Pestana Miramar Garden & Ocean Resort

We had a great time here. It’s a short and pleasant walk to Funchal, and the hotel itself is beautiful. The pools were great, and we also used the games room for chess and pool. Our room was very clean and air-conditioned. Staff were consistently friendly and helpful, and there was plenty of lovely food to choose from, both at the buffet and in the more formal option.

I’m judging Pestana Miramar and Village complex by its advertised four-star standard. If it were sold as a two-star place, I’d have different expectations. The location is its one big strength: close to the city center, with beautiful mountain or sea views, and the gardens and grounds are well kept. The facilities, though, are badly neglected. Both jacuzzis have been broken for weeks. The Village sauna area is derelict and needs a complete overhaul. The steam ladle and bucket handle were broken, and other guests said those problems had been ignored for over a year. The steam room, or Turkish sauna, was cold. That kind of neglect is unacceptable. The rooms are clean, but old and badly in need of renovation. Most staff were polite and professional, but requests went nowhere. The answer was always "tomorrow," and then nothing happened. Check the bill at the hamburger bar too: a tip was added automatically without being clearly disclosed. In its current condition, the Pestana Village and Miramar complex is a real letdown for anyone expecting four-star quality. It feels tired and neglected, more like a two-star property.

It was an adequate hotel for a week, but I wouldn’t return. When I visited in early December, services were clearly reduced. The buffet was basic, though there was something to eat. We weren’t sure about the other restaurants because they all needed bookings and were a 30-minute walk away at another hotel.

The location is great, and both the rooms and pools are very nice, but this didn’t feel quite like a four-star hotel. Food was the main problem. Breakfast was tasteless, like canteen food, and we went out for breakfast about half the time. The automatic machine made the worst coffee I’ve ever tasted. I can’t understand how coffee beans could produce something that bad. The evening buffet also felt like canteen food. They offer "a la cart" dinners at their other five-star restaurant, but it’s actually a set menu. The food was oversalted, service was poor, and a service tip was automatically added to the bill. I think that’s a really bad practice, especially since you have to explicitly say if you don’t want to pay it.