Martinhal Sagres review: a fun, family-friendly resort on the tip of the Algarve
Martinhal Sagres opened in 2010 and set a new standard in family holidays: here, adults-only zones are out and children's playgrounds in, while a baby concierge helps parents keep packing to a minimum by providing everything from bottle sterilisers to potties at no extra cost. It's not quite as family-friendly as it could be, though, with more formal, pernickety service than you might expect (all meals, including breakfast, must be booked) and high prices for food and drinks across the board (though self-catering in one of the apartments or houses is an option). Despite these niggles, it remains one of the best resorts on the Algarve for children thanks to its facilities, with multiple heated swimming pools, a gorgeous sandy beach, brilliant playgrounds and kids' sports activities that will keep all ages entertained. Bear in mind that the hotel aims itself at families and almost all guests come with children — this isn't one for your next romantic break à deux.
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Score 7/10The 37 rooms just back from the beach have lovely full or partial sea views and a crisp, cool colour palette designed to complement the landscape beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. Most are large enough for just one child; come with more and you'll need to interconnect with a duplex beach suite, introducing stairs (though there are stair gates); bathrooms are spacious, with separate bath and shower.
Alternatively, book one of the 132 houses and villas, arranged in a village-like pattern on streets leading away from the sea and sleeping as many as 12. These come with kitchens and laundry facilities and some have their own outdoor pool. The baby concierge service can provide cots, highchairs and baby baths, and the patient staff throughout the hotel are well-versed in dealing with the whims of young children.Score 7/10Overlooking the beach, As Dunas is the place to while away the middle of the day over freshly grilled fish and a bottle of Portuguese wine, while the kids let off steam within sight at the nearby playground. For evenings, O Terraco is best, its polished wood floors, large windows overlooking the ocean and contemporary chandeliers the backdrop to high-quality steaks. There's a (sometimes staffed) kids' corner inside both restaurants so children can go off and play while parents eat, and the children's menus offer dishes such as pastas, burgers and even baby purées.
Breakfast is served at both restaurants, with a buffet that covers the basics, while simple crowd-pleasing dinners can be had at Os Gambozinos in the main square, which overlooks a larger playground. Note that all meals, including breakfast, must be booked in advance and that at busy times the most popular child-friendly slots fill up fast.
• Discover our full guide to the Algarve• Best hotels in the Algarve
Score 8/10Five swimming pools, all heated, are arranged around the resort, with the Hangout pool just above the beach the most popular (unless it's windy, when everyone heads to the indoor pool). Right on the doorstep is a sandy beach some 700m long; the resort also has a water sports centre for windsurfing, kayaking and SUP, and staff can also organise surf trips further afield. The football pitch hosts daily family football matches and there's tennis, padel, mini golf and a climbing wall. This is a resort designed around children, so there are several playgrounds (one even has a bouncy castle), as well as kids' clubs for ages from six months to 17 years — note, though, that these are split into five age groups, potentially separating siblings.
All pools and playgrounds are complimentary, along with the gym and family playroom, which has board games, video games and a pool table, but all other activities, including the kids' clubs, attract an extra charge, except in low season (typically November to March).
Score 7/10The resort is located in the far southwest corner of Portugal, which makes its weather more blustery than balmy — and certainly windier than other parts of the Algarve. The upside is that any clouds blow over quickly. You're surrounded by the Costa Vicentina Natural Park here, in an unspoiled part of the country — don't expect copious tourist attractions, do expect plenty of birdlife. The hotel has a bike station, for bike hire and guided tours of the reserve, and you can walk into the pleasant, surfy town of Sagres, which has a 15th-century fort and laid-back local restaurants, in about 20 minutes. Faro airport is about an hour and a half away by car.
Price B&B doubles from £146Restaurant mains from £22Family-friendly YAccessible Y
Helen Ochyra was a guest of Martinhal Sagres (martinhal.com)
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