| WHY GO |
| With its moderate climate, the Portuguese island of Madeira, off the coast of North-West Africa, has been a popular winter destination since the mid-19th century. A long list of celebrity guests, including Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin and Gregory Peck, have escaped to the famous Reid's Palace, a bastion of old-world charm, elegant sophistication and afternoon tea on the terrace. Today the island is also home to designer retreat Choupana Hills where hip execs go to de-stress in the spa. In the capital Funchal, there are colonial restaurants, gardens, a market and a 16th-century cathedral to discover, while further afield the island boasts beautiful lush scenery, hilltop villages and canal-side walks. |
 |
