Estalagem Da Ponta Do Sol

I have just spent five delightful days at Estalagem da Ponta do Sol, and can highly recommend the hotel. My room was comfortable and spotlessly clean, with a dramatic view over the ocean from its clifftop perch. There is a lift from the hotel down to ground level. Breakfast and dinner were very good, in a pleasant glass-walled restaurant with nice views over the village and ocean. All the staff were welcoming, cheerful, efficient and eager to please. The hotel provides a free shuttle to the start of various local levada walks, and free pick-up from the finish where necessary. I did three of these walks; they were delightful. Free shuttles are also provided to Funchal, Ribeira Brava and Calheta on most days. There are also several buses to and from Funchal, and an Uber car cost me 23 Euros one way. Less energetic, sun-worshipping guests are catered for with a very nice pool area. The grounds are beautifully landscaped, with plenty of comfortable seating around the gardens. There is a gym, and various spa offerings. I did not try these. There is a Friday-night 'musical' event of the techno/electronic type which may not appeal to everyone. I timed my stay to avoid this. Ponta do Sol is a pretty little village, with a cobbly beach and a few restaurants, but it will not occupy too much of your time. The village is however a good base for levada walks and exploring the western part of Madeira. I divided my holiday between Ponta do Sol and a Funchal hotel, and found this a good arrangement.

This was our fourth visit to Estalagem, and it felt like we returned to familiar surroundings. Since our last visit there has been a new steam room and outdoor jacuzzi installed which are welcome additions. The breakfasts are of good quality (other than the cooked items which don't appear to be cooked to order), and drinks in the bar are very reasonably priced and generous measures. Evening meals were of good quality, but more expensive than most other restaurants that we ate at. The unreliable lift has been replaced and was in working order all week. The two log burning fires are great to sit by on chillier evenings (in January). The hotel was clearly stylish and well designed when open, but it is now showing signs of wear-and-tear and really ought to have an upgrade. Examples of some observations: ceiling damage in the restaurant patched up with a piece of paper; missing slate upstand in our bathroom; WC seat not fitted on straight in our bathroom; shower door ill fitting leading to daily leaks; damaged mirror panelling under sink in our room; stained furniture in the bar; all areas in need of painting and decorating; some disrepair to outside pool; damaged table tops in restaurant. On one day after our room had been cleaned we were left with 2 extremely dirty wine glasses (they were unused before the room was cleaned) - I suspect that cups/glasses are rinsed in the bathroom basin and wiped with a dirty towel. In a hotel such as this it would be appreciated if shampoo/conditioner/body lotion are provided in addition to the shower gel. In summary, we felt that there was little checking/auditing of standards. However, our biggest disappointment was the introduction of 'Purple Fridays'. We received an invitation to a 'vibrant, electrifying event for locals, guests and the digital nomad community' which are held each Friday evening. During the day much preparation was done to set up an outside bar, and we were informed that limited drinks would be available in the main bar. Those attending the event would need to purchase a plastic 'glass'. During the afternoon non-residents began arriving that were very different to the hotel's normal clientele. I was told that several hundred non-residents attended and think it highly unlikely that many, if any, residents took part. Being of a certain age, I could not describe the type of music the boom boom boom was that we heard from our room, but the day after I was informed that it was VERY 'techno, techno TECHNO' - completely inappropriate for the residents, and clearly aimed at non-residents as a money-earning event. Cordons were set up to direct guests away from bedrooms, but we were still aware of people exiting late at night. Late into the night we heard trolleys passing our room as staff were clearing up after the party. In the morning there was the usual detritus evident after a party - lots of cigarette ends etc despite staff busily trying to clear up. It was such a shame - a very in

This is a gem of a place, perched on a rocky cliff overlooking a small picturesque town that ambles down to a pretty beach. Artworks are dotted around its passageways and lush terraced gardens. Rooms overlook the wide Atlantic and across to cliffs with their banana plantations, and down to terracotta tiled rooves, and up to the misty mountain tops. Dinner at the hotel is good, and there are some great restaurants by the sea in the old town.

Loved everything about this hotel. Simple, clean rooms, large comfortable bed. The best thing is the location with stunning views of the ocean everywhere you look. Most rooms also have sea views. Best thing is the sound of the ocean to fall asleep to. Breakfast & dinner delicious. Very easy to walk down to the village below with a few decent restaurants and a rocky beach where swimming in the sea is possible with a breakwater to make it safe. Hiking was the highlight of this trip & the hotel provides transport to the start of some fabulous walks & there is a great Levada walk you can do from the back of the hotel.

For the first time we stayed in a hotel for the 3rd time, but this hotel is so exceptional that we are sure to come back again. The spacious rooms, beautiful gardens & swimming pool, friendly staff, the art, and good restaurant are reason enough but most important for us is the great atmosphere that makes you feel at home.

Hard to beat the location - stunning pool and grounds and just a short walk to the town. However, it feels like the hotel is resting on this fact and becoming complacent. None of the 'extras' communicated at check-in were available for days e.g. massage, yoga. 'Gym' equipment was broken. The evening meal was one of the most expensive we had on the island and one of the worst. Breakfast was decent enough though. Again, perhaps worth it for the location alone but ultimately over promised and under delivered.