Hotel Porto Mare

, Funchal, Portugal
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Hotel Porto Mare

, Funchal
4 star

Rooms: 200

21 Rua Simplicio Dos Passos - Funchal - 9054 535 - Portugal | 291 703700
465 Traveller

Reviews - Hotel Porto Mare

10/10
A cracking all rounder
Submitted by: Jeremy in 06/03/09
  • Age Group: 41 - 50
  • From: United Kingdom
  • Traveller type: Mature Couple
This was our first trip to Madeira - a celebratory holiday for my 50th birthday.

We had a twin room with a sea view. Large well appointed room with huge twin beds pushed together as a double.

The location is great if you want a quiet stay with no traffic noise. The distance from town is no problem if you enjoy a walk and if not there is a courtesy bus to Funchal centre and the cable car station.

The staff are polite and helpful.

The restaurants are good and I would go back to the Porto Mare just for the breakfast which is brilliant. A huge buffet fruit, cereals bread, cold meats and cheese and cooked all in great variety and quantity.

We don't do the swimming pool thing but the pools looked great. Plenty of sun loungers both by the pool and in the beautiful garden areas.

I stay in hotels frequently and this is the first one that I cannot find a single fault with it (other than the complimenary champagne on my 50th which meant that I went to dinner half cut!).

If this is 4 star I can't think what extra I could want from a 5 star - excellent value.

We loved it and can't wait to go back.
1 out of 1 reader found this review helpful
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Historical Traveller Reviews of Hotel Porto Mare

Superb

from wiganduo
My wife and I have recently returned from a weeks stay at thePorto Mare and we can only say how impressed we were. The hotel is exceptional with large clean rooms and excellent facilities. The location was ideal, within walking distance of the centre of Funchal or if you didn't feel like walking the hotels offers a complimentary bus sevice or alternatively use the local bus service for a return trip for 1.5 Euro. As we only stayed on a B & B basis we used the local bus service for going into Funchal on an evening where we used to eat at one of the many excellent restaurants in the old town. If you don't want to go into Funchal there are many excellent restaurants local to the hotel.
As my wife and I are not sun worshippers, we found loads to do and in fact within the week did not get to do everything we wanted so will have to go back to finish them all. The cable car ride up to Monte is well worth the money with the Monte Palace gardens being one of the most impressive gardens we visited. Of course we also took the tobogan ride which is quite an experience. My wife wasn't sure wether she endured it or enjoyed it.
We will definately visit Madeira again and would recommend the Porto Mare to anyone.

Honeymoon heaven!

from KBailes
We went to this hotel in August 2006 for our honeymoon we hoped it would be pleasant and have excellent facilities however it exceeded our expectations. It must be the most well situated hotel in Maderia with every room having a sea view. Our first impression of our room was amazement not only at the size but the view also. We were greeted by Champagne on ice in a room over looking the pool with a waterfall as a backdrop, staff were exceptionally helpfull and the facilities could not be better on the island. there were more than enough sun loungers and the pools were clean and one heated. The breakfast buffet was exceptional with a vast variety of choice. Did not eat in the Hotel on an evening so cannot comment but hope was better than the rest of the islands food.
On closing we would say do not go to this resort if expecting lively holiday as not many bars there is more restaurants, however ideal if on Honeymoon like ourselves.

A Hotel with Something for Everyone

from carjam
Just returned from a one week stay.
Getting a sunbed wasn't always easy but we always managed it and where doesn't have this problem in July particularly in an island which doesn't have beaches or much coastline accessible for swimming.
That is the only possible criticism of the hotel. Lovely setting, rooms and service. We had good weather but I swam in the heated indoor pool every morning and it is great.
The cocktail bar has carpet and cosy seating and lighting, and I could just imaging spending many a happy evening there even if the weather was less than perfect.
My husband and I are in our late forties but found a nice mix of ages at this time of year, quite a few children obviously in July, but the hotel or pool was not overwhelmed
Madeira and the Porto Mare are a good place for a holiday.

Lovely hotel

from irodger
Just returned from a holiday in the Porto Mare with my 14 year old daughter. It is a lovely hotel, lived up to all the reviews I read but not a lot of activities for a teenager, brochure was a bit misleading in that aspect. Pool was lovely but having to find a pool man every day for umbrellas which were 1 euro each especially when towels etc were free was a bit of a bind. Sunbeds were hard to come by if you had no reserved one at the crack of dawn, not just the german guests reserved early - there were a lot of english flags towels on sunbeds reserved too!! The cleanliness of the bedrooms, grounds and all round the hotel was superb. The staff were polite at all times and very helpful. Lovely surroundings and beautiful weather.

Very good hotel

from DWLSWL
Booked this hotel based on the reviews and wasn't disappointed. Rooms very large and excellent views. Very clean and well maintained hotel. Breakfast was good, although coffee was hit and miss and the staff were happy to change it on a couple of occasions.

Very good Spa, with Decleor trained staff.

Only negative was trying to get a sunbed at the pool area. Too many towels and nobody appearing to use them until the afternoon.

We had some fantastic food mainly in the Old Town, which is also better value. Our favourite was Marisa who do an excellent suckling pig (pre-booked). Some of the food in the Hotel Zone and Marina was hit and miss. The best restaurants weren't the dearest and tend to have a high number of Portuguese in them.

Wow the best hotel by far!!!!

from Mel_Mike
Well what can i say, myself and my partner have just come back after a week in this amazing hotel. What a place! We are a young couple in our mid 20's and can not understand why Maderia is unheard of to the younger generation.

THe hotel is beautiful, very large and extremely clean. The pools are spotless and the indoor pool was fantastic. The staff are very attentive and polite. The bedrooms are massive with sky tv which has at least three english films on a day, (which is very rare on all the holidays we have been on) The bathrooms are well equipped. Rooms are cleaned everyday with fresh towels (bath and pool towels) All rooms are sea view and are also very spacious with sun beds and table and chairs. The grounds are devine and the amount of pools makes up for no beach.

Right..........here is the best bit, the food in the hotel is second to none. Eat in the Lido restaurant we ate in there twice and both times had a three course meal with drinks for 55 euros for two. Try the lamb cutlets! The breakfast buffet is out of this world everything you can imagine. They even have a traditional english breakfast, which again is usually always dodgy in foreign countries but not here! My only tip is to take your own teabags if you want a decent cup of tea, they only do english earl grey!

DO NOT go half board, Funchal is full of restaurants and very reasonable! Down near the harbour there is a boat restaurant called the 'beetles bar', and try the MAr Azul which is also on the front! The walk to funchal is about 25 mins, nice walk though, taxi will cost you 4.40 euros in the day and 6 euros at night! Make sure you visit Monte and try thr toboggans, what a laugh!

We hired a car for two days and travelled the whole island, we managed 300 miles which only used half a tank, The car with petrol cost about £120 with full insurance from Europcar, the hotel organised this for us! Driving is so easy only one main road really, maps are well planned out though.

Places definatly worth a visit:

Porto Moniz, amazing fresh water swimming pools
Santana, for the traditional houses
Santa cruz, to just see the scary runway that hangs off the sea
Machicho very up and coming
Calheta for the man made beach
Sao vincente for the caves!

You will not be dissappointed with your holiday! or this fantastic hotel! x

Brilliant

from HHunt50
Only can only endorse what others have said. The hotel deserves it stars and more. Huge rooms. Asked for garden view but all seem to have a sea view as well as the garden. Good places to eat around. One of the best breakfast buffets. Weather was not brilliant but even so there was enough to do in and around the hotel. Would go back.

One more recommendation

from A TripAdvisor Member
Despite a mix-up in bookings (we initially made our reservation at the Residences, but were upgraded to a suite at Porto Mare Hotel) - this is by far one of the best places to stay on Madeira for a reasonable price!

Rooms are big with views of gardens and the sea - all with balcony. Breakfast buffet large and well organized - even for the masses ...

Pools & Spa very nice, one little downside is that you have to pay extra for sauna/steam bath.

... and after all the architectural desasters on the island, finally a resort that deserves the name ...

Magic Madeira

from JackNGM
We stayed the first week in April and found the weather to be changeable, high wind ,rain and sun but were more than compensated for with our superb hotel.
It has four swimming pools including indoor and all are heated to a comfotable temperature. There is also a well equiped gym,a tennis court and crazy golf.
The Portugese are as a race very helpful and pleasant people and this is reflected in the staff.
The week we were there the hotel was two thirds full of Germans but not a towel to be seen reserving the sunbeds. Towels are supplied for use at the poolside and there are a plentiful supply of beds and a large cafe supplying refreshments.
A nice touch is the courtesy bus to Funchal which in the busy season I recommend be booked the night before.
We stayed B&B and the restaurant had a wide choice for breakfast including a good old fashioned fry up and even the fried eggs were fresh and not swimming in oil.
The room was superb with two double beds,a sea view,large bacony and the first time in my experience abroad tea/coffee making facilities.
All in all the hotel deserves its four star rating and I would certainly go there again.

Lovely hotel for a relaxing holiday

from ManxMaid
Having just returned from a very relaxing week at the Porto Mare Hotel, I can only concur with all previous reviews. It is a lovely, well-appointed, well-maintained and spotlessly clean hotel, with very friendly staff. I can't really think of many more specific details to add without being at risk of repeating previous posters.

Breakfasts were excellent - with a good selection to choose from - and don't forget - you can have a champagne breakfast every day if so desired!
(It could have been sparkling wine - but who's worrying too much at 9 am in the morning!)

Entertainment is fairly low key, but this was fine for us (we are 50 & 51)- we were happy to just 'chill out' with a couple of drinks in the evening after returning from our excursions to the many local restaurants.

The hotel has a courtesy bus which runs into Funchal and back - which we did not realise until the day before we were due to return home - but what the heck - we needed the exercise anyway!

Thanks to all previous posters who helped us to decide on the Porto Mare.

If anyone out there is not sure whether they have chosen wisely - don't worry - you will not be disappointed.

Top Local Tips for Funchal

Azul Mar Restaurant,Marina, Funchal We were ripped off at this restaurant on marina front. I hasten to add that none of the staff were Madeiran, although very pleasant, perhaps they were working on commision. We were fished of the promanade!! We ordered starters and I asked about the "fish of the day" on menu at 16euros. The waiter (from Croatia) suggested three things and I chose the king prawns - which were more like small lobters (?crevettes) the meal was just OK. We had some beers and two half bottles of wine - when the bill arrived it came to 91euros and the item I had been given was from a completely different part of the menu at 44euros! We gave them two 50euro notes and thanked them and walked off - we had been HAD! So eat at this restuarant at your peril. What was so disappointing was that the delightful waitress who originated from Romania and had been in Madeira for five years,told us that she wouldn't wish to come to UK as there had been so much bad press against her people here in UK.

If you are staying in Porto Mare............ When staying at Porto Mare, you are about 15-20 minutes walk from the center of Funchal. The walk down is really pleasant and not too strenuous, coming back is a different matter, use the free hotel bus! You will pass the famous Reeds Hotel about 5 minutes from the Porto Mare. You can have a look round this splendid old building and book afternoon tea. It isn't cheap but everyone should do it once, if only for the view overlooking the bay. You must book though. Walking further down, you will pass the Casino, which is also where they have the dinner cabaret. This can be booked through your travel rep and is well worth it. A little further on, you come to the Governors Residence. Ignore the guard on the gate and go into the gardens, They are spectacular and much more pleasant to walk through rather than the main road. Going down you will come out at the Marina shopping center. Worth a visit but not nearly as nice as Madeira shopping (a short taxi ride from the hotel, or a local bus if you can work them out). Either go round the Marina or through and come out on the sea front. Cross the road past the harbour and the Beatles yacht is there, I think it is called Vagabond. You can have a well earned coffee in there. (or McDonalds is over the road)! If you decide not to use your rep, below the pier is where you can book a catamaran trip to go whale/dolphin spotting. We were lucky in August, we saw loads of dolphins but equally, you may not. The trip is worth having anyway though as again, the views of Funchal are spectacular. If you carry on down the sea front, you will eventually come to the cable car which takes you up to Monte. You can buy tickets at the terminal, but better to get them from your Rep as it saves a long queue. If you go up to Monte, you can visit the Botanical gardens and the old church. This is also where you get the toboggan ride from (everyone does it once!) Behind the cable car terminal is the old town. wander round the little back streets and have a look at the many small fish restaurants. The food down there is fabulous, though you may have to book. Also in this area is the market. A spectacular display of flowers, fruit and some of the ugliest fish you will ever see (the scabbard) I'd recommend you eat it before you have seen it! To see some of the island you can hire a car, I don't bother as II am of the opinion that if you weren't driving it, then it will be in the hotel car park (parking is truly tragic in Funchal). Your rep will offer the West tour, it includes a 3 course meal and free wine/soft drink, and various others. We have done them all and I would recommend at least Nuns Valley and the West. Back to eating, the hotel is very good if a little pricey. Our favorites are the Italian, just below the Eden Mar hotel, of which Porto Mare is part (booking essential) and over the road, to the right of the Monumental Lido, just past the wine shop and a florist there is a little place called Sola Da Juda (spelling is phonetic)! Anyway, their steak on the stone is great and he triesnot to let you leave sober! For a drink, try Ketts (turn left out of the hotel and then left towards the sea, Ketts is on the right)-a real local bar with live music. Also, up on the road, there is O'Brians, an Irish bar that sells the black stuff on draught! If you need any more - ask reception when my daughter, Michelle, will be in. She lives in Porto Mare and works for Thomson. She has lived and worked in Madeira for 7 years and there is not much she doesn't know. Hope I haven't gone on too much, I've really only scratched the surface. You will enjoy the place I am sure, of all the places we have been, Madeira is the one where we could happily live.

Dinner Shows at Casino Park Nightlife is very subdued in Funchal - people eat early and it can be very quiet after about 9.30pm. If you fancy a livlier night out, the dinner shows at the Casino Park - 4 times a week - are a great option. You get a reasonable 4 course meal, followed by a very professional show - singers and dancers. After the show, there is a band playing a range of popular music for dancing. If you fancy a flutter, there is also the casino to go into to round off the night.

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Other names for Hotel Porto Mare

  • porto mare madeira
  • porto mare hotel madeira
  • porto mare hotel
  • porto mare funchal
  • hotel porto mare
  • Address: 21 Rua Simplicio Dos Passos - Funchal - 9054 535 - Portugal
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