Pestana Ocean Bay All Inclusive Resort

My parents spent the 60th birthday of my mother in the Pestana Ocean Bay. I wanted to surprise my mother on her birthday and contacted the hotel with the question what is possible in such a case. They answered in great detail and gave me many options. I opted for a massage voucher and a birthday cake. Even adding a message was not a problem. I was pleasantly surprised how intensively they cared and how nice the contact was. We agreed that the surprise should be brought to room at 10 am. A change in the plan of my parents made it necessary to move the time to 9 am on short notice. The hotel took good care of it immediately and everything went well. My mother told me about the presentation and sent me photos. Then I was absolutely excited: The presentation was much better than I ever expected - and the hotel added a bottle of sparkling wine at its own expense. The massage voucher was presented with a bathrobe and flip-flops, the sparkling wine in champagne bucket with ice cubes and 2 glasses, the cake was a pretty sight (according to my parents also very delicious) and the message was printed in a very nice design. Additionally, the room maid even made a "60" out of towels on their bed that day, decorated with real flowers. Well done! Once again a HUGE THANK YOU to the hotel. Furthermore, my parents were very enthusiastic about the hotel. The staff was always friendly and accommodating, the rooms were very nice and clean, the food was delicious and extremely varied. My parents highly recommend the hotel. And if someday I would make holidays in Madeira, then as a guest in THIS hotel. For sure.

The service was quick but the enjoyment of the meals was exceptional. The room had a fantastic view. There was very little guest noises in the corridor as everyone was sympathetic to each other's holiday. The location is perfect with the uninterrupted sound of wildlife and the sound of the waves was soothing and relaxing. There was sufficient choice of amenities for us as adults. We liked the location so close to Funchal and the bus service was superb to travel to Funchal. The least thing was the outside area is occupied by smoking guests and I am a non smoker so I couldn't enjoy any meals al fresco, smoke tends to travel on the wind. If you as a hotel ask guests to dress appropriately for meal times it is not consistently carried through.

Stayed in March for a week, the room was a good sized and comfortable but in need of updating. Poor lighting in the bedroom just two low output lights by the bed, we didn't use the TV but it was a museum piece not a flat screen. Meal times were chaotic, a free for all to find somewhere to sit which serveral times was quite a challenge. The staff did not show anyone to tables and give no direction as to where the different buffets which are not signposted(one is round a corner behind a wall, and the ice cream is in a freezer between two doors to the outside eating area). The food itself did nothing to showcase just how good and tasty the Madeirian food can be. When we when to book a table in the second (better?) restraunt was full booked that night and then closing and not reopening while we were there. One of the waiting team while moving a trolly of plates as glasses had a glass fall of it and shatter on the floor, the carried on moving the trolley and did nothing about clearing up the broken glass, nor did any other staff untill a guest when and drew the barmans attention to the broken glass.