Madeira has been named Europe's best island destination at the prestigious World Travel Awards.
The Portuguese archipelago, made up of the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo and the Desertas, is known for its wild beauty and subtropical climate, making it the perfect year-round escape.
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Beating off competition from the likes of Crete, the Balearics, Cyprus, Sardinia and Malta, which were nominated for Europe's Leading Island Destination 2019, Madeira surprises and delights visitors with its natural beauty.
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The Atlantic island is a haven for walkers thanks to its scenic trails that rival those of Hawaii, such as Vereda da Ilha and Vereda do Pico Ruivo.
Madeira is a great place to relax too - the Botanical Garden is a must-see and a hop over to Porto Santo will take you to some of the most beautiful beaches around.
There are also plenty of trendy bars in Madeira's capital, Funchal, and beautiful natural pools, including the Instagram-worthy Porto Moniz.
When it comes to the hotels, the five-star Belmond Reid's Palace is an icon and one of the most glamorous hotels on the island. For incredible views over Funchal Bay, look no further than Quinta da Bela Vista, which was also named Europe's Leading Boutique Hotel at this year's World Travel Awards.
And if you're after something stylish, The Vine is a design hotel with a cool rooftop pool.
The clever travel essentials you never knew you wanted
LAY-N-GO Cosmo make-up bag
Selfridges
£29
Lay out all of your make-up in one place and quickly pack it up again with the ultimate cosmetic bag for travellers. There’s even a pocket to store your jewellery.
Take control of the sound in your holiday environment with this USB-charged machine that masks noise which can disturb sleep or concentration through its sound options, including bright white noise, deep white noise or gentle surf.
Ideal for sleeping in dry hotel rooms, this portable dehumidifier secures over a water bottle to add moisture to the air.
Not just trendy-looking cabin luggage, this smart case uses a lithium ion battery so you can charge your phone on the go. It's a great gift for the traveller in your life, too.
...And you can keep tabs on your bag with this intelligent little tile that you pop into the luggage tag and attach to you case before tracking it with your phone. It makes for a great travel gift, too.
Inflatable, foldable and lightweight, these blow-up hangers are ideal for packing in your suitcase, as you never know if there will be enough in your hotel wardrobe.
Comfortable to wear on the plane, in the car or in your hotel room when noise stops you from sleeping, these earplugs use sound reduction filters and feature personal volume control.
If you're not staying in a fancy hotel with a Nespresso coffee machine in your room or just want to enjoy your favourite brew whenever and wherever you are on holiday, this portable espresso machine will come in handy.
Washing your clothes on holiday is now quick and easy with this portable washing machine. Just add your clothes, water and a drop of washing liquid, seal tight and rub for a few minutes on the internal, flexible washboard before rinsing.
The ultimate baggage compressor, this little device sucks up all the extra space in your luggage within minutes by easily compressing your clothes in a vacuum bag so you can buy more and pack more.
Designed by a former flight attendant who watched endless passengers struggle to sleep on flights, this travel pillow with a three-way support system helps keep your head, neck and chin completely supported while you snooze.
Keep your valuables close with this silk pouch you simply snap over your bra strap. The small pocket is great for stashing your money and credit cards.
This easy-to-use steamer is a the perfect alternative to carrying a travel iron. It's harmless to even delicate fabrics and will remove creases and unfresh odours.
Just what you need for packing light on a beach holiday, this lightweight and water-resistant blanket can be used for picnics too and features weights at each corner to stop it being blown away.
For when the in-flight pillow just won’t do, this mulberry silk pillow with a matching sleep mask was created to provide the ultimate combination of shine, thickness, softness and durability
Want to be a more organised packer? These nifty cubes help you pack your clothes neatly while providing compression so you can fit more into your case. Genius!
A great gift for the business traveller who has everything, this hard case will protect a shirt from creasing and is lightweight and compact enough to pack in a laptop bag or backpack.
