Murdeira Village Resort

A quiet place to get away from the city's daily rhythm, just a few steps from Murdeira Bay. The rooms look a little dated from normal wear, but they're spacious and quiet, with everything needed for a restful stay away from noise and pointless stress. The saltwater pool is a real plus for cooling off when the tide is low. If the possibility of snorkeling and seeing a sea turtle might make you want to skip your flight home, maybe give it a miss. And if you like animals, the local cats that visit now and then add a cute touch.

I stayed alone for 10 days, and things went well overall. There are security guards on patrol day and night, which is reassuring. The shuttle to Santa Maria runs twice a day; an extra mid-afternoon trip would be nice. The saltwater pool is cleaned every evening, though the area around it looks a bit dated. My room wasn't spotless but was generally clean, and the bedding was okay. The Wi-Fi rarely worked in the room, but it was good at reception and in the restaurant. I was on half-board. Breakfast was very good, and dinner had standard European choices like pasta, pizza, burgers, and omelets, plus two different meat dishes each evening. Staff were very friendly. One waiter made me uncomfortable by being a bit intrusive and continuing to try to 'get friendly' after I refused. Everyone else working at the hotel and restaurant was professional, caring, and friendly.

Stopped in for a quick bite. A nice little place.

The hotel is 8 km from Santa Maria, and it's far from everything, so we had to pay for a taxi whenever we wanted to buy something. The rooms are large but old-fashioned and have no kettle. There's no hot water most of the time, and the TV only works sometimes. Everything closes at 10, and until morning there's nothing to eat or drink. This isn't a 4-star hotel.