Curral das Freiras Vacations from $429

The room, which contained a kitchen area with a fridge, opened out onto a balcony then onto a well maintained garden. It has a lovely pool area. The whole complex is surrounded by beautiful gardens. The downside is that it was quite a way up steep roads from Funchal

Lovely hotel, close enough to the centre without being kept awake all night by the street parties!

1st trip 2 stunning Madeira, organised accommodation ( flight & rental car) 2 weeks b4 arriving. The new villa is very spacious for 6 (no single beds). Kitchen & 2.5 bathrms are well equipped mostly (needs corkscrew, colander, more towels, outdoor furniture, but had dishwasher & laundry tablets). Expedia shows the villa in Funchal (it is not). The letting agency hasn’t fixed this (could c the villa on other platforms, elsewhere, & google maps doesn’t recognise its street address correctly, u need the google location code from agent 2 plan). The agents need to be more responsive 2 queries (there were no current reviews & 1-2 days notice was unnerving). The villa is in a beautiful rural spot up in the mtns, closer 2 Ribeiro Frio than the main village, Sao Roque do Faial. There was no info in the villa on services in the area, tourism, or how 2 use the heat etc (we were cold, & couldn’t get a fire 2 stay lit w/ ltd supplies). It is not near a good supermkt, we stocked up in Machico. The 2 local cafe/bars serve some food at times (there is a shortcut 2 houses down), the online info is very ltd. U can’t always get food unless u organise it ahead at Bar Cedro, skewers were lovely 2x, unavailable on 3rd try. Used google translate 2 talk 2 the bar staff. We also ate down at the main village 2x, at Sanroque (open 7pm) & up at Ribeiro Frio, both good. Guidebook & WalkMe app a must. Driving is challenging. Was a good base 2 explore all corners of the island. Would stay in villa again.