Quinta Mirabela

"Hotel on an extremely steep/vertical, narrow road which can be extremely busy especially with the wicker toboggans flying down, cars, bikes and trucks. There is a Monday to Friday hotel curtesy bus which you need to book in advance which goes into centre of funchal and back 3x per day. Nothing on the weekend. For us without mobility issues this was a life line together with excellent taxi service. I cannot express how steep and narrow the roads were. We walked back from Funchal once - never again as horrendous and dangerous. The hotel itself is fine with some nice touches and the views are breathtaking - a room with a balcony is essential. One reviewer mentioned they had champagne on arrival - that did not happen for us. We were given a key, told where to locate our room and basically left to get on with it. No concierge services to take suitcases to room. There was no information in the rooms to help adjust such as where to find taxis or local buses or local information. There was information on how we could purchase the towels and dressing gowns though! I would have expected more. It does look tired in places with worn rugs, carpets and worn furniture in room. Pool was lovely although a little small but not heated and there is a pool bar. Hotel very clean although our superior double room I feel was on the small side. Breakfast very good with a wide choice. However day 2 the toaster caught fire causing semi exit from hotel at 7.30am in the morning due to fire alarm sounding and subsequently no toaster for remainder of stay. I have never stayed in a hotel which charges for tea and coffee in room - this one does 4. 5 euros!!! We had dinner once at the hotel which was reasonably priced. Food was good not great and our tuna and duck were overcooked. Food well presented. Service was very attentive and could not be faulted. We experienced a lot of noise with doors shutting and above our room at times it sounded like heavy furniture was being rolled over the floor. Staff polite but not generally friendly and some appeared new and confused. We ordered a negroni which a bar man couldn't make and dry martini which was just sweet martini !! Bar man apologised later and made a negroni and a whisky with compliments. In fact he was the warmest member of staff we met. There are no other resturants other than the one in the hotel, a mini supermarket about a 15 minute walk, some of which is on that steep road. There is a taxi rank and bus stop about a 5 minute walk down the steep road. Taxis could work out expensive if you were unable to walk into or from funchal which I would not recommend at all. We walked back once from Funchal and it was horrendous. We always checked prices of taxis which before 9pm was about 9 euros and after 9pm was about 12 euros each way. We spoke to two guests who paid 20 euros one way - be careful. Hiring a car was not an option for us due to the steep and narrow roads making us too anxious to even think about. This was not the hotel for us due to location and I personally feel it is over priced for what you get. Had we known how isolated the hotel was we would never have booked. Distance to Funchal centre from hotel may be accurately quoted in brochures however distance seems so much longer as walking an a practically vertical slope. Other reviews are not responded to the hotel that I can see. I hope by reading this it helps any decisions you make about booking."

"Lovely stay spent in this small, human-sized establishment located near the Monte Palace Garden, on the route of the famous Funchal wicker toboggans. Quiet establishment, I must emphasize. Good quality in terms of room services, the breakfast buffet (I recommend it when booking), as well as the restaurant, which is excellent. Well-landscaped exteriors allowing you to relax at the end of the day, have a drink, or take a dip in the pool. It is, moreover, a true typical "miradouro" with its beautiful 180-degree view of Funchal. Finally, the presence of a jacuzzi, sauna, and Turkish bath area is a very nice plus. Presence of an outdoor parking lot, so you don't have to worry about parking. Highly recommended!"

"Hotel very well located, which made all the difference in the experience — allowed us to explore everything with ease, almost effortlessly. Overall, the stay was quite pleasant: careful spaces, quiet environment and a constant feeling of comfort. There are always small details to improve, as everywhere, but nothing that compromises overall quality. We were satisfied and would undoubtedly be an option to consider on a next visit."