Hugging a small cove, almost at the eastern end of the island of Madeira, is a village that many mistakenly say was once a town. The group of buildings, which includes a church, does indeed resemble a village, but it was designed and built to be a resort, in this case the Dreams Madeira Resort, SPA & Marina.
The various buildings are arranged on the hillside, surrounding gardens, common areas, and access points. At the far end of the property is the Quinta do Lorde Marina, which retains the name of the area where the resort was built. It is open to the general public and has a sports bar and an ice cream parlour, as well as various support services for recreational boats.
The marina is the departure point for boats operated by Madeira Sea Emotions, offering transport to Cais do Sardinha, in Ponta de São Lourenço, boat trips, whale and dolphin watching, and kayak rentals.
The connection of Dreams to the sea is also evident in the pebble beach, backed by an ocean pool, with water cooled by the sea whenever the tide comes in. This is where the solarium is located and where the sound of the waves lulls you to rest.
Dreams is a brand of the Hyatt universe. It offers quality, all-inclusive resorts. But each one has its own identity. In the case of Madeira, it is the layout reminiscent of a village. The church, for example, where weddings are often held, opens onto the main square, surrounded by restaurants, rest areas, and the main building. Here you can hear live music every night from the Momentos Lobby Bar, the hotel's main bar.
There are a total of 17 room types at Dreams Madeira. Some are complete villas, with several rooms and a private pool. There are also specific rooms for the Preferred Club, which has a specific standard of service. Check-in and check-out are done at a private reception. There is a concierge service and a minibar service with daily replenishment. The rooms also have a coffee machine and a wider selection of toiletries, as well as a pillow menu and turndown service. In addition to all this, there is a lounge dedicated to these guests.
The resort has a daily program of activities, described in the mobile app. It includes yoga, fitness, ping pong tournaments, and other games, as well as different opportunities to experience local Madeiran traditions, such as the art of making poncha.
For those who want to explore Funchal, there is a shuttle bus with two daily departures. And nearby, in addition to sea activities, there is the famous walking trail to the tip of São Lourenço, one of the most popular in Madeira. Then there is the whole island of Madeira to explore, as well as the neighbouring town of Caniçal, a fishing village, home to Madeira's tuna fishing fleet, and where you can taste good fresh fish.
For those staying at the resort, there are several swimming pools. The main one is organized on three different levels and even has live music performances and activities throughout the day. But there is also an adults-only pool, supported by the Sugar Reef bar.
For younger guests, there are two clubs, divided by age: the Explorer's Kids Club, for children between 4 and 12 years old, and the Core Zone, dedicated to teenagers, with vintage and more contemporary video games. Finally, children also have a water park, which is unique in Madeira.
The rooms are spacious and offer a high standard of comfort. In some of them, you can hear the sea, but the soundproofing always ensures a good night's sleep. The rest of the world stays outside, and even when there are events at the hotel, your rest is not disturbed.
Food is one of Dreams Madeira's strong points. Eight spaces serve delicacies from different parts of the world. There are grilled dishes, Asian, French, Portuguese, and Mediterranean options. Some restaurants focus more on fish, while others offer fast food.
But all guests generally visit the World Café, Dreams Madeira's main restaurant. It is a space dedicated to buffets, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The offerings vary throughout the week, and the restaurant allows you to dine in a more private room or even on an outdoor terrace.
Breakfast is varied, with an emphasis on vegetarian options, including various types of grilled vegetables. But there is no shortage of bread and cakes, hot dishes, freshly prepared specialties, and fresh tropical fruit.
Like the other restaurants, Carvão specializes in meat. It serves different cuts, with a menu that also includes tuna belly, for example. The main feature is the grill, in a restaurant that also has a children's menu, which is standard in all restaurants.
Here, as in all restaurants, there is also a wine list, which is not included in the all-inclusive options, meaning that it involves an additional charge.
The lighthouse built on the Quinta do Lorde Marina is home to the Nouvelle Brasserie. It is a classic, more formal French restaurant with a traditional approach to dishes, which are well garnished and accompanied by sauces.
Oishii is an oriental restaurant, mainly Japanese, but with no shortage of other Asian specialties. Ramen, gyozas, noodles, and teriyaki are among the options. The restaurant also has a sushi bar. The sushi preparation and live teppanyaki show are highlights.
Sabor and Fado are two spaces integrated into one. On the one hand, fado, the Portuguese song, refers to the restaurant's cuisine, which is also Portuguese. Sabor is a Mediterranean restaurant, with Greek and Italian dishes.
Você is a restaurant that smells and tastes like the sea. Located in the solarium area, next to the ocean pool, it is dedicated to the sea, with fish and seafood served in casseroles or on skewers. Various types of fish rice, with fish or seafood, are served.
The Pesqueiro Pool Bar focuses on light meals, as you would expect from a bar located next to the main pool. Salads, sandwiches, and pasta are all on the menu.
Bars are scattered throughout the property, all with a cocktail menu, some of which are signature cocktails. The concepts also vary. Desire, in the marina, for example, is a sports bar open to the general public, as the marina is freely accessible. Cocoa Café, as its name suggests, is dedicated to serving coffee and cakes.
The spa is called Dreams and seeks to establish a connection with Madeira. The signature massages, available from the extensive menu, have an island touch, such as Vulcanic Bliss, a hot stone massage, in this case using basalt, which is part of Madeira's volcanic origin.
But there are also treatments with aloe vera, passion fruit, or other aromas, as well as options for couples and even pregnant women.
The thermal area, for adults only, features a pool with several water jets for hydromassage, as well as a sauna, Turkish bath, and sensory showers. The outdoor solarium overlooks the marina and part of the island's coastline.
With its range of activities and services, Dreams Madeira Resort, SPA & Marina is ready for a vacation of pure relaxation. But visiting Madeira and not going out to explore the island is almost sacrilegious. Distances are short and the island is safe. The resort is relatively close to some of the main tourist attractions. In addition, this area of Madeira is ideal for watching the sunrise, away from other highly sought-after spots.
