Belmond Reid's Palace
madeira, portugal · ★★★★★
El veredicto
¿Vale la pena para su luna de miel?
Belmond Reid's Palace is the grand old lady of Madeira — a pink-stucco clifftop palace perched 50 metres above the Atlantic in Funchal, opened in 1891 by Scottish émigré William Reid and continuously operating ever since as the island's flagship honeymoon address. Winston Churchill painted from its gardens, George Bernard Shaw learned to tango on the terrace, and the daily 3pm afternoon tea ritual on the cliffside verandah remains the single most famous hotel ritual in Portugal. The 158 rooms and suites are split between the original 1891 wing (high-ceilinged classical interiors, the most romantic verdict for honeymoon couples) and the more recent garden wing (more contemporary, larger bathrooms, sea-view balconies). Eleven acres of subtropical gardens cascade down the cliff face to three saltwater pools and a private sea-access platform with elevator. There is no other hotel in Madeira that operates at this level of heritage luxury, and few in Europe combine the cliff-edge drama with the year-round mild climate (16°C in January, 24°C in July) and the easy walk into Funchal old town fifteen minutes away. For couples wanting the classic European grand-hotel honeymoon — pre-dinner cocktails on the verandah at sunset, butler-pressed dinner jackets, multi-course tasting menus at William (the Michelin-starred restaurant) — this remains the canonical Madeira choice.
- ✓Priorizan spa y bienestar
- ✓Están dispuestos a invertir en una experiencia única en la vida
- →Necesita un resort estrictamente solo para adultos
- →Quiere primera línea de playa
- →Prefiere propiedades boutique e íntimas
Desglose de puntuación
93/100
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The Junior Suites in the original 1891 wing facing the Atlantic are the honeymoon sweet spot — high ceilings, classical furnishings, marble bathrooms, and a private balcony with direct sea view. For a step up, the Garden Wing Ocean Suite offers a larger terrace and a slightly more contemporary aesthetic. The very best room in the hotel is the Churchill Suite — the corner two-bedroom suite where Churchill actually stayed in 1950, with two cliff-facing terraces and the original writing desk, priced around $3,200 per night. For pure honeymoon romance the Junior Suite Ocean View at roughly $700-900 in shoulder season is the right combination of price and the essential Reid's experience.
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Coste real desglosado — 7 noches para dos
Basado en habitaciones de gama media, vuelos en premium economy desde Europa, restauración completa y experiencias estrella. Ajústelo a su perfil real de viaje.
| Concepto | Coste estimado |
|---|---|
| Habitación (7 noches a $1,875/noche de media) | $13,125 |
| Vuelos (2 pax, economy/premium) | $1,800 |
| Traslados al aeropuerto / hidroavión | $200 |
| Restauración y bebidas (fuera de habitación) | $19,688 |
| Excursiones y experiencias | $700 |
| Spa / tratamientos estrella | $300 |
| Propinas y servicio (8%) | $2,625 |
| Total estimado | $38,438 |
Día a día
Su itinerario de luna de miel de 7 noches
Arrival at Funchal & Afternoon Tea
Fly into Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International (FNC) — known for difficult crosswind landings — then a 25-minute transfer west along the south coast to Funchal. Settle into the room, walk the cliffside gardens, and the essential first ritual: 3pm afternoon tea on the verandah, served exactly as it has been since 1891 (finger sandwiches, scones with Madeira jam, harp music, Atlantic view). Sunset cocktails on the same verandah, dinner at the casual Brisa do Mar by the pool.
Funchal Old Town & Madeira Wine Tasting
Walk fifteen minutes east along the Frente Mar promenade into Funchal old town. Tasting at Blandy's Wine Lodge — the 175-year-old Madeira wine producer with vintage bottles dating to 1811 in the cellar — followed by lunch at Restaurante O Tasco for espetada (beef on a bay-leaf skewer) and bolo do caco (the garlic-butter island bread). Afternoon: walk the Rua de Santa Maria street-art alley, visit the Sé Cathedral, return to Reid's by 5pm for sunset cocktails.
Pico do Arieiro Sunrise Hike
Pre-dawn drive (90 minutes inland) to Pico do Arieiro, Madeira's third-highest peak at 1,818m — the sunrise above the cloud sea, with neighbouring peaks Pico Ruivo and Pico das Torres breaching the cloud layer, is the single most photographed moment in Madeira. Walk the first 2km of the PR1 ridge trail before retreating from the wind. Breakfast on the way back at Quinta do Furão in Santana, with the traditional thatched-roof palheiro houses. Afternoon spa treatment at Reid's, sunset on the verandah.
Levada Walk in the Laurel Forest
A levada is a centuries-old hand-cut irrigation channel that runs along the contour of the mountains — Madeira has 2,500 km of them, and the level walking paths beside them are the island's signature experience. The Levada das 25 Fontes in Rabaçal is the classic three-hour walk through the UNESCO laurel forest to a green amphitheatre with twenty-five springs. Drive 90 minutes, walk 11km return, lunch at Pastelaria Encumeada on the way back. Evening: dinner at William, Reid's Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant.
Câmara de Lobos & Cabo Girão
A short 15-minute drive west to Câmara de Lobos, the small fishing village where Churchill painted his most famous Madeira watercolour. Lunch at Vila do Peixe overlooking the harbour for fresh scabbard fish with banana. Continue to Cabo Girão — the 580-metre sea cliff with a glass-floored skywalk, one of the highest in Europe. Return to Reid's by mid-afternoon for the cliff-pool swim and a second afternoon tea. Sunset cocktails, dinner at the Italian Villa Cipriani on property.
Dolphin & Whale Watching
Morning catamaran from Funchal Marina with Lobosonda or similar — Madeira's deep offshore waters host resident bottlenose and short-finned pilot whales year-round, with seasonal sperm whale and dolphin sightings. The 3-hour trip leaves at 10am. Lunch back in Funchal at Armazém do Sal, the salt-warehouse turned restaurant. Afternoon: explore the Botanical Garden by Monte cable car, then descend back to Funchal on the wicker toboggans — two men in straw hats steer a wooden sled down the road, a Madeira tradition since 1850.
Last Tea & Departure
Final morning split between the gardens, the pool, and a last 3pm afternoon tea on the verandah before the transfer back to FNC for departure. Direct flights operate to London (3.5h), Lisbon (1.5h), Frankfurt, Paris, and Amsterdam. Reid's arranges all transfers and the morning is unhurried — most couples leave saying seven nights felt too short.
Evaluación honesta
Lo que debe saber antes de reservar
FNC airport is notorious for difficult crosswind landings — flights are occasionally diverted to Porto Santo or cancelled altogether; allow a buffer day at the end of the trip for important onward connections.
Reid's is a heritage property and some rooms in the original wing have classical (smaller) bathrooms; couples wanting modern marble spa-style bathrooms should request a Garden Wing or Ocean Suite.
Madeira is not a beach destination in the Caribbean sense — there are small pebble and dark-sand beaches but Reid's sea access is via a saltwater pool platform with elevator down the cliff, not a sand beach.
The hotel's atmosphere is genuinely traditional — afternoon tea has a smart-casual code, William restaurant requires a jacket; couples wanting beach-resort informality should look at The Cliff Bay or Savoy Palace.
Antes de llegar
Plantilla de email para el hotel
Subject: Honeymoon inquiry — Belmond Reid's Palace Dear Reid's reservations team, We are planning our honeymoon [DATE]-[DATE] and are interested in a Junior Suite Ocean View (or Garden Wing Ocean Suite). Please advise on availability, honeymoon packages, afternoon tea reservation, William restaurant booking, and any sea-pool platform access details. Thank you, [Your names]
Envíelo 2 semanas antes de la llegada. Complete nombres, fechas y preferencias. Los hoteles responden a las solicitudes personalizadas.
FAQ
Preguntas frecuentes
Good for honeymooners?
Reid's Palace is among Europe's most romantic honeymoon hotels — the cliffside setting, the 1891 heritage, the afternoon tea ritual, and the year-round mild climate make this a classic. Couples drawn to grand-hotel tradition, fine dining, and clifftop drama (rather than tropical beach) will find Reid's the canonical Madeira choice.
Best time to visit?
April through October is the warmest, sunniest window — May is the flower festival month and arguably the most beautiful. June through September offer the warmest sea (22-23°C) for the cliffside pool platform. Winter (December-March) is mild (16-18°C) and quiet, with lower rates; ideal for hiking honeymoons but not for sea-pool swimming.
Book in advance?
Junior Suites and Ocean Suites book 3-4 months ahead for the April-October peak. The Churchill Suite books a year ahead. Afternoon tea on the verandah should be reserved on arrival (or by email pre-arrival) — the cliff-edge tables fill first. Honeymoon packages typically include a sparkling welcome, a couples' spa treatment, and one afternoon tea.
Adults-only?
Reid's welcomes families but the formal atmosphere, the afternoon tea ritual, and the cliff-edge gardens skew the guest mix heavily adult — honeymooners, returning long-haul couples, and Madeira-loyal British and German travellers dominate. There is a small kids' club but the heart of the hotel is the adult, classical-luxury experience.
Best room type?
A Junior Suite Ocean View in the original 1891 wing is the essential Reid's honeymoon — high ceilings, classical furniture, private sea-view balcony. For a more contemporary aesthetic the Garden Wing Ocean Suite is larger with a more modern bathroom. For maximum splurge the Churchill Suite is the corner two-bedroom historic suite.
How to get there?
Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International (FNC) is 25 minutes east of Reid's. Direct flights operate from London Gatwick and Heathrow (3.5h), Lisbon (1.5h), Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, and Manchester. Reid's arranges all transfers. FNC is known for crosswind difficulty — allow a buffer day at the end of your trip.
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