Savoy Palace Madeira

The hotel has a great location, a safe and pleasant 15 minute walk into the centre of Funchal. An alternative route being via the garden from which you can access a number of lovely alternative restaurants. The hotel itself is impressive. I would definitely pay the premium for a sea view - interesting view of the cruise ships coming and going, if that is your bag. The hotel and its grounds contain lots of lovely different areas from which to relax. Rooms spacious and comfortable and the breakfasts were excellent - so much to choose from. Weather good when we visited and able therefore to breakfast outside which was a wonderful start to the day. All the staff were professional helpful and courteous. Noted there were one or two derogatory reviews in conjunction with the immediate request for 200 euros on arriving at the hotel in lieu of future purchases. The amount is not debited to the account. At the end of the holiday a bill is provided which you pay. I do not however that a ‘pending’ payment does remain within my app under transactions in relation to the original 200 euro request mentioned above, which seems strange. This some days after the holiday ended. Something I will keep an eye on and refer to the hotel if not removed. Overall the accommodation/food/staff/location all lived up to it’s 5 star status and I would be pleased to return again in the future.

We booked the Savoy Palace for our silver wedding anniversary. We wanted somewhere that we would be pampered, made to feel special, and where we could totally relax in wonderful surroundings. The Savoy Palace delivered all of that and much more besides. We had booked a half board package in a superior ocean view room. Arrival; the front of the Savoy Palace is very imposing, with a covered area for arrival and departure, manned by a number of valets/porters, including a very tall man in grey morning dress and a pink top hat. We were welcomed to the hotel by the porters, who took our luggage from the taxi and straight to our room while we checked in. We were immediately met by reception by a very friendly lady, who quickly and efficiently checked us in in the huge, imposing reception area. The way that everything works, including the half board arrangements and the layout of the hotel were so well explained that we did not have any questions. The reception area is vast and modern, although there is a 1920s/ early art deco feel that runs through the hotel, along with touches of greenery and occasional, carefully chosen pieces of antique furniture. There is a latticework theme throughout the hotel, which echoes the Madeiran lace makers, and this is found in the staircase, the bridge and the rooms. All of the staff that we met were friendly and helpful. The Room: Our room on the 11th floor was very spacious, with a very large bed, desk, console table, comfortable chairs and plenty of clothes storage. There was a nespresso machine with coffee capsules provided, a kettle and 2 sizes of cups and saucers. Unfortunately, the only tea provided was chamomile or another herbal sort. A large bowl of fresh fruit was also provided, along with plates, cutlery and napkins. The ensuite was actually 3 rooms, a separate toilet and bidet, a large shower and a large wash stand area with two basins. Gold taps and marble throughout completed the effect of sheer opulence. Pleanty of toiletries and towels were provided, as well as dressing gowns and slippers. We had a quite large balcony with spectacular views over the ocean and Funchal harbour. There was a table and two chairs on the balcony, and we spent a lot of time there. We enjoyed watching the cruise ships and yachts sailing in and out of the harbour. We looked down on the outdoor swimming pool area and over to the Royal Savoy between us and the sea. The view was truly delightful. The room was immaculately clean at all times, with the cleaning service very polite and unobtrusive. They never walked in without knocking, and were happy to come back later if we were still in the room. The turn down service was also a treat, occurring while we were at dinner. Air conditioning and ventilation were great once they were working, however it took the first 48 hours before ours was fixed, making the nights a bit stuffy. Restaurants: The half board package applied in 2 restaurants, Pao de Lume and Terreiro, where we had a separate menu which was five courses and was more limited than the a la carte menu from which it was taken. The quality and quantity of the food, however, was no different to the a la carte menu. The only criticism was that the menu choices kept repeating over the two weeks. Drinks were reasonably priced and there was a large choice to suit all wallets. Both restaurants were very pleasant and relaxed, with a good choice of seating inside and outside, and the service was impeccable, with very friendly, courteous staff throughout. The breakfast choice was huge and well prepared, again with very good staff, who rotated around the hotel restaurants. There were a number of other restaurants that we did not try in the Savoy Palace. We did have the option to eat at the Royal Savoy next door, at their Neptune and Armada restaurants and we found both of these to be very good as well. For Lunch, we had a couple of meals at the Alameda restaurant, by the pool at the Savoy Palace. Again, this was excellent. We also used the room service menu on one day, and this was also very good. Outdoor areas: The huge outdoor pool is set beautifully with the latticework bridge over it. It is surrounded by high quality sun loungers, with towels provided. The attendants are working continually keeping the whole area beautifully tidy and catering to the needs of the guests. Surrounding the pool area and a number of other seating areas is a spectacular botanical garden, with everything ranging from olive trees that are hundreds of years old to hibiscus, bougainvillea, tulip trees, and many plants that we could not identify. Staff were installing a labelling system while we were there. All of the grounds are maintained immaculately, with not a crack between paving, or a stray leaf or speck of dust where it shouldn't be. We even saw staff polishing the sun loungers in the morning and evening, and they were regularly sweeping up or doing minor bits of maintenance, but very unobtrusively. Concierge: I would like to make particular mention of the concierge service. We asked if he could book us a number of day trips while we were there, which he was delighted to oblige with. He gave us excellent advice including suggesting that we swapped our preferred catamaran trip for the Atlantic Pearl trip, pointing out that it was slightly smaller and much less crowded than some of the others. He was absolutely right, and we had a particularly good trip as a result. He also checked the weather forecast, suggesting the best days for certain trips. Brilliant! Position: The Savoy Palace is located to the west of the city centre of Funchal, but only a 15 minute walk from the centre. Shops for essentials are close to the hotel, and we didn't lack for anything. It is a 25 minute walk to the marina from where catamaran trips go, and a similar distance to the cable car. If you choose a yellow taxi, the fare into Funchal centre is between 6 and 10 euros, and the doorman will call a cab for you if needed. The hill back up can feel a bit daunting in the heat and if you aren't in the first flush of youth! The sea can be accessed from the Royal Savoy, and a footbridge links the two hotels. All in all, this is one of the best holidays that we have ever had, and the Savoy Palace surpassed expectations. I have been fortunate enough to have enjoyed stays in a number of 5 star hotels over the years, but the Savoy Palace has been my favourite so far.