Hotel Pestana Casino Park

On the coast, less than a mile from Funchal and 14 mi from the airport. The city centre is a 10-minute walk away, the airport a 30-minute drive.

The Pestana Casino Park is the only hotel in Madeira with its own casino. Dinner-shows take place four times a week. Even if you are not staying in the hotel, do find a way of attending one of these shows.
Located on a hill overlooking the harbour, the hotel does not have direct access to the seafront. Nor does it provide a shuttle service to the Lido (Madeira's beach) just over a mile to the west.The city centre is a 10-minute walk away, but the Pestana Casino Park also has a shuttle service to Madeira Shopping Centre. It is free and runs every 30 minutes from Monday to Friday. Although most of the guests are businessmen, children are also welcome and from July to September they can play in the mini-club, specially designed for children aged between 3 and 12.

Like its close neighbour, the Carlton Madeira, Pestana Casino Park was built in the 1970's, but the latest renovations have made some real improvements. Although the ceiling is relatively low and dark, the little lounges with beige furniture and colourful carpets brighten up proceedings. We would nevertheless have liked it to be a bit lighter, and it would also benefit from a quieter place to go when there are mass arrivals. However, you will only ever be passing through the lobby, since the relaxation areas are outdoors, around the swimming pool and extending into large gardens. Spread over an area of 3,229 sq ft, they include a children's playground. As for lazing around, you can choose between the fitted sun lounge or, better still, the terrace that overlooks the sea and extends onto a lawn to the rear. Teak deckchairs, cushions and towels are available free of charge. Parasols cost £1.80 a day though. For those who wish to use their stay at the hotel to get back into shape, the fitness room and sauna can be used free of charge. For a dose of well-being, visit the hotel spa. It offers 5 treatment rooms in a relaxation area covering 10,764 sq ft. A big indoor swimming pool is also available, as well as a jacuzzi, open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm. Before or after your massage, make the most of the beautiful relaxation space.

106 of the 379 rooms have a side view of the sea. The other rooms overlook the gardens or the town and the mountain behind it. Different categories are available: 337 standard rooms, 18 juniors suites, 20 suites and a presidential suite. Three rooms have been designed to cater to the needs of people with disabilities. Since the renovations, the rooms are all reasonably sized and have an elegant appearance. The dark wooden furniture combines well with the beige and white of the decor and various furnishings. They all have a balcony which increases the available space. As for the facilities, everything is provided for maximum comfort: air conditioning, mini-bar, tea and coffee making facilities, satellite television set and an international direct access telephone. The bathrooms are made of marble and include a bath, hair-dryer and hospitality products. The toilet is separate.

The main restaurant, the Panorâmico is a fine setting: refined without being too formal, it has a large terrace which enjoys a view over the swimming pool. In the morning, a varied buffet gives you the choice of bread rolls, cereals, cheese, ham, scrambled eggs or sausages. Lunch is chosen from an "a la carte" menu. The evening meal alternates between a fixed menu and a themed buffet. You can sample the specialities of Madeira, among other dishes. The grilled fish and the skewered beef with bay leaves are highly recommended! To dine in more intimate surroundings, the Sunset "a la carte" restaurant is a much smaller room in a veritably contemporary setting, looking over the Atlantic Ocean. The grill is the speciality of this restaurant, which means meat lovers will be very happy here. The Pestana Casino Park also has a snack bar close to the swimming pool, called the Dockside, and two indoor bars, the AquaCafé and the Sunset. Expect to pay around £13 per dish.