Estalagem Da Ponta Do Sol

A very special place to stay. A very special stay 😊 From the elevator arrival, a spectacular view from the bridge to reception and on into the beautiful gardens and mesmerising view from our balcony, this is a unique and special place to stay. A few of the areas are showing signs of their age but everything is very clean and well tended. Eating in the garden restaurant be will hard to beat. The poolside was never crowded and nearby town offers plenty of evening choices plus ocean swimming not to be missed! 100% recommended - we’ll be sad if we can’t find time to return.

This hotel setting is incredible however be prepared to walk for ages and take up to three lifts to get to your room! Reception is after the lift from the car park entrance and is manned by good friendly professional staff. Breakfast is up one floor from there and was ok without being exceptional. The second lift takes you further up the cliff(with lovely gardens) , across a walkway and onto the third lift to the room. The room was a good size, functional,as was the bathroom. Both could do with a little tlc. Two single beds, pushed together, made the double. They were firm but relatively comfortable. Porto do Sol is very nice with a great array of good restaurants. We ate twice at the Caprice ,which was excellent. Parking is in a small narrow car park and is not nearly enough for all the guest rooms. Roadside parking is also available but on a road frequented by large truck traffic, through the day. Finally the views across the ravine and down to the sea are what makes this hotel stand out as do the sunsets which were amazing.

Stunning setting set in the cliff side and fabulous architectural design let down by poor service and the place being generally rundown. The hotel could be fabulous but when we stayed it was a mediocre experience with surly service and a lack of attention to detail. Rooms are fine (great sea view for those that have them) but basic and not very clean. Bathrooms are disappointing with very basic product. Everything just felt fun down and unloved. Poor broken beds by the pool with old cushions, for example. Cheap furniture elsewhere. Service was poor. We booked three sea view rooms six months in advance only to be told on arrival that one room was not available due to ‘a mistake’. No apology. And generally lack of inclination to help. Bright spot: an excellent breakfast.

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.

A great place - set in the cliff tops with amazing views. Great spa facilities, large comfortable beds, superb food, and friendly and efficient staff. The free shuttle buses/taxis to and from the airport, local walking areas and Funchal, meant we didn't have to hire a car, and there were also free e-bikes which were great. Ponta do Sol is quiet, but there are a few bars/restaurants which served great food.