The capital of Madeira, Funchal, is a fantastic place for luxury breaks. If your idea of the ideal getaway involves a little decadence, some fine dining and the chance to really relax in a tranquil environment, you’ll find there’s nowhere better. The question is, just which resort should you choose? We’ve put together a list of the best hotels in the area to help you decide which is the best place to stay for your holiday to Portugal.
Reid’s Palace
Perched on the top of a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, this hotel is probably the ultimate choice for anyone searching for a luxury hotel in Funchal. Stay here and you’ll follow in the footsteps of famous names like George Bernard Shaw and Winston Churchill.
As you’ll probably have gathered from this, Reid’s Palace has been running for more than 100 years and, in that time, it’s developed a real reputation for luxury and grandeur. An Orient Express-style hotel, it’s got a really charming atmosphere and pairs this with excellent service and lots of great facilities, including a spa and some wonderful restaurants (5, to be exact!).
This hotel is also a particularly good choice for golfers, since it can arrange for you to play at some splendid local courses (at Santo de Sera and Palheiro) with a decent discount of 30 per cent and a complimentary shuttle service.
The Cliff Bay
Another fantastic hotel with a cliff-top location (as you may have guessed from its name!), The Cliff Bay is approximately 2 km from the centre of the capital and surrounded by beautiful tropical gardens. So, if you love having some gorgeous scenery to look at, this five-star resort could well be the top choice for you, since it has nice touches like a swimming pool with an ocean backdrop.
Gastronomes will also love staying here, as its range of restaurants includes the Michelin-starred Il Galo D’Oro. This is an especially good spot if you’re planning a romantic evening out, not only for the fantastic gourmet food, but also because it’s an adults-only venue, which gives it a really sophisticated atmosphere.
Jardins do Logo
Our final top luxurious hotel in Funchal is Jardins do Lago. One of the nice things about staying here is that it has an interesting history; the building, which dates back to the 18th century, was once a family home and was used by the commander of British forces during the Napoleonic wars.
History aside, this hotel has a lot to offer guests, including a gym, Turkish bath, sauna, games room, library and lots of sports facilities. The bedrooms are traditional and comfortable, but they’re decked out with all the mod-cons you’d expect, and every room looks out over the beautiful gardens.
These are actually a real attraction of the hotel, since they’re home to some pretty rare species of tree and even their very own Galapagos tortoise, who goes by the name of Columbo!
- Cabo Girao, Madeirajafsegal
All these hotels are around 30 minutes’ journey from Funchal airport, so they’re convenient options, as well as being among the most luxurious on the island. No matter which hotel you choose to stay at, make sure your trip includes a little of the island’s top attractions, which include walking and sampling Madeira’s unique wines and cuisine. Start looking into Portugal holidays 2013 to see what you could be doing this time next year!
