Quintinha de Sao Joao

We stayed at the beginning of June. I remember reading all the reviews before we visited about how great the staff were and it's true and they really make the place. It's nice to have confidence in the place you are staying. They bent over backwards when our flight was delayed for 2 days and were so patient when JET2 were slow in updating us about when our return flight would be. We asked for a quiet room and were given one on the second floor near to the indoor swimming pool. There are rooms over the courtyard where people sit so these may get a minimal noise in the evening but to be fair this is not a young noisy hotel and it only has 42 rooms which makes it feel more intimate. There are generous seating areas on each floor as well. The cleaners do a great job and everywhere is spotless. We did not use the spa or games room. However we used the indoor pool daily and it was lovely and warm and open until 8pm and sometimes we were the only people using it. We did not use the outdoor pool. Breakfast was nice with buffet and hot options that are cooked to order. The breakfast area has ample room for everyone and never felt crowded. We did have an evening meal once which was very nice - staff had little notice for this and again bent over backwards for us. Our room had a small balcony and a view of the mountains to the left. The room was large and included a settee and coffee table, a desk, large wardrobe and safe. The large bed was comfortable (we both have back issues but had no problem with the bed at all). Water pressure was fine. The hotel puts events on in the evening such as wine and cheese and other interests. We did not attend these. It's about a 15 minute walk down to Funchal and a steep walk back however we used Bolt which was very cheap around 5 euros. The taxi drivers do sometimes get directed to the hotel in the next street so try and put the exact address in your Bolt app. Avoid the yellow taxis near the sledge ride or the Botanical Gardens, they will charge you a fortune, just stick to Bolt. I wish I could remember the names of all the staff to thank them personally. I do remember Sara who had a great sense of humour and kept us calm as we stressed about trying to get back home. And also Mathias who was so patience when we were stranded at the airport.

My wife and I have just returned from our 16 th visit to this wonderful hotel. One of the things we love about the hotel is the size of it, having just 42 rooms, which makes it feel very personal. The staff are truly amazing and go out of their way to ensure your stay is truly relaxing. They all work tirelessly, no matter how busy they are and are always smiling. However, although they are very friendly, they are also very professional. The food and the service is top notch, with a great variety on the menus. Likewise the wine selection is also excellent and varied. We attended the Garden dinner on both weeks of our stay and it was excellent. There was plenty of food and wine all served by the staff. This was really relaxing as most hotels have barbecues, where you are required to queue for your food at a buffet. The rooms are beautiful and like all areas in the hotel, are kept spotlessly clean. The gardens and surroundings are beautiful and are kept immaculate. Having a drink in the Garden bar is totally relaxing and so pleasant. On most of our visits, we encounter guests whom we have met previously and who, like us, also return on numerous occasions. We are already counting the weeks until our next visit in November- indeed wondering how we will survive until then as we enjoy our holidays there so much.

Although we have already explored most of the island's hiking trails during our last stays, we still want to return to Madeira to find the Quintinha Sao Joâo that we love. Thank you to all the hotel staff for making our stays so pleasant.