Hotel Dengan Bar di Madeira, Portugal

This was a very decent and affordable hotel — nothing fancy or luxurious, but it covers the basics quite well. It’s clean, efficient, and does the job for travelers looking for a simple place to stay. One of the best surprises was that if you’re lucky enough to get a room with ocean views, it really adds a lot of value to the overall experience. That said, there were some clear drawbacks. The room itself felt extremely tight, especially for two people with a couple of suitcases. There was very limited space to move around, which made things feel a bit cramped and uncomfortable. The bathroom was also quite small, and while functional, it lacked the comfort you’d hope for in a multi-day stay. One highlight was the balcony. Though the interior space was tight, the room had a good-sized balcony where we enjoyed golden hour and sunset views — that part was genuinely lovely and added a sense of openness and relaxation we didn’t get inside the room. The most significant downside for me was the parking situation. The hotel only has three official parking spots, which are always full. Given the area is busy and surrounded by in-demand places like grocery stores, cafés, restaurants, and a laundromat, street parking is very limited and expensive. I had to park at a nearby garage, which cost 10 euros overnight. As for the rooftop, the amenities there weren’t particularly impressive — nothing that would stand out compared to more upscale hotels. But once again, the ocean and sunset views from the rooftop are stunning and give you a brief illusion of being at a five-star resort. All in all, this hotel offers good value for money, especially if you’re not planning to spend too much time in the room. It’s a solid base for exploring the area, as long as you’re okay with a few compromises in comfort and convenience.

Cool Ronaldo/football themed hotel. Staff were excellent, rooms - modern and quiet. The hotel is about 15-20 mins walk to the city life. You get a free ticket to CR7 museum with your stay (worth €5).

We were pleasantly surprised by our stay at the Valley View Hotel Encumeada and honestly would have preferred spending more days here over some of the other hotels we stayed at on the island. The front desk staff were incredibly accommodating and available around the clock, always ready to help with anything we needed. While the rooms are a bit outdated, they had everything we needed — a spacious bathroom, comfortable beds, and a charming balcony to relax on. The property also offers plenty of parking and is in an ideal location, very central to many of the island’s most popular hikes. The breakfast was average; it was the same offering each day and much of it would be gone early thanks to the hikers, but the coffee machine was great and always hit the spot. Overall, we would definitely recommend adding extra days at this hotel to your itinerary — you won’t regret it. One last detail worth mentioning is how clean the room was, something my girlfriend specifically appreciated. My only small criticism would be the pillows — each side only had one small, fairly uncomfortable pillow, so that could definitely be improved.