Book Ribeira Seca hotels

Perfect stay. The location is ideal, walking distance to the main sights but not in a crowded street. There’s free parking round the corner and paid parking on street (not expensive). The swimming pool, jacuzzi and steam room were excellent addition. Rooms have a balcony with nice views. Staff were very friendly and helpful. You can rent pool towels with a deposit of 10€ per towel. Breakfast can be better (the pancake machine is an experience haha), but overall excellent for the price.

The staff were excellent from the start. The hotel stay included a very good full breakfast, with a great view. The restaurant was excellent as well and although there are many very good restaurants on Sao Miguel, the hotel restaurant was ranked as the first or second choice among our group of four. The bartender, Bernardo, was an artist with his cocktails. Although the spa was under construction, overall I would highly recommend this hotel.

Simply Amazing

excellent breakfast

The hotel was wonderfully situated and very well maintained. The restaurant was excellent, food and service like a 5-star establishment. Everything was great, highly recommend.

We stayed at Santa Bárbara Eco-Beach Resort expecting a family-friendly experience, but it was completely unsuitable for traveling with a toddler. While I can see the appeal for adults seeking a quiet, remote retreat, there is very little for children to do. When the weather is poor—as it was during our stay—you are essentially stuck indoors with no meaningful activities. The layout adds to the difficulty. Rooms are located up a hill, requiring a golf cart to move luggage, which is inconvenient with a child. Safety was a constant concern: stone floors, steps, and design elements made it easy for a toddler to slip or get hurt. Even the reception had candles placed on the floor, which naturally attracted our child. Outdoors didn’t feel any safer. There are areas with minimal or no guardrails and proximity to cliffs, meaning constant vigilance is required at all times. It was stressful rather than relaxing. The bathroom condition was also disappointing. The one positive was the excellent food, but it did not make up for the overall experience. We ended up leaving after only a few hours to find a more suitable hotel, and despite not staying the majority of our booking, we were unable to recover any unused funds. In summary: a nice retreat for adults, but not appropriate for families with young children.