We stayed at Jardins d`ajuda for a week. Very clean hotel, shopping just around the corner. The swimmingpools are heated, very nice. The garden around the pools looked fantastic. Very helpful and nice people in the reception.

We stayed in musa d'ajuda which is like an annex to Jardins d'ajuda and is approx 75 yards away. Unfortunately it is situated at a crossroads which during the day appears to be fairly quiet but at night is very noisy. Refused to stay in first room allocated for various reasons but mainly because fridge was so iced up, we couldn't shut the door! Air conditioning very poor. The main problem with this hotel is that it is very tired and needs updating. Was not a problem having to go across to main hotel for breakfast, pool etc. Rooms were large. Overall feel misled about facilities when booking, but suppose we got what we paid for.

Like another couple who have written a review we were put here by Thomas Cook following a flight delay. The place was not great and in particular the food was atrocious - we ended up eating out for all meals. I feel sorry for anyone who actually paid to stay here!
We usually stay in 4 star hotels in other places and they are superior in every way to this dump. Thomas Cook should be ashamed of themselves; I was not looking for 5 star luxury during our delayed return but there must be better hotels in Funchal than this.

We write this feeling a little ungrateful given our situation, however we feel we need to warn any hard working people looking to spend their hard earned money NOT to spend it here.

We will explain, we spent the 3 to 10 May 2010 at the Pestana Grand which is a 5 star resort, it is absolutely heaven on earth, you truly feel like royalty staying there. On our departure we learnt that Funchal airport was closed due to the volcanic ash cloud.

We booked a flight only with Thomas Cook, and on arrival at the airport we were told by the rep we were not flying home and would be taken, by coach, to a hotel on a half board basis. We felt really lucky to spend additional time on such a beautiful island, until we arrived at the hotel Jardin A'Juda.

We were put in a room on the first floor, we got in the lift and went down to the 1st floor (reception is on the 3rd floor) as the lift doors opened the cold wafted on us as well as the strong smell of mould, fust and mothballs. We went to our room which had an even stronger smell. Our room overlooked the main road which was unbelievebly loud, our balcony was litterally at the side of the road. We asked to move room which they agreed to. The second room was on the 4th floor same smell same dirty bathroom, drab 1960's decor and rock hard beds.

As we mentioned earlier we were there on a half board basis so with some fear of contracting legionnaires disease we had a shower and headed off for our evening meal. The meal was buffet style or should we say like pig troughs. The selection was poor, however we had a salad starter, and then retunred for our main course. Chicken was the meat for that day, which looked ok until we began to eat it.

The chicken was raw in the middle. We never ate there again.

The in door pool smells disgusting and the facilities are tired and of poor quality.

All in all we spent 3 days there and thoroughly hated them all. Like we said earlier we were there for free and should feel lucky, we certainly don't and definately DO NOT want anyone to waste their money here. Spend a little more, stay at the Pestana Grand, and then have a walk up the road to the A'Juda you will see exactly what we mean.