Hotel Caravelas — Hotel in Madalena

I believe reviews help everyone

Found this place grim - really grim.

Arrived early so had to wait for my room to be ready, which is totally fair enough of course.

When time came to collect my room key, I sensed the staff behind the main reception counter were giggling, in fact, I'm certain they were...

I headed to my room...

The smell along the corridor was utterly dreadful, a deep, dark, dank and damp stench, overwhelming - really, really awful. The doors along the corridor, especially further down, showed actual signs of rising damp within the wood AND at the foot of my rising damp door, on the floor, was a large, dead cockroach - i couldn't make this up... It was like the Bates Motel from Psycho, seriously.

My key-card didn't work (the giggling staff were likely distracted by my upcoming plight and passed me the wrong one), but at this point I'd already made my mind up I think, not to stay in this particular room...

Back to reception, they seemed a touch amused, which I raised and they apologised and gave me another room key - I didn't even bother looking, I stayed with family in their room, shared a bed, but the damp smell theme continued here too... There IS one thing and I would suggest it's the ONLY thing going for this hotel really, it's location, as you get off the ferry, it's there, a large dull monolith, testimony to 70s/80s Med Hotel architecture - but that aside I would sincerely encourage anyone to look elsewhere

I already know by the way, that the owner/management will likely share some form of counter comment, but I would say to them here;

Invest in the property, please... 4 Stars, I'm not certain how this is even possible - it's aged beyond belief and in a clear state of disrepair, damp, smelly, tired, uncomfortable beds, poor WiFi (It's 2024!), below par buffet breakfast - i could go on and on, truly I could - an exceptionally bad experience and I'm not a snob by any stretch.

Reader take heed...

I am really puzzled by all the very negative reviews. I stayed here for 6 nights as part of a whale and dolphin watching trip, and it's a very nice, clean and comfortable hotel. I would really recommend it if you are coming to Pico. Particularly as it's almost opposite the ferry terminal and really close to the whale and dolphin trips out - five minutes away.||I don't know if it's been upgraded recently but the bathroom in our room was in excellent condition, no damaged tiles or grouting as you would expect in something inferior. The beds were comfortable, the room was big enough for two people with wardrobe capacity, a desk, a fridge, two chairs and the curtains were of good quality. The air conditioning worked well, and so did the TV and wifi.||We had breakfast every day and there is a lot of choice and it's a nice good breakfast. The staff were pleasant and the rooms are cleaned and sheets and towels changed every day. There is comfortable furniture in the reception area to sit and wait for friends.||The only slight negative is that they don't tell you about the safe - there isn't one in the room so I had to ask at reception. There are some safes next to reception that aren't visible unless you are shown them.||So as it stands in May 2025, a lot of the negative comments aren't applicable...

DO NOT COME HERE.

Zero organisation. Rang up the day before, said they don't take bookings over the phone only over the internet (what kind of hotel is this) and then said oh it doesn't matter you can book over the phone after all.

Arrived at reception desk tried charging us 20 euros extra as we were paying at the desk not online.

Also said they needed our passports, which we weren't informed of over the phone not did we have on us as we had left them on the other island at a friend's house.

Got the room, small, terrible view, with two smaller beds when it was specifically booked for a couple.

Tried getting money back at the desk and said we had to pay 30 euro's to get the other 42 euros back even though we had literally walked into the room and walked out after 2 minutes.

Much better hotels literally all over Pico, don't come here. It's only popular because it's the first hotel you see as you leave the ferry, AVOID.

Oh and also the manager couldn't be bothered to speak to us in...