Contrary to many of the recent negative reports we have just experienced a most wonderful stay at the Pestana Grand. We were most impressed by the standard of the rooms and the staff in particular, the General Manager who was always at hand to talk to. Having visited five star establishments around the world we found this modern hotel to be up there with the best of them. It was unpretentious and we felt that we could relax around the pool and bar areas. We met such lovely people who helped make our holiday so very special-Jimmy and co.

We had our best meal in the Italian-the lasagne was beautiful!!! Had another great meal near the rocks-Fish restaurant.

A relaxing holiday just what the doctor ordered. Enjoy!!!
Dr W & co

Having been to Madeira previously and stayed at the Crown Plaza we thought we would try a new hotel this year. Big mistake !!
We arrived late afternoon/evening and having unpacked decided to dine in the restaurant..not as easy as it sounds..."have you booked?" no but...
Have a drink in the bar and we will see if we can fit you in.
The Italian meal was quite good but took an age to be served with much waiting time between courses. Several people were complaining about 2 hour meals and were being given free drinks or food by way of apology.
Oh well first night..must get better it claims to be 5 * anyway.
The rooms and public areas are really good and our only dissapointment was that if you can see the sea you are in a "front sea view room" ours was definitly a "side sea view" with views at adjacent apartments but if you look left you can see the sea.
8am the next morning we were awakened by the building site next door (nothing to do with the Hotel) Two very large cranes were in action from 8am to 6pm and the noise was awful.
We went down to breakfast and sat outside enjoying the early morning sunshine but were dissapointed to find that the pools and sun bed areas are too small for the size of the hotel and watching people slap on sun tan oil 20 feet from where we were enjoying our breakfast was not pleasent.
we could have eaten inside but part of the joy of Madeira is eating outside.

So to find a sun bed and have a relaxing day. as we are busy people we require relaxation and quiet when on holiday...this is not possible at the Pestana Grand. There is building works going on on both sides of the hotel and its pictures of it standing alone on a headland are misleading to say the least. It was impossible to find anywhere away from the building work (dumper trucks and work one side and tower cranes continually working on the other.
At the end of the day we sought out the Atlantic Holiday rep who agreed with us that this was not really a relaxing holiday and we checked out of the hotel and into the Crown Plaza and enjoyed a great remaining 6 days of our holiday without all the noise and intrusion and would recommend this hotel for its space and peace and quiet. Maybe its 5 years old but service and amenities are 1st class.
As we left the hotel the reception clerk who was very pleasent said "our work is all finished but we have no control over the sites either side and they could go on for 12 -18 months.
Very nice hotel but not one to stay in until the building work is finished ie 12-18 months.

Three of us women (two in their 50s, one in their 20s) spent a week at the Pestana Grand and had a lovely relaxing trip. The hotel is top quality - the staff was v friendly, the layout, the architecture, the gardens, the furniture. Everything was perfect. The pool and spa, including gym, sauna, turkish bath and jacuzzi was perfect for helping you unwind. We had a one bed apartment, which can sleep two extra on the sofa bed in the front room. We had maid service every day who left the room spick and span.

My one reservation was the building work next door. We couldn't really hear it by the pool, but our rooms was on the seventh floor and the noise travelled up a bit when we were having lunch on the balcony. But of course, this will be over at some point in the future.

I think it's actually a bonus that it's not right in the centre of town. The town has lots of traffic and noise, so the Pestana Grand is the right distance. You can walk into town in about 30 min on the seafront promenade, which had lovely views and lots of great restaurants. There's also a shopping centre just up the main road from the hotel which has lots of good shops - mango, Zara, a supermarket, etc which is open till v late at night.

This was our fourth visit to Madeira in as many years. Previously stayed at Madeira Regency Palace and Pestana Miramar which are both excellent.

The Pestana Grand consists of hotel rooms and timeshare apartments. I stayed with my wife and ten year old son in a one bedroomed apartment for two weeks. We asked to be moved on the second day because the original room allocated was too small (more suitable as a studio). In fairness, we were promptly moved with little hassle. The second room was excellent with a side seaview.

We attempted room service on the first night because of a relatively late arrival- took two calls and an hour wait because only one waiter on duty.
On another occasion we waited for over half an hour in the Moroccan restaurant for the menu having already been seated. This was particularly disappointing because we had enjoyed an excellent meal in the same restaurant only a few days earlier. Our experience in the Italian restuarant was also a little indifferent.

Other irritating experiences included the non-availability of both bath and pool towels on one occasion. One of the three main lifts was out of order for three or four consecutive days - not something you would expect with a five star hotel.

Generally staff are very pleasant and the reception is well managed and efficient. Overall the facilities are very good. The Grand has the potential to be an excellent hotel although being ultra modern in design, it is rather characterless.