Hotel Madeira

Really unsure why this has the reviews that it does. Most basic hotel I've ever stayed in. To start with, we booked a transfer from the airport to the hotel with them, this cost €29. Luis checked us in and he was great at his job, always smiling, polite and helpful. He gave us a good introduction to the hotel. Most other front-desk staff we met were often grumpy in comparison. The location was brilliant. Right in the heart of Funchal, easy to walk to restaurants and nice to wander the streets. Very close by to Carnaval activities taking place. Booked a family room for two people as it was the same price as a standard double when I booked through booking.com. However, it would definitely be too small for an actual family of even three people. Water bottle was placed on the desk, €2 for 1 litre. We went to a grocery store nearby the next day and bought 5.4l for €1.65. Room faced inwards towards the courtyard and surrounding rooms so lacked any real privacy unless curtains were shut. Curtains were thin and let light in as soon as it got brighter. No mini fridge or tea/coffee facilities in room. Had to pay for the use of the safe. Bathroom was tiny, but shower gel, soap and shower cap were provided. Clean fresh towels. Water in shower was hot and had good pressure. Shower door had good sealant so nothing escaped out onto the bathroom floor. We had swimming towels in our room as well as a blanket, possibly for the "third guest". Adequate space for clothing. TV on the wall. Comfy bed but pillows rather flat. Control to change temperature which didn't work that well. Breakfast was terrible. Plates, cups and cutlery always running out and staff taking ages to bring clean ones. Signs put up to not take food out of the breakfast room. Cereal in open bowls, overcooked eggs, watery soggy mushrooms, bread for toast, juice and water with the tiniest glasses. Some fruit, weird gloopy yoghurt, one type of cheese and one type of cold cut. Tea and coffee facilities but they weren't the greatest. View from the roof is beautiful. "Bar" that provides snacks and drinks. There is a lounge area with quite dated furniture, pool-table (no balls), books and a desktop. Hotel allow locals up to utilise the rooftop but this wasn't an issue for us. It certainly wasn't 15+ people like some reviews mentioned. Check-out could be improved. Key-cards provided stop working at 11:30am (check-out is 12pm) so we couldn't get into our rooms to take our luggage out which was a bit ridiculous. Had to go downstairs to get them reset, make a trip up to get luggage and back down with everything again. If check-out is at 12pm, keycards should stop working then and not before. Won't be recommending this place to anyone I know. Improve breakfast and check-out.

We stayed for 10 days and found the location is ideal as it is in the city centre whereas most hotels are situated up a hill well away from the centre. The hotel and room were clean and well maintained ,The Breakfast was not great.Limited choice and the hot items were only lukewarm.The real bugbear was that the roof terrece was dominated by chain smoking non resident youths .We heard other residents grumbling about this also,so we stopped visiting it.If visiting Funchal again we would probably elsewhere.

Another fantastic holiday at this hotel. The staff were very lovely and helpful. We would recommend the hotel to anyone going to Maderia. It is small and friendly and close to all amenities in Funchal