The Unmissables: Vidamar Resort, Funchal

First impressions:  On walking into the expansive reception uf this Madeira resort we were rewarded with the ‘holiday high’ that comes from that first sight of the brilliant blue ocean, calling to us from just beyond the lobby. Built into the hillside, with those lifts to the swimming area, so common on this volcanic island, the Vidamar is a great place to do nothing but enjoy the hotel, or to get out and enjoy the island. The friendly check-in staff were full of advice to help us with both.

Location: Viewing the verdant, but vertical slopes of the island as we came in to land, I was envisioning a stomach churning route full of hairpin bends. In fact the hotel is a smooth 20 minute drive from the airport (and Madeira has the most impressive tunnels outside The Alps, so getting around the island is surprisingly easy).  The ornately cobbled streets of Funchal old town are a 25 minute stroll away from the Vidamar and there are lots of bars, restaurants and interesting shops to explore on the way.

Sleep: The Madeira resort faces the ocean, so almost all bedrooms have at least a partial sea view. Rooms are a good size and all have balconies, a seating area, fridge and beautiful marble bathroom with double sink. Beds are generous and comfortable, with a modern twist on the traditional Portuguese bolster pillows. I could have switched on the air-con but preferred to let the wonderful subtropical breezes cool the room at night.

Eat: People come back to this hotel year after year, specifically because the food is so good – and I certainly went home a few pounds heavier. All guests are booked on a half board basis  – something I’d normally avoid,  fearing that a captive audience might compromise quality, but I was happy to be proved wrong. The buffet style food in the main restaurant was so good that we cancelled our reservation at the Italian restaurant on site, figuring ‘we can eat that stuff at home’. We couldn’t miss the local specialties in Vidamar’s Portuguese restaurant though and enjoyed enormous skewers of meat, fish  and vegetables hung on special stands in front of us.

Play: Popular with older couples, Vidamar is sedate and wonderfully relaxing. Guests have plenty of room to stretch out in the six swimming pools and nowhere felt crowded during our stay as there are plenty of loungers and umbrellas.  The three infinity pools that overlook the sea are unheated, but the mild climate means they are popular with swimmers even in late November – as is the sea, which is accessible via a ladder, and beautifully refreshing. An indoor pool (with small Jacuzzi and sauna), is also available, but the real draw is the spa. An extra 15 euro per person to enter (or free with any treatment) this is worth a trip to Vidamar on its own. Large and uncrowded, it benefits from a wonderfully indulgent warm pool, with different jets, currents and waterfalls, as well as a large sauna and steam room, a walk-through shower experience and a great range of traditional and Thalassotherapy treatments.

Highs: The outstanding food, super friendly staff and great location, make this hotel really stand out.  My highlight was looking out over the sea, watching the sky change colour with the setting sun, while being massaged by the underwater jets of the spa pool. I also loved exploring Madeira. We were treated to the rare sight of a humpback leaping out of the water on our whale watching trip with responsible whale watch specialists, Lobosonda. This beautiful and fascinating island is somewhere I definitely plan to return.

Lows: Some will love the Madeira resort’s minimalist design. The white-walled, wide open spaces and floor to ceiling windows certainly give it a clean, modern feel, though I found it a bit stark and longed for more indoor plants to echo the wonderful gardens outside. Locating the smoking space in what would otherwise be a great outdoor bar area nestled above the garden seems a wasted opportunity too.

Verdict: For the range of facilities, the excellent spa and fabulous food on offer, together with its great location, the Vidamar is absolutely unmissable value.