Ann offers you the opportunity to use her lovely timeshare for two weeks at cost (no profit to be made, just good use of the apartment). Go any time during 2024 (except for Mon 2nd Sept to Mon 16th Sept). Your choice of weeks will always be subject to availability, but normally there is no problem securing your desired holiday weeks. The use of the apartment has to be; arrive and leave on a Monday to get the full use of the two weeks available to you. If you wish to leave on the second Saturday to make a shorter 12 day holiday, this is possible but the price remains the same.
The breakdown of the cost is: 700 GB Pounds to cover the maintenance fee paid by Ann each year for her timeshare. This amount is payable to Ann directly. Then 150 Euros (approx. 130 GB Pounds) is payable to the hotel on check-in for the change of names/weeks. This is an administration fee. Therefore, a total cost for the apartment is approximately 830 GB Pounds (depending on the exchange rate at the time of checking into the hotel). The approximate cost of flights is 350 GB Pounds on EasyJet from Gatwick with speedy boarding, a booked seat, 20kg case in the hold, smaller case above your head in the aeroplane plus a small bag under the seat in front of you. There are flights on Saturdays from Funchal to Gatwick if required.
With flights, the approximate total cost to stay in the Pestana Grand 5 star seafront hotel in a self catering studio apartment with balcony and exceptional sea views is just 1,500 GB Pounds.
The hotel is located at the most southerly point of the island and has the best weather on the island. It is in sight of, and walking distance very close to one of the largest sea cliffs in the world. Probably the views from the room and pool are the best to be had on the island. The hotel is still in Funchal city but, at the Western end which is more modern. So there is a big shopping mall and numerous restaurants close by (or a short walk away). Therefore you do not have to go into Funchal old town to eat or shop. There are supermarkets close by too and the smaller one will deliver your shopping to the hotel for free so you do not have to carry water, milk and heavy items. Just take away from the shop what needs to go in the fridge and the bell boys will put the rest in your room when it is delivered. You do not have to wait in the room for your shopping to arrive, just carry on enjoying your day. The mini supermarket that delivers is superb and seems to have everything, to include the very best bakery and patisserie!
Sarah, Ann’s daughter will phone the hotel for you to reserve the weeks you want, request anything special you want in the room and she will also book transfers from the airport for you. You book your return transfer to the airport in Owner Relations the Saturday morning before departure.
The apartment is available from Monday to Monday. However, if you wish to leave early on the last Saturday of the two weeks, this is not a problem.
EasyJet fly from Gatwick on a Monday and also on a Saturday along with British Airways. Flight costs do not vary much throughout the year. They are normally about 350 GB Pounds return per person.
So the total cost of the two week holiday in a 5 star hotel (minus spending money), is approximately XXXX which is exceptional value for money considering the apartment has self-catering facilities and a living area which all the other standard hotel room do not have.
The apartment is a very comfortable and spacious studio. If for any reason you wish to upgrade to a larger 1 bed apartment, this is possible, at a cost of 30 Euros per night.
The studio apartment has:
♦ One spacious room with a bathroom off the entrance hallway and a balcony beyond the living accommodation overlooking the sea and gardens.
♦ The bed is a large king or separated for twin beds. You can ask for toppers to soften the mattresses if preferred.
♦ In the living area is a sofa that pulls out to make a sofa bed, an armchair, a table with three chairs and a coffee table. There are numerous lamps and plenty of lighting.
♦ There is a built in wardrobe and you can ask for as many hangers as you would like.
♦ The kitchen is small but excellently equipped for preparing all types of meals. If you wish, you can ask for a small electric oven to be put into the room. This can be stored on a unit in the bedroom area when not in use to free up space for cooking in the kitchen. There is a new and very good induction hob with two rings, a microwave, kettle, toaster, coffee maker, juicer and more. There is pretty much every utensil needed to cook good meals. As an example, chopping board, pots, pans, frying pans, knives, a box grater, garlic press, salad bowls, juicer and the list goes on. Salt and pepper is included and you only have to ask for more if you need it.
♦ There is a safe for valuables.
♦ The balcony has a small round table with two chairs for dining and two lounger chairs with leg rests for soaking up the sun. The apartment has sun from sunrise to approximately 3:30 pm which is great because you can have breakfast and lunch in the sun. Then when it gets too hot during the afternoon, the balcony is in shade. Also, the balcony is completely protected from the prevailing winds that can turn up from time to time in this part of the Funchal coastline. The wind is great because when the rest of the coast can on occasions be in cloud, the Pestana Grand is in full sunshine!
♦ The apartment is cleaned every day of the week and the chambermaids are there all day and evening if you should require something.
♦ 4 pool towels are in the room, 4 bath robes and different pillow types.
♦ Complementary shower gel, shampoo, hand soap and washing up liquid are provided.
♦ If you want a bath mat, this will be put in your room on request, as will a suction hand grab rail in the shower over the bath.
♦ There is a hairdryer in the bathroom connected to the wall.
Amenities at the hotel:
♦ Two magnificent swimming pools. One has two jacuzzi beds and the other jacuzzi jets. The pools are perfect if you love to swim for exercise as they are large and have deeper ends. The pools are not heated but we find them refreshing, especially as the climate is tropical, therefore at times, humid. There is also walk-in down a slope or lazy steps into both pools with hand rails.
♦ An outside bar and bandstand provides food, drink and entertainment.
♦ A winter lounge bar is open in the winter months when the evenings are cooler.
♦ There are two happy hours… one is earlier in the evening and the second is later in the evening. All drinks except cocktails are half price.
♦ In the lounge bar are two TV’s that are always tuned to the sports channels so anything from football to motor racing can be watched if desired.
♦ There is a cosy lounge with desk if you need to do work and would prefer not to work in your room.
♦ WiFi is free throughout the entire hotel and around the pool. Of course, there is WiFi in the room and on the balcony.
♦ There is an indoor pool that has a swim-in-swim-out situation and jacuzzi jets in the pool. Around the pool are very comfortable loungers with cushions for relaxing and up a few steps you find a hot Jacuzzi bath.
♦ Behind the pool is the SPA where you can have all kinds of treatments. All charged differently.
♦ Also behind the pool is a fully equipped gym.
♦ There are activities you can join in with such as yoga in the garden, stretching in the gym, aqua aerobics in the pool and much more.
♦ The hotel has 4 restaurants and if you wish, you can book a dine-around package if going out to eat does not appeal to you. (We personally always eat in the room or dine out so we cannot give reviews on the food served in the various restaurants).
♦ There is a games room for playing pool or board games. Ask reception for the balls and queues and chess pieces etc.
♦ Off the garden is a games room with full size tennis table and other activities for younger children.
♦ Using your key card, down a small flight of steps you can access the coastal promenade. You can walk West for several kilometers and reach a pebble beach, then a black sandy beach, then a broad walk that takes you to a fishing village. This is a fabulous walk.
♦ Walk East along the coastal promenade will bring you a quarter of the way into Funchal old town. The promenade is not flat. There have hills and dips. It is superb for exercise if that is what you enjoy. There are cafes, restaurants and tea houses along the promenade.
♦ Take the top road from the hotel and most of it is pedestrianised and this is a flat route to a lot of restaurants and only one downhill part into Funchal.
♦ Owner Relations will organise a bus pass for you or grab a taxi because they are everywhere you need them to be.
Outside the hotel:
♦ For the more fun loving, you can pick up a fully charged electric scooter from virtually every street corner and about 200 meters from the hotel you will find the first bank of electric scooters. There are cycle and scooter lanes everywhere.
♦ Sarah will give you hints and tips about the best restaurants near to the hotel. Also great value for money restaurants in the old town that you would never find without being told where they are! You can eat every kind of cuisine from local food with local people, to fish restaurants that both locals and tourists alike enjoy, fine dining, Indian, Japanese, Italian and the list goes on. These restaurants have been tried and tested for 19 years and they won’t disappoint.
♦ There is also a really nice family business that does different kinds of wildlife watching on the sea from their catamaran or from their fast rib which is great fun!
♦ Of course there are all the famous gardens to visit, Monte high above Funchal, the cable cars and what Madeira is known for… lavada walks. More recently added are 4 X 4 off road trips as well as abseiling down waterfalls. There is something for everyone!
So, speak to Ann or Sarah and we will get everything booked for you. We have weeks free because of not using them during the Covid years and due to illness. All we want is for nice people to have the opportunity to enjoy what has already been paid for and not let the weeks go to waste. This is not a money making exercise.
Email Sarah (Ann’s daughter): sarah.david.rick@gmail.com
