Travellers' ChecksWhy Madeira’s Cristiano Ronaldo Airport in Portugal is called the Kai Tak of Europe
- Crosswinds and a precipitous location frequently land the island’s airport on scary-runway lists
- Plus, the Park Hyatt and Aman brands are opening in Kyoto, adding to the city’s portfolio of international luxury hotels
Despite this, thousands of visitors arrive, by the white-knuckled planeload daily. Although closer to Africa than to Portugal – of which it is an autonomous region – Madeira was voted Europe’s Leading Island Destination for 2019 at the World Travel Awards last year.
This year’s long-awaited summer opening of the Savoy Palace was also headline travel-trade news. Built on the ruins of the original Savoy Hotel, which was demolished in 2008, its facade is somehow nostalgically evocative of 1970s package holidays, and offers a vague nod to its foundations with an ethereal tagline – “The Palace of Tomorrow and the Days Before”.
An authentic heritage hotel experience can still be had at nearby Reid’s Palace, a favourite with British visitors (especially prime ministers, for some reason) for more than a century, and run since 2014 by Belmond (formerly Orient-Express Hotels). Known for its striking scenery, hiking trails, gardens and colourful capital, Funchal, Madeira can be reached from Hong Kong with a single stopover in Frankfurt, with Lufthansa. Don’t forget to grab a window seat.
Park Hyatt Kyoto and Aman Kyoto to open in the Japanese city
