ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: I was lucky to experience the inaugural United Airlines flight from Newark International Airport to Madeira Airport in Portugal. After an exciting flight and welcome to the island, I headed to my home for the next couple of days: Reid’s Palace, a Belmond Hotel, Madeira. At check-in, hotel staff kindly offered bottles of water; the process itself was smooth but my room was not ready, so the front desk stored my luggage and showed me to the nearest bathroom so I could freshen up before my first activity. Upon my return, my room was ready with my bags waiting for me there.

GUEST QUARTERS: As I walked into the guestroom, a spacious bathroom was to the left with a shower and tub, plenty of vanity space, generous lighting, and a variety of mirrors and bathroom amenities. After a short hallway, the space opened up into the main area of the room.

© Reid’s Palace, a Belmond Hotel, Madeira

Directly to the left sat a giant built-in closet featuring full-length mirrored doors. It provided plenty of space for clothes, shoes, jackets and anything else I needed to store. (Of note: The hairdryer wasn’t located in the bathroom but rather in the closet. Best of all, it was a Dyson.)

The comfortable king-sized bed sat adjacent to the closet space with a bedside table and a sitting area on the other side. Across from the bed stood a desk with a small vanity area, the coffee bar and a carafe of Madeira wine. In the corner, a TV on a stand hid the fully stocked fridge. The room also featured a balcony overlooking the hotel’s greenery and the ocean.

SERVICES/AMENITIES: Guests staying at the hotel have full access to the hotel’s variety of restaurants, spa facilities, fitness center, tennis courts, kids club, kayaks, paddle boards and other one-of-a-kind experiences. Make sure to carve out some down time in your itinerary to enjoy the resort’s two heated pools on the pool terrace, one freshwater and one seawater. Those looking to lounge by the pool will be delighted by the number of lounge chairs on the pool terrace — some even have ocean views. If you’re brave enough to venture down the cliff side, you’ll be at sea level with opportunities to soak in a natural pool or jump off one of the diving boards directly into the azure ocean.

If you need help planning or booking activities, the hotel staff stands more than happy to help.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

• I highly recommend going down the cliff and jumping off the diving board into the ocean. Even though it seems a little frightening, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience andwas one of my favorite parts of the trip.
• Take advantage of the fully stocked breakfast buffet featuring fresh fruits, delicious pastries, breakfast meats and everything in between.
• Make sure to soak up the views! Whether you are on the pool terrace, on your room’s balcony, on the terrace outside the lobby or at many other spots in the hotel, you will definitely find a breathtaking view to enjoy.

REID’S PALACE, A BELMOND HOTEL, MADEIRA
Estrada Monumental 139
São Martinho 9000-098 Funchal, Portugal
tel 351 291 717 171