Sonho do Oceano

We couldn’t recommend this place after our stay. We booked it for a trip that was meant to be special, but the experience was disappointing and didn’t line up with the glowing reviews. The main problems were the noise from the host’s upstairs house every afternoon, including moving pool furniture and parties, and the damp smell in the bedroom from the AC leaking all week. We messaged about the noise and got no response. The garage gate was broken; in manual mode it was very heavy. I could move it, but my partner couldn’t, so parking was a hassle. The listing called the outdoor pool “private,” but it was shared. Breakfast, praised in earlier reviews, wasn’t included anymore. We were also asked to pay a tourist tax in cash that hadn’t been advertised. We raised all of this with the host, but each request was declined or dismissed. Airbnb later gave us a partial refund, so we felt the issues were taken seriously. In reply to the owner: the response leaves out the two things that affected us most, the constant upstairs noise and the humidity from the leaking, broken AC. Airbnb reviewed the case and granted about €400 back from the €1,400 total, which we believe confirms our concerns were valid. The pool is still described as “private” even though it’s shared, and it should be clearer that breakfast is no longer included despite how often it’s mentioned in reviews. Guests need honest, clear listings to make informed choices.

Karine was an easygoing, professional host and happy to help with anything. The ocean view is unobstructed, and the place is conveniently located on the island, about 35 minutes from the airport and 20 minutes from Funchal. A great hideaway for exploring.

The hosts were especially helpful when our rental car’s engine failed in the mountains. They came out with equipment to help get it started again. The location and apartment were excellent, breakfast was very good, and the hosts were super friendly. An amazing experience.

We had a great ocean view from the accommodation, and breakfast was good. Excellent place to stay.