Location. Set on the Ponta da Cruz headland, Madeira's southernmost point, the Pestana Grand Hotel is a contemporary property which opened in 2004. Situated in a 21st-century apartment district, the shops, restaurants and cinemas of Madeira Forum are 200 metres away, and Funchal Old Town is five kilometres away. Funchal Airport (FNC) is a 22-kilometre drive. Hotel Features. The 104-metre heated saltwater pool is the longest pool in Madeira, and there is also a children's pool. The health club features a heated indoor-outdoor saltwater pool, with jetted massage areas in the indoor section. Aerobics and yoga classes are offered free of charge. A health spa offers treatments such as hydrating facials and aromatic massage. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available in public areas.

Dining choices at the Pestana Grand hotel include a buffet restaurant providing a complimentary English buffet breakfast and themed dinners, a Moroccan fine-dining restaurant, and an Italian fine-dining restaurant. The poolside bar serves drinks and snacks, and a lounge bar with dance floor offers live music six nights a week.

A gate below the pool terraces offers direct access to the three-kilometre promenade along the rugged oceanfront, popular for running and walking. Formosa Beach, 700 metres away, offers a wide range of water sports and one kilometre away there is an outdoor saltwater pool complex and diving centre, Lido.

Guestrooms. The seven-storey hotel has 177 guestrooms, all with furnished balconies facing either the ocean or neighbouring apartment blocks. Decor is light and contemporary with dark-wood furniture and marble bathrooms. Amenities include safes, high-speed Internet access (surcharge), cable TV, coffee/tea makers, bathrobes, and compact refrigerators which can be stocked as minibars on request.

Expert Tip. Seven hundred metres west of the hotel, a tunnel leading to black-sand-and-stone Formosa Beach includes a glass section for viewing the ocean crashing into rocks below.

Room Types:

Sea View Single:   Two twin beds with duvets. Balcony with ocean views and two faux-wicker sun loungers. Desk. Faux-suede loveseat and armchair with small table High-speed Internet access (surcharge). Laptop-sized safe. Direct-dial phone with voice mail. TV with international channels. (Rental DVD player available.) Compact refrigerator with complimentary bottled water and milk for coffee/tea maker on arrival; stocked as minibar on request. Marble bathroom with sink, bidet, bathrobes, and shower/tub combination or separate tub and shower.

Sea View Double:   Two twin beds with duvets. Balcony with ocean views and two faux-wicker sun loungers. Desk. Faux-suede loveseat and armchair with small table High-speed Internet access (surcharge). Laptop-sized safe. Direct-dial phone with voice mail. TV with international channels. (Rental DVD player available.) Compact refrigerator with complimentary bottled water and milk for coffee/tea maker on arrival; stocked as minibar on request. Marble bathroom with sink, bidet, bathrobes, and shower/tub combination or separate tub and shower.

Twin Single Land View:   Two twin beds with duvets. City-facing balcony with two faux-wicker sun loungers. Desk. Faux-suede loveseat and armchair with small table High-speed Internet access (surcharge). Laptop-sized safe. Direct-dial phone with voice mail. TV with international channels. (Rental DVD player available.) Compact refrigerator with complimentary bottled water and milk for coffee/tea maker on arrival; stocked as minibar on request. Marble bathroom with sink, bidet, bathrobes, and shower/tub combination or separate tub and shower.

Twin Double Land View:   Two twin beds with duvets. City-facing balcony with two faux-wicker sun loungers. Desk. Faux-suede loveseat and armchair with small table High-speed Internet access (surcharge). Laptop-sized safe. Direct-dial phone with voice mail. TV with international channels. (Rental DVD player available.) Compact refrigerator with complimentary bottled water and milk for coffee/tea maker on arrival; stocked as minibar on request. Marble bathroom with sink, bidet, bathrobes, and shower/tub combination or separate tub and shower.

Mountain View Double:   Two twin beds. Balcony with mountain view. Desk. High-speed Internet connection. TV with premium cable channels. Refrigerator and minibar. Hair dryer. In-room safe.

Mountain View Single:   One twin bed. Balcony with mountain view. Desk. High-speed Internet connection. TV with premium cable channels. Refrigerator and minibar. Hair dryer. In-room safe.

Driving Directions: Getting there. A taxi from the airport costs EUR 32-38. A complimentary bus transports guests between the hotel and Funchal's Old City near the cable car station, with a stop also at the marina near the modern city centre. The bus operates on a schedule from morning to early evening daily except Sunday. Public buses stopping 200 metres from the hotel operate to Funchal centre. Taxis are available at the hotel's entrance.