Hotel Girassol - Suite Hotel

The hotel is clean, towels were changed daily, and there was always hot water for a bath. The hair dryer in our room was poor and kept cutting out. Breakfast was good, with something for everyone. The bar staff, Philip, Elda, Sara and Andr, were very good and a definite asset. One of the two lifts had been out of service for 4 days, which meant long waits for the number of guests. When we checked out, we paid the taxes and returned our pool towels. Reception then asked us to walk around to the pool area to return them, even though the pool is at the back of reception. There were three reception staff standing there, not working, while we had two cases, two bags, and the towels. We asked if we could leave them at reception, but their facial expressions said it all. Needless to say, we left the towels. The hotel is quite far from Funchal town, and whichever way you go downhill, it’s a considerable trek back up. There are a few restaurants nearby, but don’t expect fresh vegetables. Even at the hotel it was chips and tinned carrot. Fortunately, we were on a b&b basis.

It’s a basic English Holiday Inn, and with the bed bugs! I wouldn’t call it 4 star, more like 3 star. They gave us one complimentary bottle of water, but water should come every day with the tea and coffee. Not here. We stayed in room 207 on the second floor, away from the noisy lift and road. I found a sneaky way outside past the NON-heated pool. It’s supposed to be heated in the colder months, but it wasn’t. I’m a Water treatment specialist, so I notice things with pools and showers. The shower was heavily contaminated with scale, and the pool wasn’t regularly dosed or checked for chlorine or cleaned to a standard I liked. I had to disinfect the shower and taps with bleach. Hotels in Madeira and the surrounding area are generally 50 years+ old, which is great for Legionella to proliferate in all that scale and TDS! One pool staff member was a waste of time. He stood around looking at the women and didn’t collect used cutlery or glasses as often as he should. Diogo, on the other hand, was an absolute asset, rushing around to clean up and clear used plates and glasses. He deserves recognition for his hard work. It’s a friendly, safe hotel, and sitting by the pool I couldn’t hear arguments from young families, partly because there isn’t much for them to do. There’s no entertainment or parks, just cranes doing their magic. We knew there was construction in the area, so can’t really complain about that. Would I come back to this hotel? No, probably not. Madeira has a new visitor who’ll definitely return, just maybe to a 5 star next time. Take the red and yellow buses to the beautiful surroundings. The cable car, botanical gardens, and the sledge are a must. We’ll be back, just not to this hotel, sorry.

We were really pleased with our stay and would happily recommend the hotel. The staff were professional, and breakfast had lots to choose from. It’s near the ocean, though there isn’t a beach close by. A lovely surprise came after my wife’s birthday: the next day, we found fruit and a birthday card in our room. We hadn’t expected it at all.

The location is excellent, and the hotel is clean, comfortable, and well kept. The staff are friendly and helpful, while the rooms have what you need, though they’re a little basic. The pool, facilities, and breakfast restaurant are much the same. It doesn’t have the grandeur of a bigger five-star hotel, but it doesn’t do much wrong either. Four stars feels about right.