Hi we are going to Madeira on our honeymoon in Nov 2002.<BR><BR>We have already gotten great advice from this travel board about the island.<BR><BR>Now we are selecting our hotel. We are thinking about staying in the Savoy, the Cliff Bay or Estalaem Quintinha Sao Joao.If anyone has stayed in any of these hotels we would love to hear your opinion. Or if anyone has suggestions about other hotels they have stayed in.<BR><BR>thanks

Hi. I have a much more stylish suggestion. In a small village named ponta-do-sol there is a hotel from the chain design hotels, named Estalagem da Ponta do Sol, and the rates are from 80 to 120 euros.<BR>Check it on www.designhotels.com then type Madeira.<BR><BR><BR>note: Normally I don't reccomend hotels, but this one is really nice.

Susie,<BR><BR>I can strongly recommend the Quintinha de Sao Joao. We've stayed there twice and it's one of our all-time favourite places to stay. It's a luxurious, modern "boutique" hotel, set in immaculate, secluded gardens in the grounds of an old manor house (Estalagem). All the usual 5 star facilities. The staff are remarkably friendly and professional and I'm sure would be delighted to welcome you on your honeymoon with complimentary transfers from the airport and maybe a room upgrade (not that that's essential as the standard rooms are very luxurious with jacuzzi, balcony etc).<BR><BR>The only slight disadvantage to the QSJ is the location, about a mile up the hill from the centre of the town (takes a 15 minute walk or 5 Euro in a taxi). However, the high standard of accommodation and the view more than makes up for this.<BR><BR>Savoy is much older and (like the famous Reids hotel) is a traditional favourite of very wealthy retirees. Cliff Bay is concrete monstrosity in very noisy hotel strip area - would not recommend.

Susie<BR>Search on this forum on “Madeira” and also on “Funchal” to look up previous posts on hotels by myself and other posters.<BR>Personal recommendation is to stay within Funchal – it’s the main town yet still small and intimate, it has wonderful eating choices, small parks, the harbour, the old town, cafes and churches, museums, the wine lodge, the cable car, the wonderful workers’ market and so on, as well as buses to other towns and villages across the island. Staying in other smaller villages will mean less straightforward access to rest of island (unless you taxi or get a hire car – we take local buses, more fun).<BR>My hotel choice previously was limited as it was based on a range of hotels offered by my employer and available to me at a discount.<BR>I have stayed at the Savoy (faded elegance, comfortable rooms, lovely public areas, great service, breakfast buffet adequate, lunch/ evening buffet for half boarders awful, glad we didn’t book that, top floor upscale restaurant superb but expensive).<BR>Also at the Casino Park (now Carlton Pestana something or other) which is fine. It has a great location, absolutely wonderful views from gardens, great pulic areas, but rooms are fairly uninspiring, though adequate. Buffet breakafst better than Savoy, though still not best I have experienced. Didn’t eat other meals here at all.<BR>Have heard WONDERFUL feedback about Sao Jao. <BR>At all costs avoid Hotel Zone of Funchal, further out and not very pleasant. Cliff Bay isn’t really in this zone though it’s marginally further out than Savoy, it is closer in than Sao Jao. Easy bus or walk. That said I think there are better choices anyway.<BR>Reid’s is the old fashioned, very traditional, rather British in style, luxury choice. Sounds far too snobby for me, and is overpriced.<BR>There are a number of other smaller Quintas which look nice too.<BR>I have posted before here about what to do and where to eat.<BR>Hope this is of some help.<BR>Congrats on your upcoming wedding.<BR>Kavey<BR>

Hi Gordon Hi Kavey<BR>thanks for your replies.<BR><BR>Kavey - we have looked at the other discussions on Madeira (we saw your recommendations on places to eat & have ordered the book Landscapes of Madeira). It was from the other threads we picked the 3 hotels mentioned. You mention that you think there are better choices. Can you please let us know the other choices.<BR><BR>The E.Q.S.J. sounds lovely - we wouldn't mind being out of town a bit as the taxis aren't too expensive & there will be buses.<BR><BR>Gordan - do you have a contact number or email address for EQSJ (can't find any on the net). Did you book through Strawberry World which is on the Madeira-Web page?

I think there are better choices than the Cliff Bay or Reid's I meant to say.<BR><BR>Sao Jao is very highly recommended by staff in the resort (I used to work for a tour operator and could phone the staff there and just ask for advice!!).<BR><BR>Other than that look into some of the smaller Quinta hotels - there's one just behind the Casino Park, near the Savoy, not far from Don Amelia restaurant but I can't recall the name for the life of me.<BR><BR>Kavey

Hi Susie,<BR><BR>Contact details for the QSJ are:<BR><BR>Tel: +351 291 740920<BR>Fax: +351 291 740928<BR>email: [email protected]<BR>General Manager is Mr Andre Barreto<BR><BR>They used to have a website on madeira web: www.madeira-web.com/qsj. I believe this URL now forwards you to their new site which I can't view on my internet TV system.<BR><BR>On our first visit as Madeira novices 2 years ago, we booked through First Choice (a UK package tour company). This year we booked direct with the ever-helpful Mr Barreto at the hotel by email, which actually worked out a little cheaper.<BR><BR>Incidentally, in case you were wondering, Quintinha de Sao Joao is pronounced "Kintina d'saw zwow" - believe me it's easier on the tongue after a few verdelhos! <BR><BR>Also, if you do end up making further enquiries or a booking through a travel agent or tour company, do make sure they understand it's the Quintinha de Sao Joao you're talking about, not the completely separate (and much less appealing IMO) tourist class "Hotel Sao Joao" next door.

Hi Kavey Hi Gordon<BR><BR>I really appreciate your quick responses. I think Q.S.J. is the one for us - better discuss it with my other half before booking. I will have to get into the habit of having "family meetings" before arranging things!!<BR><BR>Kavey - your earlier posts on Madeira are very informative I can't wait to visit there. Better leave Fodors for a while now & do some work.<BR>