This hotel is cheap - we paid £36 per night in August for 1 bedroom apartments, including breakfast - but dont expect a fantastic hotel - it is ok but (and there are a few buts) there are a few negs which it is good to be aware of before arrival
1)we were given the wrong room type on arrival - receptionist shrugged his shoulders in a very dont care way.
2) the rooms - although clean and recently refurbished are a bit on the grotty side. Nothing wrong with the cleaning staff but the tiles need redoing badly in bathroom, there was a smell of cooking oil that invaded the place unless the extractor fan was on in the kitchen all day, the bedroom carpet was very grubby and the balconies looked like they needed a good wash and polish.
3) Noise - rooms at back and front get noise from roads, dogs, and extractor fans from neighbouring hotel air con systems. There is also noise in the day due to refurb of Raga Hotel next door (due to finish October 06). Rooms not overlooking the swimming pool towards the back of the hotel also get live entertainment every night from the restaurant below - doesnt go on too late but could still be an irritant.
4) Lifts - only 2 for 12 floors, very old, very slow, very prone to breaking down when not being used by cleaning staff to ferry towels around. One of them would bounce on arrival at a floor.
OK those are the bad bits out of the way. Now the pluses
Price - we got an exceptionally good deal but hotel is always a lot cheaper than comparable hotels and is always fairly full
Staff are on the whole great and fairly friendly. Receptionist who was in a dont care attitude on the first day sorted out the room problem and got us a free meal in the restaurant.
Location is very central for Lido area - good base for jumping on public transport into Funchal.
Size of apartments is very good. Very generous double bedroom, sperate kitchen, generous living room with dining area, 2 balconies. The studios seem an ok size too.
Breakfast is ok . Bought in hotel it would cost 5.5E - it was included in our rate. Basic but fresh. Bread, ham, cheese, boiled eggs, cornflakes, cheerios, jam, honey, yoghurt, croissants, horrid artificial juice, decent enough coffee, tea, milk, hot chocolate. You help yourself - all very low key, you sit where you want.
The swimming pool area was adequate - nothing special but ok for a few hours lounging in the sun. There is some noise from the construction next door (that will be finished soon), this is ok. (definately not more than 3* but ok). There is a small kids play area.
The hotel is part of a chain - and guest can use facilities at the other hotels (that are slightly more expensive). To be honest, we never even bothered to check the other hotels out (they are located further up hill) - we did catch the courtesy bus once (check times with reception). There is a gym and various entertainment options.
I wouldnt go back to this hotel out of choice - but it was a cheap option for a family holiday this year. Hardly spent time in the hotel during the day as we were out at various places. I chose it because of the location and because there was a kitchen and seperate sleeping area (handy with kids). We never pulled the sofabed out but it was very comfortable for one tall person without pulling out. The hotel provided a very good cot free of charge for our 3 year old (it was a long cot). Despite the negative points I listed above, we still had a great holiday and the free meal made up for the room mix up. The staff on the whole were helpful, polite and friendly.
If your idea of a holiday is to hang round the pool all day, then this hotel is not for you. If like us, you tend to go out and about almost every day, then this is fairly cheap option.
