Pestana Grand Hotel - Funchal, Madeira.

Advantages: Good rooms, helpful staff, free bus into town
Disadvantages: Its a bus ride from town.

...into the capital city Funchal and the harbours. The room was a really good size with decent aircon, a fridge and a nice bathroom. All rooms have a balcony. The cleaning staff did a good job and everyday the room looked as new when we got back from our trips into the island. Breakfast was excellent and you can eat in the restaurant or outside near the pools. The quality and selection of the food was impressive. Breakfast is serve yourself, buffet style but as soon as we sat down we were asked if we wanted tea or coffee and it always arrived quickly. Sparkling wine was also always on ice in case you wanted a bucks fizz with your brekkie. The buffet included a good selection of cereals, muesli, yoghurts and fresh fruit. Hot breakfasts were available including everything you could want for a full english plus more. Eggs were cooked to your...

zoetna 23.11.2007 (24.11.2007) · Read review
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Review of Pestana Grand Hotel, Funchal

Dorisol Mimosa Hotel, Funchal

Advantages: Comfortable, clean hotel with lots of facilities close to Funchal Lido
Disadvantages: A pull uphill to the door - but it is Madeira - everything is uphill!

...Bearing in mind the price of this hotel, we were agreeably surprised by the quality. The room was clean and of a reasonable size with a lovely sea view and overlooking the swimming pool. The staff were friendly, especially the chambermaids! The breakfast was good, with a good selection of food,although being self-service it was a bit of a scramble if you arrived at around 9am, when we all seem to want to eat our breakfasts! The only problem is that the hotel is a sharp pull up from the road (as is most of Madeira) although those with cars or using taxis will have no problem arriving at the door. The walk into Funchal is very manageable by us two 69 year olds but we are fitter than some and enjoy levada walking. The levada near the hotel has 150 steps up to it!...

Cebolas 03.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of Dorisol Mimosa, Funchal

Pestana Bay Hotel in Funchal, Madeira

Advantages: Informal, clean, decent food, right near the beach
Disadvantages: Hideously expensive bar and wines

...We stayed at the Pestana Bay "Aparthotel" four-star hotel in Funchal (the capital of Madeira) in August 2005 and I'm happy to recommend it to anyone reading this. It was clean, conveniently placed (i.e right near the beach and with a nearby bus stop for trips into town), not too formal or "stiff upper lip" and the breakfasts were pretty good. COSTS: We paid just over £500 each including flights, for a 2-week stay in August, which we thought was pretty good value given that it's not the cheapest of locations. This included buffet breakfast each morning. The bar is expensive and probably best avoided if you need to watch the euros- we paid something like 10 euros for a Southern Comfort and coke, and a small bottle of beer. There are plenty of bars in Funchal where you can get the same drinks for under four euros, so I would advise...

bagoproverbial 22.12.2006 · Read review
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Review of Pestana Bay Ocean Aparthotel, Funchal

Regency Club Hotel Funchal

Advantages: Lovely big spacious rooms and balconies
Disadvantages: Location

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lesleyburden 18.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Madeira Regency Club, Funchal

Good God the runways over the ocean !

Advantages: Clean , good facilities , well layed out ,all mod cons , good duty free
Disadvantages: Not such a good departure lounge , too many using the airport at once

...I have already posted a review about our holiday to Madeira this year and, seeing Funchal airport on this site, wanted to give a brief summary. Funchal airport is actually situated about an hours drive from the capital , Funchal . It is called Santa Caterina and is quite near to Santa Cruz on the eastern side of Madeira . As you approach the island you travel over Sao Laurences a barren and brown looking rocky headland that tapers out a fair way into the Atlantic Ocean. From here you glimpse Machico , the old capital of the island . Before you have time to get your breath you are banking over, and dropping at considerable speed to approach the runway . This runway was extended over the sea in order to accomodate the larger holiday airplanes . It is supported by massive pillars which on one of our trips we rode through whilst...

grafter123 01.01.2007 (02.01.2007) · Read review
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Review of Funchal Airport (FNC)

Park yourself here and overlook the Ocean.

Advantages: Good 5 star hotel, super food
Disadvantages: A long walk to town centre

...view of the Atlantic and we watched many boats coming and going each day and both a yacht race and kayaking race. Situation ********** On the outskirts of Funchal, about 23Km, the hotel has a locked gate from the swimming pool area straight onto the promenade, which is a bonus. It depends whether you want to be close to the centre of town or a long walk or bus ride away. The hotel has a free bus service which runs several times a day, taking about 10 minutes. Having said this we found it ideal with supermarkets and plenty of restaurants close by and plenty of walks. It is close to the popular Lido area, and access to sea swimming. By taxi it takes 20-30 minutes from the Airport. Reception *********** A huge reception area, with a bar at the opposite end of the lobby. The staff at reception were both welcoming and efficient, our...

jo145 09.06.2008 (11.06.2008) · Read review
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Review of Tivoli Ocean Park, Funchal

Something for everyone.

Advantages: Lots of choice for pools / eats/ drinks
Disadvantages: Fairly expensive daily rate

...shared by approx 5 aprtments, a large lawn with sun loungers outside each apartment, the perfect place to sit at the end of the day with a glass of wine and a good book. Apartments can be booked on a B&B basis, breakfast can be taken at the hotel restaraunt, and serves everything you could ask for, hot/cold, even champagne (well fizzy wine, but still an added luxury at breakfast!). Room service is also avail.There are several pools outdoor and indoor weather you want a quick dip or a proper swim. There is a spa and serveral bars/restaurants on site. The complex is based outside of Funchal and the hotel has a free bus service to town, or you can take a taxi (several parked outside the hotel) or walk, this takes about 25 mins and is down hill on the way there and uphill on the way back, we tended to walk in (walk off breakfast) and get...

vicby 01.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Porto Mare Residence, Funchal

Well-earned stars

Advantages: Near to town amenities
Disadvantages: Cobbled street outside

...I stayed here when it opened, so it was very quiet. If it gets included in the holiday brochures, I can't imagine it being too quiet for too often. Most tourist hotels are built near the Lido complex at the North side of Funchal. The Porto Santa Maria is at the opposite end of town, right at the border between the 'old' town and the rest of Funchal. It's only a short walk from the hotel to the cable car and the town centre shops (although this is over cobbles, so beware if you need a wheelchair or if you have difficulty walking), and there are plenty of restaurants around. The hotel itself is spotless, the rooms are well air-conditioned, with access to balconies or terraces - everything you would expect from a four-star hotel on this island. There are two swimming pools: the small-ish outside pool is not heated, although...

angehodgson 04.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Porto Santa Maria Hotel, Funchal

A good base from which to enjoy Madeira

Advantages: Clean, friendly staff, in good restaurant territory
Disadvantages: At the top of a great big hill, evening 'entertainment'

...We booked this hotel though Expedia, having chosen it from the many hotels in and around Funchal. We were visiting Funchal in November (still lovely weather for this time of year). Arriving We arrived quite late at night (near midnight). Having got a taxi from the airport we were dropped right at the door and didn't see much until the next day. Reception quickly checked us in and we went off to our room. Seemed clean and friendly enough. The room We had a twin room which was quite small, but we weren't looking to spend a great deal of time in it. There was a reasonably sized bathroom with bath/shower, sink and toilet. There was a tv in the room with various music channels, a fridge, a safe box and a lovely view over Funchal. There was plenty of wardrobe space. The room was cleaned daily and kept in good condition...

chrissie-anne 31.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of Hotel Dorisol Estrelicia, Funchal

Maderia's famous garden

Advantages: Plants and birds in a semi-tropical environment
Disadvantages: A little steep, some paths uneven

...~Introduction~ Jardim Botanico or the Botanical Garden is located on a hillside over looking Funchal on the Portuguese island of Madeira. As Madeira has a climate best described as semi-tropical it has a whole host of plants both native and imported. Jardim Botanico is one of many gardens in and around Madeira and is a garden that represents the many differing plants that are on display all over Madeira. It's most famous item or the most photographed part of the garden is it's carpet bedding or choreographed garden. A splendid display of multi-coloured plants all arranged and shaped into diamonds, squares, lines and even lettering. The choreographed garden has been photographed so much that it is present on many of the postcards for sale in and around Madeira. ~Getting there~ By Car - Jardim Botanico is located on the hillside above...

buzzard_cad 10.10.2005 · Read review
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Review of Botanical Gardens Madeira, Funchal, Madeira