Pestana Bay Ocean Hotel
Funchal, Madeira

Mr M Lall, Carshalton

The hotel was located by beautiful surroundings, very close to the sea. Could continually hear the sound of sea waves throughout the night. Very warm and breezy, weather was great. The room was big and airy but could have done with a spray of freshener after daily clean by the maids. Bathroom area was not wiped clean. Staff very friendly and nice in all areas especially the bar and restaurant staff. Not a huge choice of food menu at lunch or dinner (usually 2 mains) but food was hot and nicely presented. Breakfast was just OK. There was only one M/F small wash up room downstairs, for all the holiday makers. This was also used by the pool / massage area, thus not sufficient for everyone, especially in the evenings when everyone is drinking / dining.

We had a great time as the walks along the sea front are beautiful. Nice to have the daily bus to Funchal, but a few shops nearby would have been an advantage. A bit secluded from the main town.

Ms M Watters, Cheltenham

It's well worth a holiday there.

Ms M Watters, Cheltenham

Everything was fantastic.

Mr D Holloway, Wallingford

Everywhere very clean. Meals became a bit predictable after a few days but varying the combinations of food helped. The main problem is that the hotel is a long distance from Funchal town and the shuttle bus or taxi is the only way to get about. The nearby road is very steep and really not safe to walk to the main road.

Mr C Barclay, Kirkwall

Good hotel but poor room around the night time entertainment and poor that the cold meat and cheese are only out for breakfast. Both bars should open at the same time, 3pm is no use to anyone.

Mr J Shakespeare, Basingstoke

The hotel was very clean. All members of staff were very friendly and helpful. Food was very good with a good variety with a good range of drinks available at the bar. Our room was on the 7th floor with great views. The room was very comfortable and cleaned every day. It was good to have a kettle in the room.

Mrs L Bowen, Dudley

A lovely welcome, beautiful setting, food very good, wonderful courtesy bus service.

Mrs L Onions, Emsworth

Nothing to do, needs an animation team and improvement to entertainment.

Mr R Gallagher, South Shields

On the 6th June my wife and I had a wonderful week at the Pestana Bay Hotel. I could not fault anything, the cleanliness, the room, the pool and poolside facilities and the staff were most friendly but most of all the food was excellent. Great holiday.

Mr P Wood, Doncaster

Everything was first class.

Mrs S Stevenson, Sheffield

Located in a beautiful situation, all rooms overlooking the sea. Free regular shuttle bus to Funchal, good service. Rooms spacious, cleaned daily - all with balcony and furniture, ceiling fan but no A/C. Safety deposit box - 12 euro per week.

Restaurant has two sittings for evening meal 6.30 or 8pm. At times got quite busy but never had a problem finding a table. No set sittings for breakfast or lunch. Food varied, all tastes catered for and all dishes well cooked. Entertainment lacked variety - the usual singers, parrot show, owls and eagles, karaoke. Small entertainment area with no space for dancing.

Wi-fi available only in the reception area (ground floor) and partially the 1st floor (balcony above reception). Would be greatly improved if available in rooms (even at a small charge). Mealtimes not only consisted of eating but majority of people spent considerable time on mobile devices checking e-mails/snapshot/facebook etc.

Pool area - very well looked after in beautiful maintained gardens, sheltered with plenty of sunbeds. Beach towels supplied in rooms - very useful however 2 euro day charge for a sun umbrella. Spa and gym. Overall good facilities, one or two criticisms but minor in the big picture.

Mrs J Gulliver, Maidstone

Hotel noisy and over crowded. Food of a poor quality, mostly fish and pork, barely 3 star standard, certainly not 4. All meal times chaotic due to over crowding, not enough tables available, an area of the restaurant was frequently cordoned off for a specific holiday company, leaving many empty tables there while in the rest of the restaurant there was no tables and many people looking to be seated. When checking-in, was asked which sitting we required for evening meal and was given a corresponding wrist band, however this was not enforced; everyone ate when they wanted and this lead to the over crowding and frayed tempers in the restaurant.

Pool clean but over crowded. Sunbeds saved from early morning even though signs forbidding this, not enforced. Entertainment area far too small for amount of guests, was not impressed by local dancing troop congering through the restaurant and trying to sell CDs and hats while trying to have evening meal.

Location of hotel was not as described, not walkable to Funchal due to distance and mountainous geography of the island, therefore most people stayed in the hotel after dinner. Free bus from Funchal returned for the final time at 19.30 making it difficult to go there for an evening and the cost to go independently was 10 euros each way. No advantage to hotel being advertised as being on the beach as it is made up of large boulders making it virtually impossible to walk or lay on, though some did try.

Anyone thinking of booking this hotel needs to be made aware that this hotel takes large group bookings of mixed nationalities, mainly Polish, with British very much in the minority; read into that what you will.

Main positive points; room was very spacious with sea views and cleaned daily to a good standard. Hotel gardens impressive and beautifully maintained. Staff friendly and attentive. Overall opinion was disappointing, would not return nor recommend to others.

Mrs J Chilton, Redruth

The hotel is very clean, bedrooms large and pleasant, all staff friendly and very helpful. Hotel is approx 4km from Funchal. We found the restaurant very cramped, tables for two pushed together to make 6 or more for larger groups, this meant you could be sitting next to strangers/different nationalities so not the relaxed meal times that we would enjoy, also the noise and pushing to choose your buffet meal and drinks.
Smoking just outside the restaurant area made it unpleasant to enjoy eating there.
Our first few days were quiet at night but then a group of younger adults arrived for a week, they were always drinking too much and very loud screaming and shouting in the corridors at night. I feel sad that a lovely hotel was spoilt because of disrespecting guests.

Mrs J Chilton, Redruth

The Hotel is very clean, bedrooms large and pleasant, all staff friendly and very helpful. Hotel is approx 4km from Funchal.

We found the restaurant very cramped, tables for two pushed together to make 6 or more for larger groups, this meant you could be sitting next to strangers or different Nationalities so not the relaxed meal times that we would enjoy, also the noise and pushing to choose your buffet meal and drinks. Smoking just outside the restaurant area made it unpleasant to enjoy eating there.

Our first few days were quiet at night but then a group of younger adults arrived for a week. They were always drinking too much and very loud screaming and shouting in the corridors at night. I feel sad that a lovely Hotel was spoilt because of disrespecting guests.

Mr C Kelly, Llanelli

From the moment you walk into the reception where you're greeted with a welcome drink you're made to feel welcome in a friendly and relaxed hotel. If you're looking for an activity based hotel where you get nagged every 5 minutes for aqua-aerobics, bowls, darts, fencing running, walking etc then this hotel is not for you. If you're looking for a little oasis of calm where the only noise to keep you awake at night is the sound of the waves crashing, as I believe all the rooms are sea view, then this is absolutely perfect.

The quality of food is absolutely amazing. Always fresh meat being grilled by the chef and the range while we stayed included fresh prawns, duck and steak. There is something for everyone's taste at breakfast whether continental or full english, pancakes or healthy all tastes are catered for.

You can help yourself during the day to the soft drinks, tea and coffee, wine, sangria and lager which is great or be served by the friendly bar staff. There's a choice to dine at all meals either inside or outside which is great and again all the restaurant staff are amazingly helpful.

Its always easy to get a sun lounger as beds simple can't be reserved for hours if no one is laying on them.

The rooms are spotlessly clean and towels are changed every day. You even get poolside towels which saves on the ever precious baggage allowance. All rooms also have kettles should you like your early morning cuppa before hitting the restaurant or even last thing at night and you're also allowed to take drinks up to the rooms should you wish to relax on the balcony at night.

The pool is immaculately clean and with the amount of sun on it makes it warm to go in - easily accessible as well with shallow steps in for those not competent swimmers. Its right on the beach with access via a door with a code for hotel guests and there's gorgeous tranquil gardens with gorgeous flowers in to wander and sit in.

Location wise you need to use the free minibus to get into Funchal but if you're a wheelchair user like my dad is its also absolutely perfect. The hotel is totally and utterly wheelchair accessible from the bar, lounge toilets, sun area and inside and external restaurants. There is free Wifi in the main areas such as lounge and restaurants and also a vast library to swap any books you've brought on holiday with you.

Would I recommend it - well this was my 2nd visit and looking at returning in October so take that as a giant yes!

Mr M Allmark, Wednesbury

Brilliant hotel, everything you want from a relaxing holiday, good food, lovely rooms, great staff. Will definitely be back.

Mr J Cox, Coventry

We found this hotel excellent, the accommodation was first class. We had a junior suite room 110, a beautiful bedroom with a 6ft bed and a lounge/dining room, kitchenette and really spacious bathroom, 2 balconies overlooking the gorgeous gardens and the sea. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the food and drinks were very good.

Mr J Frew, Sheffield

Even though the hotel was closing the week after our stay the staff were friendly and helpful. The room was kept clean and the towels were changed every day. The room was a little bit tired but the place was closing for three months to do a total upgrade.