Hotel Orca Praia – Adults Only

We had a lovely stay, and the professional, helpful staff made a good impression. The hotel feels peaceful, with an older crowd and mostly couples. Its modern, clean design has a little antique touch, and breakfast and dinner were both lovely. The building sits right on the water, cut into the cliff, with a pleasant black sand beach just steps away. Every room faces the sea, so the sunsets were incredible. Getting between the parking lot and the entrance means a steep walk, though that's to be expected around Madeira. Thanks for a great time!

Meals by the window were a highlight, so I'd suggest trying to arrive early for one. The sea views from the restaurant are incredible. Bolt was also our easiest option for getting around Madeira, and as visitors from the UK we found the taxis very quick. The setting above the ocean is spectacular, and it was lovely to wake to the waves and watch the sunset from our balcony. Our room was spacious, clean and comfortable. Staff were warm and helpful throughout. The pool and direct beach access made it easy to relax or explore the coast. We had a fantastic stay at Hotel Orca Praia and would happily come back.

Although the hotel was in excellent shape and spotless, with very good facilities, wonderful staff and spectacular views, we probably wouldn't return. The room issue was a big part of that: we stayed for a week as a couple and got two single beds pushed together on a double frame. We'd specifically asked for a double, and the setup was uncomfortable. The food was inconsistent, and the breakfast bacon and sausages were inedible. We also found it surprising for a 4-star hotel to have no irons anywhere. Clothes had to be sent out for pressing, with a 24-hour wait, which seemed unreasonable. We knew it was a little out of the way, but transport costs added up. Uber was cheaper than local taxis, yet trips to the main areas still cost €7-€10 one way, and that gets expensive if you make several trips a day. There's a shuttle bus, but it doesn't run often.

The receptionists were very professional and open with customers, and the sea view from our clean room was really good. We spent five nights here and were happy with the vacation overall. Breakfast staff could have been friendlier, though, maybe they were just tired when service started. We also shared the room with some island wildlife. We're friendly people, so we let them live 🤣. Recommended 🫡