Travessa Vista Praia, Canico De Baixo, Canico, Portugal
Great seafront location in a peaceful, rural setting
Restaurants, grocery store, and shops within walking distance
Rooms have kitchenettes, furnished balconies, and desks
Sunny pool terrace with gorgeous sea views
Spa with treatment rooms, indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, and Turkish bath
Hotel has a diving center and well-equipped gym
Free minibus into Funchal
Funchal is a 20-minute bus ride away
Room furnishings are a bit dated and some fixtures need replacing
Some kitchenettes lack ovens
Wi-Fi requires a fee
Breakfast is not included
A great ochre building perched atop rocks in front of the Atlantic, the three-pearl Royal Orchid has a great seafront location in the rural town of Canico. Some may find its setting too isolated, as it’s a 20-minute bus ride into Funchal, but there are some restaurants and shops nearby. Features include a spa with treatment rooms and an indoor pool, as well as small outdoor pool terrace with stunning ocean views. The 98 studio-style rooms are spacious and outfitted with kitchenettes that have stovetops (and ovens in some), but decor is on the dated side and some fixtures are in need of replacing. Other downsides include fees required for both Wi-Fi and breakfast. Travelers looking for more moderns rooms and on-site activities should consider the nearby Hotel Galosol, though you'll lose cooking facilities.
Scene
Dated interiors but stunning sea views from the pool terrace
Occupying an ochre-colored building perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, the Royal Orchid’s exterior is certainly more impressive than its interior. Inside, a low-ceilinged lobby has limestone tiles and dated blue carpet accented by forest-green columns and a front desk. Leading off from the reception is a dark-wood bar with stools upholstered in avocado green, and tan bucket chairs around little marble tabletops. The standout feature here is the curving freeform pool outdoors, set in a terrace with panoramic sea views. The hotel tends to attract young families and couples without kids in tow from across Europe, all of whom come in search of a simple poolside holiday.
Location
Great seafront location, but a 20-minute minibus journey to Funchal
The Royal Orchid has a stunning seafront location on the rocks as the Atlantic rises to meet Madeira, in the peaceful suburb of Canico. There are a few restaurants and supermarkets in the area, plus other hotels. Funchal is a 20-minute drive away -- the hotel provides a free minibus service that runs throughout the day, but it gets busy quickly, or there are less frequent public buses. Expect transfers to Madeira Airport to take 12 minutes by car, or approximately 90 minutes by public transport.
Rooms
Large and mostly well-maintained rooms with kitchenettes
All of the hotel’s 98 rooms are sizable and simply decorated with warm earth-tone linens, primrose yellow walls, and blond-wood furniture. They're a bit on the dated side, and some have fixtures showing rust or wear that need replacing, but overall, they're well-maintained and functional. Studios have a seating area at the far end with two crimson-and-gold striped armchairs and a flat-screen TV, a double bed in the middle of the room, and at the other end, a kitchenette and dining table with two chairs. Suites, meanwhile, have a separate bedroom and kitchen/living area, with a couch, armchairs, coffee table, dining room table with four chairs, and a kitchen.
Both studios and suites have furnished terraces, with views of the grounds or ocean. Kitchenettes have a large fridge, stovetop, and the usual cookware and crockery, plus some add ovens. As they only have one electrical plug, don't expect to be able to use the coffeemaker and toaster at the same time. Bathrooms have either shower cubicles or shower/tub combos, and all come with toiletries, bidets, and hairdryers. Also standard are flat-screen TVs and air-conditioning.
Features
An indoor and an outdoor pool; spa and gym, and a diving center
The Royal Orchid has a sufficient list of amenities aimed at vacationing tourists first and foremost. There is a lovely --albeit small -- curved pool set on a terrace with stunning Atlantic views and loungers. Inside, an expansive spa has a large freeform indoor pool complete with hot tubs, treatment rooms for massages and wellness therapies, a sauna, and Turkish bath. Additionally, a well-equipped gym with weight machines, racks of free weights, and various pieces of cardio equipment is located here. A diving center offers PADI-certified scuba diving courses. Buffet meals are served in the hotel’s restaurant, while drinks and snacks are available at the lobby bar. There is a free minibus into Funchal, but it is shared by several nearby hotels so early booking is advised. The hotel has free Wi-Fi only in the public spaces.