Hotel Porto Mare - PortoBay

Beautiful peaceful gardens and lovely big pool. Huge comfortable room with a balcony and sea view. Spa was lovely and gym well equipped. Friendly helpful staff. Selection of very good quality restaurants.

Porto Mare is a big resort combining 3 hotels, but its clever design means that nothing feels too big. Not the restaurants, the gardens etc. There is so much to explore, and always another pool to find. The staff were excellent and the food amazing. The location is ideal, walking distance to Funchal central or the promenade through the tunnel to a beautiful fishing village.

The friendly helpful staff, in every capacity at the hotel was exemplary, ready with information or assistance in arranging tours or taxis. The guest room/bathroom, the communal areas and facilities were spotless. The beds are so incredibly comfortable, some of the best we have had in hotels. The food was amazing and while some may complain that the breakfast option is the same every morning, the choice is so vast that ‘choosing’ the same thing is really on the guest. Huge array of fresh fruits, cereals, meats and cheeses, salads, pastries, breads, yogurts and then cooked options. There is a man that will make you an omelette to order too. We had a partial ocean view, could see the sea and plenty of it but also had the good luck of viewing the stunning grounds every morning. Outdoor facilities here are exceptional. With regards to location, we were a 15/20 minute walk in to the centre of Funchal, but if you don’t wish to walk the hotel is fortunate enough to be located two minutes walk from a Taxi bay that always has a couple of cars there and directly outside the front door is a bus stop with frequent buses directly into Funchal. As someone that generally stays in five star hotels I am surprised that this isn’t one honestly. There is no porter and I think that is probably the only reason I can see why this venue has a four star rating. Immensely enjoyed our stay here and will definitely be visiting again.

The indoor/outdoor pool spa, the gardens, the general ambience and the breakfasts were really excellent. Other meals were good but not outstanding.