Hotels in Funchal, Portugal
25 of 25 hotels in Funchal
Wait until the building work has finished before booking a holiday at this hotel
3 Reviews
95 Reviews
Traveller Rating
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Excellent3
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Very Good23
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Good50
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Average15
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Poor4
Review Overview
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Eating Out
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Nightlife
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Beaches
18 years 1 month ago
Getting around anywhere in Funchal Madeira is simple and inexpensive using the public buses. Taxis are also fairly reasonable for standard journeys, though naturally if you are going to hire them for full or half days, it is going to cost you.If you go up in the cable car from Funchal to Monte, don’t miss having lunch or a coffee/ wine in the superb terrace café of the Quinta do Monte hotel. A wonderfully relaxing setting if the weather is right for sitting outside.
Finally a word of caution on levada walking – go prepared and don’t do as we did just wearing normal footwear and clothing! The local Funchallevada walk between Blandy’s Gardens and Monte is heavily promoted in tourist books as an easy walk. Maybe so, but after recent rain, the track was awash with 6 inches of mud to the extent that shoes etc can get ruined. Also some sections of the route are quite high up from steep drops and narrow and unfenced. Combined with the mud this made it, at least to us, pretty uncomfortable at best, or even dangerous.
Madeira is certainly for the older crowd, not for youngsters or families. But it’s a wonderfully relaxing place if you fit the age group!
Finally a word of caution on levada walking – go prepared and don’t do as we did just wearing normal footwear and clothing! The local Funchallevada walk between Blandy’s Gardens and Monte is heavily promoted in tourist books as an easy walk. Maybe so, but after recent rain, the track was awash with 6 inches of mud to the extent that shoes etc can get ruined. Also some sections of the route are quite high up from steep drops and narrow and unfenced. Combined with the mud this made it, at least to us, pretty uncomfortable at best, or even dangerous.
Madeira is certainly for the older crowd, not for youngsters or families. But it’s a wonderfully relaxing place if you fit the age group!
18 years 1 month ago
When we first arrived in Madeira it was raining. The Pestana Miramar was a brilliant hotel, just as well because after exploring Funchal we ended up spending the remainder of the holiday in the hotel.
On our first day out we were hastled by a cockney con-man who was posing as a market researcher. The shops are great if you like collecting hankerchiefs and shabby hobby crafts. The marina is appealing if you don't mind being hastled to go in every restaurant you pass. The restaurants are even better if you think it's reasonable to pay 110 euros per person for lobster and eat it in a room furnished to the same standard as Mcdonalds.
The cockney con-man will even make sure that you are greeted each morning you leave your hotel. Pick pockets will also make you feel welcome when you are dining on the terraces.
If I ever reach the age of 80 I may consider going back to Madeira when I have lost all of my faculties. I might not be so bothered about these minor things then!
In the meantime, if you want the advice of someone who does know how to have a good holiday, then go to somewhere like Paris or Monnaco! Madeira is located in the middle of the North Atlantic for a reason!
On our first day out we were hastled by a cockney con-man who was posing as a market researcher. The shops are great if you like collecting hankerchiefs and shabby hobby crafts. The marina is appealing if you don't mind being hastled to go in every restaurant you pass. The restaurants are even better if you think it's reasonable to pay 110 euros per person for lobster and eat it in a room furnished to the same standard as Mcdonalds.
The cockney con-man will even make sure that you are greeted each morning you leave your hotel. Pick pockets will also make you feel welcome when you are dining on the terraces.
If I ever reach the age of 80 I may consider going back to Madeira when I have lost all of my faculties. I might not be so bothered about these minor things then!
In the meantime, if you want the advice of someone who does know how to have a good holiday, then go to somewhere like Paris or Monnaco! Madeira is located in the middle of the North Atlantic for a reason!
18 years 1 month ago
Resort very clean and we always felt safe. Madeira has no beaches so if you want a beach type holiday it's not the place to go.
We never looked for entertainment outside the hotel, found just enough to satisfy us inside.
Definately would go again.
We never looked for entertainment outside the hotel, found just enough to satisfy us inside.
Definately would go again.
18 years 1 month ago
Funchal is very popular with older guests yet the irony is it is not very suitable for anyone with walking disabilities. It's just too hilly !
There isn't a beach and the Lido is , well a Lido and a good one if thats your thing.
I would recommend hiring a car, Madeira has spectacular scenery. Not to be missed, Cabo Girão the second highest sea cliffs in the world, you look straight down to the beach below from 1500 ft, The Pico do Arieiro, the third highest peak which can be reached by car and has a cafe bar on the summit and the crashing waves at Porto Moniz.
For a special night out at a reasonable price, we found the Casino Show excellent, good food, the wine flowed freely and the show was very professional and spectaculer.
There isn't a beach and the Lido is , well a Lido and a good one if thats your thing.
I would recommend hiring a car, Madeira has spectacular scenery. Not to be missed, Cabo Girão the second highest sea cliffs in the world, you look straight down to the beach below from 1500 ft, The Pico do Arieiro, the third highest peak which can be reached by car and has a cafe bar on the summit and the crashing waves at Porto Moniz.
For a special night out at a reasonable price, we found the Casino Show excellent, good food, the wine flowed freely and the show was very professional and spectaculer.
18 years 3 months ago
we stayed in the "lido" area, and there are many shops, bars and restaurants in the vicinity.we recommend o'tonnel (at the back of the hotel villa ramos)an excellent restaurant. as ian the chef is a welshman, the put on a wonderful sunday lunch! another good restaurant is sola d'ajuda.
as for entertainment, feel free to walk into any of the hotels in the evening and enjoy their entertainment programme, a good one is at the monumental lido.
funchal is great too lots of shops and places to visit, try the flower market or the cable cars up to monte!
as for entertainment, feel free to walk into any of the hotels in the evening and enjoy their entertainment programme, a good one is at the monumental lido.
funchal is great too lots of shops and places to visit, try the flower market or the cable cars up to monte!
18 years 3 months ago
In Maderia we stayed in the Lido area of Funchal but walked and visited Funchal itself and Monte aswell as Nuns Valley. We saw no grafitti, dog mess (although there are some stray dogs), no rubbish anywhere.
In Maderia the entertainment is more going out for meals than night clubs.
Maderia has no beach but you can go to the public swimming pool (Lido) or get a boat ride or a plane ride to the neighbouring island if a beach is what you want.
Funchal is not too suiltable for those with mobility problems though as it is very hilly/steep.
Many of the locals speak English
Must do-es are the tobaggan down the hill, go on a boat trip and a trip to Reids for afternoon tea(although closed til April06)
Beware though when eating out-the staff will put food on your table you didnt ask for. Say no thank you and they should take it away. You will get charged for these they can be anything from a starter, bread, salad.
You will also get Maderia wine where ever you go-enjoy it! They also do a really lovley Almond Liquer (like marashino)
Take water proofs what ever time of you go though-it does rain thats what makes it such a beautiful lush place to visit.
In Maderia the entertainment is more going out for meals than night clubs.
Maderia has no beach but you can go to the public swimming pool (Lido) or get a boat ride or a plane ride to the neighbouring island if a beach is what you want.
Funchal is not too suiltable for those with mobility problems though as it is very hilly/steep.
Many of the locals speak English
Must do-es are the tobaggan down the hill, go on a boat trip and a trip to Reids for afternoon tea(although closed til April06)
Beware though when eating out-the staff will put food on your table you didnt ask for. Say no thank you and they should take it away. You will get charged for these they can be anything from a starter, bread, salad.
You will also get Maderia wine where ever you go-enjoy it! They also do a really lovley Almond Liquer (like marashino)
Take water proofs what ever time of you go though-it does rain thats what makes it such a beautiful lush place to visit.
18 years 4 months ago
Things to do:
Cable car to Monte
Monte Palace Gardens
Toboggan ride back from Monte (but be warned - you either have to get a taxi back into Funchal or walk for an hour to get back)
Dolphin/Whale watching trip
Madeira balloon
Eat scabbard (delicious white fish only found in Madeira and Japan)
Eat honey cake / bolo chabom
Visit the market where you can see all the fish and buy flowers, fruit, leather and souvenirs
Mini-bus trip along the west coast (so much safer than getting a hire car)
Various walks (to burn off all the honey cake)
Unfortunatley there is no beach in Madeira unless you go to Porto Santo island.
If you can, go for New Year. The whole city is lit up with Christmas lights much better than anything you'd see in the UK and at midnight there is a fantastic display of fireworks all across the city. Almost all of Funchal congregates by the marina to see the fireworks but by lunchtime the next day, the area is spotless.
Cable car to Monte
Monte Palace Gardens
Toboggan ride back from Monte (but be warned - you either have to get a taxi back into Funchal or walk for an hour to get back)
Dolphin/Whale watching trip
Madeira balloon
Eat scabbard (delicious white fish only found in Madeira and Japan)
Eat honey cake / bolo chabom
Visit the market where you can see all the fish and buy flowers, fruit, leather and souvenirs
Mini-bus trip along the west coast (so much safer than getting a hire car)
Various walks (to burn off all the honey cake)
Unfortunatley there is no beach in Madeira unless you go to Porto Santo island.
If you can, go for New Year. The whole city is lit up with Christmas lights much better than anything you'd see in the UK and at midnight there is a fantastic display of fireworks all across the city. Almost all of Funchal congregates by the marina to see the fireworks but by lunchtime the next day, the area is spotless.
18 years 5 months ago
This hotel is situated out of the twon of Funchal along a lovely promenade.It takes about 40 mins to walk to town otherwise it is a taxi, this is not expensive and they are plentiful. Cleanliness is good and the madeirans are very proud of their island. There are no beaches on Madeira.
Lots of things to do so will have to go back sometime.
Lots of things to do so will have to go back sometime.
18 years 5 months ago
Funchal is a great place if you like walking and exploring. Plenty to see and do, and lots of good places to eat which aren't too expensive. Also lots of expensive places too!
18 years 6 months ago
Funchal itself is very clean with plenty of bars/cafes etc. We stayed in the Lido area of the resort where most of the hotels are situated and, over a 14 night stay, ate in a different restaurant for 12 of them. The other 2 nights we returned to what we considered the best. All restaurants offer extremely good value for money. Most of them do offer a tourist menu (for 10-14 euros per person for a 3 course meal including coffee) but sometimes you have to ask for it. Overall, if we were returning the Funchal we would definitely return to the Lido area.
Location
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Melia Madeira Mare Resort & Spa
Funchal, Portugal
Good for families of all ages, regular entertainment,
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