Situated about 1 km from Funchal harbour this 5* hotel is set 6 acres of beautifully kept garden with views over Funchal. Accommodation comprises modern ensuite rooms based around an old country home. Fresh flower arrangements abound and the hotel is well furnished with comfortable sofas and chairs in the main reception rooms. Bedrooms are light and airy with comfortable beds and good ensuite facilities, which include towelling gowns. Every room has a balcony overlooking the gardens and it's very peaceful and quiet. If you like lots of tea and coffee in your room then you're out of luck as only 2 sachets of each and 2 little containers of milk are provided each day. Despite asking for more, these were never provided. There's a heated jacuzi, but the sauna and Turkish baths were not in use. There is a gym. The swimming pool is large, but when we visited it was unheated and cold which didn't encourage much swimming. The pool bistro was expensive, but there's a small cafe a few minutes away serving good coffee and hot snacks such as toasties. The hotel provides a courtesy minibus several times a day down to Funchal harbour, but not for the uphill journey back! Yellow Mercedes taxis are reasonably priced, but hang on to your hats as the drivers are wannabee Grand Prix drivers. There is some evening entertainment with a singer and pianist and there's a library and pool table in part of the old house. Breakfast is superb with a vast selection of food, including everything you need for a full English breakfast! Unlimited tea or coffee at this meal. The choice of fresh fruit was amazing. Dinners were limited to 3 choices for those on package holidays, and the a la carte selection was expensive. Nouvelle cuisine still exists here! Meals beautifully served, but portions rather small. If you love flowering plants and trees then Quintas jardins do lago is for you. The gardens are lit at night which makes an evening stroll round a delight. There's a lonely swan on a pool and a friendly large tortoise, Colombo, who likes to see what's going on during his rambles round the lawns. I found the hotel's ambience just right for a peaceful and relaxing holiday.
