Penina Hotel & Golf Resort

Me and my friends were very hesitant after booking this place after we had seen reviews.

We’ve played top courses all over the UK we know a decent course when we see one.

The championship course really is good, fast bending greens with tight challenging fair ways that are in good nick! It’s probably not the same condition as it once was but it’s still VERY good now and by the looks of things only getting better.
There may be better in the algave but this really is a good place to visit.

The hotel is old fashioned but that’s the whole idea, it’s not messy or run down and the food is fantastic here.

Overall we’re so glad we came and will probably come back after experiencing other places.

We played the championship course on Saturday 1st November. We’ve played the course many times over the preceding 30 years so, having read numerous reviews slating the condition, we approached this one with trepidation.
No, it’s not in the condition that it was when the European Tour regularly visited but it was by no means shabby. I would question the technique of those complaining about the bunkers - not a lot of sand but enough to control your shot quite easily. Greens had been spiked but rolled well at a reasonable pace and the fairways were also in good nick. We don’t stay in the hotel or play the Resort Course so I can’t pass comment on those.
All in all a very enjoyable and good value visit so please don’t believe all you read - apart from this of course!!

20 golfers. package deal. overpriced in my opinion compared to what else is available on the Algarve. The Resort course is embarrassing. Dug up & patchy, terrible greens. They should not let people out on it. It just gives an awful impression. The Championship course is ok. quite nice and challenging but you cant give a review without mentioning the bunkers. They were appalling - solid, earthy sand, many of them flooded. it really lets the place down.
Although there is a starter, the first tee box was crowded with late starters pushing everyone back. We were behind a 3 ball and kept pace but the Ranger was going around telling everyone (including us) to speed up!!! which was probably just an inexperienced guy showing his frustration! Overall the staff were very good. but the confusion in the pro-shop was honestly like a comedy show... having booked the buggies in advance (I offered to pre-pay, this was declined, I offered my room number, he didnt need it - but assured me that I had booked 2 buggies on 2 separate days...) and of course, to my surprise, the next day he was scrambling to find me a buggy as he had let them all out.
When I got a buggy, I asked the same diligent pro-shop guy where was the driving range... he pointed the way to go (about 7-8 mins walk) and we went on our merry way - only to find a machine that needs tokens from the guy in the pro shop...

Then the buggy broke down. as did two others - we saw them being towed back.

so yeah, we wont be back - certainly not at the rate we were given - and only if I hear of significant improvements.

This course has a great layout but the condition is very poor.

Difficult yes.

Greens not bad.

Complaints from other people as we checked in, not a good look

What a wonderful few days away golfing, eating, relaxing, laughing …. made all the better by this great resort. The staff couldn’t have been more helpful. The breakfasts are truly fantastic. The food in the Grill and the Italian restaurant on site were excellent too and reasonably priced. Beers and snacks were a little expensive but welcomed after a day on the course. Wonderful pool to relax in. The courses were good although the resort course needs more attention to the tee boxes and fairways, good greens though. Some of the fairways on the resort course had been snuffled by the local wild pigs. The rooms were nice with comfortable beds and good pillows. Coffee and tea facilities were available. Good bathroom with a shower over the bath. UBERs available for sightseeing/restaurant trips. Good value for money we’d say. We’ll certainly return for more golf on the Henry Cotton Championship course. We saw golf of all standards. Dress code was as you’d expect. Soft spikes advised but not necessary or checked. The course marshals are keen that you keep up with the game in front of you and will ask you to move on if you fall behind. We weren’t asked for handicap certificates. Great

Great hotel, great golf course but the worst bunkers on the Algarve. Just down 3 days playing Penina and am really impressed with the timeless course layout. It’s tough, long and in fairly good condition. BUT the bunkers are awful. For me to consider returning they need to set them out. Compacted, flooded, grass growing in them. They need a full overhaul.

Stayed again in Penina and our reservation was looked after expertly and brilliantly by Patricia Rosa The staff in hotel were fantastic from Carlos Mariana Assad Joao and all the staff couldn't do enough for us it was a pleasure to return The starter on the golf course was great as the golf course really enjoyable to play.Looking forward to our return visit

When we arrived I was concerned that we had made a huge mistake booking this hotel, as the exterior of the hotel was extremely tired and run down. However the rooms themselves were comfortable and clean, albeit quite basic and the grounds were very well maintained. The food in the 2 restaurants we visited was good, the breakfast was perfect and the service was friendly and helpful. Overall the hotel did start to grow on us over the few days we were there and we did end up enjoying our stay. It’s just such a shame that the same level of attention is not given to the exterior and balconies of the hotel, as that applied to the grounds and golf courses.

Really fab traditional hotel. We were a large group and were staying in this hotel as a friend had a nearby villa. My room was spacious and comfortable with a balcony and Nespresso machine. The pool was great with plenty of loungers and towels. The pool bar had a selection of food including really great salads. Sandwiches etc. friendly and helpful staff. The breakfast was fantastic, super fresh and plentiful - loads of nuts and seeds for your yogurt, freshly cooked egg options, beautiful pastries. We spent a day at a beach club in Portimão which is about 20 mins away. We had a night out in Alvor at a great seafood restaurant called A Lota - highly recommended. Great location, very relaxing stay, charming hotel.

Been returning to this Hotel since 2010 and feels like home. The breakfast is one of the best I have ever had. Staff are fantastic and always helpful, especially Ana who has been looking sfter us for years. Can’t wait till next June when we return again.

The hotel is beautiful and the staff couldn’t do enough for you. There is a great range of food available and it is within 15 minutes of the beach and village

I loved this 5 star traditional hotel. My 9 year old daughter loved the pool and kids club. The room had great coffee good size and very comfortable. The location is great just a 10 min Uber ride 8 euros from Alvor which has great restaurants and fun activities. The hotel has a private beach with transfer and chairs with umbrellas included with a nice restaurant available.
I'd only suggest the owners to give the hotel an outside paint job. That's it. Can't wait to come back.

We’ve been coming to the Penina for the past 15 years, every few years and have always loved it so were concerned reading some of the recent reviews. Yes, she is looking a bit jaded in places but glad to see that some redecorating was going on and hope that this continues. But overall we thought she still looked okay. We love the dark wood and tiled floors, as that makes this hotel unique, and whilst some people may say the hotel needs modernising, I think that would take away all the charm and beauty of this hotel.
Our room was perfect, it was clean, and serviced every day. Complimentary water each day would have been a nice touch and something that is standard in other 4-5 star hotels we have stayed in.
WiFi was okay in our room and around the pool.
Breakfast was fab as per usual!
The staff were also excellent, although we felt there were less staff than in previous years.
We were disappointed that two of the four restaurants were not open, especially as this was in July. We were told there was an issue with the air con in the Italian restaurant, and they had a visiting football team that had taken over the Sagres Restaurant daily, so we did wonder if this was more about lack of staff? Shame as we would have liked to visit the Italian, but we did visit the Grill and had a lovely meal there, and we ate in Alvor/Lagos for the other evenings which we would normally do anyway.
Golf was great, we played 4 times on the Henry Cotton Course and did not play the Resort Course. The course was in good condition although they were hollow tining the greens which we were warned about. We were fine with this as it has to be done at some point to keep the course tip top. The guys in the pro shop were super helpful as always and moved our tee times around to suit us.
Overall a great stay but she does need a little work and it will be interesting to see if the new owners invest in maintenance, upgrade and more staff - again, I cannot speak highly enough of the current staff who all work so hard!
We will be back as it really is our happy place, but will probably give it a few years to see how things develop - we are keeping our fingers crossed!

lovely old hotel grandeur was its enduring quality, yes things were a little worn but nothing that was red flag, they were decorating and re rendering when we were there.
staff were amazing very courteous and attentive but not in your face.
food was very good
golf was amazing facilities lovely greens were being redressed but only a few each day which didn't detract from so great and not so great golf on my part
all in all would definitely recommend and will return at some point
keep up the great work

Very nearly cancelled our tee time on the Henry Cotton course due to the reviews, but we carried on and glad we did.
It’s a classic old school course as you’d expect. Greens were excellent. Really good test. Lovely Clubhouse. Would recommend

4 nights with some golf. The hotel is impressive. We upgraged to a juinor suite for a "discounted rate" for an extra £585 for the 4 nights! This wasnt great value once we saw the room. The golf was great as were the staff. We also enjoyed the food. It did seem the hotel was under staffed at times, however this didnt deter from our stay. The pool was good too. The hotel badly needs upgraded, paint is flaking off in a lot of areas, loose door handles etc. The general decor is old fashioned and worn.
Our biggest issues were, dinner starts at 7.30 pm meaning not eating before 8.00 pm, which is too late for us. Our second issue was this is the 1st 4 - 5 star hotel we have stayed in that didnt replace water in the room (this was a seperate fee of 5 euro each)

This hotel has so much potential to recapture its golden years, but investment is needed.

Been staying here for years - it never changes which is lovely - you know what you are getting. 5 star service, amazing food, grounds are stunning, the pool is divine and the backdrop of either the hotel behind or the golf course from the pool is equally tranquil.

What must have been a magnificent complex when built in the 1960’s is now showing its age both in design and maintenance.
The one thing that is probably the same is the friendliness, helpfulness and competence of all the staff. They were all without doubt wonderful!
The rooms are quite small but bed comfortable. Bedside light switches some way to reach and water pressure pretty awful. Major problems is the almost non existent WiFi in our room - apparently just changed suppliers who do not respond to emails!
Downstairs area are vast and tiled meaning normal noise levels are highly exacerbated! Indeed more so by some of male golfers - English of course - drinking outside after their morning round and being so overwhelmingly noisy - especially as they left to wreak havoc on some poor undeserving town!
Bar service for pre dinner was chaotic and service slow but the buffet dinner was really good which could not be said for the Italian dining which in itself is in a magnificent setting!
As buffet (and Italian) was closed on Sunday - did not know that! - we ate in the lovely club room. We each had the crab starter whereas one between two would be more than sufficient - tasted very like blitzed crab sticks in mayo? - and burgers which were the best we have had in a very long time!!
Special shout out to the guys at the pool who were great, the pool enormous and the beds super comfortable!
Just a shame the place looks - even the front of the hotel facing the pool - in need of a lot of money spending on it to bring it up to modern day expectations.
If we were to go back to the Algarve, this hotel would certainly be considered and, if that money was spent, be a certainty for a return visit!

Back at Penina for a golf trip after an enforced absence for a few years. Was really excited to be back as this is my happy place and I was relieved it was as great as it always has been in the past. Penina has never been modern glitzy luxury. Rather the delight of the place is in its rustic old world charm, tranquil environment and brilliant staff. A high proportion of the people staying here are returning guests (the best measure of a hotel’s success) and there is very low staff turnover with people working here for decades (and having great pride in providing excellent service). New guests receive a warm welcome and returning guests are greeted like extended family. It was great to see lots of old faces still here, like Carlos at the front door and Nelson at the Club/Grill. The place has a great sense of history and tradition e.g. the snooker table that was originally a gift from the British King (and which John Higgins used for practice before his first World Championship win) or the Beatles song named after the hotel that Paul McCartney wrote when staying here in the 60s. Rooms are simple, clean and comfortable: breakfast is superb; the pool is massive and lovely to sit at; the grounds are beautiful; the Championship golf course is excellent. It was a joy to be back and I’m looking forward to returning soon.

We played the resort course, a real disappointment. The fairways were bare in places, three of the greens were temporary as they were doing work on the proper greens, although there was no sign of any work. I would suggest going to Palmeres, Santo Antonio or Espiche for a much better golfing experience.