More about Porto Santa Maria Hotel Porto Bay
A great holiday at the Porto Santa Maria
by A TripAdvisor Member
We have just returned from a great week at this hotel and booked it after reading the reviews in Trip Advisor. Everything said previously about this hotel is true. From the moment you arrive to the time when you sadly have to depart it is a great experience. The hotel is in a great location in the Old Town, close to numerous restaurants. Walking in the old town area is on the flat, whereas most of the other hotels are in a very hilly area and a long breathless walk back from the town centre or the Old Town.
The hotel is adjacent to where you board the cable car which takes you to the village of Monte where you can experience being pushed downhill in a wicker basket, a very old tradition in Madeira.
We elected to have lunch in the hotel most days because sitting out on the terrace by the swimming pool eating lunch was very pleasant indeed.
You are made to feel very special at this hotel and when we return to Funchal we look forward to staying in the Porto Santa Maria again.
The best Restaurant in the Old Town
by berghaus about O Portao
The O Portao is situated near the large Porto Santa Maria Hotel near the Old Fort, in the Old Town area in Funchal.
This restaurant was an absolute gem, the understated exterior gave no clue as to the quality of the food, staff and atmosphere.
The interior was not too big or bright, ideal for that romantic meal. For a warm evening, there is also outside dining.
Alberto Camara and his staff were all excellent, very knowledgable about the food and wine. They were also genuinely friendly, often giving good advice about the meals that were available. There was none of the constant harrassment by staff that can normally be the case.
The kitchen and chef are on view at their work which was good to see. I thought that for the quality of the food, the prices were very reasonable.
The menu, gladly, was not huge, but had more than enough to challenge.
Every meal that we had there was superb, I am only sorry that we didn’t discover it sooner. Ah well, next time !
Well done O Portao.
A brilliant holiday destination!
by A TripAdvisor Member
We spent 2 weeks at the Porto Santa Maria Hotel in August. In the whole of our stay we had no complaints at all- everything was wonderful!
Our room overlooked the harbour so there was always something to see (well worth paying the extra for a sea view), and it was kept spotlessly clean by a friendly, efficient maid. Indeed all of the hotel staff were extremely efficient and helpful- nothing was too much trouble for them.
The breakfast buffet was excellent but the one dinner we tried in the hotel was nothing special. However, the hotel is ideally situated for a range of wonderful restaurants, our favourite being the Portao, which is literally just behind the hotel!
Its situation in the old town makes it ideal for walking into Funchal's centre (on the flat!), unlike the vast majority of hotels in Funchal which are a very long, steep walk away from it!
If we ever return to Madeira we would not stay anywhere else but the Porto Santa Maria Hotel; the whole holiday was perfect!
Wonderful Hotel, Friendly Staff, Good Breakfast, First Rate Cleanliness
by A TripAdvisor Member
I have stayed at the Porto Santa Maria Hotel 5 times on a Bed and Breakfast basis. At each visit, the hotel has not failed to keep up its high standards. The rooms are pristine and the maid service is first class. The Breakfast choice is vast, which you can enjoy on the terrace (full english is available) for those guests who require it. The waiting staff are wonderful they work long hours but without fail give you a warm welcome each morning. The small kitchen in the room is a bonus; hob, cooking utensils, crockery, fridge, kettle etc., are to hand if required. The hotel is centrally located and a good base for the less mobile guest. A flat walk to the Loacal Shops, Cafe Bars, Promenade, Maderia Story Centre, Cable Car, Local Park, Bus Stop and Taxi-Cabs. Couples make up most of the guest list, and children under 16 years old are few and far between. As a reuslt, you can swim in both the indoor and outdoor pools - sometimes having to share with only three other adult guests at any time of the day. The water in both pools is kept crystal clear and the general pool area is also very well looked after. The hotel gardens are immaculate and the hotel staff at the pool bar look after your every need with a big smile, nothing is too much trouble for them. Enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail in the Captains Bar; the Santa Maria Cocktail is good. I have booked my next stay at the Porto Santa Maria Hotel and I am looking forward to it, as I know my holiday will be hassle free with a warm welcome on arrival from the reception staff.
This hotel must have the best position on the whole Island
by TripAdvisor Member The Penguin
With its proximity to the Old Town, lots of restaurants, the Cable Car and a lovely stroll along the promenade to the Marina and Funchal Centre, the Porto Santa Maria provides very comfortable accommodation with great sea views. Very quiet, but taxis and buses were only a stones throw away. Staff were friendly and efficient and couldn't do enough for you. We started the day with a fantastic buffet breakfast, including a couple of glasses of bucks fizz! Just the thing to kick start us for our sight seeing trips or a few hours by the pool. There were also plenty of sun beds by the pool, so there was never a mad dash to find a bed! Didn't eat other meals at the hotel, but restaurants nearby were plentiful and good. Our favourite was the Portao, just beyond the little Chapel in the street behind the hotel. It was unique in that area as there was no 'caller' standing in the street trying to entice you in and had one or two variances to the 'standard menus' offered by most restaurants. For a change from Scabbard Fish and Beef skewers we ate at the Chinese Restaurant in the same street, and enjoyed the food and the banter with the waiter/waitresses. A wonderful holiday!
Superb Hotel
by TripAdvisor Member labrador16
We stayed at the Porto Santa Maria Hotel. This hotel was fabulous, wherever you came from your type of breakfast was available. The brits had their english breakfast and the germans their cold meats and cheeses etc., There was plenty of food and you could have as much as you require. The waiters were changing tablecloths as soon as somebody finished at their table. Very clean, spotless hotel.
Don't ask to stay on the garden side of the hotel. This is not the hotel's fault, but on the garden side is a stream. This stream takes sewage out to sea and is not running fast enough to carry it so now and then council workers hose it out, usually at night. Also at night the refuse wagon comes around and empties the glass bottle bank. That is an awful noise, another reason not to stay on the garden side. The smell when we were there was pretty disgusting. Another thing with this stream was men used to urinate into it in open view. I thought that a bit yuk. On complaining, we were given another room, in fact we were given a suite on the third floor. The views we had from this suite were stunning.
In my opinion bypass the garden view. It is worth paying the extra for a sea view.
The best fish restaurant is O Jingo, (do book, people queue out of the door)and the best restaurant is O Tapposol. I am not sure about Madeiran cusine. I thought their food basic. They don't seem to be gourmets. Fish is the best to eat, the meat is tough. I also thought the food expensive. For two of us approx 50 euros a night. Don't drink the water, buy bottled. For the dog lovers among us, there are several abandoned dogs. They don't bother anybody and are fed by the nearby restaurants. There was a brown *** that I called "Ola" which means "hello" in Portugese. She was so sweet.There is a derilict house where they stay so a waiter told us.
There was a rock concert(juvenille festival?) on the week we were there. From 22nd to 27th Aug this rock concert seemed to be situated on the dock where the liners tie up. Our hotel being opposite, we heard every beat of the music. The concert went on late, and kept us awake until at least 2am. We are no killjoys but this really spoilt it for us. Try to find out if this happens every year.
Beware of the time share people on the marina. They collared us and they don't take no for an answer. They get quite huffy when you don't want to comit yourself to a deal. The last thing to mention was that Reids Palace hotel is the place for afternoon tea in grand style. It is very over rated. It is 23 euros each person and it is best to book. I thought the sandwhiches and scones lovely, but the cakes were like the box cakes you buy in a supermarket at home, nothing special.
Wow - Just Fantastic
by TripAdvisor Member Jonty58
Our first visit to Madeira and checked out Hotels on tripadvisor before booking. Smart move as this just a truly beautiful hotel in a terrific location.
We could not fault anything about this place and the staff could not have been more considerate and pleasant.
We stayed on a B&B basis and yes you don't need to walk to find lots of good places to eat. Breakfast in the hotel is superb - it has everything. Sitting out on the ocean-facing terrace for breakafast bathed in warm sunshine really set us up for the day.
The view from the balcony of our room out to sea was breathtaking. Seeing the ocean liners coming and going turning in front of the hotel is quite jaw-dropping. As for this sea view business - I would say that all but around 16 garden view rooms on the side seem to have a good sea view - obviously the views are not as good from the ground floor balcony.
We stayed in room 133 - and when we arrived we found that in front of but level with our balcony was a terrace with a few sunbeds on it, then a low wall and then the sea view. This terrace can only be accessed from rooms 130, 131, 132, 133 and 107 (I think) by stepping over the balcony rail. Most other residents appeared unable to step over the balcony rail so we had the exclusive use of this terrace all week to sunbath outside our balcony. Fantastic.
Pools are shallow but fine for us. Gym is well equipped but very underused - again I found it great to be able to use any equipment whenever I wanted. The area out front of the hotel with the pool, sunloungers and poolside bar is superb.
The captain's bar is great. We tried out the cocktails in the evening before going out to dinner. Half-price happy hour from 6 to 8 pm - fantastic coacktails for something like £1.50 each - with brilliant attentive service at your table. Bliss.
As for local restaurants - We'd probably say either A Muralha, just outside the hotel gate or Portao further up behind the hotel were the best locally from what we tried. O Tapposol has good food but if you are just a couple and book a table up on the terrace overlooking the street beware that they pack the tables in very tightly up there leaving very little elbow/privacy room - have a look first. Oh yes - they are great fun at the Chinese restaurant behind the hotel.
We booked the hotel direct on-line via their website and scheduled TAP Air Portugal flights on-line direct from Gatwick from TAP's website - all very easy - except do check with TAP that you have reserved actual seats as on our flight it was not possible for all couples to sit together.
I don't know whta the other hotels in Madeira are like - and I am not too motivated to find out. We will book to stay at the Porto Santa Maria.
Best location in Funchal
by TripAdvisor Member JimBetty_7
Excellent location within the Old Town and on the Promenade close to cable car to Monte gardens.. Numerous fine restaurants with a wide variety of food at reasonable prices immediately outside the Hotel.
The hotel facilities were excellent with swimming pools heated to 28 degrees for inside pool and 26 degrees for outside pool. Bars and entertainment very good.
We were on a B&B option but had a meal one evening in the hotel which was very disappointing and expensive compared to the Old Town restaurants. I would choose the B&B option again.
Our rooms were excellent on the first floor with sea views where we could watch the Cruise liners coming and going. A sea view is highly recommended.
Finally, even though we were in the centre of the Old Town the hotel and grounds were very quiet with no traffic noise which many hotels in Funchal have.
The place to stay.
by A TripAdvisor Member
My wife and I Stayed at this hotel for 1 week, our room had fantastic sea views of the harbour etc. After reading reviews of this hotel I tried hard to nit pick without success. The hotel has a great situation in the old town. The food was excellent and so were the staff.
Could not fault it in any way. Excellent in every way and so was the weather.
If we do ever return to Maderia this is where we would stay.
Forum Posts
Venice
by stiffler
I am going to Caorle near Venice next year. Can any one tell me how to get 11 of us from Treveiso Airport to the Keycamps camp site?
RE: Venice
by Sjalen
Hi Bobby and welcome to VT! I don't have an answer but want to advise you to put your question in the Venice forum instead. Some members only look at their own home countries when answering so they would miss your question under "Europe". If you put it there, it will still appear under Europe too, so those of us looking at ALL Europe would see it as well. :)
RE: Venice
by GiorgioVRitaly
Bus Service Airport Treviso
ATVO S.p.A., in summer, gives a fast daily bus connection service from Treviso Airport "S.Angelo" to the main seaside resort long venetian coast. ATVO Spa employes a qualified staff and uses air conditioned buses with large luggage van. In summer there are many shuttle buses to the beaches of Lido di Jesolo, Cavallino Treporti, Caorle (local connections to Eraclea Mare, Duna Verde and Porto Santa Margherita), Bibione and Lignano Sabbiadoro.
http://www.move2sea.com/inglese/index.html
http://www.move2sea.com/inglese/caorle.html
Have a nice stay
Giorgio
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