Pestana Bahia Praia — Hotel in Vila Franca do Campo

Well, we chose this hotel because of its location on the beach - for my birthday but haven't checked past reviews simply relying on it being a member of a large hotel group in many countries and our previous experience of hotels in the 4 star category.

But HOW DISAPPOINTING! The attitude of this chain in this particular place is appalling.

Firstly, we booked a superior room - the junior suite and there were no tea and coffee making facilities. We thought, not a problem, and after asking at reception we were told that they can give us a kettle at €8 euros but would still have to buy the tea and coffee from the bar. And the bar did not open until 11 am! So NO morning coffee in bed to enjoy the beautiful view of the beach... The breakfast, whilst nicely displayed, was a little disappointing too, especially the type/quality of bacon and the miniscule sausages. Although, it was eat as much as you like. The room was ok, nice large bed perfectly made up, the living area felt a little sterile. The shower in our room was not easy to operate, ended up flooding the outside of the shower whilst trying to work out which button turns on which head (choice of 3) and having cold water sprinkled at you during this. I appreciate that the water coming out will initially be cold but to not flood the outside, you would have to stand inside with a door shut enduring the cold whilst working out the buttons so not great. At least the towels were fluffy and soft. We asked to use the sauna - they said it was sufficient to ask 15 minutes before wanting to use but the sauna was barely 60°C and remained so whilst we used the steam room for 45 minutes. Now was suitably hot with access to the plunge pool outside, which was nice. No music in the relaxation area and we were disturbed by people using it after us, who were 3 boisterous lads so you can imagine how quickly we left this area.

There isn't a problem with the staff as such - they are obliging and friendly but are limited by the hotel's ethos/rules/and when asked to speak to a manager, the request was blanked.

Oh, and not to mention the table football - no sign of how it operates so we put a coin in, just for it to be swallowed and be told that the ball is at the reception! I mean really?!

We will never book a PESTANA...

We stayed at this hotel for 6 nights in a spacious suite with an amazing view of the ocean — definitely the highlight of our stay. Waking up to the sound of the waves and watching the sea from the balcony was truly unforgettable. I’d highly recommend booking a room with an ocean view.

The location is great, with a beach just 200 meters away (though it’s completely empty and lacks any facilities) and a restaurant 300 meters from the hotel. There’s also a pleasant walking area nearby.

That said, the hotel itself feels quite outdated. The rooms need renovation, and while the cleaning was okay, it wasn’t very thorough. Beds were also uncomfortable.

Breakfast was good, but repetitive — not a single change in the menu during our 5-day stay, and the selection was quite limited. The dinner buffet was a disappointment, especially considering the €90 price for the family — we had much better meals for less in nearby restaurants.

Cocktails were underwhelming: my margarita was far too sour, though the Aperol Spritz was passable. Coffee, unfortunately, was bad both at breakfast and at the bar — either powdery machine coffee or poorly made espresso, which seems to be a common issue on the island.

The hotel totally lacks any facilities for entertainment - there is a library, a snooker and some board games. In a rainy day you'll go crazy with the kids if you don't bring anything with you.

A heads-up: they add a 10% service charge to the bill without notifying you, though they removed it when we pointed it out.

Overall, our stay was OK, mainly thanks to the view and the location. But for the price we paid, I expected a...

Nice location, good service, nice staff at the restaurant and reception, and the buffet was very good the first 3 days. Room was quiet and had a nice sea view from the side. But I would not book this hotel again, it looks old/ neglected like a cheap hotel. When I arrived I couldn't believe my eyes and thought google maps navigated me at the wrong hotel. The junior suite was full of stains on the carpet and the coaches looked dirty too. The windows were not clear because they were old and needed to be replaced. There was no cooker in the room. Children stay for free in this hotel, but they let screaming and running children in the restaurant during diner and breakfast. Diner and breakfast became old and untasty during the week. For example leftovers of bacon re-used/baked, tasted tough and old. Over all I would not recommend this hotel for the 140 euro a night I paid for a junior suite. I made a complaint about it at the hotel, but they only responded after a reminder and 3 weeks later when I was already home. They didnt acknowledge the room is overpriced because it needs to be renovated. I asked compensation for the paid money , but they rejected and are promising discount next time. After google search I discovered the hotel needs a renovation for years, so I don't expect next time...