Quinta Penha de Franca

"This review is generally related to the Mar section of the hotel which is basically a cell block addition that is detached from the main hotel building. Do not be deceived by the website’s false advertising images of the rooms here. The two poolside terrace rooms we were allocated were bare, worn and tatty. Whitewashed with peeling and blistered pine furnishings. Not even one colourful cushion, throw or picture to brighten the room or give it a holiday vibe. Grim! The dining area for this block is also very basic with blistering and scarred wooden tables and milk still in their cartons. I must say though that the staff here were friendly and helpful. Kettle requested x4 and eventually turned up the day before departure. Almost every basic extra like water, safe and ice was chargeable. The management here is totally disinterested. We were eventually summoned by the assistant manager on the day before our departure. They accepted that all our complaints were well founded & offered many excuses - mid upgrade, very busy, big event (a wedding but not large), manager off site, assistant manager called away etc etc etc. We had also spoken to our holiday rep from Prestige travel. They provided us with a bottle of water each day and negotiated one hotel dinner from an extremely limited set menu. We were also told we could move hotels but we decided that was too much upheaval mid holiday. Sadly we learned that this used to be a highly respected traditional family run hotel. Now it has been reduced to generating as much profit as possible before being sold out to a big business competitor that now surrounds it."

"Hotel with a good location to easily visit Funchal on foot. We stayed in a room by the sea, rooms that need to be renovated, the balcony door has no lock, the safe has to be rented for €2 a day, blackout that is not blackout. The pool towels have to be paid for with cash, €10 each: why not use a debit card, or another option that is not cash? To facilitate, be flexible, and be more modern within reason. We had to go looking for an ATM to get 2 towels. Breakfast without gluten-free options and only soy plant-based drink. Mrs. Ivone at breakfast and Mr. Flávio at the pool were very nice. The goodwill towards the Portuguese is also very important."

"Pool closes at 7pm no exceptions..must leave pool area"