Dorisol Mimosa Studio Hotel

We had another wonderful trip to Madeira, and on reflection we'd return to this hotel. The location is central and very good, with decent dining options in walking distance. We knew about the steep hill, but nothing really prepares you for it. Arriving by coach, you may have to walk uphill to reception unless you know how to get the magic buggy service. The hill was my biggest problem. Often no one answered the intercom at the barrier to let our taxi drive up, and that needs sorting out. The public spaces, facilities, pool, and loungers were great. Breakfast was very good, with lots of choice and some pleasant staff who met and served guests. I used the outdoor pool by the bar most days, but still don't know whether it was table service or whether you had to order at the bar. Staff there were often not very friendly. Check-in was a pain. There was a queue and an inefficient process, and we waited over 30 minutes for room keys. The rooms were basic but nice. The corridors were much less appealing, more like a prison, though some renovation work seems to have started.

The apartment was clean and nice, with an awesome ocean view. There are two pools, one indoor and one outdoor, plus a gym area. Shame the jacuzzi was broken. We had a very pleasant stay at the Mimosa hotel. Breakfast was nice, but the dining area got a bit crowded.

The location was decent and the mattresses were good, but I wouldn't recommend this hotel. The food was average to below average. The room furnishings were very old, with everything at or past the end of its lifespan. There was no sound insulation, so in the morning we woke either to chairs scraping on the floor above or noise from the bathroom next door.

Our only good interaction was with a cleaning staff member who was genuinely helpful. At reception, the staff were cold, unfriendly, and seemed uninterested, with no basic courtesy. We had two nights booked under separate reservations and told reception clearly at check-in. They didn't take it into account. The next morning we got calls asking us to check out, and it took until the third call for them to acknowledge the mistake. Later, our room key stopped working because it had only been set for one night, so we had to go back to reception, where the staff were just as dismissive. A very disappointing stay. The hotel isn't worth the money and falls badly short on service and professionalism.