Hotel Do Carmo

Having braved the landing at Funchal Airport we were soon delivered to the Hotel Do Carmo, admittedly this was during the COVID 19 period so face masks, COVID testing at airport all ok. Being late arrivals, restaurant only does breakfast, decided on room service, there was only one employee on duty, the receptionist who gave us a menu for the local Pizza place. Then had to open the bar so we could have a drink. The room was very small and cramped but the bed was fine, a lot of city noise made it hard to sleep, no air conditioning but a noise ceiling fan. Breakfast was ok but haphazard. The next night following an arranged afternoon with friends we decided to wander out, there was nothing, no restaurants, bars etc, we walked down dark creepy alleyways for about a mile before we found anything open, our trip back got worse, passing beggars and gangs of drunks making it feel dangerous, then the noise started, racing mopeds with loud exhausts, a backpackers hostel opposite hotel with a roof terrace where drinking was still going on loudly at 4:30am, an apartment block with a metal shutter to garage opening and closing every few minutes made sleep impossible. Breakfast was a joke cold eggs, cold everything. On a plus Jet2 holidays moved us to a normal tourist hotel that day. Hotel Do Carmo is NOT for tourists or holidaymakers, it’s in the city but away from night life. Understaffed and in need of upgrades. The area is dark and crowded with unsavoury street life. Not recommended.

I stayed here with some friends in September 2020. The hotel was clean, not too expensive and well located about 5 minutes' walk from the Old Town. The breakfast was decent too. The pool on the roof was good too with nice views around Funchal. The only minor downsides were the bar being closed at the pool (a symptom of the hotel being quiet due to the pandemic) and the rooms were pretty warm. I had to open the balcony door which led to a lot of mosquito bites. I would stay here again if I come back to Funchal.