Chose this hotel mainly because of other favourable reviews and we were not disappointed. The hotel is away from the bustle of Funchal and is an oasis of calm, with the peace of the gardens being especially attractive.

Our room was very spacious and the evening "turn down" with complimentary chocolates was a treat. Although we were told that the hotel was full, it was never busy and the staff always had time to chat and were extremely helpful.

The food was excellant with a wide choice but very fresh. Breakfast on the open terrace was a great way to start the day.

We could not find fault in any aspect of the hotel and this made it a holiday to remember. We'll be back!

Loved the setting, surroundings and size of this hotel. The grounds are beautifully laid out, full of mature trees and a wonderful variety of flowering shrubs - great to wander round at any time of day and an oasis of peace to relax in after a busy day sightseeing or walking the levadas! We had a delicious breakfast out in the garden every morning - particularly enjoying the variety of fresh fruit and the smoked salmon on offer! We ate in the hotel restaurant on most evenings with good service and excellent quality food. The apple cake from the snack bar by the pool was scrummy!
It does takes a good 15 minutes to walk into the town centre but it is worth it to have the peace and quiet of this hotel. If you miss the scheduled courtesy bus service then a taxi only costs around 5 euros.
This was our first trip to Madeira and we wished we had stayed longer - we'll be back!

We spent 7 days at this hotel in our first visit to Madeira as part of a package. It is 5 star, so pricey. Very clean and well appointed with lots of space inside and out, including generally excellent pool area with jacuzzi, sauna/Turkish bath and bistro/bar so you can have excellent good value lunches by the pool. Pool needs a little varnish and a few tiles here and there, but it still looks very "desert island". The water isn't heated. Delightful gardens with good views of Funchal. Barking dogs in residential area is a problem at night, so best close the balcony doors unless you can sleep through it.

Very helpful professional staff,

Rooms large and well appointed but we found the (enormous) bed and pillows very hard and didn't get good sleep. We only found out on the day we left that they will provide softer mattresses and pillows on request, so if this is an issue for you, ask on the first day. We had a premier suite, which was huge by any hotel standards - if it had a kitchen it would be a flat! TVs ( yes, one in the lounge and one in the bedroom) are rather old CRT editions and should be replaced with Plasma screens in a hotel of this quality. Although you can have tea for two in your room in the morning, it will cost you an extra €7.50 each for them to bring it there - an expensive cuppa. OK if money is no object, but we would like to have had the facilty to brew our own, which the rooms do not have. Like most hotels outside UK and Ireland, they make coffee well but tea badly.

Breakfast is excellent. Bacon is fine, just different from in the UK - more like cooked palma ham. Pasties are delicious. Evening restaurant is unexciting - food good but not outstanding and expensive because of that. Lounge pleasant and there is music twice a week - two guys doing romantic songs - a keyboard player and a crooner - good voice - rather like Enrique Inglesias ( he was flattered by this remark!)

This is a much more relaxed place than Reids and much more intimate than Cliff Bay, which is why we like privately owned smaller hotels.Would we stay again - yes definitely now that we know how to get a softer bed!

This was our first trip to Madeira, reason being our wedding anniversay and birthdays. Hotel gave us flowers, fruit, champagne and Madeira wine. Staff very friendly. Nice to be away from the busy harbour side and hotels on the front of Funchal. Close enough to walk to town - but need a taxi back, unless feeling energetic - taxis reasonable. Hotel and gardens superb, food superb, whole place superb!!