Estrada Regional 163, Sitio do Campo de Baixo, Porto Santo Island, Portugal | (888) 708-2081
Well-presented
all-inclusive resort popular with families
Set on long
stretch of picturesque sandy beach
Bright and modern
rooms with furnished balconies or terraces
Villas feature
small private pools, lots of space, and cooking facilities
Spa with indoor
pool, sauna, and steam bath
Child-friendly
facilities includes kids' and teens' clubs
Two large freeform swimming pools
Outdoor tennis courts and fitness center on-site
Wi-Fi access is not free in all rooms
No tea/coffee
facilities in rooms
Fee charged for
beach loungers
Lines are common at main restaurant
at peak times
The 328-room Pestana Porto
Santo Beach Resort is an upscale, all-inclusive hotel popular with families and
package operators set on Porto Santo island's picturesque golden beach. The resort
itself, while not particularly stylish, is impeccably well-presented and clean
throughout with all the facilities you'd expect from a high-end vacation
complex. Rooms -- ranging from pool-view Standard Rooms to spacious villas -- are pleasant and modern, though sometimes lacking key
amenities (only some have free Wi-Fi access and all lack tea/coffee facilities). The complex includes large, freeform pools, a spa, outdoor tennis courts, and a kids' club, and playground. A fee for beach loungers irks some
guests, as do lines for dining at peak times. The resort is slightly less expensive than nearby sister property Pestana Colombos Premium Club and has a more Mediterranean flavor.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Neatly presented all-inclusive resort set in tidy gardens overlooking a sandy beach
The first thing
you notice upon arrival at the four-pearl Pestana Porto Santo Beach Resort is just how tidy
and well-presented this all-inclusive complex is. The reception area is neatly
arranged, with smooth blond-wood columns, cross-hatch paneling, and simple tile
flooring -- a casual and unpretentious look and feel that continues through the
rest of the resort. Rooms are spread around 15 low-rise buildings, constructed in the traditional
architectural style of the island, that line two meandering, freeform swimming
pools. Tiled footpaths wind through seven acres of pristine gardens, adorned
with sculpted shrubbery, rows of palm trees, and colorful flowers, and sloping
down to a lovely sandy beach that overlooks the Atlantic
Ocean. Guests are a mixture of couples of all ages and families with kids; this is also a popular destination for package vacations. Pestana Porto Santo and sister property Pestana Colombos are linked, and guests can use the facilities at either property. The newer Pestana Porto Santo has more impressive grounds and a distinct Mediterranean flavor, while Pestana Colombos' buildings are more streamlined and functional. There is more evening entertainment on the Porto Santo side, as the large Sunset Bar has a stage and hosts live acts, though the rooms on the Colombos side are arguably a bit more stylish.
Location
Set on a sweeping sandy beach on the south coast of Porto Santo island
This resort complex is
located on the south coast of the small Portuguese island of Porto Santo, about
27 miles northeast of the main island of Madeira. Unlike its big brother, the main feature here is a long, sweeping beach stretching almost the whole length of
the island; the resort is located exactly in the middle. There's virtually nothing
around the hotel, except a few houses, though the pretty nearby town of Vila
Baleira is five minutes' drive away; a free shuttle runs several times a day. Sister hotel Pestana Colombos is adjacent and the Porto
Santo Airport is about 10 minutes away by car.
Rooms
Bright and modern rooms, some with sea-view balconies
This resort has 328
straightforward rooms, suites, apartments, and villas, all of which are
decorated in a bright and colorful styling with modern furnishings, tiled
floors, and sliding doors that open to spacious furnished balconies or terraces (some with
sea views). Amenities include mini-fridges (each stocked with a large bottle of water and a large soda, both free) and small flat-screen TVs with DVD
players, while well-maintained bathrooms come with wall-mounted hairdryers and shower/tub combos. (Note that most bathrooms at sister property Pestana Colombos Premium Club come with terrazzo tubs and separate showers.) Most ground-floor accommodation has direct access to the pool, while Pool Villas have their own small pool, as well as cooking facilities. The rooms are decorated in beach-inspired hues of blue, white, and tan. Some but not
all accommodation have free Wi-Fi, and there are no tea/coffee facilities in the rooms (kettles can be requested for a steep fee).
Features
Three specialty eateries, three bars, freeform pools, outdoor tennis, a spa with sauna, and decent kid-friendly facilities
All meals and
local (alcoholic and non-alcohol) drinks are included at this all-inclusive resort, though the buffet restaurant can get crowded and dining often involves waiting in line at peak meal times -- especially when the hotel is full. There are also three themed restaurants (which can be booked in advance) that offer Italian, Japanese, and
Madeiran dishes. Three bars include a poolside bar with sea views and the Sunset Bar where live evening entertainment is held. The hotel's two pools are
large and freeform, spanned with quaint bridges and lined with loungers and palm trees. Sunny terraces and lawns provide additional spaces for lounging. There are also a spa with an indoor pool, a sauna, and steam room. Family-friendly
facilities include a separate pool for children, plus a varied kids' club complete with an outdoor playground and a
teens' club. The hotel's long section of beach is particularly picturesque,
though the sea can get rough and sun loungers require a fee. There are outdoor tennis courts and a fitness center on-site. A convenience store offers items including snacks, magazines, and toiletries. A disco offers additional nighttime entertainment. Wi-Fi access is available but not free for all rooms.
