Hotel Escola — Hotel in Funchal

One star for a "4 star" hotel.

The positives: Location is convenient for Formosa beach and Forum shopping centre, though the hotel is up a steep hill. Some staff were nice and friendly. Fresh fruit and bread at breakfast. Nice view if you pay for a sea view, lots of sun all day and nice sunsets. Small minimarket close by with decent prices! A handful of restaurants near.

Negatives: When you arrive at night there are no lights outside, it's dark and uninviting. The hotel is old and small, in desperate need of refurbishment. Rooms have old box TV sets, broken Aircon, and 90s style decor, including two tap sink and bath. Curtains aren't black out. No bin, only recycling. Pillows are giant like mountains, had to request a thinner one. Carpet bugs and bed bugs left many sore, itchy bites on my body! There were lots of ants in the room too, and they also got into the fridge. Carpets and towels are stained. No electric sockets next to bed.

Some staff treated posher and more elderly people with more respect and friendliness than younger people. It was noticeable. People should be treated equally regardless of age or status.

Breakfast is basic, hot food is limited to scrambled egg and bacon every day. No toast. Sometimes the egg was too salty. I didn't try the lunch or dinner there.

The bar was always closed. The sauna was closed.

The pool is small, has rusty ladders and so many broken tiles, they are all loose at the bottom of the pool. When you request pool towels they fail to offer sun bed mattresses so you're unaware that they are available for free. One elderly couple were there for two weeks and didn't know and had bad backs.

I wouldn't go back, even if cheaper than other...

Hotel Escola is attached to the Catering College and Hospitality school - so it's a bit different. It's small, but very nicely done. I had a double room with a lovely balcony and super view out to sea. The room was a little bit tired and could do with a refresh, but it was fine bearing in mind the very reasonable cost.||Evening meals are a set menu at €19.50 - the restaurant is very pleasant, with linen / silverware. The meal is 3 courses and includes wine - so very good value. The food was excellent - there were things on the set menu that I wouldn't choose to order normally - but I enjoyed everything. Lunch was €10 for a 3 course buffet service (wine not included). Excellent value and fabulous food.||Breakfast was included, and was mostly pastries etc. ||There isn't much in walking distance - a small supermarket round the corner and a couple of restaurants - but given how steep the hills are, a bit of a slog getting back to the hotel afterwards! There is a bus service into Funchal (about a 15 minute ride) from just around the corner - you can buy a card that you top up. Very good value and good, frequent service. I walked into Funchal one day - it's a bit of a hike, but an enjoyable walk - if only to gawp at the sheer number of hotels the closer into Funchal you get. Simply staggering that they fill them (they must do if they are building more).||The staff at the hotel were extremely friendly and helpful - and the pool very nice and no fights for sunbeds!||Recommended if you don't want to to be in the 'thick of it' in Funchal and enjoy somewhere quiet and a bit...

Rooms are stuck in the 80s . Big box TV that was an even bigger eye sore to these dull rooms . A/C didn’t work which resulted in a tower fan to fight the 30 degree heat , which as I’m sure you can imagine didn’t do much at all. Therefore we had to leave the sliding doors open which then resulted in my partner being head to toe covered in bites .

Beds are two single beds on wheels with spring mattresses which definitely give your back a re adjustment . Pillows are huge and uncomfortable . View from The balcony though was gorgeous. And the bathrooms are lovely and clean .

Pool was tiny , shallow and a tile minefield , the loose tiles scattered all over the bottom of the pool result in a few knicks frequently.

The breakfast is basic nothing to rave about or complain about , but some of the staff are far to eager to clean up while you are still at the table trying to enjoy your meal , don’t stop eating to take a breath because your plate will get snatched before your very eyes . I get they are doing their job but when attempting to eat this can make you quite uncomfortable.

The location of the hotel and the staff at the front desk are lovely , will happily answer any questions you have and help you navigate the city proving maps and flyers . Although if your an elderly person I wouldn’t recommend choosing this hotel based of the steepness of the hill it’s placed on.

I wouldn’t be in a rush to re book this hotel off the experience I’ve had so far , although a cheaper option id definitely recommend choosing another “4 star” hotel which is abit more...