Octant Ponta Delgada

- Epic sea view overlooking the port - The room was comfortable, with a really cozy bed - The staff were all helpful, polite, and friendly - The minibar was included and the room well stocked with snacks - The bar upstairs was cozy, with nice drinks and also meals - Great breakfast with plenty of fresh fruit - Everything in the centre of Ponta Delgada is within walking distance

- The shower and toilet doors in the room wouldn't stay properly closed

Staff excellence, comfort.

High priced food and wine.

Excellent breakfast, very helpful staff, rooms with a stunning view of the marina, spacious and well-equipped room. Plenty of drinking water and help with parking.

It’s a ten-minute walk from the center; we really enjoyed the walk in the afternoon and evening, though others might prefer to be right in the heart of the action. The spa was fully booked, so we couldn't use it.

The view over the marina was lovely. The staff were consistently friendly, and breakfast was good. The freshly made omelettes were delicious, and the chef was doing a brilliant job. Dinner was great as well!

I paid over €700 for two nights, breakfast for one included, at this five-star hotel in Ponta Delgada. At that price, I expect polish in every corner, and I didn’t find it. The room and bathroom I booked a room with a single king-size bed. What I got was a king bed plus two bunk beds, which completely changed the feel of the room. It wasn’t the elegant retreat I’d paid for, and the bunk beds gave it a dorm-like atmosphere. The bathroom was the biggest letdown. The showerhead and faucet were stained with what looked like limescale, the bathtub was cracked in several places, and there was no ventilation in either the bathroom or the shower. For a five-star rate, I expect a bathroom in far better shape. Cleanliness and upkeep The floor-to-ceiling windows were not clean, which took the edge off the view. The stairwell was plainly dirty. I suspect it’s used mostly by staff and so doesn’t get the same attention as the guest areas, but guests notice, and it says something about the standards behind the scenes. The restaurant In the restaurant seating area, the chairs were stained. When you’re sitting down to a meal at a five-star hotel, worn and marked upholstery is exactly the kind of detail that should have been caught and replaced. Service at dinner was also disappointing. I was told to wait 15 minutes for a table. After 40 minutes, I had to ask again, and only then was I pointed toward a table that had been available all along. What was that about? Nobody checked on me, and nobody seemed to be keeping track of the waiting list. That is not the level of attentiveness I expect from a five-star restaurant. Verdict The people and the food are five-star. The maintenance and housekeeping are not. At this price point, the details are what matter most: it’s not enough to look shiny, a hotel has to actually be shiny. I’d hope the management takes this as a prompt to fix the fundamentals, because the team clearly has the warmth and talent to deliver a much better experience.