Suite Hotel Jardins d'Ajuda

“Worth a visit”

After a 4 hour flight we were taken to this hotel which is about a 45 min stroll on the promenade to Funchal. There was a courtesy bus but not needed. Opposite the hotel is a mall with supermarket, clothes stores and eateries. The newsagent sells Giro cards for the buses. For €5 daily you can us... more

After a 4 hour flight we were taken to this hotel which is about a 45 min stroll on the promenade to Funchal. There was a courtesy bus but not needed. Opposite the hotel is a mall with supermarket, clothes stores and eateries. The newsagent sells Giro cards for the buses. For €5 daily you can use the public transport for as many trips as you like. Simple load the card. You pay extra for the suburban ticket that takes you farther. In the opposite direction, again a 45-1 hour walk, you arrive at the fishing village. We caught a taxi from there up to the skywalk. We walked back down the many stepped corridors through the farms back to the centre. Our knees were wobbly by this time as the descent had taken about an hour. Enjoyed coffee and Bolas on the entire holiday. A ride up the mountain on cable car is well worth it with spectacular views of Funchal. Pick a clear day. The small cafe just near the toboggans provided pan pipe music and delicious cappuccinos as we enjoyed the vista and watched the men in pinstripe suits guiding the toboggans down the steep slopes. We returned by cable car. If its not busy, you can just wait for an empty car and hop in with just your crew. We enjoyed having it to ourselves. A visit to the Ronaldo museum was OK, a bit pricey for the entrance. They should have shown his best goals on a reel but nothing like that. Just saw trophies and pics. The botanical hardens were not in full bloom due to time of year but were pleasant to walk around. There is a museum there too with stuffed animals. A walk through the town is very pleasant. Live bands can be very entertaining on a Saturday afternoon. Hotel room was spacious replete with a mini kitchen,fridge, crockery and cookware. We had the garden view where it was quieter though I couldn't compare. Breakfast had great variety. Many lines. No complaints. The swimming pool was heated and there was a sauna too. Huge towels are provided. There is also an outdoor pool.

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