Magical Madeira
A chill-out destination for sybarites
The past year has seen a host of restyled hotels helping put the fun back into Funchal, Madeira’s capital. Attractions include year-round temperatures hovering close to 24°C, and gorgeous walks along ancient levadas (irrigation channels) taking in the island’s renowned flora. Madeira is also gaining a reputation as a spa capital. The largest on the island, with 25 treatment rooms, recently opened at Quinta Splendida. Look out for these revamped manor house hotels all over the island, under the Quintas da Madeira brand. Design hotel Choupana Hills fuses sleek Asian styling with terracotta-tiled roofs and a jaw-dropping location overlooking Funchal. The comprehensive spa offers treatments from massages in a rasul (mud chamber), to mud wraps and aromatherapy, plus sublime views from an outdoor pool. Even the stately Reid’s Palace hotel has dropped its jacket-and-tie policy in its restaurant, and installed a shiny Ytsara spa.
The rugged coastline of Madeira is spectacular but a beach-free zone. So if you’re after a bucket and spade holiday, combine your trip with the neighbouring island Porto Santo. Here, spa treatments come free because the island’s beaches are renowned for their healing properties. You’re advised to bury yourself in the beautiful, golden sand here to get a mineral-rich hit from high levels of calcium oxide, magnesium oxide and strontium. Colombo’s Beach & Spa Resort will be the first five-star hotel when it opens in 2008. Until then, the best bet for a stylish stay is the Hotel Porto Santo.
Average temperature December – March: 15-17°C. The winter months are extremely mild by British standards, though light rain is common
Who to book with Cadogan Holidays offers seven nights at Quinta Splendida Wellness & Botanical Spa, from £717, b&b, including flights and transfers (+44 (0)800 082 1006, or visit cadoganholidays.com). For information on Quintas da Madeira, visit quintas-madeira.com. Light Blue Travel offers seven nights at Hotel Porto Santo from £525, b&b (+44 (0)1223 568904, or visit lightbluetravel.co.uk)
British Airways offers services, operated by GB Airways, to Madeira from London Gatwick. Visit ba.com
Laid-back Cape Verde
Tune into the what’s-your-hurry vibe on these West African islands
Cape Verde, an archipelago of tropical islands off the northwest coast of Africa, is the destination to watch in 2007. The main draws are the beaches and year-round good weather, plus fantastic value. Some of the islands are lush and mountainous; others are all about fruit plantations and African culture. And the beaches match any in more established winter sun destinations, such as the Caribbean and the Seychelles.
The food here is simple but good – unsurprisingly, lots of fish, including lobster, with every meal. So what’s not to like? Well, while much is made of the island’s unspoilt nature, this also means that a service culture is still, shall we say, evolving. A laid-back atmosphere is all part of the charm, but ordering a drink poolside doesn’t necessarily mean your thirst will be quenched immediately. Property developers have also moved in on a large scale, with all the subsequent noise and chaos that building projects entail.
Average temperature December – March: 19-26°C. During the winter, tropical conditions and high humidity are eased by a cooling sea breeze
Who to book with The Cape Verde Experience offers the all-inclusive Rua Garopa-Funana Hotel, from £808 per person (+44 (0)845 330 2046; capeverdeexperience.com). Original Travel’s tip is the boutique-style Hotel Dunas de Sal (hoteldunasdesal.com). Doubles from €160 per night (+44 (0)20 7978 7333 or visit originaltravel.co.uk)
