Ocean Gardens Reviews

Returned from spending Christmas 2024/New Year 2025. The hotel listed as 4 star yet simple little things have you wonder the rating. There was no hospitality tray so more or less after breakfast there's nothing. Breakfast tables not laid out and tables not cleared until you leave. Breakfast a good variety but always warm/cold. No Christmas feel to the hotel at all, seperate dining area was lovely laid out but in no way for residents outside guests only. There was also a bar within this part of the hotel but was never once opened for residents. Never used the onsite restaurant but from others heard not up to scratch. There was a tiny bar within there but closed at 10.30 if not before and actually put all lights on while we were sitting with another couple!. New Year, disappointing again seemed to cater for outside guests or if we were willing to pay well over the odds to be part of this over and above the expense of going there in the first place. Just before midnight those from this event went up to pool area. Where we had gone no alternative bar in restaurant reluctant to serve us and when they did price was doubled. The only positive thing was the beautiful view from the pool area (never had the pleasure of using as water freezing and no cleaning of the pool was ever done, bar there was also closed the whole time, even though in brochure it give bar opening times summer/winter). The fireworks display was amazing and I can see how they have won awards (the town itself, not the hotel). The hotel very much out the way albeit they say shops/restaurants within walking distance! Courtesy bus to town mon-fri book day before only ever used once. Local bus 39 at a cost of 2 euros or buy weekly ticket. Only thing the last one left Central at 9.30pm. There was other buses that if you held hand out would stop but I believe you not able to use weekly ticket. The town funchal itself has a lot of lovely restaurants and the things they had on for Christmas were amazing. We done a few trips and the cable car. We have for the last 4 years gone away for this period but sadly will not return to this hotel.