Belmond Reid's Palace

Location:

Madeira is 400 miles off the west coast of Africa and is 3½ hours by air from London and 1½ from Lisbon. Reid's Palace lies on the outskirts of the Capital city, Funchal, which is 20 kms from Madeira International Airport. The hotel is set in ten acres of lush semi-tropical gardens, perched on a cliff-top headland overlooking the bay.

General Manager:

Bruno Brunner

Description:

Opened in 1891, to welcome ocean liners on their way to the outposts of the British Empire, Reid's Palace is one of the world's most famous hotels, combining grand Edwardian tradition with every modern amenity and comfort. The hotel celebrated its 110th anniversary in November 2001.

Guest Rooms:

128 individually decorated, spacious rooms and 35 suites, all with complimentary mini-bar with soft drinks and beer, televisions, VCRs, direct dial telephone, air-conditioning, fully stocked bathrooms, luxury bathrobes, hairdryer and safe. All have balconies or terraces with views of the Atlantic and/or gardens.

Services:

Room service, business centre, boutique and baby-sitting service. During school holidays, there is the Fun at Reid's Club, supervised by fully qualified nannies and divided into age groups, keeping children occupied all day, providing meals and a vast range of activities. Reid's Palace daily programme of activities for guests includes Levada walking, visits to the Madeira Wine Lodges, language tuition and other cultural activities.

Sports Facilities:

2 heated pools (1 seawater, 1 freshwater), tidal sea-water pool, 2 all-weather tennis courts. Water-skiing, windsurfing, deep-sea fishing, diving, paragliding, parasailing, sailing and canoeing all available nearby. 2 superb 18-hole golf courses - Palheiro Golf and Santo da Serra Golf, where Reid's guests enjoy guaranteed starting times and discounted green fees. Riding nearby and hiking or climbing in Madeira's volcanic mountains.

Conference Facilities:

7 elegant meeting rooms, accommodating 5 to 180 delegates.

Spa & State-of-the-Art Fitness Centre:

The 5,000-square-foot (464 square meters) spa capitalizes on the natural beauty of Madeira with an outdoor relaxation area and a treatment suite with a private terrace. Designed to house treatments for two, the suite contains a plunge pool, hydrotherapy shower, and lounge chairs. The facility's four elegant treatment rooms are equipped with a veranda overlooking the Atlantic. Guests looking for a workout can use the spa's state-of-the-art fitness center open to guests over 16 years old.

Dining & Entertainment:

The Dining Room is the setting for elegant dinners. Les Faunes, open during the winter months, is renowned for its fine French cuisine, its collection of Picasso lithographs and panoramic views over Funchal Bay. Ristorante Villa Cipriani serves regional Italian dishes in an outdoor setting. During the summer months, guests can dine al fresco in the Brisa do Mar restaurant. Afternoon tea is served in the Lounge or on the terrace. Refreshments served from the Cocktail Bar. There is a Poolside Restaurant (for lunch only).

Awards & Accolades

• 2006 voted in the Condé Nast Traveler "Gold List"
• 2005 voted one of the 25 Best Resorts in Europe by Condé Nast Readers
• 2005 voted one of the 60 best hotels in Europe by Elle Magazine - Germany
• 2004 voted 12th best country hotel by the readers of Departures magazine
• 2004 voted 5th Best Foreign Resort by readers of The Daily Telegraph, UK
• 2004 voted in the Conde Nast Traveler Gold list
• 2001/02/03 5 Diamond Award – American Academy of Hospitality Sciences
• 2003 Voted 5th Best Foreign Hotel by Readers of The Daily Telegraph, UK
• 2000 4th Best Resort Hotel in Europe – Conde Nast Traveler (US)
• 2000 Millennium Award Relais du Golf - Officially recommended resort - Professional Golfers Association of Europe
• 2000 Voted 7th Best Foreign Hotel by Readers of The Daily Telegraph, UK
• 1999 4th Best Hotel in the World – Daily Telegraph
• 1998 Best a la carte Accommodation - Thomson Gold Award

Local Points of Interest:

The picturesque port city of Funchal with its botanical gardens, 15th century Sé Cathedral, Museum of Sacred Art and dozens of shops selling local handicraft including intricate embroidery and tapestry. Fishing villages such as Câmara de Lobos, once painted by Winston Churchill and Cabo Girão, the world's second highest sea cliff. The neighbouring island of Porto Santo, once home to Christopher Columbus, just 10 minutes away by air, with its 9km of white sand beaches.