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Cheaper
Average
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About
4.0
#57 of 96 hotels in Funchal
Location
4.6
Rooms
4.0
Value
4.4
Cleanliness
4.4
Service
4.4
Sleep Quality
4.0
ASPA combines 2 buildings: an eco-friendly, certified by the Biosphere standard , 3 star city studio apartments and a guest house, both located in the heart of Funchal, 40 meters apart from each other. All studios feature free high-speed Wi-Fi, fully equipped kitchenettes, flat-screen TVs with international channels (and streaming box available on request), private bathrooms with toiletries and hairdryers. In the main building (São Paulo), guests can relax with rain effect showers and certified organic amenities, enjoy a drink in the panoramic terrace or a tasty 100% Portuguese breakfast. Food and beverage services include a selection of fresh local ingredients, self-service espresso made from freshly ground beans, as well as a wine cellar with Portuguese wines. In the guesthouse, Alegria II building, guests can enjoy a quiet relaxing afternoon or have some work done in the garden. The property offers a multilingual staff and is managed by passionate hikers who are willing to share their insights. Guests booking directly can also enjoy combined city and countryside accommodation packages. An express self check-in service is provided to all guests (prior contact required). With ASPA's premium location, guests can easily explore the island by bus or by car. The property is steps away from several points of interest: Cathedral; CR7 museum; La vie shopping centre; sea front promenade; beach and harbour; bus, aerobus and taxi stations. Apt São Paulo 3090/AT and Apt Alegria 68903/AL
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
City View
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish, German and 1 more
Location
Rua Pimenta Aguiar 2, Funchal, Madeira 9000-026 Portugal
Name/address in local language
ASPA - Alegria Studios
261 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
This was our first trip to Madeira and we didn't know the lay of the land but we chose perfectly with this hotel. Is in an older part of Funchal, away from all the tourists, but easy walking distance to everything (the port, the seafront, the old town etc etc). Just down the road were some lovely restaurants some of which offering 20% discount on meals so we ate great food at great prices. The hotel was basic but lovely. 2 entranceways which was a bit confusing when we first arrived but it turns out that the reception and some of the rooms are through one entrance and ours was through the other as we had a garden view. We had originally thought we'd booked a room with a balcony overlooking the garden but turns out it was actually only a window so we couldn't sit out. The room below had a balcony and the manager kindly let us move to that room straight away for a small extra charge. Our balcony overlooked their gorgeous garden with a little sunny seating area at the bottom, and the surrounding gardens full of tropical looking plants and banana trees. Our room was lovely and clean, and it was cleaned and our bed made every morning when we went down for breakfast. There was plenty of room and storage space. The bed was really comfortable and, because it was March, we didn't need the air con as the temperature was just right for sleeping. Breakfast was a help yourself continental buffet style but there were scrambled and boiled eggs if you wanted something hot. Lovely freshly ground coffee out of the machine and fresh squeezed juice, and great pastries. All in all we really liked the hotel and would happily stay again. My only negative point would be that the fridge in our room made quite a noisy buzzing sound and we couldn't access the plug to switch it off so it did keep me away at times. Maybe they could put a new quieter one in or alter the electrics so that there is an accessible off switch. I wouldn't have minded not having the fridge on overnight, who keeps perishable food in their fridge on holiday anyway?!
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Date of stay: March 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I always book directly with the hotels as it provides a much better rate and this was my experience again. I booked through their website and the rates were much better than other online channels. The owner and his family are lovely people and they made every effort for my stay to be as comfortable as possible. As it was first time in Madeira I took the airport bus which dropped me right in the middle of Funchal centre at Le Vie shopping centre which is 3 minutes walk from the hotel. The hotel itself has a lovely boutique feel and i got a nice big bright room with a very commutable queen bed. I was greeted by the friendly hotel owner who was very kind to give me an overview of Madeira and Funchal and things to do. With the Portugese inspired breakfast in the morning I got to try some delicious local fruits, jams and other items .... I loved the location as there were many restaurants for dinner just down the road from the hotel and the old town and waterfront is just 5 minutes walk away ... For gym goers there is a GYM at Le Vie Shopping centre that have day passes. The hotel itself feels just like home and there is a cosy sitting area in the reception where you can sit and read a book (the wifi is strong too) I am extremely thankful for the hospitality of the owner and his family.... I will definitely return and stay here again :)
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Date of stay: May 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sao Paulo e Alegria was by far the nicest stay I had on my trip through Portugal. The best value for money, best service and the best breakfast. The studio was newly refurbished with all the necessary features to be a comfortable stay, but what really impressed me was the thoughtful way on which the decoration embraces and respects the history and the vintage spirit of the building. The rooftop lounge was my favourite late afternoon wine spot. A place to relax, work and tan. Breakfast is a most have in this place. The products are fresh, local and delicious... I could eat those jams and yogurt every day. Last but not least, my biggest appreciation to the team that puts so much energy and joy in their work and run an extra mile if necessary just to make you feel at home. The reception is thoughtful and their level of english is really impressive. They provide all the information necessary and I mean literally ALL the information: from bus schedules, restaurants around the island, tours, weather, historical facts even portuguese wine pairing. You can really tell they love hospitality and for the first time I was in a place where that sense of service felt honest.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from SaoPauloeAlegria, Diretor-Geral at ASPA - Alegria Studios
Responded Jan 24, 2020
Dear Tessros, We thank you for your words and for the kind way you describe your experience with us. Portugal has a long history of excellent hospitallity, so we feel very honoured to have been your favourite place on you tour through this beautiful country. There is a lot of heart in the refurbishments of our main building, so we are quite happy to hear that you enjoyed the new facilities, as well as the rooftop lounge and breakfast. A heartfully thank you for the lovely feedback given to our team, that works with passion and dedication to make every single stay a remarkable experience. Please send a big hug to your little boy that made our days brighter with all his joy. We hope to see your beautiful family back soon! Warmest regards, Luísa and team
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Stayed 1 night due to flight cancellation. Apart rooms, rich breakfast, very noisy area. Therefore, hotel is providing "free" earplugs inside the towel basket, i found mini size traditional madeira cake inside the basket too. I could not use the earplugs due to alarm set on and had to wake up very early to catch the next flight. Therefore, could not sleep well. The price i paid for one night is more expensive than some 4 and 5 star hotels in Funchal. Accomodation Prices should lowered by the hotel management as it is too pricey.
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ASPA Team, Proprietário at ASPA - Alegria Studios
Responded Apr 7, 2023
Dear nebucadnezzar, Thank you for your positive note regarding breakfast though we regret that your overall experience fell short of expectations. We are located right in the center of Funchal, so some outside noise should be expected. However, if you close the window, which has double glazing, the noise level most of the time becomes unnoticeable. For those who prefer to sleep with the window open, and are sensitive to sounds, the earplugs are quite handy and ensures a restful night. We regret that on this occasion none of these options suited you. Finally we appreciate your remarks on how to price our hotel, we will hold your comments in good regard, allow me to clarify that our prices follow demand. It seems that your reservation was made at the last minute, so you certainly did not benefit from the same conditions as those guests who booked in advance, but I assume that if you stayed with us and not in a 4 or 5 star hotel, it is because our rate at the time of booking was more attractive than the other options available. We would be happy to host you in the future and provide a better experience. Best regards, Luísa
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Great location. Great room. We stayed in room 104. I tried to email you, but you haven’t replied. There are two main serious issues with that room. First is the wash sink in the bathroom has a large leak from the plumbing. The second is one of the wall mounted bedside lights has scorch marks on the wall, which suggests loose or faulty lighting. These need to be rectified asap. The beds haven’t been pulled out in a long time, with thick dust under them. The extraction fan in the bathroom needs to be hoovered, to get rid of the thick dust in it. The rooms light fan was making some really weird noises. I would book again when these faults would be rectified.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Spent a week here. It was rather difficult to rate this hotel. According to the hotel services provided I believe it is a one or maximum two star hotel. HOWEVER in my own scale the great service,good location and comfortable sleep increase the rating up to two stars. The rooms were very basic. Comfortable beds, The entire hotel is in a need of some basic renovations. For example the bathroom didn't face the modern European hotel standards in my opinion. The breakfast was good. During the Covid time the hygienic situation was very well taken care of. Everything was very clean at the hotel and the rooms were cleaned daily. There were no shower amenities provided in the bathroom by the hotel. We bought some soap and shampoo at a local store. The microwave in the room didn't work properly. Also be warned that some of the rooms on the upper floors are reached only by some very steep stairs. The staff was very kind and helpful. All in all, a positive visit.
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Date of stay: December 2021
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ASPA Team, Proprietário at ASPA - Alegria Studios
Responded May 3, 2022
Dear Tautio, We thank you for your detailed comment, through which we understand that you enjoyed your stay with us. We appreciate the positive inputs to our staff, cleanliness and breakfast. We only regret that the rating you offered is much negative than the positive experience you describe... Maybe in a next visit you can review your rating, when we show you our best service. See you next time! Luísa
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The Aspa is a great base to explore the Funchal. Few minutes from the center, supermarkets even closer. No problem with finding the place to park the car close to the apartament. When staying in the hotel we felt really great and excited :)
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Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Very good stay at ASPA Alegria studio. The staff is adorable, the studio is very well equipped, extremely clean, we even have a garden with barbecue (relatively hidden, that said), no air conditioning, but the ceiling fan works well. The breakfast is very varied, rich, with a large choice of regional cuisine. We arrived at 10 a.m. and we were already able to check into the room. Please note, the hotel is located in two buildings, but an access code to building 2 is communicated before arrival. (Only downside, the bedding with a spring mattress is not very comfortable.)
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
In comparison to places i've stayed for similar prices the ASPA studios were even better than I expected! Everything I could have possibly asked for and at very reasonable prices. Huge thanks to Isabella who gave us a warm welcome upon arrival and cleaned our rooms to perfection every day of our stay.
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ASPA Team, Proprietário at ASPA - Alegria Studios
Responded Apr 7, 2023
Dear Sam, Thank you for the visit and for sharing your experience with other travellers. We feel very pleased and honored to know that we exceeded your expectations and that our price-quality ratio was correct. I also appreciate the positive note for our housekeeper Isabel, who is really a very dear and dedicated member of the hotel. I hope to welcome you again very soon! Warm regards from Madeira, Luísa
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We had a lovely stay at Aspa studios! Beautiful old house that has been refurbished to suit the traveller's needs, at the centre of Funchal! We stayed for a week with my kids. The studio was very confortable and was kept spotlessly clean and tidy by Isabella, who was so sweet with us all!!! Looking forward to coming back!
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Date of stay: July 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nijmegen, The Netherlands96 contributions136 helpful votes
For this Appartementos there are two parking spots available in an underground private parking garage across the street. A reservation up front is needed. I did pay 5 Euros per night. You'll get a remote control to make use of this garage 24/7.
It is hard to park the car nearby and if so "the meter will be running" in this part of the city.
Read my review for further information. The spot is perfect: walking distance (5-10 min) to the downtown (old city) area.
Hello
Je pense qu'à 21h00 il y a encore des bus "Aérobus" pour la liaison Aéroport- - - Funchal. Durée 30mn demander l'arrêt devant le centre commercial "La Vie"
Sinon il reste le taxi pour 30€,il vous conduit à la porte de l'Hôtel.
Bon séjour à Madère
There are more places to choose from in the Funchal area.
PRICE RANGE
$97 - $130 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
sao paulo e alegria hotel funchal
LOCATION
PortugalMadeira IslandsMadeiraFunchal
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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