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The Pestana Carlton Madeira is a luxurious and charming 5-star hotel in the city of Funchal, on the island Madeira with views of the sea, garden, swimming pool or Funchal bay. It's only 10 minutes on foot from the city centre, with a private car park available for a fee. It features two enormous outdoor saltwater swimming pools, direct access to the Atlantic ocean, and a dive centre where you can experience your first underwater adventure and take boat excursions. For deeper relaxation, you can take advantage of all of the services available at the Spa, including the 25-foot indoor swimming pool and relaxation rooms where you can enjoy a Magic Spa treatment. The hotel features Wi-Fi, four restaurants and two bars.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Mountain View
Marina View
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish, German and 2 more
Location
Largo António Nobre No. 1, Funchal, Madeira 9004-531 Portugal
Name/address in local language
Pestana Carlton Madeira Premium Ocean Resort
4.3 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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The Pestana Carlton Madeira Premium Ocean Resort is lauded for its cleanliness and prime location near Funchal center, with guests enjoying the convenience and sea proximity. Though the rooms offer stunning views and ample space, some travelers suggest they could benefit from updates and maintenance. While the hotel's atmosphere and extensive amenities, such as multiple pools and sea access, are generally appreciated, there are remarks about the need for modernization.
Friendly staff members receive commendation for their professionalism, but guests have reported operational glitches. Noise from traffic and nightlife is a concern for some, especially in rooms facing the city. Opinions on value are divided, with praise for the views and cost-effectiveness on one hand, and on the other, criticism regarding hidden costs and doubts about the hotel's 5-star rating.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Outdated
Rooms
Dated
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Mixed
Noise level
Noisy
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Abundant
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Good location - 15 mins downhill to the town centre, 10 mins flat in the opposite direction to more restaurants. Big advantage is being able to access the sea via steps. Two large outdoor pools plus a 25m indoor one for serious swimming. Breakfast is standard large hotel buffet. Rooms seem OK, our suite was large with sea view but slightly dated. The system for pool towels needs changing so they can be swapped. Biggest issue was poor wifi access - we often had better connection to the adjacent Reids hotel. Staff are generally efficient and courteous.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Duarte Jesus, Guest Services / Front Office at Pestana Carlton Madeira Premium Ocean Resort
Responded Sep 17, 2024
Dear Mr. Brighton9, We were delighted to hear that your recent stay at Pestana Carlton Madeira was delightful and that you thoroughly enjoyed your stay. Our team would like to thank you for your very kind feedback. Many thanks for choosing Pestana Carlton Madeira for your holiday. We look forward to hosting you again soon at our hotel. Kind regards, Florinda Coelho Unit's Manager
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Our stay was excellent and, in particular, we found the staff very friendly, helpful and intent on solving problems. To add some context to this review is the fact that last year, we had a splendid stay at the Savoy Palace and we had some qualms in the first instance about staying at the Pestana Carlton. Our reason for choosing the Pestana Carlton over the Savoy Palace was based on the fact that their prices for rooms with sea views had increased significantly and we had an option to stay in a suite at the Pestana Carlton and still save money. In the circumstances, to compare the two hotels seems rather unfair given the cost differential. However, I think that on reflection, the Pestana Carlton came out ahead on a number of fronts. Firstly, the views from our two balconies were stunning and gave us the added bonus of having a grandstand view of a stunning Reids Hotel firework display. Secondly, the range of pool options is far superior to the Savoy and thirdly, the staff were even more friendly and helpful than those at the Savoy.
The standards set were exemplified by Diana Martins and illustrated in the two examples below.
We had enjoyed the chocolates on our pillow for the majority of our stay and when these did not appear on the final two nights, I queried with reception what had happened. I was told that supplies had run out and, although disappointed, I accepted the explanation only to find an hour later that some delicious truffles and strawberries were delivered to our room as a result of her intervention. The act of walking the extra mile as she did in that case, was one of the highlights of our stay. I had also been impressed when snags and issues were raised on day 2 of our stay and were immediately resolved. In particular, this involved fitting two new shower heads. When Diana called several days later to ensure that all was well, I felt that this was another example of walking the extra mile.
Our only complaint was the quality of service in the "Pub" where, on our second visit, we waited for fifteen minutes being ignored, before giving up and leaving. They were probably very short staffed, but that was not a good experience.
Despite that, I would like to end on a positive note. We are clients with very high standards and we thank all the team at the Pestana Carlton for living up to those standards.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Maria da Paz Garcia, General Manager at Pestana Carlton Madeira Premium Ocean Resort
Responded Oct 3, 2024
Dear Guest, Greetings and thank you for your words of praise! I am delighted to read your review and for recognising the service we strive to deliver to all our guests. I will be happy to share your comments with the team. I look forward to having you back for another memorable experience with us. Kind regards, Florinda Coelho Unit's Manager
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I stayed at this hotel for 7 nights and it was a great choice for both sightseeing and chilling out days, the hotel is in a great location. You can walk alongside the promenade and end up at the cable car station to Monte palace gardens.
Breakfast options are extensive, alot of continental options including freshly baked croissants, pastries, a variety of breads, hot food and plenty of fruit juices.
My bay view/sea view room was quiet in the evening and the room was spacious, tea and coffee replenishment was included but I would need to ask for the replenishment. Out of 4 pillows 2 were decent and any little issue I reported was fixed very quickly. The hotel has several floors and different lifts to different parts of the hotel, floor 5 or 6 is usually where most people switch lifts and then again near the pool area to get down to the ocean and diving center. There are plenty of places to relax with lovely ocean views and a nice spa.
Room service was decent but don't use the menu on their website as prices have gone up. My TV was probably faulty as I couldn't connect to the Internet which meant I couldnt see my in room dining menu so a printout was provided. There was no ability to connect roku but there are plenty of english movie channels and screen mirroring options using apps on your phone.
I did fall ill during the last few days and I wanted to say thank you to Diana and Rodriguez and the rest of the team who went out of their way to look after me - customer service at this hotel does set them apart and from my experience I do believe they are 5 stars.
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Date of stay: January 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Maria da Paz Garcia, General Manager at Pestana Carlton Madeira Premium Ocean Resort
Responded 4 weeks ago
Dear Sumz2016, Please allow us to present you or most sincere compliments for taking the time to let us know how your stay with us went. It was an absolute honor to host you and we are delighted to know you had a pleasant and enjoyable experience in our company. We will certainly share your feedback, which we very much appreciate, with our team. It is of the utmost importance as it helps us work towards excellence. Please do not hesitate in contacting us should you need of anything and we sincerely hope to welcome you someday soon in the near future. With out best regards, Florinda Coelho Hotel Manager
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We have stayed at this hotel several times & this time we were a bit disappointed. There is nothing major wrong with it but there were several small problems & the staff on reception didn’t seem interested in sorting things out. It certainly doesn’t live up to its 5 star rating.
The cleaning staff do their best but they don’t seem to be doing as good a job as they used to & I suspect that there aren’t enough of them for the size of the hotel. Some days the room didn’t seem to have been cleaned thoroughly & a couple of times they arrived very late in the afternoon & we were getting ready to go out to dinner so didn’t want them in.
The hotel is in a very good location with direct access to the sea. There are plenty of bars & restaurants within easy walking distance. The main bus “station” is about a 30-40 minute walk, depending on how fast you can go! There are stops for some of the buses a few minutes walk away.
The rooms are a reasonable size & many have lovely sea views.
We only booked bed & breakfast – the breakfast is good with a reasonable selection of hot & cold food. There were generally only 2 staff working in the restaurant when we went in for breakfast – one to check people in & one doing tea/coffee. However, if anything else needed doing then either no-one was getting checked in or the tea/coffee delivery stopped. If you want decaf coffee then the one doing the tea/coffee has to go to the kitchen to get a sachet of Nescafe instant. They only bring one per person so if you want a second cup they have to go back to get another sachet – meanwhile no-one else is getting any tea/coffee.
There are 2 pools – the Garden pool & the Atlantic pool. We don’t use sunbeds but there seems to be plenty, especially around the Atlantic pool.
There is a dive centre (Madeira Divepoint) located on the same level as the Atlantic pool & in addition to diving they offer kayaks & stand-up paddle boards for hire. They also offer various trips on a high-speed rib – we did the whale & dolphin trip & it was very good. The dive centre is the reason we stay at this hotel – we often have quite a bit of gear to carry & staying here is very convenient. Would I recommend this hotel? Yes – it is a good hotel but I wouldn’t rate it as 5 star.
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Date of stay: October 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Maria da Paz Garcia, General Manager at Pestana Carlton Madeira Premium Ocean Resort
Responded Nov 8, 2024
Dear AngieC1111, On behalf of our entire team at Pestana Carlton Madeira, we would like to thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. Your opinion is crucial for us to continuously improve in anticipating our Guests' needs, preferences, and expectations. We were glad to hear that, overall, you enjoyed your stay at Pestana Carlton Madeira. At the same time, we would like to apologize for not fully meeting your expectations in some instances. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused. We have shared your comments with our teams to ensure that improvements will be made. It was a real pleasure for us to have you as our Guest, and we hope you will give us another opportunity to welcoming you again at Pestana Carlton Madeira and regain your trust during your next visit. Warm regards, Florinda Coelho Hotel Manager
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Third visit since COVID and the hotel has recovered from the pandemic well. It does suffer a bit from age and has some areas of exterior paintwork that could do with some attention, but the rooms are very clean and well-maintained. Didn't eat there this time but breakfast is reasonable value for money with a good choice of hot and cold options including freshly made omelette and you can help yourself to the sparkling wine! Facilities are generally good although the gym is quite limited; there is a seawater pool available in addition to the main swimming pool and plenty of loungers so no issues finding somewhere to relax. Pool bar is very pleasant, directly overlooking the sea, although they did run out of Aperol which is a near disaster if that is your favourite holiday drink! One of the best aspects for me with this hotel is the ever-present sound of the sea - great to fall asleep to. Location is very good, slightly away from the bustle of Funchal town centre, but it is an easy walk to get to the Old Town and if you want to go further afield you can get the hotel to help out or walk across the street to a rental car firm.
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Duarte Jesus, Guest Services / Front Office at Pestana Carlton Madeira Premium Ocean Resort
Responded Feb 1, 2024
Dear alih2013, Thank you for choosing Pestana Carlton and for taking the time to share your amazing feedback on TripAdvisor! We truly appreciate your kind words and are delighted to hear that you had a wonderful experience during your stay with us. Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us as we strive to provide exceptional service to all our guests. We look forward to welcoming you back to Pestana Carlton in the future. Warm regards, Maria da Paz Garcia General Manager
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We travel a lot, and the Pestana Carlton is the only hotel we have ever returned to multiple times. This was our third time staying here, and we loved it as much as ever. The rooms and bathrooms are large, and the staff were very accommodating. We were initially put on the 17th floor (top floor) but it was a little too high for a member of our family who was scared of heights, and we were moved down to floor 12, which was much better. We always get sea-view rooms, as not only is the view amazing, but they’re also much quieter than the road view rooms. The rooms are cleaned every day, and staff come round in the evening with fresh towels and chocolate truffles!
The hotel has many different facilities, including a restaurant, a pub tavern, multiple pools (indoor and outdoor), a sauna, steam room, a mini golf course, table tennis tables, a pool table, a ballroom, a couple of small shops (souvenir, pool supplies, clothing) and a hairdressers.
The breakfast buffet has a bit of everything - cooked breakfast, fruit, cereal, cold meats and cheeses, cakes and pastries. Also plenty for vegans to eat.
If I was being picky, there would be a couple of things I’d mention, like the pool being unheated (and therefore almost unusable in December!) and the Wi-Fi being a bit slow, but honestly, they’re such tiny nitpicks, and wouldn’t prevent me from staying at the Pestana Carlton in the future - we will definitely be booking another stay!
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Maria da Paz Garcia, General Manager at Pestana Carlton Madeira Premium Ocean Resort
Responded Jan 12, 2025
Dear Skyfluff1, We were delighted to hear that your recent stay at Pestana Carlton Madeira was delightful and that you thoroughly enjoyed your stay. Our team would like to thank you for your very kind feedback. Many thanks for choosing Pestana Carlton Madeira for your holiday. We look forward to hosting you again soon at our hotel. Kind regards, Florinda Coelho Hotel Manager
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This was our third visit to this hotel - and the first in six years having not visited Madeira since pre-pandemic. We’d noticed some reviewers mentioning aspects of the hotel are a bit tired and found this to be true, but it’s such a lovely hotel, with friendly staff and an amazing location right on the Atlantic and within easy walking distance of the port and Funchal centre that it did not in any way detract from our stay. We stayed in a junior suite with sea view and highly recommend these rooms - they are worth paying a little more to have the extra room and especially the larger balcony with sun lounger/bench. The balconies in the double rooms are far narrower and if you are in any way uncomfortable with heights - as I am - you can feel happier being able to sit further away from the glass fronted balcony edge! Having not been for several years we had forgotten how tall the building is - it has 18 floors and we were initially placed on the 17th floor - I had vertigo as soon as I got within a few feet of the balcony door and asked to be moved several floors down. It is worth knowing the junior suites are available from floor 10 upwards and the superior double rooms only from floor 15-18 so don’t go for this option if you’re scared of heights! Floors 10-12 are about right. The hotel has multiple pools - all unheated so making for a bracing early morning swim in winter, but there are two very slightly heated indoor pools too. They refurbed the restaurant and lobby area during our stay and these were lovely. We have stayed in many great hotels but this has to be one of the best for breakfast with a huge choice, good vegan options for my daughter and plenty of coffee machines so you don’t end up queuing for a drink. We will continue to use this hotel as our number one choice when visiting Funchal
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Maria da Paz Garcia, General Manager at Pestana Carlton Madeira Premium Ocean Resort
Responded Jan 3, 2025
Dear Leah, On behalf of the entire team at Pestana Carlton Madeira, we would like to thank you for your kind and full feedback. It is delightful for us to know that you had a pleasant stay with us and that we could help you create beautiful memories. We look forward to hosting you again soon at our hotel! Warm regards, Florinda Coelho Hotel Manager
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The sea views from the hotel are amazing, I also loved the space and different areas available and recommend taking time to explore the hotel when you get there. The spa facilities were the icing on the cake, particularly the Scottish shower. Breakfasts were good and well managed, and we also had some meals at the restaurant near the pool that we enjoyed. We prefer going out in the evening, and the fantastic location provided us with a number of options, there is also a taxi rank across from the hotel that we utilised and journeys were reasonably priced. Reception was always well manned and helpful, others working throughout the hotel all ensured our stay went well. Prior to going I was a bit worried about WiFi coverage (from other reviews) however this was fine during our stay I would highly recommend this hotel and will look to return at some point in the future.
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Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Maria da Paz Garcia, General Manager at Pestana Carlton Madeira Premium Ocean Resort
Responded Jul 9, 2023
Dear Mr.geraldinem975, We were delighted to hear that your recent stay at Pestana Carlton Madeira was delightful and that you thoroughly enjoyed your stay. Our team would like to thank you for your very kind feedback. It is extremely important for us to know that you continue to visit us over the years and we thank you for your trust. Many thanks for choosing Pestana Carlton Madeira for your holiday. We look forward to hosting you again soon at our hotel. Kind regards, Maria da Paz Garcia General Manager
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Another stay at the Carlton, still very good, minor refurbishments have improved the overall experience at this hotel. The only minor criticism I have concerns the breakfast buffet. Butter is now set out in open jars, cubbed and served with a fork. It was set out on my previous visits in individual foil wrapped servings. The new procedure is, in my opinion, unhygienic and open to misuse. Apart from this minor complaint my experience of this hotel is all positive. Good rooms, friend staff and well managed, all leading to a very enjoyable stay
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Date of stay: November 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Maria da Paz Garcia, General Manager at Pestana Carlton Madeira Premium Ocean Resort
Responded Nov 25, 2024
Dear Mr. davidwV8903PK, On behalf of our entire team at Pestana Carlton Madeira, we would like to thank you for taking the time to provide us with your honest feedback. Your opinion is crucial for us to continue improving our service and anticipate our Guests' needs. We are sincerely sorry that you were disappointed with our breakfast options. We have shared your comments with our Food and Beverage Manager, and we are taking the necessary measures to improve our service and quality. It was a real pleasure for us to have you as our Guest, and we look forward to welcoming you again at Pestana Carlton Madeira. Best regards, Florinda Coelho Hotel Manager
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This is our fourth annual visit to the Pestana Carlton Madeira Hotel. We always request the same Family room 812, as it gives plenty of space and views to the Mountains.
The holiday starts when we arrive at the hotel and being welcomed by the front of house team as we step from the taxi, our luggage (4 x cases, as we are here for four weeks) is instantly taken away and later appears in our room. The reception team with familiar faces greet us with a smile, extremely professional, they make our 'booking in flawless' with a welcoming drink, and suddenly we are refreshed from the early flight!
We see Lisbeth Albuquerque, Guest Service Manager sitting at her desk in reception she waives, and welcomes us back, it is uplifting to see Lisbeth again, she is an integral part of 'the Pestana family', always on hand to assist and guide us through any request. Thank you Lisbeth for always being there for us.
In the breakfast room at 07.00 am (we are early risers), we are met again by a brilliant team, headed on a daily rotation basis by Natalie Sousa, Olga and Rodrigues Spinola. By 08.00 am the dining room is extremely busy (like minded residents going on Levada walks etc.), so the team spring into action ensuring that all the breakfast fare is being replenished and tables being reset for later arriving diners.
Maid service is exemplary, again smiling faces, who glide through the room unnoticed and swiftly remake the beds and tidy etc. My wife is in heaven as she is relieved of this duty (I do help though)! - As I said at the beginning of this review, we are holidaying again in 'Our second home on Madeira' and for 4 x weeks!!
Special mention should be made to the Captain of this '5-star Ship' and that is the General Manager, Maria da Paz Garcia. She is a lady that is constantly present throughout the hotel, very much hands on, and greatly respected by all her team!
Give the Pestana Carlton Madeira Hotel a visit when choosing your next holiday to Madeira, we are at home now, but planning the next visit for 2025 or even earlier.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Maria da Paz Garcia, General Manager at Pestana Carlton Madeira Premium Ocean Resort
Responded Jun 6, 2024
Dear Keith, Thank you so much for your heartfelt review and for choosing to stay with us at Pestana Carlton Madeira Hotel for the fourth consecutive year. We are truly honored to be your home away from home. It warms our hearts to hear that you enjoy the familiar comforts of Family room 812 and the stunning views it offers. We are delighted that your holiday experience begins with a warm welcome from our front of house team, who ensure a seamless check-in process and help you feel refreshed after your journey. We are committed to providing exceptional service, even during busy times, and it's gratifying to know that our team's efforts are recognized and appreciated. We are also thrilled to hear that you find our maid service exemplary and that it adds to the enjoyment of your stay. Please know that your appreciation will be shared with our hardworking housekeeping team. Thank you for recommending Pestana Carlton Madeira Hotel to others, and we eagerly anticipate your return in 2025 or even earlier. Until then, we wish you many more wonderful memories and experiences in your "second home" on Madeira. Warm regards, Maria da Paz Garcia General Manager
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There are more places to choose from in the Funchal area.
PRICE RANGE
C$232 - C$334 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
pestana carlton madeira funchal, carlton hotel madeira
LOCATION
PortugalMadeira IslandsMadeiraFunchal
NUMBER OF ROOMS
290
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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