Madeira Holiday Reviews

Very quiet resort, we were All inclusive so didn't really eat out. There is a nice couple of pubs near the hotel and a wine bar.

Very quiet apart from the runway. The two cafes on the sea front sold excellent, cheap food that was hot. the hotel could learn from them.

Porto Santo is still not widely known about. It is a small island and if you like just to relax by the pool or the sea then this is ideal for you. The main town is small with only a few shops and restaurants hence most of the hotels are all inclusive.No nightclubs which is appealing and you can hire a car if you wish to explore a lttle but walking on the beach is sufficient to see most of the surrounding scenery

A very quiet and small village, a few shops, cafe's etc. We tended to go to the capital. However the hotel had everything we needed really so we just had a wander round the village.

My family loved Funchal, even our three teenage boys. It isn't a place to go if you want a sandy beech however there are designated areas where you can swim in the sea from platforms allowing sun bathing, dining etc. Wouldn't know about night life, we didn't explore this as our hotel offered entertainment.

The resort was ideal from a tourist point of view with exellent scenery and lots to do both during the day and of an evening. Very friendly locals.

We have just returned from our stay at the Pestana resort in Porto Santo, and what a fantastic holiday it was! From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by our lovely rep Mario (who, may I add, made our holiday extremely comical throughout! Best holiday rep we've ever come across!) who made us feel very welcome.

The rooms are extremely spacious and clean, and we had a great view of the pool. We found all the facilities in the hotel were kept extremely clean at all times, and the pool was cleaned daily also. The staff at the resort were so friendly, and spoke excellent english. The waiters at the hotel have a fantastic sense of humour if you initiate any jokes with them, otherwise they are extremely professional at all times, with excellent waiting skills.The food at the resort was 5*, great quality and tasted fantastic. There was such a variety of food, we never had the same meal more than once in the week we stayed.

The beach walk hosted by Mario and Andrew was great, and it was nice to have some guidance around the town once we arrived. The town itself is very quiet and laid-back, so it's perfect if you want a quiet holiday. Likewise for the hotel itself, there is a very chilled out theme throughout the day, we found it thoroughly relaxing.

The only slightly bad point was the entertainment in the evenings. The 4 dancers who were on stage most nights were fantastic, however seeing the same 4 dancers each night did get slightly boring. The solo singer which also sung most nights when the dancing had finished wasn't our cup of tea, and we felt the entertainment lacked variety.

The pools are quite cold if it is overcast, however on the one or two overcast days we had, we went into the heated spa pool, which was lovely. We also never had a problem finding a sunbed by the pool in the mornings, which was nice!

Overall, this was a fantasticly relaxing holiday which we all thoroughly enjoyed!!

We used very basic Portuguese (sim, nao, obridaga etc) and many Portuguese people inside and outside the hotel appreciated this and made them smile. I think there should be more emphasis on just at least knowing some language basics, as it is only fair, especially when Brits expect English to be spoken in their own country. We wished the hotel would advertise more about what was going on in Vila Baleira regarding events and festivals, because we had no idea what was happening, until we went into town ourselves. This was disappointing considering this was not boosting the tourism into the island, and I think the locals would feel more involved and more accepting of Pestana if there was clearer communication links. Please can there be more buses into town, as they were limited at the resort!

Our stay was too short to really see the island. Public transport good way of getting about. We did not go looking for beaches or nightlife so average is really no comment

I am not a youngster (54) but I felt like it here! We stopped in the lido area which was very quiet. The lido itself is a joke with just a few bathing platforms.There is a nice promenade walk and can recommend 'hole in one' pub. The flower festival was spectaular. We only stayed a week and were outside the main town. I know madeira is not recommended for beaches and due to a drought last winter the wild flowers have sufferred but my main feeling is if you have pulse theres better places to go than this

Overall very hilly, but there is a good bus service. The area round our hotel was flat, and ideal for strolling. Nightlife consists of eating out in the main, and there are a good variety of local restaurants, some of which provide live music.

The old town is pleasant to stroll round, though hard on the feet (cobbles). The newer part of the town is not spectacular though there are pleasant gardens.

The cable car trip to Monte is worth it for the views and the tobogans are fun to watch though not recommended for the more mature. Please note the Botanical Gardens are not suitable for the mobility impaired.

Taxis are cheap, if you pick them up away from the hotel.

If you want to do a bus tour the Red Bus has a better route than the Yellow and Blue one and runs more often. Both cost 12€.

Spectacular scenery. Good local buses. Floral Festival is 2 weeks after Easter. worth planning for Use the Pingo Doce supermakets (at Lido, Forum or in town) for bargain shopping, including booze.

A beautiful small city and resort with a wonderful climate the year round. And the island has amazing mountains and scenery with fantastic views on a clear day. There are always flowers in bloom. Especially recommended as a winter break in Jan/Feb for those of us living in N. Europe. Safe, friendly and a place to return to.

Excellent eating out just outside the hotel in the old town. Good local bus service and some nice gardens to visit. The fish, vegetable and flower market are worth a visit.