Alto Lido Hotel

"We loved every minute, we upgraded to a sea/pool view the rooms are spacious, modern and clean, a bottle of bubbly was in our room on arrival then another for our silver anniversary then a cake for my birthday this made our stay just perfect, staff are so friendly, plenty of choice for breakfast the tale restraunt was superb its a shame it wasnt busier as this was the best meal of our stay at a reasoble price, i would highly recommend and would have no hesitation coming back, a big thankyou to all the staff from Mr & Mrs Mellors, England"

"We arrived at Hotel Alto Lido around 11:30 AM to check in. While waiting behind another couple, we overheard reception tell them their room would be ready at 2:00 PM. However, when we stepped up to the desk, we were told our check-in wouldn't be until 2:30 PM, with no explanation given as to why ours was delayed. To add to the confusion, a short while later we overheard yet another couple being told 2:00 PM as well. When we asked about getting a snack, we were told to head up to the lifts, but reception gave no directions or indication as to where the lifts were actually located, leaving us wandering around lost for a bit. We did eventually find the cafe near the bar which was nice. At 2:00 PM, we returned to reception to check if the room happened to be ready early. They mentioned it was taking longer because it's a big room. Finding our room was a mission in itself. The hotel's layout and signage are very confusing you have to take one lift to the second floor, walk around trying to find a separate set of lifts, and then take those up to the higher floors. We were walking around aimlessly until a maid kindly helped us find our way. The signage definitely needs improvement. Once we finally got in, the room fell well below standard. The room feels very dated with mismatched furniture. The woodwork and doors show visible wear and tear, with paint chipping off at the bottom and edges. The shower fixture felt cheap, though the water pressure was actually quite good. However, the plumbing under the sink uses an exposed flexible corrugated pipe, which gives the bathroom a budget, unfinished look. There was no iron or ironing board in the room. When requested, they brought up an ironing board that looked extremely worn and dated (like it was from 1982!). The TV mounted in the wall recess was far too small for the space. Additionally, you couldn't control the air conditioning it was locked at 20°C and couldn't be adjusted. Sleeping comfortably was nearly impossible. The fridge in the room is loud and constantly turns on, waking you up. The wardrobe light is on a motion sensor that triggers automatically even when there is no movement near it. Soundproofing is virtually non-existent, you can hear everything your neighbors are doing. On one night at 2:00 AM, our next-door neighbors returned drunk, crying, throwing up, and pacing in high heels until my husband had to shout at them to shut up. During the day, napping is equally difficult as housekeeping staff are very noisy, banging around and having loud conversations in the hallway right outside the door, even with a "Do Not Disturb" sign on. We wanted to use the sauna, which costs €5 per person (which is fine). However, finding the indoor pool area was difficult as it’s poorly signposted. When we reached the front desk there, it was completely unmanned with just a sign telling guests to dial '9' for information. I dialed '9' and spoke to reception, who told me we had to book in advance just to use the sauna space (which usually only applies to treatments). She then brushed us off, saying they were in the middle of checkout and asked if I could come back later. We ended up not using the sauna at all. On a positive note, the indoor pool is warmer than the outdoor pool, and there are plenty of spots to sit and lounge around if that’s The location is very convenient with plenty of places nearby. Getting to and from the marina via Bolt costs around €5 to €7. (Avoid taking a regular taxi from the marina rank back to the hotel they charged a flat fee of €15, so stick to ride-share apps instead). Drink prices at the hotel are okay. We didn't eat at the hotel restaurant as it felt a bit too pretentious for us, choosing instead to eat out at local spots. However, the hotel bar was fine, and they host live music every night with different acts, which was decent. There is also a nice shared library area where I picked up a book to read. Overall, calling Hotel Alto Lido a 4-star hotel is really pushing it. Having recently stayed at a 4-star resort in Gran Canaria (Club Maspalomas), which was head and shoulders above this hotel in terms of style, service, and quality, Hotel Alto Lido simply does not measure up. Between the confusing layout, inconsistent check-in times, poor customer service, outdated rooms, and constant noise disruptions, it fell far short of our expectations."

"Wonderful stay at Hotel Alto Lido! We had a fantastic stay at Hotel Alto Lido! The hotel is very well located in the Lido area of Funchal, making it a great base for exploring Madeira. Our room was absolutely enormous, very comfortable and had a lovely sea view. We stayed on a half-board basis and were really impressed with both breakfast and dinner. The buffets were incredibly varied, with excellent quality food, plenty of Portuguese flavours and something different to enjoy every day. We particularly loved the Madeiran-themed evening! The hotel itself is beautiful, tastefully decorated and very well maintained. Both the indoor and outdoor pools were lovely, the rooms were cleaned to a high standard, and all the staff were friendly, attentive and welcoming. We also really enjoyed the evening entertainment. Although there aren’t many activities specifically aimed at children, the hotel is definitely family-friendly. The only minor downsides were the slightly expensive drinks at the hotel bar and the low water pressure in the shower. On the plus side, the hairdryer was excellent! Overall, a wonderful experience and a hotel we would happily return to. Highly recommended!"