Have just returned from yet another holiday at this hotel and cannot fault anything, OK the Thomson Holidays rep was hopeless ("I don't know anthing about local buses I'm only here to sell excursions"!) but that isn't the Cliff Bay's fault.

We'll be back in 2010.

My husband and I have just returned from our second visit to this fantastic hotel, it is the first time we have ever been tempted to return to a hotel and we were not dissapointed. We would recommend The Cliff Bay to anyone looking for a quiet, comfortable holiday. The staff, a real dedicated team, could not be anymore polite, friendly and helpful. The facilities are superb and the views stunning.

The Cliff Bay is a dream: the location on the sea is perfect, the pools offer great views, the gardens are peacefull. It is really a pleasure to stay at this hotel. The service is good and people know very well their job. Very good service but not stiff.
I went to Madeira to play golf with some friends. And the Cliff Bay has some good deals with free shuttle to Palheiro Golf. We booked a package included as well Santo da Serra (great views over the Ocean) and the fantastic Porto Santo, about 1h30 by ferry boat from the main island. It was really relaxing. Temperatures are quite warm during winter and it is possible to dive in the sea.
If you are a golfer, you should look: http://www.portugal-golfpackage.com/en/?sec=hotels&id=4232&it=islands - there are plenty of recommendations!

Likes:

1. Porter parked the hire car and brought suitcases to room
2. Bottle of chilled sparling wine on arrival - repeat Porto Bay guest!
3. Outstanding sea/Funchal harbour view
4. Excellent rooms - liked bed turn down service with chocolate.
5. Elegantly formal - very colonial feel
6. Fresh flowers everywhere!

Dislikes:

1. The guy who wore the football shirt in the restaurant at breakfast (C'mon!)
2. The Il Gallo D'Oro restaurant lacked atmosphere (a bit stuffy) and the food was disappointing (we had the 46EUR set menu - bit too played around with). Prefer the Med and Il Basilico at the Porto Mare up the road.
3. Some days room was not serviced until very late in the day
4. Had to queue at breakfast to get a table a bit too often/ breakfast room always a bit too busy and crowded
5. Would have liked to see a few more activities laid on during stay ie wine tasting, learn a bit of portugese etc. The entertainment in the evening (Cliff Bar) was a bit dull - could do with a bit more dance music (foxtrot, waltz, quickstep etc) although the Fado and Banda d'Alem are very good.
6. The euro/£ exchange rate is really starting to bite now. Everything at the hotel seems overpriced even for a five star hotel as a result - Eur 12 for a tuna sandwich!

Overall the Cliff Bay is great place to be and I would urge anyone going to Madeira to chose one of the three Porto Bay Hotels ( Cliff Bay *****, Porto Mare ****, Santa Maria ****) they will not be disappointed