My wife and I have recently returned from a short (5-day) stay at the ‘Quinta da Bela Vista’ Hotel. The holiday was booked for us by my wife’s sister and brother-in-law as an extraordinarily generous ‘surprise’ present to celebrate my wife’s ‘big’ birthday and our 30th wedding anniversary.

We ourselves run a 4-star Silver Award B&B in the South of England which has itself been reviewed on TripAdvisor (and rated by one of the reviewers as ‘5-star standard’) so I hope we might be considered to be modestly qualified to comment on the 5-star ‘Quinta da Bela Vista’.

The hotel is situated on the outskirts of Funchal, set in its own magnificent tropical gardens, overlooking the ancient port of Funchal and against a dramatic backdrop of volcanic mountains and azure seas.

If this sounds like a travel agent’s ‘chatter’ my apologies but that’s honestly how, in a few words, we saw it.

Whisked straight from the airport in a taxi sent by the hotel to meet us, we arrived at dusk, to be meet by smartly uniformed staff. They dealt swiftly and efficiently with the checking in formalities – in English. Most Madeirans, it seems, speak good English.

Our bedroom, in the main part of the hotel, overlooked the stunning, immaculately designed, lush tropical gardens, the pool and, beyond, a panoramic, out-of-this-world view of the Funchal coastline and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Quinta da Bela Vista has two restaurants. The main hotel restaurant, Restaurant Avista Navios, which serves superb breakfasts, lunches and evening meals which were so good that, in our short stay, we felt no need to try the renowned Bela Vista Restaurant which is situated on the original old manor house itself.

A pool-side (complimentary towels and sun-loungers galore!) bar also provided excellent lunches or evening aperitifs whenever we chose to spend the day at the hotel. And, if not, a complimentary minibus service was regularly available to take us to and from central Funchal.

All the staff were friendly and, highly professional making our brief holiday one of the most relaxing and refreshing ever!

We enjoyed our stay at the Bela Vista enormously. Although the hotel is a 10 minute drive from central Funchal, it is set on a hillside overlooking the city and the bay, and the view is breathtaking. Set in acres of lush gardens, Bela Vista has a very personal feel about it, which is down to the excellent way the staff treat you. The gardens, pool and location are a delight. The food is first class (even the set menu - a choice of of fresh fish or meat every day), the restaurant staff are efficient (attentive without being intrusive) and the regular Maitre d’ charming.

With a free minibus service to Funchal centre morning and afternoon you have the best of both worlds - quiet location with great views, within easy reach of all the main sights.

Lovely hotel provided the basis for a walking holiday in Madeira and base for Funchal. Great front desk staff and strong breakfast buffet. You'll probably need the courtesy bus down to the town for dinner (5:30pm last bus - no buses on a Sunday). Public transport buses back from town every 15 mins from where the courtesy bus deposited you. Good choice of restaurants in town behind the cable car.

Great selections of mountain/Levada walks - unescorted support from Manny - I have his contact details if required.

Just got back from 11 nights at this beautiful hotel.
Fabulous views and very friedly attentive staff.
Nothing was too much trounle for them.
Pool area is particularly beautiful and the gardens spectacular.
We would recommned this hotel if you are looking for a quiet relaxing break in beautiful surroundings.