Hotel Belo Sol, Funchal

This is a modern, medium sized appart-hotel, very airy common parts, which some architectural thought was spent on. Whilst the hotel is inexpensive, the rooms are still pleasant, though it is definitely 3 star, not 4 star. The rooms are large, two single beds, small TV, with a small kitchen area - sink, hob, refridgerator. The bathroom is OK, with bath/shower. We did not take breakfast - but from what we saw it was only rolls, cheese and jam. The staff are very friendly and helpful - indeed everyone we met on Madeira was. The location is around 20-30 minutes walk west from the centre of Funchal, at the Lido - it is just behind the Monumential Lido hotel. The location is OK, set back from the main road, so not too noisy. I'm glad it wasn't any further out, as some of the newer hotels are. There is a supermarket close by, and 10 or so tourist restaurants - pizzerias, chinese, madeiran. The Lido was at the front, but was closed in December when we visited. It would be too cold to swim in the sea then. The swimming pool is reasonably small, circular affair, unheated - a bit cold, when we visted in December 2003. I jumped in a few times, but if a large swimming pool is important to you, choose somewhere else. Overall, whilst this is no luxury hotel, it is pleasant, good value for money, reasonable location and we enjoyed our stay here.