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The underrated Portuguese island of Madeira is perfect for a romantic getaway
A sophisticated new hotel has landed in Madeira and the Savoy Palace is bringing a contemporary style and romantic vibe to Portugal’s underrated island.
With its sub-tropical climate, Atlantic island Madeira is the perfect short-haul destination for guaranteed warm weather any time of year. While it's often overlooked by the cool crowd, the picturesque destination offers natural beauty, remarkable views and a laidback atmosphere you won't find everywhere in Europe.
Issy Muir checks in to its capital Funchal's hottest new address to see what it's all about...
First impressions
The sprawling Savoy Palace offers 16 floors complete with a huge spa, six swimming pools (two of which are infinity pools), a gym and five restaurants. The rooms are luxurious, with their own balcony overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and luscious hotel gardens.
On first impressions, you may feel put off by the idea of a large hotel but due to the stupendous design, every inch of the Savoy Palace is highly detailed and feels utterly lavish and unique. The hotel's design is influenced by the Belle Epoque era and the natural elements of the extraordinary island.
The food
Take your pick from any of the distinguished restaurants within the hotel and you will not be disappointed. Each has a completely different menu and focuses on varied approaches to gastronomy.
For breakfast, you can choose between the Hibiscus or Orchidaceae Atelier restaurants, with their indoor and alfresco areas. The food is served buffet-style so you can construct your own breakfast of dreams to start the day.
For lunch, if you’re poolside, the beautiful, laidback restaurant Alemeda has a Mediterranean-inspired menu and you can go straight from your sun lounger to dine under the shaded veranda.
When it comes to choosing the perfect spot for dinner, Galaxia is an experience like no other. Situated on the 16th floor with panoramic scenery, this astronomy-inspired restaurant serves contemporary signature dishes from the open kitchen.
Other than superior quality, one thing that unites all of the restaurants is their goal for zero waste and using local produce. The hotel has it’s own garden which grows many of the vegetables and herbs used in the heavenly dishes that you’re served.
It doesn't get much more magical than sitting out on the roof terrace by Galaxia, with a cocktail in hand admiring the view of the twinkly city lights that scatter up towards the hilltops, a landscape that could easily be mistaken for Rio.
The spa
Forget the usual white walls and lift music. The Savoy Palace's spa is inspired by Madeira's Laurissilva Forest, the largest surviving laurel forest in the world. It immerses you into an entirely unique environment enriched with vivid greens and a warm, calming interior. Here, you can fully unwind in the treatment rooms, sauna, Turkish bath, Jacuzzi, ice fountain and sensory showers.
The best part of the spa is the halo-therapy room, where you lie in a darkened room on an inclined bed facing a beautiful salt wall, which is lit from behind and emits a warm, orange glow over you and into the room. It leaves you feeling completely relaxed.
Around Madeira
To balance out all the heavenly food and Madeira wine, you can take a scenic boat trip with Rota dos Cetaceos. We boarded a private charter, which took us along the exquisite southern coastline and stopped for a glorious swim and a snorkel. If you go at the right time of the year you might even be lucky enough to see some of the 28 species of dolphins and whales that grace Madeira's waters.
A trip to the north of the island, home to natural pools, waterfalls and caves, is another must-do.
Book it
Spend a week of luxury at the Savoy Palace for as little as £513 per person, based on a seven-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis with flights, from TUI.
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