Tivoli Alvor or Pestana Blue Alvor?

[Hotdoughnut]

Any thoughts on which one would be better for a week in August for a family of 5 (kids 3, 8, 11)? Anyone been?
Also looking at Pestana Dom Joao which is cheaper and not AI. Doesn't look on same level (expected since 4star vs 5star of the 1st two), but tempted to save some money!
Priority is kids having a fab time playing in the pool and making friends.
All-inclusive not essential.
Thanks!

We’ve been twice to Pestana Blue Alvor. We loved it. Second visit we didn’t bother with the restaurants - we preferred the AI buffet options, although year 2 food had declined vs year 1. The pool is very cold, we’re pretty brave and happy to get in but be warned

Its worth getting a high floor and beach facing balcony

Few photos

Many thanks for your reply. Oooh cold pool really puts me off, my kids might not enjoy that!

We've been to Alvor in July though not those hotels and the pools were freezing. The sea is cold but you'd expect that as it's the Atlantic. Brilliant for surfing/ body boarding. Alvor is a lovely resort.

Apologies op, we are going to Alvor this week but will be staying at the Pestana beach villas. Do you recommend wetsuits as the sea will be cold? I was hoping the pools will be heated but doesn’t by the sounds of it.

@MatildaMas which hotel did you stay in and would you recommend please? I'm really surprised about pools. This will be our 1st abroad holiday and I just assumed pools would he heated everywhere! Otherwise surely it's not pleasant? Thinking might as well stick with centre parcs in UK, lol!

If it’s a special holiday, I’d maybe not recommend Alvor. I do like it but it’s one long hill of bars and a slightly run down front. We spend a lot of time in Lagos which is beautiful and a couple of days in Portimao. Beaches, caves, dolphins, boat trips are amazing. There are nicer bases in Portugal than Alvor.

It was a long time ago and self catering iirc.
I've been travelling abroad on beach holidays for nearly 50 years. Pools are seldom heated in my experience. Occasionally they will say a pool is heated out of season, say October to April but they are never warm like an indoor pool. The Algarve has some amazing beaches but it's not the Med so pools and sea are cooler.
The only time I have found truly warm pools is in Spain / Greece in July/ August, simply because it's so hot, too hot for me.

Don't get me wrong, I will swim in a cold pool and the sea all year round but when you have children on holiday they want to be in the pool all day.

@vladimirVsvolodymr definitely need wetsuits in March but you should get some good surfing.

Very interesting thank you. We haven't been abroad in nearly 15 years! So really feeling the pressure to get it right. I'm visualising a beautiful setting, lovely family resort with fabulous kid's facilities (mini slides/splash/sprinklers), and local culture/ sightseeing nearby. Too much to ask?! If you have recommendations please let me know, I'd be so grateful. I thought with Lagos being a city it wouldn't be what we're looking for? But maybe I'm wrong.

Thanks @MatildaMas

Just back from Alvor Pestana beach villas. Pools were a bit cold but as the weather got warmer it got better but still cold. I think the beach was warmer in comparison. There is also the indoor pool in the hotel, I heard that is heated but didn’t try it as we were 300 meters from the pool and 500m from the beach. Weather was great and got warmer up to 21 degrees or felt like it.