Guest reviews Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Madeira

by j0n526 Amersham, United Kingdom

10 Days Holiday in May

Spent 10 days at hotel, 3rd visit. Old worldly. Outstanding location with beautiful view from room. Stunning sub-tropical garden and two pristine pools. But the the thing that stands out is the first rate service, always helpful and friendly. Fantastic holiday for couples in a peaceful location. Not cheap but worth it.

by danieljardim87 Leigh-on Sea, United Kingdom

What an amazing experience, Reid’s palace is a must visit!

From the moment you walk into Reid’s palace and see the view from the terrace through the grand reception area, you know you are in for a special trip. You are instantly absorbed by the history and elegance of the hotel. From the moment you walk through the door, you are made to feel welcome and special. The concierge service is instantly accommodating and are quick to offer you refreshments after a potentially long trip. After receiving a complimentary upgrade, we were personally escorted to the room. The view as we went through onto the private terrace was nothing short of breathtaking. The view of Funchal and the Atlantic was perfectly framed by the colourful and exotic garden, I could’ve spent the whole trip taking it in! Then there are the staff. They literally can not do enough for you, no request is ever turned down if possible. All of them are a credit to the hotel and the level of service they provide is exemplary. They are a huge part of what makes the experience so unforgettable, including the behind the scenes staff such as the room maids that you never seem to see. In all, I can not speak highly enough of this hotel and the experience they offer. If you are visiting Madeira, Reid's Palace is an absolute must.

by holidaychicLondon London, United Kingdom

Fabulous from start to finish

We stayed here for 5 glorious days and can see why this hotel has such a great reputation. The staff are incredible! When we arrived we were shown to our room by the loveliest man who gave us info on the room and hotel. The concierge gave us some great restaurant recommendations. Our room was really big with a comfy bed and lovely big bathroom. The breakfasts were very good and we ate at Cipriani one evening where we had the tasting menu which was lovely. We had a drink one evening on the terrace looking out to Funchal. Everything about this hotel is of such a high standard from housekeeping to drinks service. We have been to a few Belmond hotels and this one is in line with all of the others, first class.

by ice_cream_coan

Afternoon tea - made to feel like a kids’ party group!

I was part of a large group of Riviera travellers coming for afternoon tea at Reid’s - overall there was 3 tables with 9/10 on each. There was no warm welcome from staff. We were given our stands with sandwiches, pastries and cream and jam. It is customary for waiting staff to explain what is in each sandwich and what each pastry is - and certainly if there’s no menu to accompany - but this did not happen. The tea was then brought round: teapots with English Breakfast. No sign of a choice! The scones were then brought round on a tray by staff - I don’t mind this is this means they’re fresh, and they were nice apart from about 2 currants per scone! However, we had to ask for the tray to be brought round again if we wanted a second scone. The jams were in pre-bought jars - something I don’t expect from such an exclusive place. The pastries were delicious - whatever they were! It was only when a couple of people on our tour group stayed on to have a drink there afterwards that we all discovered how lesser a service we got. All this for the same price if we’d booked independently. Plus, because we were inside as opposed to on the veranda, we didn’t even get to enjoy the view. I’ve been to many teas in central London, and this was far below their standards. I know I/we were not staying at the hotel but this does not mean we should have gotten an inferior service.

by SarahL6861

Afternoon Tea - Dress Code

We have been visiting Reid’s for afternoon tea for over a decade and have always found it a very enjoyable experience. The decor, the service and afternoon tea itself are always amazing. However I have to say that this time we were disappointed to see walking shoes, branded sports socks, trainers, fleeces and cargo shorts - considering on booking you receive a email going through the dress code I’m not sure why people are being permitted on to the terrace wearing items that directly conflict with the rules. Reid’s is a classic 5* hotel with a reputation of opulence and exceptionally high standards and I’m sorry to say that those were not maintained today and feel that should the dress code policy not be adhered to, the afternoon tea experience is likely to lose the shine and exclusivity that Reid’s has maintained for many years.