Pedras do Mar Resort & SPA

The Turkish bath was wonderful, but the sauna never really warmed up, even though I asked the front desk to switch it on 30 minutes before I planned to use it. Check-in started off very nicely. We got in late, just before 9 pm after a hike, and were glad the bar still took food orders until 11, leaving us time for a shower first. The front desk was pleasant, the room looked great, and the bottle of wine waiting there was a fantastic touch. The bar service was another story. The staff seemed annoyed we were there and focused on closing. We waited 10+ minutes just to get a menu, then were refused tap water while ordering alcohol, 2 wine & 2 beer, soup and meals for 2. It felt pretentious. They only serve still or sparking water, and the server smirked and mocked the request. Not serving tap water is a violation of Portuguese law, Law No. 52/2021 (Article 25-A, Paragraph 5). We also couldn’t get a turn at billiards on either of our two nights at the bar because fellow travelers kept occupying the table. With all the rules at this hotel, they could put one by the pool table asking guests to make room for others waiting and be respectful. The place has a strict closing time, too. If you start playing at 10:59, staff will come over and make you stop. Go out and support the local restaurants. They’re much friendlier, with better food, service and atmosphere.

We had a sea view room after an upgrade, and the view was amazing. The resort made our first trip to Azores even more special. The facilities were clean, and the room was super quite. Breakfast was delicious, especially for my wife, who loves the pancakes. We were leaving for the airport before breakfast time, but the staff helped me surprise her with some pancakes to take along. Thanks to the amazing Anesh [I hope I wrote her name right😅] for arranging it and making our stay unforgettable. Highly recommended 👌 10/10, will come again and again.

The main problem for us was the value for money. Apart from its good location, there wasn’t anything special to offer, and what we experienced felt like an average 3-star hotel rather than a 5-star one. For a solid 3-star stay it might have been acceptable, but at this price and with a claimed 5-star rating, it definitely wasn’t. Breakfast was a particular letdown. The room felt dark and uninviting, and on several mornings staff rushed around with carts full of dishes and garbage, talking loudly to one another. A peaceful breakfast was out of the question. The selection was nearly identical each day, the presentation was more like cafeteria food than luxury hospitality, and the buffet looked careless and low quality. Our check-in was straightforward but very impersonal. We were handed room cards and towel cards, with no special welcome, attention, or greeting in the room. Some things were nice: a Nespresso machine, local island tea, bathrobes and slippers in the wardrobe, and a bottle of water delivered daily. We spent two weeks at the hotel, and our final impression was made much worse by what happened on 23.05.2026. Heavy fog caused our return flight to be canceled at short notice, so we needed an extra night. Our travel agency promptly booked and paid for another night here. More than ten rooms were still available online, and we immediately got a voucher with all the booking details. We returned around 1:00 PM and were told, as on our original arrival, that the rooms weren’t ready and we should wait until 4:00 PM. When we checked again around 3:30 PM, we were suddenly told there were no rooms left and the hotel was overbooked. Apparently many other guests who had booked online were affected too. We wouldn’t accept that, since it was clearly the hotel’s mistake, and insisted they find a solution. After hours of waiting and long, unpleasant discussions, with no sign of hotel management, we eventually “surprisingly” got a room in the same hotel after all. The way guests were treated during this was especially disappointing. Despite the long wait, no small gesture of hospitality was offered, no drinks, no snacks, nothing. The only thing in the lobby was a container of water that tasted strongly of chlorine, so we preferred not to drink it. For a supposed 5-star hotel, that was unacceptable, especially after two weeks there and paying a considerable amount of money. Then, early on the morning of 24.05.2026, we found a cockroach in our room. That made it absolutely clear to us that this hotel doesn’t deserve its claimed 5-star rating.

I stayed for 3 nights off-season and was almost the only guest. The hotel is beautiful and sits right by the sea, with a nice size, neither too small nor too big. My room was modern, new, clean, and beautifully designed. Each evening I ate at the restaurant. The tables were always set, and the staff were professional, warm, and ready to help with anything. I had to switch rooms once because of WIFI issues, and the staff were incredibly kind and helpful about it. I’d absolutely recommend staying here, and I’ll definitely be back.