Hotel Girassol - Suite Hotel

This hotel provides an excellent all inclusive package in the best location in Funchal. Close to other hotels which will cost you at least 3 times as much just to sleep there without any food or drinks. It’s not perfect but it is provides a big living space, living room and separate bedroom, bathroom with shower over bath not ideal but a very powerful shower with endless hot water. The beds are adequate and unlike another recent review we found no evidence of bedbugs. Fabulous mature gardens with some seating and even bananas growing on two of the banana trees. The only downside here is that there are biting insects so you need to use insect repellent on any bare skin. We found that a light spray was adequate and used Tesco’s brand repellent. Best to apply after sunscreen every morning and in the evening before going out. The pools are in sunshine most of the day in winter but rather cold so did not use them. Pool cleaning and testing happens early in the morning so no impact on users and the two pool guys are attentive and active around the pool all day. The pool bar serves drinks from 10am and food is available pretty much all day, any wonder we put on weight during our stay. I mentioned location earlier and indeed the location is great for exploring all of old Funchal and even Camara de Lobos if you’re reasonably active. It’s about 4 miles to Camara de Lobos along a beautiful coastal path, and the cable car to Monte is around 3 miles on foot from the hotel. Taxi and bus stops are close to the hotel and there is a wide range of bars and restaurants close by. Food is available pretty much all day for AI customers and the evening meal is a buffet in the main restaurant. We found the food to be decent quality and dishes varied throughout the fortnight we stayed, it was always possible to find something tasty. The buffet is constantly managed by the chef’s who replenish dishes regularly during service. The waiters provide a good drinks service to AI customers, replenishing drinks when asked. Admittedly we didn’t eat in the hotel every night but at the small price you pay for AI it’s easy to make that decision to eat elsewhere occasionally. This is a very professionally run hotel where staff show pride in their work and are friendly and helpful when approached, it’s about 50 years old and still going strong with some staff having worked here since it opened. There’s a real family vibe about it. So that was our third trip to the Girassol and once again we enjoyed it thoroughly and hope to return in the future for another relaxed winter holiday.

Great location near to Lido area with plenty of restaurants, bars near by. 20 minute walk into Funchal, or bus stops nearby. Our Room (309) had separate lounge area and fridge, kettle & tea/coffee provided. Bathroom had a bath & shower. Nice balcony area. Good breakfast choices, well laid out and was replenished often. Bar areas on first floor very nice. Pool area and gardens excellent. All staff were friendly and helpful. Would not hesitate to recommend this hotel.

Gera vieta.

Maža parkavimosi aikštelė, višbutis didelis o vietu mašinom tik~16vnt Lapkriti buvo naktu kai nebuvo vietos. O kitur mokamas parkingas nuo 8 iki 20 val. Ir turistam yra skirtos tik mėlynai pažymėtos vietos kurių irgi nėra per daugiausia aplink.

This is a basic English holiday inn, and with the bed bugs! I wouldn't personally say 4 star more a 3 star. We stayed in room 207 on the second floor, away from the loud and noisy lift and road. Found a sneaky way to the NON-heated pool! Although it says its a heated pool in the colder months, its not!. Now unfortunately I am a Water treatment specialist (worst for pools and showers) shower was very highly contaminated with scale and the pool was not dosed regularly for my liking. I had to disinfect the shower and taps with bleach. General age in Madeira and hotels are 50 years+ great for that Legionella to proliferate on all that lovely scale and TDS! One guy from the pool staff is an utter waste of time. He stands and looks at the women and doesn't even collect any used cutlery or glasses as frequently as he should. One guy, Diogo is an absolute asset to this hotel, he runs around cleaning up and clearing all the used plates and glasses. This is a friendly hotel, I sat around the pool and couldn't hear all the arguments from young families, that's because there isn't much for them to do, no entertainment or parks, just cranes doing there magic. We knew construction was taking place in the area, so can't really complain. Would I go back to this hotel again...No probably not. However l, Madeira has another visitor who will definitely come stay again, maybe in a 5 star.

What a disappointment. Been to Madeira many times and always love it but this hotel is awful. Check in ok. Room ok with separate lounge area but only a TV in the lounge, none in the bedroom. Why are bathrooms always forgotten during a refit? You shouldn't have to climb in a bath to have a shower. Take your own tea/coffee with you as they don't replenish. Fridge was good and free safe for a change. There are building works across the road Monday to Saturday. Only day off from the noise is Sunday. No mention of these when booking. Pool absolutely freezing cold so hardly anyone swimming. Pool towels we were given were threadbarre. We only had breakfast and are so glad we did. Porridge only every other day and not much cereal choice. Very little fruit. Only had pasta del nata 2 mornings. Evening menu looked very limited, only 4 mains to choose from and self service. Always ran out of dishes and cups. We didn't leave the hotel until the evening and they don't provide any shower/changing facilities at all. Met with a NO at every question and no leeway. They wouldn't let us keep the room even though the hotel was nowhere near full, no room for 30 minutes for a quick turnround. The only shower was by the pool out in the open. Told we could use that!! The spa is advertised with lovely photos but has never been open. Neither the hotel or travel company tell you this.

Visited as part of a walking group. Booked into a first floor room behind the bar- noisy from the road and ‘entertainment’. Had to ask for the bath to be properly cleaned- black mould around the taps. Breakfast was good, apart from awful machine coffee. The lounge areas are soulless in my opinion.

Fabulous location walking distance form the Lido - although not much there and a very steep hill back up! Plenty of shops and restaurants on the doorstep and loads of bus stops to get pretty much anywhere on the Island. Super clean, absolutely great staff, great selection of drinks and the wines and beers on the all inclusive were plentiful and good quality. Nice pool, but have to pay to use the sauna and steam? Don't think so that is usually included, and you pay extra for treatments. So the food: certainly not the star of the show. Breakfast Ok plenty of choice, served in the dining room. Lunch pretty poor served in the poolside area. Salad, burgers and a couple of hot mains. Snacks - Sandwiches and toasties to order from the menu Dinner - 4 mains, 4 veg/carbs - some days almost inedible others very nice. Desserts great, salad bar OK - fab local blue cheese. The strangest variety of soups, brussels sprout soup really? Totally let's itself down with the food as it is a corking hotel in every other way. If you don't drink go B&B and eat out. If you want AI and don't mind being further out check a Pestana everyone we spoke to who had stayed at a Pestana said it was fantastic.