The gardens are beautiful and the hotel feels like an oasis within busy Funchal. Service was excellent and we enjoyed our stay. However, because Funchal is so busy/crowded the property is surrounded by roads, and traffic noise was more noticeable than we expected for a hotel marketed as a peaceful retreat. Indeed the sound of roadworks and building nearby was noticeable. It's also funny that access to the Quinta is from the northwest (guests can't even use the drive of the old house) which is the "wrong side" for the City centre, so there's a fair bit of walking up and down hills.
The hotel’s Green Key credentials and beautiful gardens are impressive, but some of the sustainability practices were inconsistent during our stay. The bathroom notices asked guests to leave towels in the bath only if they wished them to be replaced, yet towels and flannels left hanging were frequently changed anyway. We also saw no obvious provision for guest recycling or waste separation. Neither issue spoiled an otherwise enjoyable stay, but they did seem at odds with the environmental messaging.
Odd too that the bells to call for refreshments at the pool were intermittent at best.
