Pestana Atlantic Bay Hotel

I already left a great review, but thought I would add some pictures to back it up. Lovely hotel. I noticed that someone had mentioned the oil depot next to the hotel. Although you pass this on the way in and out, it doesn't cause any problems - and I complain about most things :) Would recommend the catamaran at sunset - lovely. Gives you the chance to see Madeira twinkling in the moonlight.

We have just returned from a two week stay at the Pestana Bay. We would like to echo alot of the previous comments made, namely the extremely helpful and couteous staff, the exceptional cleanliness of the rooms. We stayed in a superior studio which had a sliding room divider which was great as we have a 2 year old who goes to sleep before us. The pool is heated but still a bit chilly in december, but the gym is adequate and the steam/sauna/jacuzzi excellent. We used the courtesy bus alot and never experienced any problems finding things to do. There are a large number of older clients at this hotel but our little boy loved the attention from staff and visitors...the childrens play area was good with slide etc and plenty of baby facilities (cot highchairs etc.) There was nightly entertainment which was at times quite amusing and at others well worth watching, if you have read the previous reviews one person mentioned 'double cocktail' on fridays, they are still there and our son watched them intently for a whole hour - unheard of! We will return and if your looking for a sea front hotel, with little traffic superb service and great food then this ones for you!

Excellent hotel and staff. Good selection at breakfast. Rooms all overlooking sea. Only sound is the waves lapping on the beach. Regular courtesy bus and taxis to/from town only 7 eur Two restaurants within 100m of hotel. Good cheap bar/cafe on beach. Evening entertainment aimed at Saga crowd but finishes around 11:00 pm. Good choice of restaurants in Old Town and Marina. Must see Xmas lights. Recommend Strawberry World for airport pickups and tours - always on time and guides v. knowledgeable. Would definitely return

Lovely Clean Hotel, with excellent friendly staff. Food was good with great choice of buffet breakfast and as much as you can eat (cereals, fruit, rolls, croissants, cheeses, ham, toast and cooked English breakfast). Evening meals were mainly a buffet scramble with lots of people wandering aimlessly about with their plates, and a bit too much green salad stuff for my liking! But if you ask for the a la carte menu the food was lovely and portion size good. We booked into Pestana Bay hotel through Expedia but on arrival were told we'd been booked into the ApartHotel next door which is a sister hotel and shares the facilities. On reflection this was better as we ended up with a whole apartment rather than just a room. All rooms have sea facing balconies and overlook the swimming pools. Beware the Oil Refinery next door to the Ocean ApartHotel which isn't shown on their website or on the Expedia site. Bit noisy from delivery trucks and smelly in mornings. Quite isolated and apart from one supermarket and 2 restuarants nearby (Both uphill!! theres not many flat bits on Madeira!) theres not much else to do! Taxis are about €7 into Funchal. The hotel will call one for you and they arrive very quickly. The free bus goes every hour from the hotel in the morning, but its a bit of a bun fight with the oldies to get on it. Much more civilised to go by taxi! We were about the youngest there (at 38 and 41!) and it was fine as we wanted a quiet relaxing break with no kids around. Also you felt pretty good by the pool and didn't have to hold your stomach in to look good!! Hotel is right on the beach, but its not a sandy beach, just big boulders and the noise of waves crashing is constant. We were there when a little huricane hit so it was a lot noisier than usual! The stony beach makes the 2 swimming pools a blessing as the only people who we saw venture forth for a swim in the sea looked in agony getting down to the water!! The Hotel was great really and if it was in a different location we would definately visit again. But the lack of eating facilities nearby would stop us. But if you're happy to stay in the hotel each night to eat and drink then you'll love it!

We have just returned from a stay at this hotel.Great value,lovely place&all rooms with sea view. Good service,lovely rooms with kitchenette(very useful).Ideally placed,only four miles from Funchal. Free courtesy bus or cheap taxi ride. highley recommended.

We do not understand the last review. We returned from Pestana Bay yesterday afternoon having had a most enjoyable week. The Hotel Staff were very friendly and most helpful. Although the Hotel is a few kilometres from Funchal they were quick to point out not only their own transport but the local buses and a time-table was provided. The hotel itself is very comforable and met expectations. As for the loud music mentioned in the previous report we found this to be of a good standard and encouraged people to socialise. If you are looking for accommodation with peace and quiet then request a room away from the pool, afterall this actually finished approx. 11.30 pm. Pestana Bay is very worthy of 4 stars and we shall be returning.

This hotel is ok but it is in no way worthy of 4 stars. For a start off they have loud cheesy nightly live music by the pool which is loudly audible from every room and balcony - we had to upgrade to get a room that was far enough away to give us some peace. You certainly can't plan on a quiet evening enjoying the sea view if some guy with a keyboard is belting out sub-abba entertainment. They also blast the outdoor seating with music throughout the day. Also, watch out for the Shell Gas facility next door which stinks the place out if you get the wind blowing the wrong way. Staff are helpful except in the bar where they are inattentive. Breakfast is chaotic due to lack of any visible system of clearing tables. Rooms are big and comfortable, sea view is lovely. I'd say it's a little far out of town. Madeira and Funchal are a beautiful places to visit but I wouldn't stay in this hotel again.

My husband and I have just returned from one week (15-22 August) at the Pestana Bay Hotel and what a wonderful week we had. We could not fault this hotel in any way, the staff were very friendly, attentive and spoke great English. We had booked for Bed and Breakfast but ate in the hotel 6 out of the 7 nights on the verandah overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the menu was varied and excellent, the 7th night we went to the Madeiran evening and again food was excellent there. Breakfast were plentiful and cooked fresh, the rooms were large, well decorated and spotlessly clean. All rooms faced the sea and have balconies. The location of the hotel is beautiful, lovely gardens and all the amenities you need, no traffic noise. We are delighted we have found the Pestana Bay, what a joy it was to go to sleep and wake up to the sound of the waves lapping on the shore. Sheer bliss. We have raved about the Pestana Bay since we have come home and will definitely return soon.

We stayed at the Bay hotel for one week July 11th - 18th and found it to be an excellent hotel with views to really appreciate when relaxing either around the pool or from your balcony - must agree with previous reviewer there is not a lot to do but the hotel try to entertain you during the evenings with some classic almost comedy like entertainment (especially and never forget the name 'double cocktail' yes that's the number two and a drink or that's how the Al Pacino lookalke and fancy lady dancer (on Friday nights) describe themselves truly memorable and worth watching. Most evenings there is some form of live music which is good. The pool can be a little overcrowded but there is also a hotel next door and an easy walk way to it ( almost linked together). The food in the hotel is good - great breakfast and meals most of the day if you need it. there is a reasonable fish restaurant a short walk away through the sea cliff tunnel and the supermarket although up a steep hill is not too far away as well... for those wanting to venture into the sea for a swim buy the protective footwear from the pool shop only 10euro... don't buy the madeira cake from the hotel shop, it's not good get it from the Supermarket, if you are into this type of cake. Consider half board if you can as the choice of nearby restaurants as mentioned is limited. Watch out for the sharks in Funchal when you meet them you'll know why I warn you - remember they do bite but not when you are watching... Touts that is for holiday companies so simply ignore them please.

We have just returned from a 5 night stay in the Pestana Bay hotel in Madeira. Whilst it is on the outskirts of Funchal (4+ kilometres) it runs a very efficient courtesy bus into Funchal. We found the hotel to be extremely friendly,the staff were superb even when my husband needed hospital attention following a fall. They were excellent at administering first aid to him and arranged a taxi to take us to hospital and on our return were eager to hear the outcome - thankfully this was minor. The only two things I would add a negative point to are the seclusion. We stayed on a bed and breakfast basis and there is nothing in the locality that really is good to eat - we ended up paying the extra and ate in the hotel which was more than adequate. All rooms have a sea view and a little kitchenette so if you really were desperate you could cook a little meal and eat it on the balcony looking at the Atlantic. There is a superb supermarket a short walk away but this (my 2nd negative point) is up a very steep hill. Apart from these two points I would certainly recommend this hotel. Very clean and very very friendly.