Luna Alvor Village

The Luna Alvor Village was apparently designed to appeal to couples who mind their budgets, but don't want to sacrifice much comfort or style. In the latter, the hotel delivers in understated modernity with attractive exposed stone walls and minimalist spaces filled with natural light that have a mid-century architectural appeal. The wide lobby has a high ceiling with simple glass elevators, and pendant lamps dangling above a slate floor. A small garden sits in the center contained in a rectangle cut from the tiles, where two skinny palms and leafy ground cover get sunlight from a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel is definitely popular with its target market, couples, but it is more kid-friendly than sister property Luna Alvor Bay thanks to its large Family Apartments. Couples who don't need these might prefer sister property Luna Alvor Bay, which has modern studios within a five-minute walk of the beach.

The Luna Alvor Village is in a quiet residential area near other hotels and vacation apartments, including value-oriented sister property Luna Club Brisamar. Other than a pair of nearby restaurants, there's very little in the immediate area, though the hotel is around a 15-minute walk to dining and nightlife in downtown Alvor. From Alvor, it's about another 10-minute walk to Alvor Beach. Alternatively, a free shuttle can take guests into town for riverfront seafood restaurants, shops, and nightlife that caters to tourists. The old fishing town also has historic attractions like Alvor Castle and the 16th-­century Matriz Church. The much bigger town of Portimao is about a 16-minute drive away, while Faro Airport is closer to an hour by car.  

The hotel has 60 modern studios (including some equipped as Family Rooms, with two twin-size beds and a sofa bed) and another 10 large two-bedroom Family Apartments, all with kitchenettes and private balconies. The decor is bright, with white tiles and cabinets, accented with orange and gray fabrics. The kitchenettes have dining tables and are equipped with ovens, small electric stovetops, microwaves, and dishwashers. Guests will also find toasters and espresso machines in the well-stocked cabinets. Sitting areas have boxy orange sofa beds and flat-screen TVs. There's a fee for Wi-Fi (it's only free in public areas). Gray and white tiled bathrooms have bidets and shower/tub combos. Views vary from pool to inland views, and some of the rooftop Family Apartments have huge terraces with panoramic views and outdoor hot tubs. 

The outdoor pool and kiddy pool are set into a narrow wooden sundeck, with loungers and umbrellas arranged on a wide expanse of grass stretching out on all sides. There's plenty of space for all on the sunbathing lawn, and the whole area is enclosed by low walls or gardens along the building. Inside, the lobby has a small internet corner with a couple computers (next to a cigarette machine) and the lounge bar has a comfortable seating area with a flat-screen TV, along with proper tables and scoop chairs in more of a dining room setting. There's no full restaurant, but a breakfast buffet with hot options like eggs and bacon is included (unlike at Luna Alvor Bay). The best seating is on an outdoor terrace with a wooden deck and comfortable patio furniture, which has a lulling water feature overlooking a garden. The hotel operates a free shuttle into Alvor, and to the beach, three times a day.