Octant Furnas
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Hotel Details
Location
Octant Furnas · Sao Miguel, Portugal
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Key Highlights
- ✓Exceptional Service: The staff repeatedly receives accolades for being "super welcoming and attentive," "superb," "helpful, friendly and proud of their hotel."
- ✓Breakfast: The complimentary breakfast buffet is described as "excellent" and "outstanding," offering regional delicacies and à la carte egg options.
Expert Review: Octant Furnas
Octant Furnas, Sao Miguel: A Michelin Key Selected Oasis Amidst Volcanic Wonders
Octant Furnas, a Michelin Key Selected property on Sao Miguel Island, Portugal, is widely praised as a tranquil and luxurious retreat nestled within the stunning Furnas Valley, an area renowned for Europe's highest concentration of thermal waters. Guests consistently highlight its exceptional thermal pools, serene setting, and outstanding service, making it a highly recommended destination for relaxation and exploration.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
The general consensus for Octant Furnas is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing their stays as "outstanding," "wonderful," and "amazing." It holds strong ratings on platforms like Booking.com, with a 9.5 for location, 9.3 for cleanliness, 9.4 for staff, 9.1 for facilities, and 9.3 for comfort. Many consider it "one of the best hotels on the island" and an "upscale experience."
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently rave about several key features that set Octant Furnas apart:
- Thermal Pools: The hotel boasts both indoor and outdoor thermal swimming pools, open 24 hours a day, which are a major draw and described as "fantastic" and "breathtaking." The outdoor pool is enjoyable even in winter, set amidst lush vegetation.
- Serene Location & Natural Beauty: Situated within the crater of a dormant volcano and surrounded by beautiful gardens and steaming hot springs, the hotel offers a uniquely peaceful and relaxing atmosphere.
- Exceptional Service: The staff repeatedly receives accolades for being "super welcoming and attentive," "superb," "helpful, friendly and proud of their hotel."
- Spa & Wellness Center: A comprehensive spa offers 10 treatment rooms, a floatbed, Vichy Shower, hydro-massage, sauna, hamam, and a fitness center, providing ample opportunities for rejuvenation.
- Sustainable Practices: The hotel is recognized for its eco-friendly initiatives, including reducing plastics, serious recycling, energy and water conservation, and using eco-friendly products, with heating provided by thermal waters.
3. Room Quality
The rooms at Octant Furnas are thoughtfully designed and comfortable. They are tastefully decorated by an interior designer, blending modern and traditional elements with a color palette inspired by the natural surroundings, featuring palm greens, sulfuric yellows, and lavastone grey, often complemented by nature-inspired murals.
- Comfort and Amenities: Rooms are air-conditioned, clean, and quiet, equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi, flat-screen cable TV, safety deposit box, telephone, Nespresso coffee machine, teas and kettle, Marshall Bluetooth speaker, bathrobes, slippers, and umbrellas.
- Room Types: Options include Deluxe Double or Twin Rooms (around 22-23 sq meters) and more spacious Suites (46-50 sq meters) with a separate living room and bedroom.
- Terrace Rooms: Some ground-floor rooms feature private terraces with lounge chairs, while "Terrace Pool Rooms" offer an exclusive outdoor deck and private pool, designed for ultimate pampering.
4. Dining Experience
The dining experience at Octant Furnas is highly regarded, particularly at the À TERRA restaurant.
- Cuisine: The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, focusing on "tasty Azorean meals" using locally sourced ingredients. Dishes often incorporate a smoky flavor from a wood-fired oven and josper grill, featuring steaks, fresh fish, pizzas, breads, and vegetables.
- Cozido Das Furnas: A unique culinary highlight is the traditional "Cozido Das Furnas," a meat and vegetable stew cooked in the volcanic fumaroles. Guests have the opportunity to accompany the chef to place their stew in the fumaroles.
- Breakfast: The complimentary breakfast buffet is described as "excellent" and "outstanding," offering regional delicacies and à la carte egg options.
- Other Options: The lobby features a bar with a leisure area and a grocery store offering local products. Room service is also available.
5. Service & Staff
The staff at Octant Furnas consistently receives glowing reviews for their hospitality and professionalism. Guests frequently use words like "superb," "excellent," "helpful," "friendly," and "attentive" to describe their interactions. The 24-hour front desk is ready to assist with booking local experiences such as whale watching, hiking, and biking tours. This dedication to service significantly contributes to the hotel's positive reputation.
6. Location & Accessibility
Octant Furnas boasts an enviable location on São Miguel Island, right in the Furnas Valley, known for its active geothermal landscape.
- Proximity to Attractions: The hotel is in a tranquil setting just a 5-10 minute walk from the quiet village of Furnas. Key attractions like Caldeiras das Furnas (5 min walk), OMIC - Azores Microbial Observatory (7 min walk), Terra Nostra Park (14 min walk), and Poça da Dona Beija (17 min walk) are easily accessible.
- Outdoor Activities: The surrounding area offers opportunities for exploring hot springs, golfing at Furnas Golf Course (4 km away), visiting Ribeira Quente Beach (7 km away), and engaging in activities like hiking, biking, scuba diving, and whale watching.
- Transport: Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL) is approximately 50 km (21.6 miles) away. While driving offers flexibility, some roads to Furnas can be narrow.
- Accessibility: The hotel is wheelchair-friendly with adapted rooms, though the natural, sometimes rugged terrain around the hotel might pose challenges for guests with mobility issues.
7. Value & Pricing
Octant Furnas is positioned as an upscale and luxury property. While prices can vary, the average nightly room rate has been around $272, with some guests finding rates as low as $175-$189. Many guests feel that the hotel offers a strong "combination of affordability and luxury" for its location and amenities, especially when compared to the average in the area. Breakfast is typically included in the room rate. However, a few guests have felt it wasn't worth the money due to specific issues encountered during their stay.
8. Common Complaints
While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring criticisms and issues have been noted by guests:
- Room Condition Issues: A few guests reported concerns such as "wet room with mold" and unpleasant smells, or beds feeling "used many times before."
- Technical Glitches: Some experienced issues with smart TVs, including non-functional Netflix, YouTube, or screen mirroring.
- Noise: Rooms located near the road can be noisy. Additionally, some guests mentioned thin walls and loud birds in the morning.
- Room Size/Design Preferences: A minority found some rooms to be "quite small" or "cave-like" due to dark colors and bulky furniture.
- Restaurant Service: Several reviews mentioned slow service in the restaurant, with long waiting times for food (up to an hour or 3.5 hours for a simple dinner) and forgotten orders.
- Pest Concerns: One guest reported a cockroach incident in the restaurant.
- Pool Restrictions: Children (up to 12 years old) are restricted to using the indoor and outdoor swimming pools only from 9:00 to 13:00.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •Accessibility: The hotel is wheelchair-friendly with adapted rooms, though the natural, sometimes rugged terrain around the hotel might pose challenges for guests with mobility issues.
- •While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring criticisms and issues have been noted by guests:
- •Room Condition Issues: A few guests reported concerns such as "wet room with mold" and unpleasant smells, or beds feeling "used many times before."
- •Technical Glitches: Some experienced issues with smart TVs, including non-functional Netflix, YouTube, or screen mirroring.
- •Pest Concerns: One guest reported a cockroach incident in the restaurant.
Google Reviews
1,229 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
Mário Feijoca
I would like to start this review with a special word of appreciation for the staff. Without a doubt, it is the team that truly makes you feel welcome, and as a local, I can attest to their consistency and genuine hospitality. I frequently visit this hotel with my family for weekend getaways, and it is the ideal spot for a 'staycation.' I have also organized several of these weekends with close fr...
Alexa Stango
Wow wow wow!! I cannot say enough about how Lovely my husband and my experience was here. We were greeted by the most lovely person, Bianca (I hope that’s correct). She was absolutely wonderful! Super friendly and gave us a such a nice welcome. I love that the offer activities, one was a local game that was taught to us by another staff member, Liliana, who was so fun and a joy to spend time with....
Response from the owner
Dear Alexa,<br><br>Wow indeed — thank you for such an enthusiastic and heartwarming review.<br><br>I am absolutely delighted to know that your experience with us was so lovely from start to finish. Yo...
Pratima Kodali
We had an excellent experience - service was great!! They offered breakfast to us on the day of arrival since we arrived early!! Felt like family! During Manager’s cocktail, we were served drinks and cheese and staff, Lilliana showed us how to play and also played Marralhinha, local game with us for some time. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Rooms are kept pretty clean! Breakfast buffet is ex...
Response from the owner
Dear Pratima,<br>Thank you sincerely for sharing such a warm and detailed review of your stay. It is wonderful to hear that you felt welcomed from the moment you arrived, including being able to enjoy...
Uyen Tran
First of all, Customer service here was great. Unfortunately the room that we stayed in was is not up to par to the standards of a 5 star luxury resort. We only stayed there for 2 nights and addressed The room issue to Management on the first day but because of no availability We had to stay in that same room. The next day they were able to move us to the next room And unfortunately it still ha...
Response from the owner
Dear Uyen,<br><br>Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback.<br><br>I am truly pleased to know that you experienced great customer service, enjoyed our restaurant and food, and mad...
Jennifer Gross
We were blown away by this beautiful spa! The pools and spa facilities were spotless and incredibly relaxing! The breakfast was divine! Dinner was fantastic --ask about the "cozidha experience"! But, more than the physical nature, the staff members were kind, professional, informative, and helpful. From Mauro the concierge, to Fernando the bartender, to Rodrigo the doorman, every person we met was...
Response from the owner
Dear Jennifer,<br><br>Thank you very much for your wonderful and detailed review. We are truly delighted to know that your experience at our spa exceeded your expectations and that you found the pools...
Sabrina St
We highly recommend the Octant. We stayed there for a week and I never felt this relaxed. The staff is super friendly and the food is really delicious. We definitely want to come back and enjoy the in house hot springs again! Also book the experiences organised from the hotel, their fun.
Response from the owner
Dear Sabrina,<br><br>Thank you very much for your wonderful recommendation and for choosing to stay with us for a full week.<br><br>I am truly delighted to know that you felt so relaxed during your ti...
