PRICE:
Frommer's Very Highly Recommended

This is a luxurious 18-story structure near Madeira's only casino, with direct access to the sea via stairs that lead down from the hotel to a platform from which you can get into the sea for swimming. The hotel lies on a promontory overlooking Funchal Bay in the fashionable Vale-Verde Garden district, next to Reid's Palace . All of the spacious accommodations, many furnished in provincial style, have private balconies and comfortable, tasteful furniture. The more expensive rates are for the deluxe sea-view rooms. The oceanfront exposure (to the south) of these rooms means the pool terraces and seaside guest-room balconies and patios receive dawn-to-dusk sunlight. Bathrooms are well organized and contain dual basins and tub/shower combos. The three restaurants serve fine cuisine, if only to tour groups at times: The Atlantico features a show with dinner, Os Arcos has an international and regional menu, and the Taverna Grill specializes in pub fare like steaks.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Portugal, 20th Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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