This is part of the Porto Bay Group's large complex overlooking the sea by the Lido. Indeed, it is so large that it took us a couple of days to really find our way around. We were provided by the hotel with a diagram but it could be considerably improved. It needs a handy , comprehensive guide detailing all the facilities available to guests in the complex and a good map showing exactly where everything is, as part of the welcoming procedures.The staff led by an experienced Manager were without exception most helpful and friendly.The breakfast buffet style is comprehensive but although the dining room is very large it was only just possible each morning to find a table for four people together. The star was the ever-smiling "omelette" queen who kept calm whatever the pressure.We dined on two evenings in the hotel restaurant for buffet meals - one a fish evening - with a wonderful selection and the other a Portguese evening - both could be recommended. However, we made three very short telephone calls from our room to our usual taxi driver but found the cost at 3.25 euros each exhorbitant. Overall, we would be happy to return to this good value 4-star hotel.

We stayed for a week. The Porto Mare was so busy, we had to split our booking between 2 providers. The grounds were beautiful and green, makes you wonder why other hotels didn't put more effort into their grounds rather than acres of souless concrete/pool side.

We used the voucher system for meals as we were on half board. All meals and food excellent.

Room a very good size and kept clean.

Pool was excellent and well used. All in all, not much else to add to the other reviews and photos. Staff were very switched on and helpful considering TAP forgot our bags and we needed to swop our rooms.

My wife and I have been using either the Porto Mare or the adjoining Eden Mar every year since 2007, with all but one of those weeks taken in early December, as a break from the awful British climate and to time it with the switching on of Funchal's terrific Christmas lights.

One of the best criteria for gauging the true quality of a hotel is in the quality of the staff and here they are second to none. Take for example the room maids who are all super friendly, helpful and efficient. Nothing is too much trouble for them.

It goes without saying that we obviously love staying here - we had a superior room with a nice garden and sea view on the 3rd floor which gives great views. We booked the package with Thomson and they were first class throughout. I tried to book independently with the hotel discounts which we are entitled to, but I couldn't get within £100 of the Thomson prices. And of course we let Thomson's reps take the strain. I suppose that booking directly with the hotel might allow a more precise selection of room - some are slightly east-facing, some slightly west-facing, some direct onto the sea. Except on the ground floor they all have good views, but the amount and timing of sunshine they receive can vary as with all hotels.

On arrival we bought a 3-night package in the Atlantida restaurant which not only gives you a good discount but we also got our own 30% discount applied on top of that as Prestige Gold customers (having stayed 5 times or more). This meant a total price of just 102 Euros for the two of us for 3 nights, for 3-4 courses. I almost felt guilty at such a deal (but not quite).

The gardens were as beautiful as ever, the weather warm and dry and usually sunny or bright. In fact of our 6 holidays the worst weather we had was not in December, but in September a few years back.

As far as my wife and I are concerned the Porto Mare absolutely suits us, because apart from the hotel itself, we love the location, offering a long, beautiful coastal walk westwards, with plenty of cafes en route, or an easy 30-40 minute down-hill stroll into Funchal. Probably the only two easy strolls on the island !

You also have plentiful supermarkets, cafes, and restaurants close by; a very convenient and frequent bus service; and a taxi rank. The 40 minute journey on the No. 48 bus to Monte is an absolute must, then finished off with a 5-minute walk to the majestic Monte Palace Gardens and/or a stroll around to the toboggans or the chair-lift back down to Funchal.

For anyone like me who likes to walk in the mountains on their own and not with guides and strangers, and not wishing to drive, the taxis all offer fixed prices. A trip up to Pico Arieerio costs 40 Euros and if you plan to walk the ridge to Pico Ruivo and onto Achada Teixera, you can reckon on 90 Euros for the two legs. It's a fantastic walk but I did it in the worst of weathers in 2008 and that is not to be recommended.

My tip to anyone visiting Funchal for the first time would be to download a copy of relevant bus routes and timetables before leaving the UK. And buying blocks of cheap tickets from the shop outside the Eden Mar reception.

Everthing good to say about the Porto Mare has already been said and there is nothing bad to say!
Rooms, people, facilities, location, care, smiles and so on!
Our first visit to Madeira made all the more memorable by our welcome.
The breakfast, poolside was good enough to last the whole day. Starting with "champagne", the choice was nearly infinite!
Complaints - I could find nowhere to watch the England v New Zealand rugby international (on Sky). This is of course not a serious comment!