Set on the cliffs overlooking the Bay of Funchal and the Atlantic Ocean, Reid’s Palace has been a standard-bearer for excellence on Madeira for over a century. Its roll-call of celebrities began with Empress Elisabeth I of Austria – and in its timeless atmosphere, you still almost expect to spot Winston Churchill taking afternoon tea on the terrace or George Bernard Shaw mastering the tango on the lawn. The lush gardens, where hanging vines merge with glorious geraniums, hibiscus and salvias, invite you to bask in the island’s sub-tropical climate, while in many of the rooms and suites, delicate pastel tones, original Anglo-Portuguese furnishings and carved wooden antiques reinforce the traditional ambience.