Hotel Girassol - Suite Hotel

Our second visit at Christmas and just as nice as the first. Ok the hotel is a little tired in places but it’s very clean. We found the food to be of a good standard at every mealtime and Christmas Eve was lovely. Lunch not a big selection but enough. Drinks very good we don’t need branded makes. Staff hard working and attentive. We found all the staff pleasant with the exception of one. The pool attendant dressed in white who is a very rude, arrogant man who thought it was ok to speak to me very disrespectfully. The matter was taken up with a lovely young lady on reception who very quickly dealt with the issue. Thank you. Thank you once again for a lovely holiday, hope to return next year.

After reading some reviews I was a bit concerned but I needn’t have been. The hotel was wonderful from the welcome at reception, suite, dining room and bar staff all were of an excellent standard. We had a top floor suite with a great view of the pool and sea ,great for watching the lovely sunsets. The towels were large and fluffy and the suite was kept lovely and clean by house keeping. We were all inclusive, a first for us and we were very impressed with the choice and quality of the food and beverages offered. The waiting and bar staff were great, very friendly and helpful. We would love to return to this great hotel and beautiful island.

The Girassol if a lovely 4 star hotel in the best part of Funchal . It is perfect for walking into the centre of town , close to the wonderful promenade and lido . The local buses stop almost outside . Unlike the huge big chain hotels that are springing up all over Funchal , the Girassol has a family feel about it . The friendly staff can’t do enough for you and because the hotel is fairly small they get to know you . Every room is a suite consisting of a lovely sitting room with sofa , tv , mini fridge and kettle ( remember to take your favourite teabags ) The bedrooms are a good size with large comfortable beds and an en-suite bathroom ( shower over bath ) . The whole hotel is spotlessly clean . Breakfasts and dinner are served in the restaurant with has a lovely al fresco eating area for warm days . The food is hit and plentiful . Plenty of fresh fish , fruit , and local dishes as well as soups and international cuisine . Breakfasts are particularly good with English and European tastes all catered for . The waitresses and waiters are very attentive and cheerful. Lunch is served beside one of the two large swimming pools and there is always a good selection to choose from . The bar staff deserve a mention too . Most people choose all inclusive as it is such good value . Drinks including local wines and beer as well as some spirits are in the deal . We are just back from our fourth holiday to the Girassol and have already booked our fifth trip for later in the year . So many people return year after year and you can see why.

Second time in this hotel, the staff are lovely, the hotel is very clean, the downside is the food, very poor for a 4 star hotel, the bars are dismal, maybe this is to make you go out, if your on all inclusive. Would I go back no, they need to make major changes to the bars and food.

I'm here at the moment. I love it! Great hotel, rooms overlooking the sea. Food is very good and the drinks too. Nice pool area with plenty of beds. Right in the centre of things. Have absolutely no complaints. The staff are particularly nice.

Absolutely loved the hotel for the following reasons: Very clean. Good location (not far into town and bus stop outside) Various different offerings for breakfast to suit all tastes. Really helpful staff. Toiletries in the bathroom. Separate living area to bedroom. Would suggest it suits couples rather than families as there weren’t many young families there.

I have no idea how this hotel is 4 star, completely overgraded. The main let down is the food. It is at best average and I would definitely not ever go for all inclusive like we did. All inclusive does not include the additional restaurant, you still pay extra for that. Breakfast very average , certainly no lovely omelettes like you might regularly see at many 4 star all inclusive. It really is just like a below average school canteen. But it is the lunch and evening meal that is biggest let down, minimal choice, often cold, very badly cooked tough pieces meat and unappetising fish, no decent salad bar just a handful of salad options, minimal ice cream choice. The dining room cramped and dingy for an 11 floor large hotel. Only 2 lifts for 11 floors and tiny lift takes 2 people 2 suitcases and it’s full! Hotel needs a refurb and lowered to 3 star on food alone. Staff civil but apart from cleaners in rooms not over friendly or chatty. Rooms cleaned well that’s a positive. But don’t go here for anything more than bed and breakfast… lovely meals out in other restaurants as the meals here were such a disappointment unfortunately Worst all inclusive food in a hotel in over 30 years

Lovely hotel. Loved the large rooms with separate sitting area. Staff lovely and room cleaned daily. Fab location, 30 minute pleasant walk into Funchal. Hotel spotlessly clean. Food okay but my only criticism is that it could do with more vegetarian options. You can ask them to cook something but personally I felt a bit of a nuisance to ask, not that staff made me feel that way but they were so busy I didn't want yo ask so it would've been good if their had been a choice on the buffet, it wouldn't put me off staying again as everything else was lovely.