Aqua Natura Bay

While the hotel itself appears to be one of the nicest options in Porto Moniz, our stay was disappointing overall. The bathroom setup was frustrating — the shower was extremely small and poorly enclosed, causing water to overflow not just across the bathroom floor, but also into the room itself. The main appeal of the hotel is the included spa in the basement, but even that fell short of expectations. Although we made reservations for the Turkish spa and sauna in the early evening, the reservation system wasn’t really respected by other guests, and to make matters worse, the staff hadn’t even turned on the amenities despite bookings before us. It made the experience feel disorganized and disappointing. Similarly, reservations for the hotel restaurant didn’t seem to offer any advantage, and service at the front desk was lacking. As an example, they offered us free tickets to the town’s paid natural pools, but after making the trip there (carrying robes and towels), we found the pools on the west side of town were closed for renovations — something the hotel staff failed to mention. When we returned and let them know, they showed little concern, reflecting a general apathy in the service that doesn’t align with the price point of the hotel. Overall, I would only consider staying here during the summer, when the natural pools are open and the weather is warm enough to enjoy them. Visiting at the end of April, when it’s too cold for a dip and the pools aren’t naturally heated, made the stay feel even less worthwhile. If I could redo my itinerary, I wouldn’t spend a night in Porto Moniz at all — honestly, I would skip the town entirely and spend more time in Santana or Serra D’Água (at places like the Valley View Hotel Encumeada), where you are still well-positioned for the hikes you would be doing from Porto Moniz anyways.

Great facilities, really nice breskfast. Family room needs some facelift.