Hotel Girassol — Hotel in Funchal

We had a 14 night stay (11/08-25/08) on a B&B basis. Family of four (2A and 2C - 13M and 10F). We booked through TUI as far back as a year ago. Due to our son’s age, TUI ‘automatically’ selected 2 rooms and we are so, so pleased ‘they’ did! ||This was a return visit to Madeira for us. We had previously holidayed here before from 2006-2013 every year at a different hotel but due to our wonderful timeshare coming to its contractual end (we doubled up our weeks on a couple of visits) and our son being 19 months old at the end, we ventured to other places in the world, vowing to return when he (and our daughter) were old enough to enjoy the type of holiday Madeira offers.||We chose Hotel Girassol mainly due to its location, size (smaller), amenities (we didn’t want extravagant amenities due to the nature and type of holiday we were aiming for) and cost. ||We arrived about midday after a very early start (2am wake up for a 6:30am flight)! We had one room ready and the other we had to wait until 2pm - which was a positive start! We had emailed ahead to request the rooms to be next door to each other and they very kindly honoured that request. It meant we could unpack into one room.||POOL AREA:|There are 2 pools - family and adult only. Plenty sun beds and cabana style areas. There are no ‘sunbed wars’ here! The pool was well used by children and parents and a decent size for the hotel. Mine rarely used it. They had been brought up on holidays with slides and this found it boring (despite me buying them pool toys!!) Nevertheless, everyone else enjoyed it! There is a pool bar where they serve the All Inclusive lunch here too. Staff were brilliant, attentive and if B&B, you could but from the menu (different food from All Inclusive). I would say on looking, most people setting were All Inclusive. We much prefer B&B now, sampling what Madeiran restaurants have to offer - plus our children prefer to dine out. WORD OF CAUTION: On the mornings of Wednesday and Saturday, you cannot use the pool area until 10am due to clearing up of the precious night’s barbecue. The barbecues are held Tuesday and Friday, well attended and food looked good. They provide entertainment on the nights too. |ENTERTAINMENT:|There is none except barbecue nights on Tuesdays and Fridays. They play music around the pool but this is NOT loud and very acceptable levels. You make your own here - and actually it’s not a bad thing; lots of families playing cards, games, talking and drawing and colouring with their children. |ROOMS:|We had two rooms and we are so pleased we did. Each room had a bedroom and a sitting room (for smaller families this would be a sofa bed and I believe a second bathroom which was locked for us). We had rooms on the fifth floor and it overlooked the pool and had excellent sea views. |BARS: |There are three bars. The bar on the ground floor we didn’t use. We used the bar on the first floor - well used and overlooked the road. They served a wide range of local and international drinks. Then the pool bar - again, served plenty drinks (and ice cream!) |RESTAURANT:|We used the restaurant for breakfast. The service was good and food was satisfactory. The only added bonus would be to serve small pancakes and waffles and ‘proper’ sausages as their sausages were hotdog style (think cocktail stick sausages). Our children aren’t fussy so both always found something to eat. As with all, All Inclusive places, it requires the guest to be creative with their choices each morning to avoid the ‘same old’ trap. ||Would I stay again?|Absolutely. Despite the road noise (we aren’t used to it being country folk!) it had a very tranquil, calm and relaxing feel about the place - plus it was prime location for the restaurants and lido and walking into Funchal. Kids found it a bit boring (due to no slides - a personal presence) but we didn’t see any child screaming they were bored. We didn’t use much of the comfiest except obviously our room, the pool bar and bar on the first floor and restaurant due to it being an active holiday.||BEST BIT:|The adults only section which we ventured too for an hour or so a couple of times. Breakfast sparkling wine! ||IMPROVEMENTS:|Maybe a few more umbrellas for the sun beds but think they might be too crowded if they did. Definitely small pancakes on the buffet, waffles and better sausages would improve...

An Unforgettable Two-Week Stay in Madeira at Girassol Suite Hotel with Exceptional Cuisine**

My two-week holiday in Madeira was a dream come true, and my stay at the Girassol Suite Hotel in Funchal elevated it to pure perfection. The island’s breathtaking landscapes, paired beautifully with the warm hospitality and incredible food at Girassol, making this trip one for the books. the hotel offered stunning Atlantic Ocean views.

My junior suite was spacious, spotless, and thoughtfully appointed, The daily housekeeping ensured everything was pristine, with fresh towels and a sparkling room each day.

The true star of my stay, however, was the food—oh, the food! Girassol’s buffet restaurant was a culinary paradise, offering an array of dishes that were as fresh as they were flavorful. Lunch and dinner were equally impressive, with the restaurant showcasing Madeira’s bounty through dishes bursting with fresh, local ingredients. Think succulent grilled fish, tender meat dishes, and vibrant vegetable sides, all prepared with care and presented beautifully. The seafood, in particular, was a revelation—caught fresh daily, it melted in the mouth, whether served as a zesty ceviche or perfectly seared tuna. The pasta station, with its made-to-order sauces, was a crowd-pleaser, and the salads, bursting with crisp greens and local avocados, were a refreshing delight. The bi-weekly barbecue nights by the pool were a highlight, with sizzling meats, fresh grilled vegetables, and a lively atmosphere enhanced by live music. Even the poolside Splash Grill & Bar impressed with its affordable yet delicious offerings.

!!The dining experience was elevated to extraordinary heights by the exceptional service of Lisa and Claudia, the two phenomenal women working behind the bar and in the restaurant. Lisa was a ray of sunshine, crafting cocktails at the First Lounge Bar with flair and delivering poolside drinks with a warm smile that made every moment special. Her attention to detail and genuine care made every sip feel like a celebration. Claudia, equally outstanding, brought infectious energy to the restaurant, ensuring every meal was seamless and enjoyable. Her knack for recommending the perfect dish—like the catch of the day or a local Madeiran specialty—and her attentive, friendly service made dining a joy. Both Lisa and Claudia went above and beyond, creating a welcoming, personalized experience that made me feel like part of the Girassol family. Their passion and dedication were the cherry on top of an already phenomenal culinary experience.

Beyond the food, the hotel’s amenities were top-notch. The pools were clean, with plenty of sunbeds, and the adults-only pool was a serene retreat. and the free Wi-Fi kept me connected. In short, my two-week stay at Girassol Suite Hotel was a culinary and hospitality triumph. The fresh, delicious, and beautifully prepared food, paired with the unparalleled service from Lisa and Claudia, made every meal a highlight of my trip. Their warmth, professionalism, and genuine care turned my stay into something truly special. I can’t recommend Girassol Suite Hotel enough to anyone visiting Madeira—book your stay, savor the incredible cuisine, and let Lisa and Claudia make your holiday unforgettable. I’m already dreaming of...

Just came back from a 2 week stay at this hotel and all we say is that it was great! The hotel itself is located in a perfect place - you can walk to Funchal in about 30 minutes, to the beach in 15-30 minutes (depending on which one you're going for). Loads of restaurants, bars, cafes and tour providers around so you definitely won't be bored! Every single staff member we've met was absolutely lovely and helpful! Francesco, who works as a waiter at the restaurant, was an absolute sweetheart and made us feel very welcomed all throughout our stay, he was extremely attentive and very helpful (so were other waiters too)! I am genuinely surprised by the amount of people who say they did not like the food. My husband and I thought it was perfectly adequate, people seem to forget that hotels normally have set menus that they just repeat every so often. Having said that, there wasn't much of a choice in terms of salads or fruits, however, we both managed to fill our plates each evening and find at least 2 things from each station that we absolutely loved - what more can you ask for? Definitely try the fish! We don't normally like eating it but the different kinds of fish they offered each evening was very delicious, a little odd and interesting at first but it's actually really good! We've stayed at the junior suite - the room was fine but a little lacking in terms of storage space, the fitted wardrobe is meant for 1 person at best. The view from the balcony was breathtaking overlooking the beach and the mountains! The only minor negatives we've noticed were: The balcony furniture provided was just cheap plastic, it was a little flimsy and every easily stained by anything, so be careful. The towels they provide at the pool need changing as some looked like they've lived a thousand lives and were seemingly falling apart. The two lifts are tiny and during busy times you may need to wait a little bit until one becomes available (however this is mostly due to people not using common sense and being lazy by using the lift to go 1 floor up or down instead of using the stairs!). The only evening entertainment happens on Mondays and Fridays and it's not the best entertainment in the world, but honestly it wasn't an issue at all! It was still fun and we had a great time. Pool beds - yes, during busy times there is a shortage of them but that's purely because people "reserve them" early in the morning and then leave for X amount of hours. So again, the hotel can't really do anything about it without angering their clients, but it would be nice to see their policy of "no sun bed reservation" enforced a bit more to allow everyone a chance to use this facility. This is definitely not a high end hotel - is it worth its 4*? We think yes, because overall we had a lovely stay and brilliant service throughout. Is everything perfect at this hotel? Of course not, but the negatives are far outweighed by the positives in our view. We would come back in...