Pre-baby, like most people, my husband and I loved travelling. When I became pregnant, while I knew the experience would certainly be different with a child in tow, I was determined it would still be something we continued to do as a family and began searching for the perfect place for our first holiday with a baby.
Nestled in the stunning Algarve region of Portugal, Martinhal Sagres is a luxury family resort which is designed with families in mind, offering a balance of relaxation for adults and endless fun for the kids, whatever their ages. From its breathtaking beachfront location to its wide range of child-friendly activities and amenities, Martinhal Sagres ensures that every member of the family has a memorable experience on their Portugal family holiday.
Accommodation
We arrived at Martinhal Sagres at lunchtime and were greeted by Joana on reception who explained everything we needed to know. We were encouraged to use a website where we can WhatsApp a member of the concierge team, book tables for breakfast, lunch and dinner, view the resort map, request housekeeping and more. As useful as we found the app, we couldn’t cancel or amend reservations via it which would have been helpful as babies rarely run to schedule! Being able to message the concierge team was especially handy and was something we used numerous times during our stay, whether it was to request a baby steriliser or ask for a recommendation.
Before heading off to explore the resort while we waited for our accommodation to be ready, we were also kindly given a bag, hat and comforter for our son which was a lovely touch. Older children were given a backpack and cuddly toy.
Martinhal offers a range of luxurious and family-friendly accommodations designed to suit families of all sizes. Guests can choose from beautifully appointed hotel rooms with stunning ocean views or opt for more spacious villas and houses that provide home-like comfort and privacy.
The hotel rooms are ideal for couples or small families, offering elegant décor and easy access to the resort’s amenities. For larger families or those seeking more space, the Bay, Garden, and Ocean Houses, feature fully equipped kitchens, living areas, and private terraces. Or for a truly bouji experience, the Luxury Villas offer high-end finishes, private pools, and sweeping views of the surrounding nature.
We stayed in a two-bedroom Ocean Houses, a stylish and comfortable stay with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. The modern décor blends seamlessly with the surrounding natural landscape and features a fully equipped kitchen, open-plan living and dining areas and a private balcony that overlooks the sea plus a little garden area with loungers, creating a serene and spacious environment for us to relax.
The ocean houses are conveniently located close to the resort’s main amenities, making it easy to access the pools, restaurants, and kids’ clubs.
All accommodation at Martinhal Sagres is designed with families in mind and you can request a huge range of child gear including cots, baby bouncers, baths, sterilisers, bottle warmers, baby monitors and much more. This was a huge help when packing those baby holiday essentials because as all parents know, babies require a lot of stuff!
We were also kindly left a little welcome kit which included orange juice, water, cereal, biscuits and more.
Services and facilities
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to facilities at Martinhal Sagres which manages to cater to both relaxation and adventure, ideal for a family getaway.
The resort boasts five pools including a heated indoor pool which is perfect for year-round swimming. The Pool Hangout was our favourite and certainly the most popular thanks to the ocean views and close proximity to the bar. Shallow baby pools are available for little ones, and sun loungers surround each pool area, allowing mums and dads to unwind - well, as much as possible with little ones around.
For parents seeking relaxation, the Finisterra Spa provides a tranquil escape. Offering a variety of treatments from massages to facials, the spa combines modern therapies with natural ingredients. With specialised "spa for two" treatments, couples can indulge in a peaceful retreat while the resort's childcare services ensure the kids are entertained. Alternatively, there are even children and family treatments!
We loved the Beach Hangout, a relaxed spot located right on the shore. Designed as a cool, casual area for guests of all ages, it was the perfect place to enjoy the beautiful Algarve coastline.
For those who need a little adventure, the Watersports Center provides an exciting range of activities from paddleboarding and kayaking to surfing lessons and windsurfing, suitable for every level of skill and enthusiasm. The resort also has a bike station, mini golf, gym and sports centre with tennis courts.
Kids clubs
While our son was too young to make use on this trip, Martinhal has a range of children's clubs that allow kids to make friends and memories while parents enjoy some well-earned relaxation. They cater to kids from as young as six months up to teenagers.
The nursery and crèche (6 to 23 months) and Raposinhos Kids Club (2 to 3 years) provide a safe and stimulating environment for the youngest guests, with age-appropriate toys, games, and activities led by professional staff.
For older children, the Fox Club (4 to 6 years) offers arts, crafts, sports, and outdoor adventures to keep them engaged. Adventurous tweens and teens can enjoy the Explorers Nature Clubs (7 to 13 years), featuring everything from sports tournaments to movie nights and exciting excursions.
Food and drink
We wanted somewhere that had multiple options for food as we didn’t plan to leave the resort during our 4-night stay. Thankfully, Martinhal Sagres offers a diverse and family-friendly dining experience across its four on-site restaurants, each blending local flavours with international cuisine.
O Terraço, the resort's signature restaurant, serves refined Portuguese dishes with a modern twist, ideal for a family meal with beautiful ocean views. This was also where a buffet breakfast was served each morning, something we always looked forward to. Although smaller than other hotels we’ve been to, it had everything you could want to eat from pastries to sausages and bacon, pancakes and waffles, fruit, cured meats and cheese. Each morning we were welcomed to our table and asked what coffee we would like and how we wanted our eggs. The serving staff in O Terraço were all lovely, especially Emmanuel who was always smiling.
As Dunas specialises in fresh seafood and is perfect for casual, beachfront dining while Os Gambozinos provides a laid-back Italian menu, offering favourites like pizzas and pastas for the whole family to enjoy. For a relaxed experience, M Bar serves light bites and drinks (with a delicious Gelataria next door) and The Josper Grill is the place to go for tasty takeaway options.
Each restaurant is designed to accommodate families with children, offering kids' menus (including purees for babies) and high chairs, ensuring a stress-free dining experience for all ages. We noticed that many of the restaurants offer small play areas which are manned by a member of the Martinhal team so that parents can dine in peace while keeping an eye on their offspring.
In the village, you’ll find Os Gambozinos, M Bar and Josper Grill which surround a large playground for children to burn off energy while their parents sip a well-deserved beverage or two.
For those who are self-catering, there's also a well-stocked on-site shop for all those holiday staples like Lays crisps and Fanta lemon but useful items for babies such as nappies and formula. It also includes a small bakery with freshly baked bread and pastries for those not having breakfast.
All restaurants, including breakfast, required reservations which naturally helped the flow of guests and meant no restaurant felt too busy. We found the option to have food from some of the restaurants delivered to our accommodation really helpful as there were some nights we just wanted to chill at our villa and it certainly made life easier with a fussy baby. It cost just three euros which was surprisingly reasonable to have food delivered to your ‘home’ compared to other hotels we've visited.
Final thoughts
It may have been our first trip to a family hotel abroad but Martinhal Sagres will be a hard one to top for our family. While it offers all of the facilities we could have wished for when staying away from home with a baby, it's clear that parents have been considered too. Everywhere you turn, the design is thoughtful yet stylish and despite the chaos that naturally comes with children running about, Sagres still manages to ooze luxury. Before going away, I often heard that a holiday with kids is just 'parenting abroad' but that wasn't the case with Martinahl, it still felt every inch the holiday.
The incredible location, high-class facilities, attentive staff and delicious food are just a few of the reasons we've already raved about Martinhal Sagres to family and friends and continue to scour the website ready to plan our next trip.
A journalist since 2015, Emily Gilbert is the Features & Reviews Editor for Mother&Baby and has written for the website and previously the magazine for seven years. First-time mum to Theodore, Emily writes about everything from the top baby products to pregnancy, fertility and maternal mental health. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.