Briefly, this was the best hotel experience I have ever had. And I'm not a great fan of hotels. The service in particular was exemplary and the aesthetics of the hotel were outstanding. Subtle and nuanced details were excellent. Travel adaptors, insect repellant, pool goggles, etc were freely available and I was left with the feeling that you could arrive with nothing and immediately relax. Design of the hotel was beautiful and once you mastered the layout and where the lifts could take you (which was exciting in itself), it felt like home. Finances permitting, I would love to return.

While I am intend to update this review and make it more detailed, I am posting this one for now to benefit those who have yet to visit and who may be looking for solid, reliable feedback.

My wife and I so enjoyed our stay at Reid’s Palace last year in July 2023 that we brought our family back to enjoy this wonderful hotel for the past week, departing July 31st

Since last year, while the hotel have replaced all the carpets in the public areas ( for possibly the most high-quality carpeting I have ever walked on in a hotel ) they have retained the wonderful feeling of quality, luxury and history, which is what Reid’s Palace is all about. In England, this hotel would probably be grade 2 listed. The charming eccentricities of the entire extended building are an essential part of the entire experience and I hope that LVMH never change it, as it is simply perfect.

My family had rooms on various floors, three of them being seaview rooms, all of which were lovely.

Our junior suite was terrific and was situated on the ground floor just around the corner from reception. Every detail was covered to the most exceptional degree. I highly recommend going for a junior suite or suite as these provide the most exceptional value.

We also had the historic Sir Winston Churchill suite. Dining on the Sir Winston’s main terrace (there are three) one evening was a very special experience (see photo) and I just could not help thinking about the great man throughout our stay. While this hotel has hosted numerous A-listers and royalty over the years, I really did feel the past presence of Sir Winston Churchill all over the hotel. This could be an offshoot of one of the great London gentlemen (and now ladies) clubs such is the level of superior service.

We booked tables for dinner at the hotel’s restaurants for our first few days with the Concierge weeks before arriving, which is good practice in high season when this hotel is running at 99% occupancy.

We loved the Michelin starred William Restaurant ( which is easily 2 star cuisine) and the Cipriani restaurant. Both are very popular not only amongst residents but in Finchal and I would rate them as being in the top five restaurants in all of Madeira.

I love the fact that you can press a button by your sunbed for service and in this hotel there are also way more sunbeds than are needed in various locations and on multiple levels with the most spectacular views. While we also stay mainly at Leading Hotels of the World, at Dorchester group hotels, Rosewood hotels and others of similar quality, my family absolutely love Belmond hotels. They are always in such fantastic locations and provide the most exceptional facilities and standards of service. Having stayed at so many over the years I am full of admiration for management and staff as well as the chief executive of this incredible brand which includes the outstanding Venice Simplon Orient Express.

We were privileged to meet assistant general manager Patricia, who I noticed during our stay seemed to be everywhere. As we only returned home yesterday and given I aim to do justice to the facilities, ladies and gentlemen working at the hotel, I’m going to write a very full review within the next few weeks.

There are numerous enormous hotels in Madeira and such is the competition from popular modern hotels that the value offered by Reid’s Palace is truly exceptional. The hotel has a very British feel to it and if it had been in London, it would be up there with the likes of other traditional grand luxury hotels such as the Savoy and the Dorchester, where a marvellous afternoon tea can be experienced along with traditional standards.

My wife found a new Belmond coffee table book all about their hotels in Italy and after enjoying pouring over this impressive volume, we have decided that we need to visit every single Belmond hotel on mainland Italy and Sicily. We are going to do it all in one trip, having already so enjoyed Belmond hotels in Peru, the USA, 3 in Italy, Brazil and now Reid’s Palace. The last presidential suite we booked was at a Belmond in Cusco which remains our favourite suite in the world… although the Sir Winston Churchill suite comes second and is a must for the very special occasion for those who so loved and appreciated arguably the greatest Britain ever.

Just as I would never visit Venice without staying at the Belmond Cipriani (and dropping in for a lunch at Harry’s Bar), Belmond’s Reid’s Palace is in a class of its’ own. I brilliantly managed, simply great hotel.