Casa Velha do palheiro a Trip Advisor Member from Hampshire.
Had ten wonderful days in Casa Velha from 4th to 14th August 2007 surrounded by beautiful gardens , living in a luxurious room being looked after by a friendly & professional staff which made the holiday one of the most enjoyable we have been on. Just to add a little extra play the Golf Course challenging !.

This hotel is in a beautiful peaceful setting, the rooms are spacious and delightfully decorated and furnished, and spotlessly clean.

The staff are the best I have encountered, they could not be more helpful. Excellent waiting staff, they were real characters. The food was just exquisite

The gardens were beautiful, and well worth a visit

I cannot wait to go back.

My only complaint was that their minibus driver was very agressive in his driving style, this was very typical or Madeiran men, but it was rather hair raising for his passengers!

One thing to remember - lunch in the hotel is very expensive, it was almost half the price at the golf club which could be reached by minibus or walking across the golf course.

Visited the hotel earlier this year and had a very restful few days, though with some mixed feelings.

The main house is wonderful and full of character, but the vast majority of the rooms (Std, Sup and Suites) are in rather charmless modern blocks outside. While very comfortable, our Superior room was a bit soul-less and maybe even a touch too Marriott. I'd recommend the junior suites above all, though they are riotously chintzy.

The very best feature of the hotel is the Palheiro gardens to which you have unlimited access, and can even sneak in out of hours. Also outstanding is the staff, all of whom are helpful and knowledgeable.

The main issue for me is the formality of the place - I've stayed in quite a number of smart hotels in Europe, USA and Asia but to be literally turned away from the hotel's only restaurant for wearing rather stylish white canvas shoes was a first - it's strictly formal shoes only, and the maitre d' whispering "OK, you can eat here but we'll put you in the corner where no-one will see" was hardly an improvement.

It's not a place for the young, which is fine so long as you're expecting that. I may return, but not for several decades at least!

A good hotel if:

You don't mind waiting to be introduced to someone before they will return a 'good morning'.

You are happy in a hotel which is frequently buried in cloud

You are willing to wait 45 minutes for your breakfast egg.

Staff are, at best, formal , and at worst, somewhat indifferent.

Yes, the gardens are wonderful, and the main house is very handsome. However, our guest room was very noisy, and the food in the- very stuffy- restaurant was nothing special.

If you hanker for the days when people dressed for dinner, and everyone 'knew their place', this might be the hotel for you.