I think it happens just once in a life that one enters into a heavenly place to stay with incredible beauty, sophistication and friendliness for a price that doesnt break the bank.
THIS is that place. I am SOO happy to have found it and utterlty amazed that all week I have been staying here alone, although there are 3 rooms.
One does not need a car, as it is only 8 minutes on bus 20 or 21 to Monte from 31 Janeiro street (the busstop on opposite side of the big yellow and red building with tower). It goes every 20 minutes or so. On gets best off in front of the mini-mercado SUPER HABITUR (the stop after a shop with "Frutaria, pastelaria....) and walks back 200 meters, with great view to the left.
The villa is a dream to die for. It has ONLY very old antiques, painstakingly collected by the very nice and humble owner (mainly at auctions). On the ground level is the big room for breakfast (quite good with all you need) and in the back the FREE internet computer on which I type this now. The 3 rooms are on the 1st floor. There's a lounge with TV (some film channels, plus RTL and BBC Entertainment) and a fridge for own things from the supermarket and a minibar with wines for 8 euro, Madeira wine 10 euro, beer and water. Also tourist information and the bus timetables. Add 10 minutes to the times from Monte.
Biggest room is on the right. It has a double bed (120 cm so not too big but that's how beds were in the old days). That bed is soft enough for me. I slept like a rose and I always need SOFT beds. a 2-seater sofa, table, big bathroom with bath, a heater in room as in all 3 rooms. To the left of that lounge is a smaller room with 4-poster canopy bed and chairs and bathroom, etc.
Next to that room is a twin bedroom ,small, now no seating area but owner's daughter might change that and put the twins in the big room.
The heaters are useful in winter. No TVs in rooms but who needs that? Quiet place and rooms and no sounds from next room.
As said, all the villa is crammed with antiques so also the rooms. It feels like being in a museum.
One can stare at art forever. There is even a nice chapel (opened on request) that can be used for weddings, Very nice altar.
Very nice garden all around with many sorts of flowers, great view down to Funchal and the cruise ships. 3 cats in the house but hardly noticed them but enjoyed them when I did see. There are 4 family members living in the house currently but I hardly heard them either. Walls and floors are very thick. I think that keeps heat out in summer.
The special thing is the great friendlliness of owners. I could talk with daughter Regina who takes care of the business, speaks excellent English as if she is British and has her own bookbinding workplace in separate building. This friendliness of whole family is something I am going to cherish for a long time as it made this 13th trip so extra special.
It is SOOOO different from being treated in hotels in the usually distant way.
It has to be said that Quinta da Fonte is a very romantic place to stay so best suited for couples.
Chances are that you will also be only guests but that is not what I hope for this great family as the B&B is very important income for them This is a place that should have a 6-month waiting time for a free room and fully would deserve that.
If you also will stay or have stayed here, DO write a review as they ask by a Tripadvisor card.
Everybody with need for something very special should come here.
They said they had a guest who came from Reid's but liked it here better and so do I.
I always dreamed of staying in Palacio de Seteais in Sintra, as I love palaces but this Quinta has it all also, at very low price and was the perfect alternative.
