Porto Santa Maria

Stephen Low5/5 · 2025-12

The Santa Maria is an excellent hotel. Its location could not be better, being right on the sea front with lovely views of the beach, harbour and town, particularly from the roof top terrace. It is on the edge of the old town so we could walk anywhere in central Funchal from the hotel. The hotel was quiet and very comfortable and the food was very good indeed. All the staff were very friendly, helpful and professional and we felt very welcome throughout our stay. Particular thanks are due to the housekeeping team who were extremely hard working, thorough and cheerful. One day our air conditioning filter was cleaned and the next day all the riser cupboards were cleaned! My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay and expect to go again.

Cinthia Almeida5/5 · 2026-05

My friends and I stayed in Madeira Island from April 25–30, 2026, and overall, we had an amazing experience. From the moment we arrived, we were incredibly impressed with the entire hotel staff. Every single person was friendly, polite, and genuinely went above and beyond to make sure we had a wonderful stay. Their level of care and attention truly stood out. The hotel itself was very clean and well maintained. We loved the amenities, especially the indoor and outdoor pools, the two jacuzzis, and the outdoor bar area, which was a great place to relax. I also had a hot stone massage at the spa, and it was fantastic—very relaxing, with beautifully scented products and an excellent therapist. The restaurant deserves special recognition. There was a different menu each night, and every meal we had (all six nights!) was delicious. The attention to detail and presentation were phenomenal. The servers were also impressive, speaking multiple languages (Portuguese, English, French, and German), which made everything feel very welcoming and professional. There was live music on several nights, creating such a pleasant and enjoyable atmosphere. The bar also featured live music every evening with different artists and a lovely view. The location was very convenient for exploring the island. The cable car and local bus station were just a 2-minute walk away, and downtown, including the central market, was about 15–20 minutes on foot. Uber worked well, and there were plenty of tour companies available for island excursions. Madeira itself is stunning, with beautiful nature and many hiking trails, and the locals were warm and welcoming everywhere we went. The only minor feedback would be that the bathrooms and TVs in the rooms could use some updating. It wasn’t possible to stream from my phone or log into streaming accounts, and the Wi-Fi was a bit slow at times. Overall, we had a fantastic stay and would absolutely recommend both the hotel and visiting Madeira Island. It’s a truly special place!

Steven Rapley5/5 · 2026-04

We have stayed at other PortoBay hotels in Funchal, first time here. Love the location, right in the lanes of the old town with abundant bars and restaurants. Very convenient for exploring Funchal. The staff at Reception were very helpful when we arrived and got us checked in very quickly. Throughout our stay Laura Teixeira was incredibly helpful, always with a smile and a wonderful person to speak with. All staff, without exception were very warm, friendly and helpful. Made our stay special. Our Room was a good size with a couple of electric rings to do some basic cooking, a nice touch. We had a balcony with excellent views of the sea and Cruise Ship terminal. Bathroom was a good size and very clean. We used the Gym, Spa, inside pool and two of the three Jacuzzis. Breakfast was a definite highlight, plenty of choice and not too crowded, orange juice was amazing. We used the Captains bar and enjoyed some very good live entertainment. We will definitely be back at the Porto Santa Maria

Hazel Keene5/5 · 2025-12

Just returned from the hotel Porto bay Santa Maria, for the forth time and would return time and time again! Beautiful hotel,comfy spacious rooms and spotless, the staff were all welcoming and helpful, food was delicious,the Christmas decorations were absolutely beautiful in the foyer and gardens and the swimming and jacuzzi were so comfortable, and also again spotless .the position of the hotel is perfect easy walking distance to the old town and plenty of restaurants and bars if desired but the bar at the hotel had everything you could want except Guinness! Husband was a little put out about that as previously it was always there but we went to the local supermarket and put some in the fridge, problem solved. Love the hotel and would recommend it .

Chris Hewison4/5 · 2026-08

Great location in the old town. Rooms have recently been renovated and are in good condition. Service is a little lack lustre. Reception staff are not particularly friendly and there was nobody available to help with bags. Breakfast was ok. Lots of variety but the quality of the food was not high.

Richard Kist4/5 · 2026-07

Sehr schönes und ruhiges Hotel fantastische Lage. Sehr reichhaltiges Frühstück frisches Obst usw. Kann nur weiterempfehlen.