The hotel is reached in a comfortable 50-minute drive from the airport using the new roads. The mountain passes, which are unmissable, are best left to a fresh day.
The hotel staff were unfailingly friendly and obliging. The walking folder had disappeared but the reception staff were able to advise us of a nearby levada walk.
Our initial room was very disappointing, rather dark with no view at all from a little terrace squashed behind a hedge. Halfway through our stay, we were able to upgrade to a beautiful 2nd-floor room with a balcony and superb views of the mountains - well worth the 15 euro supplement.
A very good breakfast catering for all tastes. Portions for dinner, as in all the island's restaurants, are generous.
The gardens are very pretty with plenty of areas to sit. We enjoyed the mini-golf, which was well-maintained. The swimming pool was lovely but disappointing that the surrounding cover is permanently on at this time of the year so it wasn't possible to sit by the pool and enjoy the view. (However, it did mean the water was warm and there was no chill when you got out!)
The courtesy bus down to the centre of the village does not run until later in the year. It's a good half an hour's steep walk and nice to do once but a taxi back is a good idea!