The best gift for Mum? A week in the Algarve where the kids stay free

For bookings made by 30 April, children up to and including 16 years old stay free for any dates throughout the year. They just need to share a room with their parents.

There’s more: with the coupon SUITE26, anyone booking a suite or sea-view suite gets an extra 10% off. Two offers that, combined, turn a week at the beach into a good deal more affordable than it looks.

Why Pestana Alvor South Beach (and not another hotel in the Algarve)

Because very few hotels in the Algarve manage to pull off three things at once: direct access to a Blue Flag beach, contemporary design with character, and a scale that doesn’t overwhelm. 

The visual concept draws on the laid-back energy of South Beach, Miami: bold colours, original furniture, decorative touches that give each space its own personality. This isn’t a generic resort hotel. It’s a place where you can tell someone actually thought about the décor, the atmosphere and the way the light comes into the rooms.

Then there’s the location. Praia de Alvor is literally on the doorstep. Praia dos Três Irmãos, one of the six best beaches in the Algarve according to the 2019 World Travel Awards, is 800 metres away. The fishing village of Alvor, with its fish and seafood restaurants, is a short walk. And the boardwalks of the Ria de Alvor, a 6 km route through dunes and salt marshes, start right around the hotel.

The reopening offer, explained without the small print

So there’s no room for doubt, here’s everything you need to know:

The most important point: the booking has to be made by the end of April, but the stay can be at any time. So you can book now at spring prices and travel in July, August or September. For families planning their summer holidays, it’s a short window.

What the family can expect inside (and outside) the hotel

Three pools, one just for the little ones

The hotel has three outdoor pools for adults, lined with sun loungers and bali beds, plus a pool dedicated exclusively to children. It’s the kind of setup that lets parents relax with a cocktail while the kids are safe a few metres away. There’s also a chill-out area and an outdoor gym for anyone who wants to keep up their training routine during the holidays.

Breakfast with dishes made to order

Served between 7:30 and 11:00, the breakfast at Pestana Alvor South Beach stands out for its hot dishes prepared fresh. This isn’t the industrial buffet of a chain hotel. It’s a breakfast designed for starting the day without rushing, in a relaxed atmosphere overlooking the pool area.

Sunset Bar and Sea Deck restaurant: from lunch to sundown

During the day, the Sunset Bar serves light options (salads, soups, sandwiches, burgers) – perfect for staying within the pool-to-beach radius. In the late afternoon, the menu shifts to hot and cold tapas, with exclusive cocktails in a setting right beside the pools.

The Sea Deck restaurant is another story. Sitting directly on the sand at Praia de Alvor, with an open view of the sea, it’s the quintessential summer spot: fresh fish, seafood, regional Algarvian cooking and cocktails by the water. If you’re looking for the best seaside restaurants in the Algarve, this one belongs on the list.

Alvor beyond the hotel: what to do with the family

The Ria de Alvor boardwalks (6 km through dunes and salt marshes)

This is probably the best walking route you can do in the western Algarve without any serious physical effort. The Alvor boardwalks stretch for around 6 km, connecting Praia dos Três Irmãos to the Alvor jetty, passing through a system of dunes, salt marshes and wetlands that form part of the Reserva Natural da Ria de Alvor, a protected area covering 1,450 hectares. The route is flat, accessible to all ages (including pushchairs) and perfect for late afternoon, when the low light turns the estuary into a show of colour.

If the family enjoys birdwatching, this is the place: flamingos, herons, storks and dozens of other species make the Ria their home, particularly between late summer and autumn.

Alvor village: cobbled streets, grilled fish and ice cream at dusk

Alvor is not Albufeira. There are no nightclubs or mega-developments dominating the coastline. It’s a genuine fishing village, with narrow streets of whitewashed houses, a parish church with centuries of history, a small castle and a riverside promenade where fishing boats still dock every morning. The restaurants serve cataplanas, barnacles and grilled catch of the day at fair prices. For a family with children, it’s the kind of place where you can have dinner late, without a reservation, and let the kids run around the square without a care in the world.

Beaches for all tastes (and ages)

Praia de Alvor, right in front of the hotel, is the obvious choice: golden sand, calm sea and a Blue Flag. But it’s worth walking to Praia dos Três Irmãos, about 10 minutes on foot. This beach is known for its sea-sculpted rock formations, natural arches and small caves that children love to explore at low tide. According to Visit Portugal, it even has a small distinctive cave that is “the perfect playground for any child”.

A typical day at Pestana Alvor South Beach (for inspiration)

Activities in the area: from golf to kitesurfing

Alvor is far more than beach and pool. For active families, the area is an excellent base for a whole range of experiences:

• Golf: The Pestana Golf Resorts courses (Vale da Pinta, Gramacho, Silves, Alto Club and Vila Sol) are just a few minutes’ drive away, with special rates for hotel guests.
• Water sports: Kitesurfing, windsurfing, kayaking and boat trips along the Algarve coast, with local operators in the Alvor and Portimão area.
• Theme parks: Slide & Splash (water park) and Zoomarine are both less than 20 minutes by car.
• Day trips: Lagos (30 min), Silves (25 min) and Ponta da Piedade are perfect half-day outings to break up the beach routine.

For those who want to explore the Algarve more thoroughly, Pestana Stories has a full Algarve road trip guide worth reading before you go.

Who this offer is (really) for

It’s worth being straight about this: this offer isn’t for everyone. It’s specifically designed for families with children up to 16 years old. If you’re travelling as a couple or with friends, the SUITE26 code is still useful (10% off suites), but the children’s big perk doesn’t apply.

That said, for the right profiles, it’s one of the most competitive offers around in the Algarve at this time of year:

• Families with young children looking for a hotel with a children’s pool, a safe beach and on-site restaurants, without needing a car for everything.
• Families with teenagers who want to mix the beach with activities (water sports, golf, excursions), and where the kids can have a bit of independence.
• An unusual Mother’s Day gift: instead of an object, give real days of rest. Mother’s Day in Portugal is on 3rd May; booking before the end of April guarantees the children’s offer.

How to book (step by step)

The process is straightforward, but the deadline is tight. Here’s how to secure the offer:

1. Go to pestana.com/en/hotel/pestana-alvor-south-beach and select your dates.
2. Choose your room type. If you opt for a suite or sea-view suite, enter the code SUITE26 to get the 10% discount.
3. Add the children (up to 16 years old) as guests in the same room. The children’s stay will be free automatically.
4. Complete your booking by 30 April 2026. The stay itself can be on any date.

Alternative: you can also book by phone through the Pestana call centre, on +44 2034 677355.

What if Pestana Alvor South Beach is fully booked?

Alvor has one of the highest concentrations of Pestana hotels in the Algarve. If Pestana Alvor South Beach has no availability for your dates, there are alternatives in the same area:

For an overview of all Pestana hotels in Alvor, you can visit the destination page on the official website.