Atlantic Holidays

The Independent Specialist Tour Operator to Portugal and the Portuguese Islands of Madeira, Porto Santo & the Azores

Since the inauguration of Atlantic Holidays in June 1991, our aim has been to offer discerning holidaymakers the opportunity to visit islands where natural beauty, together with a sub-tropical climate all year round and a profusion of exotic vegetation combine to create a unique and unforgettable holiday experience. A comprehensive knowledge of these islands, situated in the Atlantic Ocean, complemented by our association with Pestana Hotels & Resorts, our parent company, enabled us to quickly establish a reputation for providing great value holidays and an exceptionally high standard of customer service. From the world-renowned Reid's Palace in Madeira, to functional 3 star hotels, our extensive programmes feature villas and quintas (manor houses) in and around the capital cities of these islands, as well as in towns and villages along the coast, providing a wide choice of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets.

With direct flights from 9 UK airports during the winter and 10 during the summer, covering most regions from Glasgow through to Exeter, we try to ensure that you have the convenience of starting your holiday from your local airport. In addition to package holidays, we also offer a flexible 'flight only' programme for customers who own their own homes or have timeshare apartments on the island.

Should you wish to explore the island fully and at your own leisure we recommend that you hire a car during your stay in Madeira. Please refer to our latest brochures for details of our competitive rates. For your security and peace of mind, Atlantic Holidays is a fully bonded tour operator by the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority), holder of ATOL licence no. 2704 and a member of ABTA, membership No V3671.

The Pestana Group

The history of the Pestana Group can be traced back to 1965 when the founder, Mr Manuel Pestana purchased the Hotel Atlantico, a prime ocean front property in Funchal, the capital city of Madeira. A new 5-star hotel was built on this site and work was completed in 1972.

On his retirement Mr Manuel Pestana handed over control to his son, Dionísio Pestana, who has strived to ensure the continued growth and development of the Group. Acknowledged as Portugal's most successful leisure company, Pestana Hotels & Resorts currently owns and manages 42 hotel properties, 10 holiday ownership resorts, 4 golf courses, an airline, a casino, 2 tour operators and a travel agency with several branches.

The expertise and knowledge accumulated by Pestana Hotels & Resorts has made it the leading figure in the Portuguese tourism industry and the Group has expanded into international markets with hotels in Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Mozambique, Cape Verde Islands, Sao Tomé, Venezuela and the U.K.

Group Pestana recently won an international tender to become joint owners with the Portuguese Government of 40 historical and regional hotels known as Pousadas of Portugal.

Atlantic Holidays is proud to be a part of this prestigious Group, which has a well-deserved reputation for providing the highest standards of service and customer care.