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Pool

If you love LOTS of unbendable rules and restrictions you will love this place.
From the B***h (Liliane Rodriguez)who runs the breakfasts with her militant rules to the unusable pools ( outside very cold and inside overly chlorinated in a dungeon basement) to the sauna steam room only to be used between 5-9 p.m. ( most people are having dinner out at that time). And oh don’t forget to call 20 mins ahead so they can turn it on. To their lumpy pillows, bare minimum kitchen. I had to make a pasta salad in three stages, washing my dishes in between. See my pics of the  tea towel and knife  delivered to my room. (I called the front desk as  a sharp knife was not provided and an extra t-towel was needed and this is what they delivered.)

If you want to use the pool table you will have to pay 5 euros for 1 hour.
Not to mention if you actually use the robe they put on the bed $ or the safe $… do i hear nickel and dimming?

Lights in the main areas are on sensors and often they don’t come on or not until you have walked in near darkness for 1/2 the long hallway or stairs.(very dangerous).
The gym is very uninviting with old equipment that has twisted cables.

I was staying for a month. They held a managers cocktail reception on week 3 and failed to invite me and a bunch of other people. When asked they said I had the do not disturb on…isn’t that what voicemail is for?

If you are unlucky enough to face the banana farm, then you will have to listen to a rooster, a dog that barks non stop and  a mentally ill guy who squats at the farm at night and screams his head off. So don’t think about sleeping with those windows open to enjoy the beautiful night air.

Although I personally did not experience this, I spoke to 5 different people who told me they had ants in their room.

The location is over a 1 hour walk to old town or 25 minutes plus on the bus  not 15 as some say. Sometimes the bus doesnt show or passes by on the way back because its too full.

After staying here for a month I only encountered two staff members who were pleasant and smiled and were willing to have a pleasant exchange which  were the cleaning lady from Venezuela (Marisol) and the young male  bar tender.( sorry didnt get his name)Everyone else was sullen and seemed annoyed when you asked for anything,as if you had interrupted their day.

Need I say more?  Book somewhere else my friends….

Nothing Golden about this Residence

We had a beautiful view from our balcony and the food was very good in the restaurant. Although our room was clean, a strong urine smell was evident near the toilet constantly.  Our hand shower was broken and it took two different days to have it replaced.  Kitchen seemed well stocked although we didn’t actually cook and we were told the power is cut off for all cooktops at 9pm.
Mattresses need replacing and pillows are the worst we’ve ever had. We had to pay a daily rate for a safe ( I haven’t paid for one  in years).  The Aircon worked great and although it was cool at night, we had to close the bedroom window so as not to hear a crazy man from the property beside the hotel screaming in the dead of night every single night of our stay. A rooster and barking dog were our daytime audio.
The outdoor pool was wind whipped most times and the water was cold.  Indoor pool in is a tiled basement.  Not very inviting. Don’t expect a warm jacuzzi.
The female front desk staff are all rather rude, there was always a lineup of people and the signage, halls, different levels and elevators are a total maze to decipher.
Enjoyed the quiet location away from the busy town centre, on two bus routes and only a 5 minute walk for groceries and to one of the few malls in Funchal.  Lovely restaurants nearby and easy access to the promenade and pools in the sea.

Needs Upgrades and Happy Faces

We stayed at this hotel at the end of February for ten days. Appreciating we all have different expectations during our holidays our stay here was a wonderful experience.
We stayed in block C - Which is closest to the outside pool and gardens. Our apartment was quite large and well furnished/equipped and came with a side sea view. We decided to go self catering which allowed us much more freedom to explore Madeira. We also had a balcony with a good sized table and four decent chairs! We sat here most evenings watching the spectacular sunsets! [usually with a glass of locally produced wine].
We found the hotel to be very quiet most nights apart from the occasional dog barking in the distance. It was not a serious distraction and was beyond the control of the hotel management. It certainly did not distract me from my slumber!
The hotel gardens are spectacular with plenty of seating and amazing views of the coastline. Bar staff regularly visit to take orders for drinks! No need to walk to the bar inside the hotel. Plenty of free sunbeds and parasols available for those wishing to spend the day sunbathing!
We found the reception staff both friendly and helpful.
The beach at Praia Formosa is just a short walk from the hotel and like most beaches on volcanic islands is dark in colour with lots of stones and shingle. You can also walk along the beach all the way to the picturesque fishing village of 
 Câmara de Lobos if you wish. However, when we tried in February the trail was closed and we had to walk back to the hotel. I suggest you check to see if it is now open before making the journey! If it is you can always take the bus.
For the more adventurous you can walk from the hotel to Funchal along a very attractive trail that follows the coastline. It takes about thirty to forty five minutes with plenty of benches along the way.
Alternatively, you can catch a bus from outside the hotel that takes you to the central bus station in Funchal. They are frequent and cost about two euros per person each way. [as of February 2024]
Shopping is easy! If you walk out from the hotel turn left and within a few hundred yards you will find a large Continente supermarket. It has everything you need at very fair prices. The food is fresh especially the fruit and vegetables. Try the fish counter - the selection is amazing and very cheap. This is our favourite supermarket throughout Portugal. Alternatively, if you turn right on leaving the hotel along Estrada Monumental you will quickly come to a shopping centre that has many retailers including: C&A, Zara and Pingo Doce - another supermarket with a wide selection of groceries on offer at reasonable prices.
Local wine is very cheap and excellent quality. You can buy a bottle at the supermarket for less than 5 euros. If you are a smoker I suggest you purchase your tobacco on the flight over. The selection is very limited in Madeira and rolling tobacco is mainly local brands that you will never have heard of previously. Also remember most shops and attractions are closed on Sundays!
Take plenty of Euros with you - most small shops and businesses will only take cash!
Madeira is a wonderful place to visit and Funchal has many attractions for all the family. The locals are very friendly and the island is very safe for tourists!
We had a wonderful holiday and the Golden Residence is a fantastic location to base your holiday. We enjoyed every minute and will return again to this wonderful hotel. If you choose to visit Madeira have a great holiday!

Great Holiday - Great Hotel

Our 2nd visit to this fabulous hotel on this beautiful island.  The staff are excellent, so friendly and cannot do enough for you.  Everything is so clean and the views from block C are fantastic.  We had the indoor pool and hot tub all to ourselves one afternoon which was lovely.  Great facilities and a perfect holiday

Perfect stay at this beautiful hotel

We stayed here as a group of 14. The hotel exceeded our expectations! We all had side sea view rooms in block C, Spacious, comfortable, clean rooms with bonus of a fridge and kettle. Breakfast and dinner buffets were great, there was even porridge!! Plenty of choice, even for vegetarians. Staff were professional and helpful , special mention to the restaurant manager who was so friendly and cheerful, organised a group table for us for dinner and  made sure we had excellent service. 
The spotlessly clean pool and surrounding grounds were the perfect place to relax with a stunning  view. 
Easy to exchange tokens for pool towels at reception. 
Location was perfect, easy bus ride or walk along the lido promenade to Funchal. We all loved our stay and cannot fault this hotel.

Fabulous Hotel

This modern hotel is located in a prime location on Estrada Monumental and offers a relaxing atmosphere with avant-garde interiors and a modern style design. The attractive grounds feature a garden and spectacular views of the Atlantic. Guests will find restaurants and shops only 500 m from the hotel, while nightclubs are 3 km away, as is the centre of Funchal. The promenade, located next to the hotel, features views of one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe, Cape Girão.

You will find the ''Clean & Safe'' Seal certification duly implemented in our hotel, together with a protocol with measures designed to minimize risks of contagion.

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Golden Residence