The beautiful cottage was wonderful, clean and the place magical! We were so lucky to find such an amazing spot with wonderful hosts just on the edge of the centre of Funchal making it so easy to navigate but also totally unique in that the surrounding area is mainly hotels and we felt like we were in the countryside with wonderful views and privacy . Truly an oasis and a real find!

We ha a wonderful stay. The place is wonderful, quiet, and nicely located in Funchal.

Lovely villa in a great location. Swimming pool was fabulous.

Le cadre exceptionnel avec les bananiers et les vignes, la piscine

 

We loved our stay at Stanford Cottages. The place was clean, quiet and we spent a lot of time chilling by the pool. Communication was one of the best ever I have seen across Airbnb. Before arriving a proper information docket was sent to us which included all information about the house, Funchal, Madeira, pharmacies, shopping, travel and tourism etc! We found this very professional. During the stay as well, Buffy was very responsive and available for questions or any issues. The heater in the bathroom wasn't working which she was able to get fixed on 31 December!!! Overall we loved our stay and will be back again.

 

Lovely traditional Madeira accommodation . Cottages in the grounds of a fabulous working Quinta. Hosts were very accommodating and helpful. The pool a real treat after walking all day. Surrounding area has a lot of great restaurants- we would love to return next year.

 

Ein außergewöhnlicher wunderschöner Ort, eine Oase und doch mitten in der Stadt, alles fußläufig erreichbar und doch fühlt man sich wie auf dem Land, sehr aufmerksame, charmante, großzügige Gastgeber. Wir haben uns fantastisch erholt, hatten alles, was man braucht. Wir kommen ganz sicher wieder.

What a fabulous find in Funchal with hosts who made aspect of our stay easy and comfortable. We were fortunate to research Casa das Vinhas with such glowing reviews and confident that our stay would combine the feeling of a working estate and country life in Funchal. It was a special return to the island as my partner had lived in Madeira for a number of years some time ago and our hosts made our stay memorable. The quality of accommodation and the flexible personable manner made it a pleasure and therefore really appreciate staying at Casa das Vinhas. Everything you see of the accommodation is as described, and is of a lovely quality. We were so comfortable it was like home from home. The ability to use the laundry and pool are an absolute bonus and we thoroughly enjoyed being in our cottage tripping out to Funchal and much further afield. Whether eating in or out there is a very good choice of options for Funchal in the locality and local bus stops within 300 metres either side of the road for those less energetic! Suffice to say we would recommend Casa dad Vinhas and absolutely look forward to returning there and to Madeira as soon as possible.

Le cadre exceptionnel avec les bananiers et les vignes, la piscine

Fabulous find within walking distance to Funchal. Charming, quiet, comfortable and full of character. Vines and vegetation surrounding you at every turn. A lovely pool catching the best of the sunshine, and a welcome treat after a long day walking around this diverse and natural island! Thanks so much Buffy and Frank!

Quinta Stanford is in the centre of the city of Funchal, capital of the island of Madeira. From the Quinta it is possible to walk to the areas of greatest tourist attraction in the city, the main hotels and restaurants located on Estrada Monumental. As a working Quinta it is extremely quiet and completely enclosed and surrounded by gardens, vineyards and banana plantations, which give it a spectacular "hacienda" air of the 19th century, which is what it is in its purest form. We stayed at Casa das Vinhas, a rustic ground floor house with stone walls. It consists of a fully equipped kitchen, dinning / living room, a bedroom with a huge bed, extremely comfortable mattress, and pillows at will. The bathroom with a shower, basin, and bidet. The outdoor patio to the house has a table with four chairs and an umbrella, providing what is necessary for breakfast/eating/dining outdoors under the vineyard and enjoyment of the tranquillity of the place. Alongside the house there is a large swimming pool (12 x 6 meters) in which we enjoyed swims early in the morning (before breakfast!) or at the end of the afternoon back from our "Levada" walks. Anyway, a dream vacation in a frankly unbeatable place. The attention and care of the owners, Frank and Buffy Zino, has been frankly special and we have enjoyed pleasant conversations, always with a special cordiality and respect for our privacy. This is our fourth trip to Madeira. We have previously stayed at other apartments but from now on we will look no further. There is no doubt in terms of location, facilities and friendliness of the owners. In summary "A luxury"

We had never been to Madeira before and booked Casa das Vinhas after much deliberation. We were not disappointed. The cottage is clean, the bed comfortable, the living accomodation is bright and the kitchen well equipped with very good cooking facilities, should you wish to cook. There is even a barbecue. The outdoor area is very spacious and the swimming pool is more than adequate. My husband and I had the full use of the pool to ourselves, very peaceful. We loved seeing the owners dogs, who were very friendly on occasion, and Frank and Buffy are very welcoming, helpful and discreet. It is a short walk down a hill to turn either left into the centre of Funchal and the port area, or right to the hotel strip, the first one on the main road is Reids Hotel, where you can book for a posh tea. There is a super market down the hill too. Turn towards the centre and you get an excellent meal at Kontiki's, steak on the stone, and a good pint at No2 Pub. Overall, an excellent base with peace and quiet, being amongst it all. We had a fab holiday. But, like all holidays in the heat, remember to take the sprays/creams in case you are bitten. We hope to return to this beautiful oasis, Pauline and Brian

Gazde deosebite, atente si calduroase

This villa is a fantastic place to stay. Walking distance of town and the marina, but it feels so secluded. The property has two other villas with a total maximum of 6 guests staying at anyone time. Private pool, walled property with banana trees and grape vines makes it a very unique destination and one I will return too ����

Everything we were looking for in a home-away-from-home in Funchal. The hosts were wonderful and welcoming, the accommodations charming and clean, and the property is beautiful.

We enjoyed everything about our 2 week stay at this charming property. The privacy of being surrounded by banana trees, the accommodations were cozy, clean and comfortable, and our host / owner Buffy made sure we had everything we needed and made us feel at home. We'll visit again as soon as international travel is safe and available.

Prachtige Quinta dicht bij het centrum. Heerlijk huisje, met alle voorzieningen. Prachtig zwembad, lekker voor de zomer! Vriendelijke eigenaresse, met 2 lieve hondjes!

A perfect tranquil finca set in Funchal. Beautiful grounds and lovely pool. The cottage we stayed in Was comfortable, clean and had all the amenities required for a pleasant stay. The owner was helpful and made us feel welcome, we would love to return to complete some more walks on this stunning island.

Lovely accommodation in a terrific location. Everything first class.

sehr gepflegt, freundlicher Empfang, gute Ausstattung

Set in the delightful grounds of a Quinta the cottage is well situated for access into Funchal. It is well furnished and appointed and the owners were most welcoming and helpful.

Set in the delightful grounds of a Quinta the cottage is well situated for access into Funchal. It is well furnished and appointed and the owners were most welcoming and helpful.

We loved the property & having a pool was a real luxury as we pretty much had it to ourselves the whole stay. Our cottage was lovely, had everything we needed & the grounds were really pretty. We didn't meet the owners until the end of our stay as they were away. A really nice couple who we instantly liked. If we ever go back which I'm sure we will we would definitely stay there again without a doubt. The location is great as it's away from the town but close enough to walk in. An added bonus was that the owners have 2 lovely dogs who we adored as we a huge animal lovers

Enter Casa das Vinhas through a door in a wall...all very Harry Potter! It is very magical inside the walls. Peaceful. But...it is a working Quinta! Bananas surround you. The owners live closeby; they greet you and bid you farewell..but are there if you need anything. They are very lovely. You have everything you need. We hired a car but it did not leave the driveway. We walked everywhere. Loads of lovely places to see and lots to do. Restaurants and cafes abound. Don't hesitate to book! You will have a fab time! Good travels. 

Peaceful location but within walking distance of everything Funchal has to offer. Very thoughtful and attentive hosts.

Although we only know a few places in Funchal we are sure that The Cottage must be one of the best. We had an unforgettable stay on the island in particular driven by the cottage both in its location and grounds - and most importantly our hosts . Everything was as described or better and the view from the cottage onto the grounds is simply amazing. Absolutely terrific hosts and their property offers something genuine and magical to visitors; a rare find where the original Madeiran culture meets modern needs. Situated in a quiet quarter in the town there is only a short walk to the sea, restaurants and city centre. The Island is really overwhelming with incredible landscapes and architecture. Thank you once again to our very kind hosts. Highly recommended and we would definitely stay again.

We had never been to Madeira before and booked Casa das Vinhas after much deliberation. We were not disappointed. The cottage is clean, the bed comfortable, the living accomodation is bright and the kitchen well equipped with very good cooking facilities, should you wish to cook. There is even a barbecue. The outdoor area is very spacious and the swimming pool is more than adequate. My husband and I had the full use of the pool to ourselves, very peaceful. We loved seeing the owners dogs, who were very friendly on occasion, and Frank and Buffy are very welcoming, helpful and discreet. It is a short walk down a hill to turn either left into the centre of Funchal and the port area, or right to the hotel strip, the first one on the main road is Reids Hotel, where you can book for a posh tea. There is a super market down the hill too. Turn towards the centre and you get an excellent meal at Kontiki's, steak on the stone, and a good pint at No2 Pub. Overall, an excellent base with peace and quiet, being amongst it all. We had a fab holiday. But, like all holidays in the heat, remember to take the sprays/creams in case you are bitten. We hope to return to this beautiful oasis, Pauline and Brian

Serendipity is the first word that comes to mind when thinking of our recent stay here. Frank and Buffy have created a wonderful retreat within the grounds of their stunning property. The cottage we stayed in was very well equipped, stylishly appointent and wonderfully clean with thoughtful touches. The pool area was a particular favourite bordered with many flowers and vines. Plenty of space to sit out for breakfast and the mandatory G and T in the evening. You never felt you were in the middle of a buzzing city. When you did want to ventre out of the gated property there it was, the vibrant friendly city of funchal. Great eating places a short walk away, a great bakery just down the hill for your daily bread and the must have custard tarts. All this was topped by the caring approach of Buffy and Frank. There when you needed them and not when you didnt. Fabulous. A rare and special find. Would love to keep this place a secret but that would be really mean to deprive everyone of something that is unique. A special place one had the good fortune to come across. Go there while you can , not going to stay a secret for long. The last word. Serendipity.

We stayed at Casa das Vinhas for one week and really enjoyed our stay. The accommodation was perfectly located for easy walking into Funchal centre and a variety of excellent restaurants, it had everything we needed for a comfortable stay and was very peaceful. We would recommend this accommodation. Recommended for: Sightseeing, Tourists without a Car, Age 55+, Romantic Getaway.

Stayed here for 5 nights in late October. the cottage was well equipped and comfortably furnished,with an outdoor dining area amongst the banana trees. The pool was clean and just the right temperature for cooling off,with plenty of loungers available. The cottage is ideally located,with many restaurants within a 5 minute walk,as well as two supermarkets. Upon arrival we were greeted by the owner,having been collected from the airport by Carlos. The bottle of Madeira was a welcome touch and the kitchen was already supplied with tea bags.

Really enjoyed our stay in Casa das Vinhas. Top quality accommodation, styled really nicely and comfortably. Large pool with lounge chairs, sunny outside seating area to dine in, well located in between Funchal city/Port area and the tourist zone/Lido. We managed well without a car but you need to be able to manage a steep walk home. We weren't really disturbed by the road but it was hot sleeping at night without any air conditioning. Only 2 other cottages so it never felt over-crowded. Well stocked facilities which made a great home from home for our stay.

This is the most perfect location. A scenic walk into Funchal takes about 15 mins which can take you through the fabulous gardens with some great sea views, it took us about 25 mins coming back as there are a few steepish hills to tackle but there is a bus stop near the gate if you prefer and we found local transport everywhere to be excellent. We were very impressed that once through the green door, the natural banana plantation setting for the cottages was like a being transported into another world and any traffic noise almost disappeared. The accommodation has been renovated to a very good standard and provides most things you could possibly want with an excellent sized swimming pool that, when we were there, almost felt like it was just for us. The bottle of Madeira wine and fresh fruit was very welcome and the only thing we thought lacking was books on the local area, flowers and wildlife, local bus service information and perhaps some books or leaflets on walking the levadas. There are so many restaurants to choose from to suit any taste you really are spoilt for choice and there is a patisserie and Spar shop nearby for your daily essentials. We found Buffy & Zino very welcoming and friendly hosts but not at all obtrusive. This is a very relaxing place to stay and we would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who likes peace and quiet together with the convenience of being close to everything. Thank you both for sharing your oasis in Funchal. David & Linda, Norfolk, UK

We thoroughly enjoyed our week in Madeira at the Casa das Vinhas. It was our first visit to the island and first time ever staying on a banana plantation! The cottage is quaint, clean, airy, comfortable and well equipped with everything you need. The sofa is so comfy to lounge on after a good days levada walking! The location is great as you are only a 15-20 min walk from the centre of Funchal and yet you have complete peace and quiet at the property. There are plenty of restaurants and a couple of little food stores nearby if you don't want to go into the centre. We would highly recommend the cottage and Madeira as a holiday destination. The levada walks are fantastic and easy to follow, we saw whales on our boat trip, its easy to get about on the local buses and by taxi, the local food and wine is great - in short a wonderful holiday, we'll be back.

We run a 4star b&b near Shrewsbury UK and know all about setting standards.This cottage was a winter escape for us and it certainly fitted the bill for us.Everything is within easy reach including a local Spa shop and tea shop .You can walk into Funchal in about 15 minutes via a lovely park overlooking the ocean.Or if you prefer there is a bus stop outside the gates to the property. The cottage,although fairly central is in fact a banana plantation and is set in about 8 acres of land.The cottage has a very well equipt kitchen and with comfortable sofas to relax in the evening.It also has a satellite dish which means you can pick up all the UK channels if you wish. The area is quiet and peaceful which certainly helped us to relax before our return to the UK.Well done Buffy.

I must admit to a certain amount of anxiety on two counts. We had stayed at Casa do Feitor last year and I was concerned that a second stay could not match the surprising comfort of the first, and that perhaps the standards had slipped a bit with time. I needn't have worried. This is a remarkable property. I provides everything that we could wish for in a holiday home. Yes, it is clean, yes, it is very well maintained, yes, it is equipped to a very high standard, and yes it is very well located, being within walking distance of the centre of wonderful Funchal and yet having a privacy that you would only expect in a much more rural setting. But over and above all that there is a ambience to the place; a feeling of being in the right place. And this is accomplished without any feeling of being fussed over; Buffy is always available without being intrusive. I can recommend Quinta Vista Alegre cottages without reservation; the perfect context in which to explore Madeira.

We stayed for two weeks in March. The cottage is clean, spacious, airy, comfortable, south facing and delightfully situated in a private estate. The owners are very pleasant and helpful. Their Estate is a pleasant 15 minute walk, all downhill, into town. If you plan to rent a car get a small one as the entrance to the drive is narrow and manoeuvering within the car park tricky. If you plan to do a lot of cooking get up to date with the concept of combi microwave ovens. We hope to return.

Hidden behind private electric gates was the most quaint stone cottage where we spent a blissful 10 nights. The accomodation was fantastic with everything you need for a wonderful self catering break. The bed is one of the most comfortable we have ever slept in!! The owners were very discreet and on hand when you needed them, they were on holiday during some of our stay so we had the Casa to ourselves which was definately an extra treat! Though they live on the property and for 5 of the nights there were other guests there, we felt as if we had the pool and patio terrace to ourselves - we were very lucky to have chosen the time to go that we did, though even with other guests there it was fine. The pool is gorgeous, crisp and fresh and large enough to have a proper swim in everyday with lovely comfortable sun loungers to lay on. The Casa das Vinhas is located at the top of a slight hill and Funchal is definately best discovered on foot so if you enjoy walking this is a wonderful destination. At the bottom of the hill is a paper shop, coffee bar, pizza restaurant and a fabulous ice cream parlour (the coconut and passion fruit sorbet is to die for!). The food and drink in Funchal is out of this world and a "treat" trip to Villa Cipriani is a definate romantic recommendation. We also had a magnificent seafood lovers dream of the seafood platter in the Case Madeiranese - washed down with sangria - utterly gorgeous! All in all we heartily recommend the Casa das Vinhas for a holiday which is very reasonable in price considering the feeling of privacy, comfort and luxury you have in the accomodation. The climate is wonderful with warm sunny days and cool evenings, ideal for the 15 minute walk into the harbour area and beyond. Thank you to the owners for providing us with the base for a lifetime of fabulous memories from your romantic holiday getaway. If we had one idea for you to further enhance the stay it would be to offer a welcome hamper (even at extra cost) with bread (maybe Bola de Caco), milk, ham, tomatoes, cheese, a couple of beers, water, coca cola that sort of thing so you have the basics to start you off, maybe a few extra toilet rolls. Other than that a perfect stay - thanks again and we hope to return one day.

A delightful cottage with a lovely pool. We were provided with everything to make our stay comfortable and enjoyable. The location is perfect, an easy walk into Funchal, also a regular bus service from the gate, yet a realy tranquil setting amongst vines and banana groves.The owners were keen to make sure we had all we needed to make our stay enjoyable and maintain the property and grounds to a very high standard. We have no hesitation in recommending this property. We found it to be "a little bit of Heaven on Earth"