Reids Palace, Funchal

Excellent service. Great facilities. Friendly staff. Superb views. Expensive, but they take very good care of you. Breakfast buffet was probably the best breakfast buffet I've ever experienced. Half of the hotel is in the original building; half is in the newer building, but it's all a great facility.

We have just returned from a week at Reid's Palace. The hotel is magnificent and we have never experienced such incredible service before. It was so lovely that it was hard to drag ourselves away from the hotel to go home. We booked a 7 night affordable package, this included some meals. It was excellent value and allowed us to sample the excellent restaurants in the hotel. We were upgraded to a superior room (924) that had a beautiful view over Funchal. The room was not one of the recently refurbished rooms but was still excellent, clean linen sheets every day, towels changed twice a day, and complimentary soft drinks from the mini bar, a nice touch. Breakfast was superb, something to suit all tastes. Includes hot and a full continental spread with cheeses fruit pastries etc. Concierge staff very helpful, how do they remember your name when you have not introduced yourself? Afternoon tea not to be missed, sat on the terrace with the tranquil sound of a piano playing in the background, that was the life. The pools are lovely, plenty of towels, both to lay on and after swiming. When it was too hot a small iced flannel was provided. Pool drinks and food are a little expensive, but that is what you have to expect for a hotel of this class. The Spa is out of this world. Expensive but fabulous. All staff are very friendly, efficient without over fussing. They always have a smile that is geniune. Lovely gardens, it is possible to sit in there all day and not see anyone. One small point, dress code. Smart casual was allowed in all the restaurants except the main dinning room, where shirt and tie was the norm. Overall I would say this is probably the best hotel we have ever stayed in on holiday and we are extremely fussy! Value for money, yes a litle pricey but go on treat yourself to pure 5 star class.

The island of Madeira is absolutely the most wonderful place I could imagine. Reids, being situated on the corner of a dramatic cliff, offers every immenity you could desire, the best of all services, and fantastic hospitality. Every day was a dream and every night like sleeping in the most luxurious cloud. I hope to get back someday... it only took a week to fall in love!

I will say this is one of the best hotel I ever stay in. Excellent service!!! There are a lot of senior people there, but it is OK.

We honeymooned at this hotel three years ago -- and loved it. It's not a typical honeymooner's spot (we were the only ones there...which we loved). Madeira is a beautiful, slower, more wonderful place...and the same is true for Reid's. We loved it.