the rooms are large and very clean (thanks to the hard working chambermaids) the outdoor pool area is excellent, the Staff very helpful and the breakfast good. If it was advertised as 2 or at a pinch 3 star then we would have been quite happy but we expected 4 star and did not get it. One other thing, do not make telephone calls from your room, the telephone outside the hotel was not working, we had a close relative in hospital and needed to keep in touch so phoned from the hotel, over the 11 days we spent 18 and a half minutes on the 'phone and were presented with a bill for 76 euros 30 cents (£63.00) this is scandalous and regulations should be introduced to stop hoteliers profiteering in such a manner.

We recently returned from staying at the Pestana Alvor Atlantico. We had a suite on the top floor of the hotel which has a double bedroom, living room with sofa and dining table, kitchenette and bathroom. The terrace was very big with amazing views (11th floor). The atlantico could do with a refurb to update the decor but it was clean and in very good condition. The Dom Joao has been recently reurbed (2008) but is not as tall so perhaps not so good views. The beach is fantastic and very close to the hotel, but it was our first time to the Atlantic and didn't realise the water is FREEZING - (although the locals don't seem to mind swimming in it). It gets a bit windy on the evenings. There is a free bus every morning to Portimao, returning in the afternoon or you can take a bus into Alvor. We had the full board option. The food is good with lots of choice and the staff great.

I have just got back from Alvor and it was fantastic.
We stayed in The Pestana Atlantico which is a aparthotel right by the beach and 10-15 min walk from Alvor.
The location was great and the hotel had lovely staff, was very clean and served a good buffet breakfast which was replenished frequently. The hotel does need a bit of updating but nothing major and for me the location is what makes it. There is also a health club which is very basic but is free of charge. Beach towels are also included. The negative would be there is work going on nearby so there is some drilling etc to be heard, but we could not hear it from our room or on the beach just a bit at the pool side but not unbearable by no means and it did not effect our holiday.
Alvor itself is absolutely lovely full of character, plenty of good restaurants and cheaper snack bars plus some bars with and without live entertainment. The Harbour has lot of restaurants that barbecue your freshly caught fish while you watch the sunset over the harbour.
There have been negative comments about the atlantico but I would say the other 4 star hotels in the area are either more expensive or do not have the same location. You pays your money and takes your choice.