Visited during the first week of October 2011.
Pleasant and professional reception although they forgot an alarm call on the morning we were to return to the UK. Room on fifth floor was pleasant, clean and had a sea view that we never paid for. The maid service was excellent and the room was kept incredibly clean. The TV in the room was tuned into numerous channels including the very worst news channel I have ever had the misfortune to watch, SkyNews. If only they had tuned into the BBC News channel instead, but how are they to know. The only wi-fi that I could locate was in reception so it wasn't private enough to Skype anyone, which I normally do.

I booked in for ½ board. The restaurant was quita a let down. The breakfasts were monotonous with very little by way of alternatives. The coffee was mediocre but the tea was excellent. The evening meals were poor. one choice of soup, salad and the choice of 2 main courses. All were repeated up to three times during the week. Not good value for money.

The bar was acceptable and had a wide screen TV. Very quiet most nights.

The pool was very nice with an associated bar/cafe. The let down with the pool was that you had to find the pool attendant to get a brolly, they were never freely available. The poolside recliners were quite uncomfortable as most seemed to have the base struts broken or was this a cunning design? The pool is right next to the road, although raised, there was the constant drone of traffic. From what I could make out this is fairly common among the hotels.

Just 5 minutes walk from the hotel is a very large supermarket, bus stops, resaurants and bars, so it's in a good central position.

Would I stay there again? Probably not but if I did it would be bed only.

We got the Raga hotel with the flying pack when visiting Madeira. It is about 2 km from Funchal center. However, the Raga hotel is located in a good location by the main street and short walk to many close by restaurants, bars and shops. The hotel itself is not any special, rooms are average but you can have great view if your balcony is on the sea side. Hotel breakfast was poor with the choices and if you asks me after 2-3 days it gets a bit boring. The hotel bar is not really working and no hotel restaurant for dinner either, thankfully there are many nice places near by to go and have drinks and dinner.

Husband & I have just stayed at this hotel for a week. The room was small but clean and the housekeeping staff friendly and accomodating. As others have mentioned, the coffee at breakfast is pretty awful and the only hotel we've stayed at where you have to get your own out of a machine instead of staff serving you as you come in (apart from Holiday Inn type hotels). We were staying on B&B basis, and the breakfasts were OK, reasonable choice trying to satisfy the varying European tastes. The pool area always had a spare sun bed, although we were not in peak season, no sun shades but the pool was kept clean and the staff brought drinks over to you. Had one lunch by the pool which was OK but did not eat dinner here. Only managed to find the hotel bar open for cocktails one night although they advertise happy hour in the lifts. Tried the Pattiserie other reviewers have mentioned near the lower entrance to the pool area and it is very good, great coffee and waist increasing pastries! Other restaurants worth going to were L'Osteria on the right on Rua da Casa Branco the top road going east from the hotel which serves good quality italian food with pleasant waiters, also Ca Te Espero a bit further on the same road on the left (up steps to eat on the terrace) which served more traditional food, simple looking menu, but great flavours and again pleasant staff. Suggest you hire a car for a few days (we used Atlantic hire who were fine) as there is limited places to go in the near vicinity (the Lido area is just a pretty park with an ancient looking pool complex which wasn't open) and it is really worth driving through central Madeira to see the different landscapes. Did a levada walk - worth buying a map or guide, but easy to DIY as the popular routes are well signposted. A pleasant holiday in all, but we were the younger contingient (in our late 40's early 50's!!).

My wife and I have just returned from yet another enjoyable holiday in Madeira, and our fourth visit to Hotel Raga in 21 months. Once again the staff greeted us like family members, they were as pleased to see us as we were to see them. Everything that we asked whether great or small was provided. The evenings entertainment, a local duo, ALLIANZ, appeared three time a week and provided appropriate mood music as a background to the evening meal, and later whilst drinks were taken in the bar.
Breakfasts were busy occasions with the restaurant staff keeping abreast of the situation and ensuring that all diners could sit at a table of their choice. The rooms were clean and kept tidy by the domestic staff, with frequent changes of bed liinen and towels in the bathroom.
Just How Good is Good? It doesn't get much better that Hotel Raga. We plan to return for another stay over the New Year period.
Once again my friends at Hatel Raga, a massive thak you for making our holiday that extra bit special.