A family quinta with terrace, garden and its own story. KIVO's treatment highlights what generic listings miss: light, quiet, arrival, rhythm and the home's relationship with the island.
Join the collection
Your home deserves guests who get it.
We don't list homes. We represent them. Fewer guests, higher rates, people who treat your space like they understand what you've built. If your home has a story, we want to tell it.
Professional photography included
Guests verified before booking
Local team in Madeira
What we look for
“We don’t accept every home that asks. We walk through it first. We sit on the terrace. If we wouldn’t stay there ourselves, we don’t list it.”
— The KIVO team
Before trusting us with it
The essentials, stated up front.
Protection
Deposit, verified guests and documented inspection on every stay.
Presentation
Photography, editorial copy and positioning so the home reads online as it feels in person.
Return
Less turnover, considered guests and stays designed to preserve the home.
The few.
Of the homes we visit
What we look for
Villas, boutique hotels & design-led homes.
01
Villas, Quintas & Design-Led Homes
Private homes with character — from restored quintas to contemporary villas with views.
02
Boutique Hotels
Small hotels with personality and attentive service.
03
Design-Led Stays
Architecture and interiors with intention, not catalogue.
04
Hosts Who Care
Present, knowledgeable, proud of their space.
Probably not for us
Generic apartments · Chain hotels · Absent owners · Mass-market rentals
Not sure? Apply anyway, we'll give you honest feedback.
João Escórcio · Founder
From the founder
Twenty years in hotels. Then I came home to Madeira.
I learned hospitality in kitchens that didn't tolerate mediocrity. In hotels where the thread count mattered, but the warmth of a welcome mattered more.
When I came home, I felt the gap. There are extraordinary homes here — quintas with terraces facing the Atlantic, houses where the morning light makes you want to stay an extra day. But they were buried. Lost in algorithm-optimised listings, competing with apartments that had nothing to say.
KIVO is what I'd tell a friend. The homes I'd book for my own family. If the home you have in mind is of that calibre, write to us.
How it works
From application to first guest
01
Apply
A few questions about you and the house
02
We visit
Within 2 weeks
03
We prepare
Photography included
04
Go live
Start receiving requests
Full support
We handle everything.
- —Professional photography
- —Editorial copywriting
- —24/7 booking management
- —Local team in Madeira
Honest hesitations
What owners ask before saying yes.
Who enters my home?
Verified guests, human-reviewed communication and bookings we can stand behind.
Will my home look like just another listing?
No. KIVO shapes photography, copy and context so the home is presented with a point of view.
What if something goes wrong?
The team is in Madeira, documents the stay and handles mediation with you, not after disappearing.
Host protection
Your home is protected.
We know you're trusting us with what matters most. Three things we do because of that.
Verified guests, deposit held
Every guest is verified before booking — ID, travel history, prior communication. And pays a security deposit that covers damage, extra cleaning, or rule violations. We don’t accept anonymous bookings.
Inspection on every stay
Our local team performs a pre- and post-stay inspection, documented with photographs. If something happens, we handle the claim for you — you never deal with guest problems alone.
Team in Madeira, not in a call centre
KIVO is in Madeira. If something happens, we’re 30 minutes from your property. Direct mediation in case of conflict, clear process, human decision.
Example profiles
How different homes can appear on KIVO.
These examples show the editorial format we use. As real homes join, they will be replaced by verified stories and owners.
A small hotel or guesthouse should not read like a chain or an anonymous rental. The KIVO profile explains the service, context and how guests are received.
A design-led home needs more than beautiful photography. It needs to explain materials, sightlines, architectural decisions and why the stay feels different.
No lock-in. No surprises.
Cancel anytime with 30 days notice. Existing bookings are honoured. No exit fees, no penalties, no questions asked.
30 days notice
Common questions
The five we hear most.
Do I have to be exclusive with KIVO?
No. You can list your home on other platforms — we just ask you to sync the calendar to avoid overbookings. Many hosts keep KIVO alongside their own direct listings.
Who owns the photography?
You do. We pay for the professional photography as part of onboarding and the files are yours — use them anywhere, on KIVO or elsewhere.
How does tax work?
You're responsible for your own host taxes — the right framework depends on your situation and should be confirmed with your accountant. On our side, KIVO generates monthly reports with every booking and commission, ready to hand over.
What insurance do I need?
The alojamento local regime requires public liability insurance. KIVO doesn't provide its own insurance — confirm cover with your broker, and during onboarding we review with you what needs to be in place before the first booking.
How long until I'm live on the site?
From application to first guest, typically 4-6 weeks. Visit within 2 weeks, photography + copy in 1-2 weeks, listing published and taking requests.
Let's talk about your home.
If the home is good, we'll find it the guests it deserves.
Or write to the KIVO team — hello@thekivotraveller.com