Jeiroes Do Mar

We stayed here in February during a month-long trip through Madeira and the Azores. The location was lovely, with a nice view and terrace, and it was a 5-10 minute walk to the port and town. The staff were very friendly. The bed was large and comfortable, there were plenty of towels, shampoo and soap, and they vacuumed every day, which was great with our 10-month-old crawling around. The check-in time we were given was wrong. We’d planned our ferry around it, and were told check-in was from 3, though apparently in winter it’s until 3. The receptionist was very nice and waited a few minutes for us. The bigger problem was the mold. A strong musty smell hit us as soon as we entered, and the AC blew the same smell when switched on. There was clearly mold on each outside wall that had been painted over, in both the living room and bedroom. I know the humidity is high here, but in three weeks and four accommodations, this was the only place that smelled so strongly of mold. With our baby there, it was worrying to wonder what breathing that damp, moldy air might do to all of us. I think the houses need repairs to deal with the mold. The room’s QR code had lots of facility information, including laundry service. When we asked about it, the receptionist was very surprised and said they never offered laundry. He checked with the boss and then suggested a few lavanderias. Compared with the kitchens we’d used before, including shared ones, the equipment was limited. There was no potato peeler, grater or casserole dish for baking, things I consider basic for cooking for me and my baby. There was a microwave, stove and oven. Sometimes ants came and went across the floor, though they were friendly enough. I don’t mind whether a place is old or new, but the mold and smell, along with the missing utensils that I personally need, made the stay disappointing.