The House

Excellent and inexpensive accommodation, with lots of space and a quiet feel. It is in a basement, so there isn't much light. Someone damaged one of our car mirrors overnight, so I wouldn't recommend the area.

The Leca family made us feel very welcome, were always around for questions and tips, and left delicious, useful welcome gifts. The apartment is comfortable and has everything needed for a pleasant stay. It has a bedroom, a reading room with a sofa bed, and a large living room with a well-equipped kitchen that's partly separate. The location is handy: bars, restaurants and large supermarkets in the town center are an easy ten-minute walk away. Bus stops for local and regional routes are nearby too, making it straightforward to get to places like hiking trails elsewhere on the island. A lovely choice if you want room to spread out and explore Madeira on your own instead of staying in a large hotel.

The apartment was clean and spacious, and we did get a warm welcome. Still, we booked what was advertised as a holiday home and found a basement apartment instead, with no natural light or view. There was also a dog barking constantly. The sofa bed in the small guest room can't really be used, because a wooden slat runs through the middle of the sleeping area.

The basement setting was the one real drawback: there was no natural light and no view. The area was noisy too, with traffic, barking dogs and roosters crowing. I usually sleep with silicone earplugs when I'm away, though, and slept like a log. Otherwise the apartment was large, clean, tidy and beautifully decorated. The kitchen was fully equipped, including spices and appliances. A grocery store is just 50 meters away, and the location is under a kilometer from central Funchal. It suited an active holiday well, especially for walking the steep hills and discovering the old part of town with its narrow lanes and charming houses. The host family was very friendly and helpful. Maria kept in touch on WhatsApp throughout the stay and was glad to answer any questions. We got Madeira wine, cookies, muesli, milk and bananas as welcome gifts. The place felt secure, with a locked patio gate and apartment door, and the hosts didn't enter during the stay. Cleaning was included in the price.