Vila Baleira Funchal

The room was spacious but didn't feel comfortable or cosy. We were right next to the elevator, which made a lot of noise whenever guests used it. It runs around the clock, and I was woken several times in the middle of the night. I understand the inconvenience of that location, but the door had no extra seal or soundproofing. I suggest improving doors in rooms near elevators, as I assume this affects every floor. There was construction next to the hotel, which caused considerable noise. I understand that this can happen and don't consider it the main problem, but guests should be told beforehand. The bigger concern was how things were organised and communicated. Reception didn't seem organised, and the desk looked like a temporary table in the middle of the lobby, which didn't feel professional. Staff gave conflicting and misleading information: we were told the pool was open 24 hours, but the posted information at the pool said otherwise. The ground-floor bar was disappointing too. Staff struggled even to bring cutlery, and there seemed to be no basic organisation. The same person appeared to work breakfast in the morning and the bar in the evening, perhaps explaining the fatigue, but service suffered. We were also told the pool bar was open, yet it was closed when we went there, covered with sun-lounger cushions and not looking as if it would open. The pool water was very cold, marked as 18°C, which made it uncomfortable to use. Our stay was from 1 to 3 February. I felt the hotel's standard didn't match the number of stars stated when we booked. The biggest advantage was the location, especially being right by the parking area. I hope this feedback helps improve organisation, guest communication and service quality. A change in management or leadership could realistically help with those things.

The staff were very helpful, and the rooms were clean. The TV was tiny, but I used the internet anyway. It's about 10 minutes to the ocean, with tons of restaurants nearby. The hotel is right on the main street, around a 30-minute walk from downtown Funchal.

The hotel bar is often closed, which is a shame. On this visit, the barman was away for half an hour, and his name was probably Patrik. The person at reception didn't react much. We waited at the empty bar for 30 minutes, then left without knowing when he would finish dinner.

The staff were polite, and the location was good. The hotel served its purpose while we were there, but we wouldn't return. Breakfast could be better quality and change more often; the supermarket down the road had better food and prices. The rooms were okay, though the scuffed walls, damaged flooring and mirrors need attention. Since our stay, the hotel has contacted us to ask how it could improve, which is promising and shows they're interested in feedback.