Hotel Madeira

Hotel Madeira, with its easy name to remember, is a fairly good hotel, but I was expecting a bit more, and that’s why I’m not giving this locale 4 stars. It’s a 3 star hotel that gets 3 Unilocal stars.
This hotel occupies an interesting niche. It is a nice medium-​sized, modern hotel in the city’s center, and provides a step up from economy hotels, guest houses, and folksier options while not forcing one into the (not quite) mega-​hotels lining the waterfront, both in the center and to its west, and which can cost a chunk of change. I believe there are a few other Hotel Madeira «equivalents,» but I would have to investigate further, not having stayed at them.
The building is somewhat newer, yet comfortable like an old shoe. The rooms are also comfortable, and have fairly spartan décor, but also have balconies with louvered shutters and the bathrooms are lavished upon in terms of finishes. That means marble and a bidet. Bidets are fun, aren’t they? Everyone’s «first time» entails standing over one and turning the knobs with a little too much vigor. Live and learn.
There is a pool on the rooftop. Because of an adjacent building, a 360 degree view is not possible, but the view is certainly panoramic and even invigorating. However, I didn’t see anyone using the pool and, in Madeira, where the ocean laps onto its rocky shore, a swimming pool is necessary.
The breakfast buffet is very good, although there are no hot items other than the eggs and certain beverages. Kudos to the Portuguese for rolling out among the best breakfast buffets in Europe. The service at the front desk is variable, depending on who is working on a particular shift. They seem to have a repertoire of recommendations they don’t stray from. You might need to be your own sleuth in seeking out good restaurants, rental car rates, and those sorts of things.
Lastly, the price-​quality relationship is indeed good, especially for Hotel Madeira’s great location 2 streets up from the seaside promenade and near the municipal garden. And, if you don’t want to go collegiate style or wealthy Brit on holiday style, Hotel Madeira is actually one of few such choices in Funchal, the island’s major city and port.