Monumental Plaza by Petit Hotels

The apartment is in Funchal's hotel district, which felt too busy and touristy for me. It was clean, had a lovely sea view, and the service was good whenever we had questions or needed something. The reason for my low rating was the unusual check-in and check-out process. We were warned not to break anything or stain the walls, and they tested all the equipment when we arrived and left. Hangers, plates and glasses were counted and checked for damage. For the price, that felt unreasonable and uncalled for. We also got only one towel per person and two toilet rolls for four days, which felt stingy given what we paid. The deposit had to be paid in cash, which seemed shady. Deposits are usually charged to a credit card.

I would never recommend this hotel. Its underground parking on floor -2 is very difficult to use: the access path is narrow and there are lots of pillars that make both driving and parking harder. The hotel charged 5 € a day but didn't tell guests that anything larger than an extremely small car might be very difficult or even impossible to get in. There are other nearby parking lots, monitored by cameras, with spaces always available, for only 3.60 to 4.00 € a day. That's useful information, but the hotel didn't mention it. The long, annoying check-in added to the impression that the hotel looks after its own interests and not its guests. The receptionist pointed out damaged parts of the wall, then showed us every device and checked that it worked. That only made us worry that we'd be held responsible if something wasn't working properly. The deposit had to be paid in cash, and the receptionist gave no receipt. We got less back than we were owed at checkout, so there was no proof to use. Be careful, and take photos and videos to protect yourself. The friendly smiles didn't seem genuine. Opening the windows for fresh air meant putting up with a bus stop beside the hotel, two very loud construction sites, nearby restaurants open until the middle of the night, and a crosswalk right downstairs where cars, buses and motorcycles repeatedly stopped and started loudly. Cleaning happened only every three days. Each person got one big towel and one small one for those three days. When we asked for more, reception said there would be an extra fee. We also got just one not very large garbage bag for three days. The apartment had a coffee machine but only a few filters, not enough for us, and we had to ask the hotel for more. At checkout, someone had to come inspect everything before we could get our cash deposit back. In our case, they returned less than they should have. We had to wait until staff were free to do the check, so we couldn't freely plan our departure day.

Everything was in great shape and nothing was missing. The place was very clean, and the kitchen had all the equipment we needed. Its location was exceptionally convenient: cross the street to catch the bus, and the city center is only 10 minutes away. Restaurants and supermarkets are all around, and the staff were always available and very helpful. Couldn't have asked for anything better. Best place I've ever stayed.

The apartment was clean and fairly modern inside, though a few corners were a little worn. Beyond that, the stay felt like a farce. The parking deck is badly designed, and I think there's a good chance of scratching a rental car there; when that happens, the hotel denies responsibility. The building is extremely noisy with the windows open, making them impossible to leave open at night and annoying even during the day. The balcony was no use with construction and the bus station directly in front. Service also felt unprofessional. The check-in receptionist seemed fake-friendly, and I felt she was hiding something; later, she came across as self-centered and dishonest. They took a cash deposit of 75eur without a receipt, then at checkout I was shortchanged by 5 eur by staff who didn't speak English. There were only two towels, and when I asked for another at check-in, the receptionist warned it would cost extra. The coffee machine filters only lasted for some days, so you had to ask for more. That felt ridiculous given the roughly 150eur nightly rate.