Four Views Monumental Lido

The Four Views Monumental Lido occupies a behemoth of a building in the heart of the Lido. The pale gray building is trimmed in dark red and features a glass cylindrical centerpiece. This glass bay contains a staircase and provides a lounge on each floor with great Atlantic Ocean views. There are various shops on the bottom floors (part of the Lido Center mall). The lobby, located at street level, feels somewhat dark, with its low-hanging ceilings and bland, beige couches. A separate library section with dark-wood shelving and cognac-brown couches iss a bit more appealing. It's this kind of wobbly, slightly generic style that keeps this hotel from living up to its upscale potential. Arguably, the best atmosphere is found outside on the stone sun decks, which overlook the ocean and are lined with numerous sun beds. The multi-level decks and separate kiddy pool provide distance between families with children and guests who want quiet time. Nightly entertainment includes folk tales, dancing, and live music, and breakfast service can be chaotic, but the atmosphere is generally quiet. Couples are far and away the most frequent guests here, though some families do pass through on occasion.

Funchal is a city with a lot of hills, but guests can avoid strenuous climbing at this hotel. Situated in the heart of Lido, the property is well-positioned for easy jaunts on foot to restaurants, bars, and shops. There are plenty of options in the immediate area, and a mall inside the hotel offers additional stores selling groceries and more. Conveniently, the mall also has a rental car company and beauty salon. 

The hotel is just a 10-minute walk from the Lido Promenade, which connects to Formosa Beach in about 30 minutes on foot (or 10 minutes by car). It’s a 15- to 20-minute walk to the Madeira Forum shopping center, and the museums and sights of Funchal's old town are about 10 minutes' drive away. A bus stops right outside the hotel for trips to Funchal in about 10 minutes as well. Expect a 20-minute drive to the Madeira Airport and the hotel has free underground parking on-site.

Across all categories, rooms are clean and bright, with good natural light. Decor, which in some cases looks more modern than others, features a mostly white palette with pops of navy or aqua blue. Floors are light-colored wood and furnishings are mid-tone wood with white counter tops -- some of the furniture looks a little dated, but everything is in good shape. The most contemporary design details are the recessed panels over the beds in many rooms, though other rooms include accents like outdated earth tones and heavy fabrics. 

All rooms have balconies or terraces and many offer full or partial sea views. Balconies facing the street are great for people-watching, but can be noisy. Most bathrooms have bright-red tiles to offset gray walls and white shower/tub combos with mounted toiletries. Studios and Apartments include kitchenettes with two-burner stove-tops. Studios have open floor plans with kitchenettes in hallways, while Apartments have separate bedrooms and living rooms plus bigger kitchenettes. Suites don’t have kitchenettes, but the one we saw featured more contemporary decor, a whirlpool tub in the bathroom, and better sea views from a rooftop terrace. 

Every room has a wall-mounted flat-screen TV, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. Recycling bins are provided, along with safes for an additional fee. Mini-fridges come standard (and can be stocked on request) and coffee/tea facilities are available on request. Guests who waive room service get restaurant discounts. ADA-accessible rooms can be requested. 

Like most of the massive resorts along this stretch of coastline, there are a number of features available without needing to leave the property. Atlantic Dream Restaurant serves buffets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with vegetarian choices and a live pasta cooking station. Bed-and-breakfast and half-board plans are available. Most guests say breakfast features a nice variety of options, such as made-to-order omelets, fresh fruits, and cereals. Breakfast service can be a little hectic on occasion. Nightly entertainment is provided at Award’s Bar, which offers a popular happy hour. The Pool Bar serves cocktails and light meals. 

The hotel has a fairly large kiddy pool that feels private since it’s in a separate area from the main pool. The main pool is frequently buzzing with hotel guests, and lounge chairs are arranged on the neighboring deck. Most guests report no problems securing a lounge chair, so there's no need to rise at dawn to put down a towel for the day. There's also a playroom for kids, but it's small and not very colorful. The games room features ping-pong and pool tables. 

The hotel's Four Senses Spa has an indoor pool in a sunny atrium-style room which guests can access for free. However, there's a daily fee for use of the spa's hot tub, sauna, and hammam. The Monumental Fitness Club is free for guests and offers tons of modern cardio and weight machines, a spin room, and a fitness studio (classes with fees) -- it's one of the nicest hotel gyms that we've seen in the Funchal area.

The hotel also offers free underground parking and Wi-Fi, but there's an extra charge to use the computer corner. Three meeting rooms are available for gatherings of 60 to 270 people.