Hotel Girassol - Suite Hotel

Title: Exceptional as always – our 4th wonderful stay! We have just returned from an incredible 11-night stay at Hotel Girassol, and it truly felt like coming home. This was our fourth time staying at this wonderful hotel, and it continues to exceed our expectations in every single way. The staff are the absolute heart of Hotel Girassol. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with genuine warmth and hospitality. Every single team member is professional, attentive, and goes completely out of their way to make you feel welcome. The food throughout our stay was fantastic. Every meal was beautifully prepared, fresh, and offered a wonderful variety of delicious options to choose from each day. Our room was perfect, offering a spectacular view of both the Atlantic Ocean and the beautiful city of Funchal. Waking up to the sight of the sea and watching the city lights at night made our 11 nights here feel incredibly special. Thank you to everyone at Hotel Girassol for another unforgettable holiday. We are already looking forward to our fifth visit!

This was a family holiday. The hotel is well located amongst other hotels. Roughly 30 min walk down to centre and buses that stop right next to hotel. Lido public pool is 2 min walk and lots of supermarkets nearby as well. Hotel is a bit rundown and really needs some maintenance. Aircon leaking water (we raised this with the cleaners who said would report it but nobody came whilst we were there), furniture is squeaky and falling apart, bathroom really needs a touch as very old and water leaking below the shower panel every time( ground floor bathrooms look lovely and modern and that should be room standard as well), just overall bland rooms with no sound proof (we heard every motorcycle and bus running past with windows closed). Balcony looked awful as pictured. Overall the hotel gives 3 star vibes. Staff very lovely and helpful. Lifts are tiny and you cannot take any large oversized items to your room. Pool is small but always chairs available and towels as well. We preferred the lido public pool down the road. There is an adult section separately but you can hear all the kids still as well as building works to a property right next door with very nosy builders. Spa is paid separately at 10 euros for 3 h and no kids allowed hence we couldn't use it. Every 4 star hotel we have been to before gives free access to the spa but not treatments which I think should be standard. The parking is also 10 euros a day (again should be free for customersI feel). Buffet is small. Breakfast was disappointing in that virtually all you get is an English breakfast. Other than the white cheese nothing else shouts Madeira and we were hoping for more local food. Please don't recycle fruit salads, that's just not right as they are full of fruit flies. Dinner is tasty albeit again not a lot of variety but the food was better. Staff at restaurant always helpful. We will choose a different hotel next time as this one was just not for us but it is overall perfectly fine for a family holiday if you are not fussed.

We stayed in the Junior Suites, rooms were very clean. Maid came in everyday and towels were changed whenever needed We arrived on a late flight and food had been left out for us arriving which was a really nice touch. Pool area was clean and tidy, beach towels were provided and changed as and when you wished. No need to rush for beds as there was always space. Our board was all inclusive. Great choice of food for breakfast, continental, cereal or cooked. Varies bread/rolls and pastries to choose from. Lunch was served at the pool area, again lots to choose from and everything was freshly cooked, there was also a selection of cakes. Evening meal had a large salad bar a hot counter that had many various options to choose from and several puddings. The head chef is really approachable and is happy to advise you if you have any allergies, my husband is intolerant to dairy so this was really helpful. The staff were friendly and polite, i would definitely recommend this hotel.

Highly Disappointing Stay – Not Recommended for Families with Children Our stay at Hotel Girassol was a shock right from the moment we arrived. Apart from the good food and 3–4 helpful staff members, this hotel was a complete disaster for our family. Unprofessional Reception & Failed Room Service: Check-in was cold and unwelcoming. The receptionist spoke very poor English, handed us the meal schedule, mentioned the tourist tax, and that was it. No "welcome" or basic information. Our room (207) had two single mattresses pushed together and an extremely small sofa bed. Since our child sleeps with us, we requested a room change to avoid the gap between the mattresses. Another receptionist, Xavier, explained (unprofessionally, with his hands in his pockets) that they would place a double topper on the bed the next day to solve the issue, as housekeeping was unavailable at 7 PM. Nothing happened the next day. I called, and another receptionist promised to fix it. On the third day, the maid arrived with two single toppers, which solved nothing. When I explained the issue, she told me to call reception again. I ended up talking to the first receptionist, who simply replied with a dismissive "Okay, ma'am." In the end, nothing was fixed, and we never received an apology. The Pool Nightmare - We booked this hotel specifically for two features: the heated pool (as it was late May and the weather was cool) and the in-water sunbeds. The Restriction: Upon arrival, we were told that the heated pool is strictly adults-only. Because we had a child, we were forced to use the freezing cold pool. Chemical Damage: The pool water completely ruined our swimwear, leaving permanent yellow-green stains that will not wash out. Worse, our child—who spent hours in the water—came out with yellow-green stained skin every single time! We were not the only guests affected by this. When we complained, the staff dismissively showed us their chlorine levels and claimed it was "fine." It clearly contained an unsafe amount of copper or poor chemicals. Poor Hygiene & Cleanliness - At breakfast, the water glasses were repeatedly dirty, covered in leftover orange pulp from previous use. Finding a clean glass was nearly impossible.The rooms are extremely dated. Cleanliness was poor from day one—the room was dusty, and the toilet was not properly cleaned before our arrival. Daily housekeeping consisted only of making the bed and quickly wiping the mirror and sink. Conclusion: The food was good (though not very diverse), but it does not make up for the outdated rooms, terrible service, and chemical hazards in the pool. We absolutely do not recommend this hotel for families with children.