Hotel Quintinha São João & Spa

One of the most memorable moments was planting an orchid with Sara as returning guests, then getting a photo to mark it. Such a personal, thoughtful touch, and we'll always remember it. Sara and Katherina were especially kind and attentive, and Rosie from guest relations made everything easy. The breakfast team were friendly and efficient, too. The whole staff made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived, with a warm, family-like atmosphere and consistently helpful service. We've had another wonderful stay, which makes it easy to see why we keep coming back. We already have plans to return. Highly recommended.

We'd stay again, provided the price was under £250 a night. The gardens are beautiful, the hotel has 42 rooms and never felt crowded, and we rarely heard other guests. Reception staff were friendly and showed us to our room after check-in. It was spacious and clean, with older furniture, and the bathroom felt dated with a very narrow bath. Breakfast was good, and dinner was good when we ate there one evening, but the à la carte felt expensive for what you got, around £50 per person for a couple of courses and a glass of wine. I used the outdoor pool and the sauna, which you book the day before and have to yourself. The walk up the steep hills from town wasn't enjoyable. There also weren't enough sun loungers in sunny spots on two days, and the tea bags weren't restocked after we used them up, so I had to ask reception. Internet was another problem, cutting out after a few minutes and then coming back repeatedly for most of our stay. I'm pretty sure that wasn't a Madeira issue.

We liked the hotel's traditional feel much more than that of a big modern place, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Our room was very spacious, and the balcony was worth having so we could sit in the morning sun. Breakfast was lovely, with a continental spread of bread, meat, cheese, fruit, pastries, cereal and yogurt, plus cooked options from the kitchen. I recommend the scrambled eggs and bacon, and the mollet is worth trying. Funchal is about a 15-minute walk downhill, which suited us and made it easy to head in most evenings. Of course, the return walk is uphill, but there's a hotel shuttle if you need it.

The spa was wonderful. My partner enjoyed it on a couple of days while I put my boots on and explored the upper hillside. The old town was always a treat, just a ten-minute walk away. We hardly needed to go out, though, because our home for the week had so much within its grounds. This was by far the friendliest hotel we've stayed in. Calling them staff doesn't do the hosts justice; they were fantastic, and the island felt just as welcoming when we went exploring. Madeira was a delight, with palm trees and great food everywhere. Tony looked after us in the lounge, and Philepe took care of us in the restaurant. I couldn't leave without shaking their hands and thanking them. We had a great week, and hope to see you soon. Chris and Jo