We (mum and 2 boys aged 8 and 15) stayed in the Dom Joao in July 2013. It was recommended to me by a colleague who had spent a week here, for a wedding, the previous year.  We had requested (and paid for) a room with a full sea view with Alpharooms . .  and after a dodgy week, where the hotel said they didn’t have a booking in our name and were already overbooked (common in high season apparently) we were allocated our room on arrival. We had requested a room on a higher floor, but got the 2nd floor, but by this time . . I was so delighted to have a seaview that I didn’t care! (There are 5 floors and 2 lifts).
It had a flat screen tv, and a fridge (but this wasn’t cold enough for me, although it kept my lipstick from melting)

As we arrived by private transfer, we were dealt with very speedily and with great courtesy by the reception staff, although on other mornings, when there was an influx of new arrivals on a coach . .  I did witness queues – as you would expect.
Our room consisted of 2 single beds (very wide) pushed together to make a double and a separate sofa bed. The flooring around the bed was carpeted whilst it was wooden in the other areas in the bedroom and tiled in the bathroom.
The balcony was small though . .  it could just accommodate a table and 2 chairs, although, when I peered over the balcony to the floor directly below us, they had balconies 6 times our size, complete with 2 sunloungers (but being a floor lower – less of a view).
The cleaning/change of towels and bedlinen was excellent (daily) and thorough (and I have high standards in this area!) The maids took great care to position SG’s two favourite pals (La La and Lamby) in different poses each day and were just generally kindly in passing.
We were on B+B (first time ever on our summer hols) and found this to be ok actually! Breakfast was served from 7.00-10.30 and consisted of the usual counters of fresh fruit – delicious! Cereals, yoghurts,bread/rolls/toast, hot buffet (catering more for the German market, I suspect) frankfurters, smokey bacon (horrible!), mushrooms, beans, scrambled eggs (with and without onion) , waffles, fried eggs and boiled eggs ..  oh yes . .  and some sort of grilled tomatoes . . . ALSO – champagne every morning  - if you felt like it, in an ice bucket as you came down the stairs, immediately on your left ( I only succumbed on my birthday!) They had the usual range of juices/coffees/hot chocolate.
They also did the most gorgeous cakes!!!! Now I know that usually, on hols, the cakes are very suspect – but these were really good. Some days a Madeira, or carrot cake, or marble cake, or chocolate cake (which was a winner by far according to the guys).
We chose to eat ‘al fresco’ each morning, overlooking the pool and gardens and it was lovely. Many ate indoors and whilst we did this once (due to there being no tables available at the time) the noise (with children etc) reminded me of a school dining hall.
The hotel has free wifi in the reception area (we were issued a password which lasted a week)but the signal is better in the area around the lifts and the bar. There is a pool table available for €2 and some computer access ( but don’t know the cost as we didn’t use this).
For those who like entertainment . .  there are some shows a couple of times a week (a reptile show, Portuguese dancing, an acrobatic show and a Friday night 80’s disco!) These usually commenced at 9/9.30 (prob to keep the half-boarders on the premises) but we didn’t stay for these. There are a few activities as well( a range of aqua aerobics, bowling (French style), volley ball, soccer for the kids. There is also some sort of games room (didn’t venture in, but saw a table tennis table in passing) and a limited gym (again . .  didn’t venture in, but had some treadmills that I could see, whilst reclining on my sunlounger! You can get diving lessons here too . .  but it’s done in the pool too . .  so, while you’re trying to do your lengths (well, widths actually) as the pool is bisected by a rope, which marks the ‘you are now out of your depth) section. By the way – the outdoor pool is salt water and there is a smaller indoor pool with fresh water (and sauna/steamroom/spa)
Sunloungers . .  well, it’s hard to define this! For the first few days of our stay, there seemed to be a lot of German guests, so a lot of sunbeds were taken up very early in the morning (and some not occupied for a lot of the day) I took this point up with reception, asking specifically if management intervened when this occurred, but was told that it was beyond their control!  However, this changed after a few days. The advice I would give to prospective clients is . .  if you need to be by the pool, because you have children . .  keep an eye on the sunbed situation. If you don’t . .  there are lots of quiet , beautifully manicured garden areas where you can pull a sunbed and sit and read your book in total P+Q.
It was about a 10-15 min walk into Alvor, depending on which route you chose, but the BIGGEST PLUS for us was that the hotel was positioned directly on the beach . . you just crossed a wooden bridge and Taa Dah!!! There was a board walk in both directions . .  to the left, to the rock formations and to the right in the direction of the Alvor estuary (but we preferred the former).

Beside the hotel itself are the Dom Joao villas, which looked nice too. I think they can choose to board at the hotel too, which would explain the ‘volume’ of customers in the mornings!
In summary – would I come to Alvor again . .  not sure. . .  have been to nicer places (Burgau/ Salema area)
If I was coming to Alvor again, the only place I’d stay would be the Dom Joao. From walking around, lots of accommodation is further out/has no view or aspect. It depends what you want from your holiday,really.
Best points . .  location, location, location . . . . . . On the beach, lovely helpful staff . .  excellent cleaning . . . a breakfast that would set you up for the day (well, fresh fruit and cake+++ works for me!)
I celebrated a birthday whilst out there and was surprised when room service delivered a bottle of bubbly and a choc cake! I assume they work it out when they take your passports on check-in, because I certainly didn’t tell them!!! So . .  if you have something to celebrate – let them know!
Weak points . . the race for the poolside sunbeds (when they aren’t occupied for some time)

A word of caution re: the bathroom . .  it has a glass (window) wall which communicates directly with the bedroom. This window is concealed by a roller blind, which is operated from the bedroom side, so you need to trust that your fellow room-mates will respect your dignity!



























I do have a few more pics of the communal areas, but have lost all my pics twice already, (!) so will add them anon . .

excellent review Boss,

a breakfast that we set you up for the day, well perhaps lunchtime, come 11am, can I have a doughnut Mrs Db,

rep from me Boss  

Thanks for sharing, TB  -  a good review.   

I'm with you  -  cleanliness & location are important to me, too.

Rep on the way.  

Sorry this is a bit disjointed . . but I just found some pics that I couldn't locate last night.



View of the hotel from the beach in the early morning


And the eyesore 'Torralta' apartments, where I stayed 30 yrs ago - I believe most are privately owned now


The terrace where we ate breakfast in the morning

just realised I didnt click on your rep but done it now Boss  

The wardrobes . .  one of which housed the minibar and safe (€2 per day for the latter)



The boardwalk to the west, on the beach


The beach to the East (much more interesting and picturesque)


A view of Lagos in the distance

A very good honest review there TB, with great photo's attached, rep from me.   

And finally, Cyril  

The reception area


And the entertainment area

Did one of your boys take the photo Boss? As it looks like that have got your leg in the photo, of you lying on the sofa, on the phone, in the foreground of the Entertainment area.  

    

Alas . . I cannot claim that leg  

Excellent review TB, rep from me.

Looks a nice place, lovely beach.

Thanks for the reps, guys!  

... and another from me, Bossy.
Thanks for handing in your homework so promptly.

Overall it sounds like a decent place to stay.

Smashing review, thanks for that. Rep added.
HH.

Ddolfelin wrote:

... and another from me, Bossy.
Thanks for handing in your homework so promptly.
Overall it sounds like a decent place to stay.

Perhaps you might take a leaf out of my book!  
Thanks for the rep!


Thank you too, HH!

just catching up on posts i missed when away boss,great review and photo's.

rep on the way.  

Why . . thank you Y . . .
Will get around to posting the resort review in the not too distant future . . I hope!