- Madeira Holidays
- Calheta
- Savoy Saccharum Resort and Spa
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Savoy Saccharum Resort and Spa
Portugal, Europe
Calheta
This up-scale and refined hotel enjoys a privileged positioned in the west coast of the island of Madeira, in Calheta. The classy property is set a few steps from the marina and the impressive sandy beach. As the hotel is built where there used to be an old sugar cane mill, the current decoration is based on this concept. Guests will be able to be pampered at the guest rooms and suites that are tastefully appointed in an elegant and modern look. They are generously proportioned and some of them even include a private balcony with panoramic views to the sea. The hotel offers an incredible array of useful and superior services and facilities that feature a complete spa and wellness centre with a fantastic indoor swimming pool to relax while children have fun at the children's Playroom or at the outdoor splash pool.
Hotel Information
Pamper yourself with a visit to the spa, which offers massages. You're sure to appreciate the recreational amenities, which include 2 outdoor swimming pools, a health club and bicycles to rent. This Art Deco hotel also features complimentary wireless Internet access, babysitting (surcharge) and an arcade/games room.
Facilities
- Wheelchair-accessible
- Car park*
- Garage*
- 24-hour reception
- Mobile phone coverage
- Wired Internet
- Wi-fi
- Local and international calls
- Car hire
- Transfer service*
- *Some facilities may incur an additional fee
The Local Area
Tripadvisor Reviews
4.5 Excellent3,061 reviews
Excellent
68%
Very Good
21%
Average
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Excellent Stay, Don’t Miss the Pit Fire Dinner
We had an excellent experience at the Saccharum Resort & Spa. We were on the Premium Package and it definitely lived up to expectations.
The welcome was warm and enthusiastic, and our room was spotlessly clean and well appointed. The facilities are excellent, with a good gym, several pools and a lovely spa.
We only ate breakfast and lunch in the hotel, but both were consistently good. We also tried a few of the activities, and the Food Workshop with Elson was one of the highlights of our trip. Great fun, well priced, and Elson was a brilliant guide and host.
The best meal we had during our entire stay in Madeira was the Pit Fire Dinner at the Beach Club, which is part of the hotel and located just across the road. The food was outstanding, cooked over an open flame in a beautiful setting overlooking the ocean. I would highly recommend booking it.
Calheta Marina is only a five-minute walk away and has plenty of restaurants if you want to eat outside the hotel.
As for the staff, the vast majority were excellent and went above and beyond to make our stay enjoyable. One or two interactions could have been better, but in a hotel of this size that didn’t detract from our overall experience.
Perhaps the best compliment I can give Saccharum is that I would definitely return in the future.
Review by CluckerJones Dunboyne, Ireland
Marketing vs reality — read before you pay the “Ocean” upgrade
First, the genuine positives: the hotel is beautiful and spotlessly clean, the grounds are lovely, the gym is excellent (dumbbells to 28kg, quality machines). The beach is rock rather than sand, but has lifeguards.
Now, marketing versus reality:
What they advertise: an “Ocean Suite” and “Ocean Room” with listing photos of the sea filling the window, floor to ceiling.
What you get: a carpark, trees, and neighbouring buildings, with a strip of ocean in the distance. I’ve posted the listing photos next to my actual view — judge for yourself. We paid a considerable premium for this, and my wife and I both felt short-changed.
What they advertise: a responsive 5-star service culture, inviting your arrival details in advance.
What you get: silence. I messaged 3 times before arrival with our late check-in and an extra bed request — no reply, and nothing ready at midnight: pull-out bed unmade, adjoining rooms locked until morning.
Day 1, I emailed constructive feedback directly to management — no reply either, until I chased it and posted this review.
Four ignored communications is a pattern, not an oversight.
What they advertise: pool open until 8pm.
What you get: towels stop at 6:45pm and umbrellas come down around you from then — like a bar taking your drink before closing time.
What you won’t see in the photos:
• Service is polite but transactional — nowhere near the standard of a Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons, which is the comparison a 5-star badge and these prices invite. The exception: individual staff were genuinely helpful when we asked about our kids’ nut allergies.
• Soundproofing well below 5-star standard — showers, conversations, and clattering from neighbouring rooms, and a wafer-thin adjoining door (avoid adjoining rooms if privacy matters).
• Capacity strain: decent sunbeds are a daily struggle, breakfast seating is a scramble, long morning queues at coffee and food stations with slow refills, and waits for the lifts.
• Food is decent rather than exceptional, with limited choices for younger children.
• Allergen labelling weaker than comparable 5-star hotels.
UPDATE AT CHECKOUT: After this review and chased emails, the hotel moved us to Premium Ocean View rooms for our final two nights and covered our family dinner on the last evening.
Credit where due — those rooms are beautiful, and exactly what the listing photos promise. Sound of ocean in the background, stunning relaxing views.
Which is why I’m leaving this review : the “Ocean Room” and “Ocean Suite” we paid a supplement for are a different, lesser product. The key lesson for future guests: an “Ocean Room” here does NOT mean the ocean view in the photos — that’s a separate, higher tier called “Premium Ocean View.” If the view matters to you, book that tier explicitly.
A beautiful property in a stunning location. But between the room marketing, the noise, the crowds, and how hard we had to push to be heard, we won’t be back.
Thank you to Judite for your efforts but I would be a sellout to take a meal and not leave an honest review.
Review by Aidan M Dublin, Ireland
An Unforgettable 30th Anniversary at Saccharum
My wife and I spent seven nights at Saccharum Resort & Spa celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary, and it was truly an exceptional experience.
The resort is beautiful, with incredible Atlantic views, wonderful amenities, and a location that was perfect for exploring Madeira and the many wonderful places the island has to offer. Breakfast each morning was exceptional, with an impressive variety of choices and a wonderful staff who provided attentive and friendly service.
What made our stay especially memorable was the staff. From our pre-arrival communication through our final day, we were consistently treated with warmth, professionalism, and genuine hospitality. Special thanks to Cláudia and Patrícia from Guest Relations for helping make our anniversary celebration so special.
The Fire Pit Dinner at Calhau Beach Club was one of the highlights of our entire trip. The oceanfront setting, sunset, Bossa Nova music, and outstanding cuisine created a truly memorable evening. A special shout-out to the chef. Every course was beautifully prepared and absolutely delicious! Our waiter, I believe his name was Jeronimo, provided exceptional and personable service that made the evening even more special.
The thoughtful attention given to our anniversary throughout our stay meant a great deal to us. After 30+ years of marriage, we wanted to celebrate somewhere we would always remember, and Saccharum gave us exactly that.
We left Madeira with wonderful memories and tremendous appreciation for the entire Saccharum team. We will definitely be back!
Five stars without hesitation!
Clearly they dont want locals.
I am a resident of Madeira and was informed that you offer special rates for Madeira residents. I therefore contacted your hotel directly to enquire about making a booking and was asked to provide proof of residency by email, which I did.
Four hours later, I received a response asking me to provide the resident information again. I sent it again, but received no further response. I subsequently called twice more and sent another follow-up email.
The following morning, I called again and was told that the quote had already been sent. When I explained that I had not received anything, I was then asked to be patient, after spending approximately 10 minutes being told how busy the hotel was, I eventually received confirmation that a quote would be prepared.
When the quote finally arrived, I was honestly quite shocked. The supposed resident rate was more expensive than booking the same stay directly with the hotel. Even more surprisingly, the quote provided was more expensive than the price available through a third-party booking platform.
- Residents special - 363Euro
- Direct Booking Rate - 323Euro
- Third Party booking site - 289Euro
All three were like for like room comparison, with breakfast, final price including all additional fees.
I have just returned from an exceptional stay at Hotel Fariones on nearby island, where the level of service was outstanding and guests were genuinely made to feel valued. The contrast could not be greater.
I fully appreciate that hotels can be busy, but the issue here is the combination of being repeatedly asked for information I had already provided, having to chase the hotel several times, being told that something had been sent when it had not, and wasting my time by ultimately receiving a "resident" offer that was actually more expensive than the same alternatives available to the general public.
I will rather save my money, and spend it off the island
Review by alex d Cape Town Central, South Africa
Stunning Views, Subpar Service and Surprise Fees
Calheta is a gorgeous destination, and this resort sits on an incredible spot with beautiful views and high-end rooms. Unfortunately, the overall experience was let down by poor service and misleading management.
A few key takeaways for potential guests:
Restaurant Reliability: I made a reservation at the 2nd-floor restaurant weeks in advance. When I arrived, the restaurant was completely closed with zero advance notice or communication.
Service Standards: The front desk provided no guidance on how to access or use the property's amenities. Worse, the staff at both the pool and sky lounge were surprisingly rude and unhelpful.
Extra Costs: Be aware that amenities are not included in your room rate and cost extra.
While the location is lovely, the lack of hospitality and poor communication ruined the stay. I recommend visiting Calheta, but I’d look elsewhere for a place to stay if you value feeling welcomed and well-treated.
Review by ChicagoCJK Chicago, Illinois
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