Reviews of Property: PRIVATE POOL, free internet access,free parking, welcome pack,great sunny view

Nosotros fuimos desde el Pais Vasco a pasar una semanita, lo que se queda un poco justa para conocer la isla a pesar de ser pequeñita. Fuimos acompañados de nuestro hijo de 15 meses y con él no pudimos movernos todo lo que quisimos, pero los sitios que recorrimos fueron muy bonitos. En Porto moniz nos dimos baños en las piscinas de agua salada, muy bonitas y economicas,tambien estuvimos el mismo dia en las grutas volcanicas(cuevas) de Sao Vicente. Otro dia hacia la tarde fuimos a Ponta de Sao Lourenço, un paisaje completamente direfente al resto de la isla, mucho mas seco pero espectacular, el paseo hasta el final es de hora y pico y recomendable llevar buen calzado. En Santana, pueblo precioso donde poder ver las casas tipicas. Mencionar el Pico de Areeiro de 1818m y el mirador Eira do Serrado de 1095m, a ambos se puede acceder sin problema en coche, sitio y vistas ESPECTACULARES!!! Y nosotros para acabar recorrimos todos los pueblos de la costa que pudimos como Camara de Lobos, estuvimos en el mirados de Cabo Girao, tambien en Jardim do Mar, Santa Cruz, Machico... Bueno probar la Poncha, bebida tipica.
Y como no, lo mejor para el final. Nosotros no tenemos queja alguna de la hospitalidad de Helena, al contrario solo encontramos halagos para ella y el servicio que nos ofrecio fue impecable, recogida y retorno del taxi al aeropuerto, el alquiler de coche en el mismo apartamento. El Pilar studio no puede estar mejor, tiene de todo, no le falta el mas minimo detalle, es comodo, precioso y acogedor. Sin problema en caso de necesitar cualquier cosa solo teniamos que pedirlo, que en verdad no hizo falta porque como he dicho no le falta de nada. La piscina fantastica, nuestro peque si que le saco buen partido. Y el detallazo de tener la mesa preparada a nuestra llegada con bizcocho, cafe, galletas, queso.... INMEJORABLE!!! Muchas gracias Helena de verdad por todo y hasta pronto!!!

The warm and freindly welcome from Helena, set the tone for an excellent 10 day break. Helena organised taxis, hire car and even our special anniversary dinner! A beautiful romantic meal at Forte S.Tiago. The accommadation lived up to all expectations perceived from website. Clean,comfotable and tasteful. Lovely balcony to sunbathe on and spend romantic evenings on. 10 minutes from Funchal town centre, entertaining bus rides! Lots to explore in Funchal, do eat in the Old Town, O Regional was good. Coffee and food at the Golden Gate cafe also recommended. For independence, do hire a car and explore this beautiful island of walks,views,hills mountains, flora and hairpin bends!!
We definatly recommend Pilar Studio and will hopefully return.

We would like to thank Helena and her family for such a warm welcome to their home. The bread, tea, coffee, juice and cakes were a nice personal touch on our arrival. She also arranged taxis to and from the airport, making this such a hassle-free holiday.
The apartment has a nice rustic feel to it with 2 sun trap terraces. We sat on the terrace facing the hills most mornings as the sun came up which is an experience some can only dream of.
We had originally booked a sea front hotel and are delighted to have cancelled and booked this apartment with such stunning views instead. It is convenient for 3 buses in and out of town from a bus stop approx 100 metres along the street. It is an ideal base for exploring Madeira and we'll surely be back to catch up on some of the places we still wish to experience.

David & Ros, Maidenhead
Everyone should holiday in Madeira at least once in their life.
We have recently returned from a lovely fortnight in the Pilar apartment of Helena & Roberto. Very spacious, comfortable and everything you need is there. Helena & Roberto are very friendly and helpful. If you want to know anything just ask, nothing is too much trouble. Recommend the airport pickup and return. Othertimes get a local bus pass for the yellow buses and don't bother with a car. Locally around Funchal each trip on a bus costs just 95cents with the bus pass, used ours all the time. Also used other bus companies for longer trips, inexpensive! Enjoyed walking the Levadas, Coach Trips (the extra E10 for the lunch is well worth it.) if you only do one do the western tour, beautiful gardens, nice restaurants. Do try the restarant by the bus stop and make friends with the proprietor seek his advice on the wine. Ate in there several times, wonderful steak and scabbard fish, also took back to the apartment.
Best supermarket is in town near the Mercado dos Lavradores ask Helena.
Get a copy of the AA ,spiral bound, guide to Madeira, found ours in one of the cheap book shops, absolutely brilliant everyone we met wanted to borrow our guide.
Hope you have as good a time as we did.

We had superb accomodation and facilities, and the warm welcome, and Helena's very friendly and helpful service, (even arranging transfers), was an excellent start. This was the ideal location - flowers everywhere in and around the apartment, and the wonderful panoramic view. At the junction with the main road Camino do Pilar nearby is bus stop (No 9 into heart of Funchal town), a small very useful supermarket, an excellent restaurant/delicatessen/takeaway, and then a very good baker 100m down the road and larger supermarket down further on the left side around the 1st bend.
The Orange Funchal town bus pass tickets for 7 days are available with maps and timetables from the Horarios office on the east side of the Anadia shopping centre on the main Rua Visconde do Anadia about 300 meters north of the bus terminus. The large Pingo Doce supermarket is also in the Anadia centre on the west side in the Rua do Ribeirinho do Baixo - ideal for shopping before returning home on the No 9. Amongst the many wonderful gardens do not miss the Parque de Santa Caterina with the view of the harbour and town (east end of Avenida do Infante on No 9 route) and Jardin Botanico, (cable cars via Monte or bus from the terminus). There are wonderful explorations all around the west centre of the town from the sea front upwards, including the old cathedral, the Golden Gate Cafe, the art museums, the old squares, cobbled streets and gardens. North of the terminus is the amazing multi-storied fruit, fish, vegetables, meat and sundry items Mercado dos Lavradores market, and the Madeira Centre visitor attraction. Nearby is the cable car terminus and a short walk east takes you to the ancient orange Forte de Sao Tiago with more wonderful views. Lying behind the sea front in this area are a wealth of intriguing little restaurants- O Jango and Arsenios near each other in the Rua de Santa Maria are highly recommended! There are a host of extraordinary and wonderful things to see beyond Funchal and the Insight Fleximap (£4.99 in UK) is an excellent appetite wetter! We had a wonderful holiday in Madeira and returning home to the sun setting on our lovely balcony where we eat our evening meal was a daily delight. Thank you, Helena,thank you very much...

Well equipped, spacious and comfortable apartment. Very clean and well maintained. Friendly, helpful owners. Enjoyed breakfasts on balcony with superb view over Funchal. Local takeaway has a very wide choice and good quality. Rented a car for a few days to thoroughly explore island but car is not needed around Funchal. Buses to town were reliable once we understood timetable and the prepaid Giro card fares system is very convenient. Highly recommended!

A good break away has just been had and we arrived back today, helena very accomodating on our arrival organising a taxi to and from the airport and then a food pack and bread on arrival.
the bus stop is only 4 minutes walk away with a restuarant and take away as well next to it
1 word of warning we did think the takeaway food looked a bit dry! but the alacarte was very nice if just a touch pricey the supermarket down by the BP garage (3rd stop from home by bus )was the best by far and buses easily the best way to get about, we ate in the apartment every day as we found this was the best way to finish the day by sunning for a couple of hours then eating with a nice bottle of white local wine
lots of walking oppurtunities BUT very hilly in places , cable cars and gardens worth a visit and toboggans fun
Enjoy it we did
Martin and Vanessa

Just returned from a week in this lovely apartment. We found it just as it had been described, well equipped plus it was also lovely and clean. Great view from the balcony. Good location, quiet and private, nobody bothered us.
Helena laid on a good light lunch and welcome pack and was very helpful but not intrusive; she gave us her phone number and said to call if we needed any help. We didn't call but felt she had genuinely meant us to if necessary.
Plenty of bus,restaurant and island info provided.
The weather wasn't as hot as we'd hoped (but it has been a bad winter everywhere) but there is a new log burner in the studio and we did light it a couple of times; everything we needed to do so was there and Roberto replenished the log pile outside the front door without prompting.
Best supermarket we found was at the bottom of the hill by the petrol station, 3 stops before the nearest one to the studio. We found the Portuguese red wine to be fruity, smooth, good value and very drinkable!
The city bus service is excellent and cheap as are the out of town buses. We would recommend getting a weekly city bus pass (approx 15 Euros) as we had trouble with bent, slightly torn Giro cards not registering on the buses. (probably our fault for not taking too much care of them)
Do explore the island by bus though, it's worth it for the journeys alone without mentioning the steep climbs, hairpin bends and shear drops you wont have to worry about because it isn't you driving...
Really relaxed, easy, civilised city/island to chill out in/on and would definetly recommend. Enjoy!