The Views Baia - Adults Only

“The Views Baía Hotel (4-star) – Madeira: Room 338”

The Views Baía Hotel (4-star) – Madeira: The Views Baía, located in the beautiful city of Funchal, Madeira, is a charming 4-star hotel offering a wonderful mix of scenic beauty, excellent amenities, and top-notch service. During our stay, we experienced a relaxing environment with stunning sea vi… more

The Views Baía Hotel (4-star) – Madeira: The Views Baía, located in the beautiful city of Funchal, Madeira, is a charming 4-star hotel offering a wonderful mix of scenic beauty, excellent amenities, and top-notch service. During our stay, we experienced a relaxing environment with stunning sea views, a quality buffet each evening, and various activities to enjoy, all of which contributed to an enjoyable holiday. In this review, I’ll dive into the different aspects of the hotel, highlighting our stay in Room 338, the buffet dining experience, the Half Board Plus package, and the overall quality of the hotel’s facilities, including the spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and the evening entertainment. Room 338: Spacious, Self-Catering, and with Stunning Views We stayed in Room 338, a self-catering room with a sea view, which added a sense of peacefulness to our stay. The room was spacious and well-designed, with a large balcony that allowed us to enjoy the stunning views of Funchal Bay. Whether it was watching the sunrise or relaxing after a day of exploration, the view was one of the most enjoyable aspects of our stay. The room came with a small but adequately equipped kitchen, which included all the necessary appliances such as a stove, fridge, and microwave. While it wasn’t a full-sized kitchen, it was more than sufficient for preparing light meals and snacks, offering great flexibility for guests who want to prepare some of their own food. This was a nice balance between the freedom of self-catering and the convenience of the hotel’s dining options. The shower was modern and clean, with good water pressure and plenty of hot water, ensuring a comfortable experience. Overall, the room offered a relaxing atmosphere with the convenience of self-catering, while still feeling luxurious and well-maintained. Dining Experience: High-Quality Buffet, but Room for Improvement One of the highlights of our stay was the quality of the buffet each evening. The hotel offered a wide selection of dishes that catered to different tastes, featuring both local Madeiran cuisine and international options. Some of the most notable offerings included: Fresh seafood, including local favorites like scabbard fish and squid, expertly prepared and flavorful. A range of meat dishes, from roasted chicken and beef to made-to-order grilled options. Vegetarian and vegan dishes, including a variety of salads, soups, and pasta, ensuring all dietary preferences were accommodated. A delectable selection of desserts, with everything from fresh fruit to traditional Madeiran treats like honey cake. The food was consistently well-prepared, using fresh ingredients, and each night’s buffet offered something different, keeping the dining experience engaging. Half Board Plus: A Great Option with Some Drawbacks We opted for the Half Board Plus package, which includes breakfast and dinner as well as unlimited drinks during dinner. In theory, this was an excellent value. The ability to enjoy unlimited wine, beer, soft drinks, and water alongside our meals added to the relaxed atmosphere, as we didn’t have to worry about extra charges for beverages. However, we did encounter some difficulty in attracting the attention of staff to order more drinks. The dining room was often busy, and it took longer than expected for waiters to respond to drink requests. This slightly detracted from the experience, as we often found ourselves waiting for a while to receive refills. This is an area that could be improved with more attentive service or a more efficient system for drinks. Despite this, the Half Board Plus package remains a good value, particularly for guests who enjoy having drinks with their meals, and when the service was prompt, it was a nice touch to the dining experience. Amenities: Spa, Indoor Pool, and Outdoor Pool The amenities at The Views Baía were another strong point of our stay. The hotel offers an array of facilities that enhance the overall experience and provide plenty of ways to relax. Outdoor Pool The outdoor pool is a beautiful, serene spot, offering guests panoramic views of the sea and surrounding hills. With plenty of loungers and umbrellas, the area was never too crowded, allowing for a peaceful retreat under the sun. Whether you’re looking to take a dip or simply relax poolside, the outdoor pool is a major attraction at the hotel. Indoor Pool and Spa For those looking for more tranquility or a break from the sun, the indoor pool and spa provide an excellent alternative. The indoor pool was clean and maintained a comfortable temperature, making it a relaxing space to swim or lounge. The spa is a well-designed area that offers a variety of treatments, from massages to facials, using high-quality products. We indulged in a couple of treatments, and the experience was thoroughly professional and rejuvenating. Additionally, the spa includes a steam room and sauna, providing even more ways to unwind after a day of sightseeing. Entertainment: Memorable Evenings with Live Music The evening entertainment at The Views Baía added an extra layer of enjoyment to our stay. The hotel organizes various performances, but the standout night for us was a four-piece band featuring two guitars, a violin, and a drummer. The music was beautifully performed and provided a relaxing and enjoyable end to our evenings. The variety of live entertainment ensures that guests can enjoy something different each night, and the quality of the performances was consistently good. The atmosphere in the lounge area during these performances was cozy and inviting, with guests able to enjoy drinks while listening to live music. Service: Friendly, But Room for Attention to Detail Throughout our stay, we found the staff at The Views Baía to be friendly and professional. From check-in to housekeeping, the team made an effort to ensure our comfort and satisfaction. The front desk was particularly helpful when it came to answering questions and offering advice on local attractions and excursions. However, as mentioned earlier, the service in the dining area could sometimes be a bit slow, particularly when it came to ordering additional drinks. This minor issue didn’t overshadow the overall positive experience, but it is an area where improvement could enhance the guest experience further. Conclusion: A Lovely Stay with Great Potential In summary, The Views Baía Hotel in Madeira offers a memorable stay with its superb location, excellent amenities, and quality dining options. Our time in Room 338 was comfortable, with the self-catering facilities providing flexibility and the sea view adding to the charm of the room. The Half Board Plus package is a good value, though improvements in service during meals could enhance the overall experience. The spa, indoor pool, and outdoor pool were standout features, providing ample ways to relax and rejuvenate, while the evening entertainment, especially the live music performances, made for enjoyable and relaxing nights. For anyone seeking a comfortable and enjoyable stay in Madeira, The Views Baía is a great choice. With a few tweaks to service, it has the potential to become an even more exceptional destination. As an addition if you decide to get taxi's download the Bolt app. you get 5 rides at half price and you pay before you ride. it chooses the location you are at through your phones gps so very acurate and then you can pinpoint your destination it will then show you the options of Bolt taxi's the price it will charge and the time the taxi will arrive and how long the trip will take. If for example you are at the bottom of the basket run and the taxis charge you 25 euro to go back up which seems to be the case we loaded up bolt app set location/destination and the car arrived in 5 minutes and took us to the top for 1.75euro.. try it...you will not regret it

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