We had never been to Madeira and so had no idea what to expect save a recommendation for this hotel. It is near perfect, on its hill above Funchal, with a lovely garden beside it. And they say (I don't play) the golf is excellent.
The main building is a charming 200 year old holiday lodge with two added bedroom blocks. We had a superior garden room; masses of space and a huge comfortable bed.. The staff are kind, courteous and efficient, and I say this as someone who is partialy disabled. They were expecting my wheelchair and had built two ramps to cover a few steps, and the hedge by the steps had been pulled back to make access easiuer. That's the standard of service. And the food justified its Michelin star. Our travel agents here were Classic Collections, who dealt with our unusual requirements as if they were normal. In Madeira Blandy Travel coped with our needs and problems very well indeed. And introduced us to an excellent taxi driver called Teresa. If you want a really quiet holiday in beautiful surroundings on a fascinating island this is where to go.

My husband booked a suite in the hotel for a surprise birthday treat. We stayed for 7 days in August and had the most wonderful time. We swam every day, and the swimming pool was surprisingly under-used so was never crowded, and we also used the spa and massage facilities. The grounds are splendid, as is the golf course - neither of us play golf but we walked through the pathways to the club house for dinner on a couple of occasions. The food in both the hotel and the golf club was spectacular and we will certainly return. We ate outside in the hotel gardens on a couple of evenings, and on the patio overlooking Funchal in the golf club. We had a hire car for the week, but only went out on two days as it was lovely just walking around the gardens and grounds and relaxing by the pool.

This is our 4th visit, and once again the staff were extremely welcoming, friendly and the service 1st class. The Spa and pool area are great, the dining fabulous and the golf being at your front door is a great challenge but fun. We'll definatley be returning, as Madeira is one of our favoutite places, as is Casa Velha. Thanks!

If 'bling' is your thing and you are looking for glitz and entertainment this hotel is not for you. However, if you recognise that understated elegance is the mark of real sophistication, head for this lovely hotel in the hills above Funchal. We stayed for 7 nights and used it as a base for exploring the island by hire car. The hotel is set in a beautiful estate and has a real country house feel. The only sound you'll hear on the terrace, whilst sipping your pre-dinner drink, is bird song. The charming staff are attentive without being overbearing. We had a 'superior' room, which was entirely adequate. The food in the restaurant is excellent with a 'specials' menu that changes daily. The pool area is large and secluded and we never felt crowded. It is a short walk through the scenic golf course to the clubhouse, which has stunning views from the terrace over Funchal and where a good lunch is served. The gardens adjacent to the hotel are lovely and it is possible to do a 'levada' walk from the village above the hotel. The hotel runs a complimentary shuttle bus to Funchal during the day. We ate in town on 3 evenings, and taxis cost about 15 euros each way, however the quality of the food in the hotel restaurant was hard to beat. The boat trip organised by the hotel was great fun and incorporated a lunch stop at a taverna-type restaurant that is inaccessible by road. We would thoroughly recommend this hotel to anyone wanting relaxation, in peaceful surroundings, but with the option of Funchal close by.