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Madeira

Yes, I've been a couple of times but over 10 years ago. Great climate and the mountains in the interior are beautiful. Downsides are the lack of any decent beach, massive roadworks and tunnelling that got rid of the old very spectacular north coast road and the the locals who are the most unfriendly Portuguese I've ever met.

Porto Santo (island next door) used to have an absolutely fantastic beach: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lyhSvVfK6Ew/TcF9Tml96OI/AAAAAAAABIw/2cIBlIICh_w/s1600/beach+east.jpg
 
Beaches not really my thing its all about the mountains and the woodlands... why do you think the locals so unfriendly?
 
I went to Madeira a year or two back and really enjoyed it. Reiterate, beaches are no existant ( no problem ), lots of good walking, food no problem and found the locals fine. A great thing for me is it's a very catholic place; which meant most shops and the like closed down around midday Saturday and opened back up on Monday. My reservation was it was a bit of a busmans holidy for me. The flights were full of wrinklies and maybe it was a reflection of the hotel I stayed in but breakfast every morning was lots of struggling around on zimmer frames and talk of ulcerated legs, arthritis Etc. BTW the airport is not good for nervous flyers.
Would I go again, yes!
 
I think my mum and dad went there after wanting to go for a while (maybe 10 years back) and were disappointed. Not sure what it was they were looking forward to. They were a bit old for mountain walking though so would have been in main touristy bits.
 
Its true there is not much site seeing touristy things to do there, which is a plus in my book. There were one or two churches, the odd museum, the cable cable car up to the botanic gardens, the sleigh ride back down and thats about it. Joy.
 
I went last summer and loved it. We hired a car and just drove round the cost, stopping wherever looked nice, ate lots of food, drank lots of wine, it was great.
 
Been meaning to go for a while, the landing ' facilities' look a wee bit dodgy though?
 
I went to Madeira once a long time ago, I remember that they had nice small bananas there and I bought a traditional wool hat which itches and stinks of sheep.
 
Hi All,

Going to Madeira myself. So any recommendations on where to go to? I'm thinking a few nights in Funchal and then hire a car and explore the West coast and then the north and finish in Santa Cruz. Also recommended walks/ Levadas?

Thanks
 
Depends on yor thing of course. Madeira does not exactly have an all singing night life.
From Funchal you can easily visit the entire island. The roads are steep, narrow twisty; a bit iffy for a nervous driver.
Easy rwach of Funchal is the Parc Ecologico which you can get up to by the cable car on the coast on the East of Funchal. The curch up there is worth a vist then the obligatory tobaggan run back down.
Churchil visited and did some painting out to the West of Funchal at Camara de Lobos which is pretty.
I Think it was Porto Moniz up n the North that had the beautful volcanic pools to swim in.
The Island is Catholic and pretty much closes on Saturday lunchtime and reopens Monday, so Sunday is a great empty time for sightseeing through the towns. enjoy :thumbs:
 
Went with the missus over 10 years ago. We stayed a night in funchal to begin with, then got a taxi into the mountains and walked over to another village S... Something and stayed a night. Then we walked along the levada to another village and stayed there. Travelled light and carried our stuff. North side of the island is wetter and tropical feeling. Great holiday.
 
The Hornet said:
Hi hash tag,

Do you think it's worth staying elsewhere outside of Funchal?
Click to expand...


Fungal is of course the biggestcplace on the island. I remember it has a dog eared natural history museum but remember little all else. If fungal is small and quiet, imagine what the rest is like. Don't get me wrong, it's a great place for a quiet , warm relaxing break. My first impression on seeing fellow passengers at the airport was that it was going to be a bit of a bus man's holiday, and so it proved. :)
Could take afternoon tea reids hotel.
 
Going to Madeira at the end of February. Any recommendations welcome.

Not sure where we are staying yet. Somewhere with a sea view, and some decent restaurants and bars.
 
I suppose this is the first thing to recommend. It is in the old town, has great sea views and lots of places to eat right outside.
www.portobay.com

Hotel Porto Santa Maria | Madeira Hotels | PortoBay Hotels

4-star "adults only" hotel located in the historic center of Funchal. Oceanfront view and cruise port, 2 swimming pools, 3 jacuzzis, rooms with kitchenette.
www.portobay.com www.portobay.com
It's just a short walk from the centre of Funchal. We would stay at this place again.
Close to the hotel is the cable car which will take you up to the botanical gardens .
Other than that, it's all about walking.
When we were there virtually everything closes down on a Sunday, which gives you freedom to walk around town without crowds.
 
One of my favourit ever holidays was to Madeira, but it was a very long time ago - back then I'm not sure there were any hotels below 4* there and we stayed somewhere very posh. Very nice food and one of the tidiest places I've ever seen!
 
We off there next week. Staying in an Airbnb in Jardim do Mar. Looks beautiful but quite small. I expect we will have to hire a car. Am a bit wary as I haven't driven on the right before

Porto Muniz and Camara de Lobos look great. Hoping to go whale watching and on the cable car too.
 
Maggot said:
We off there next week. Staying in an Airbnb in Jardim do Mar. Looks beautiful but quite small. I expect we will have to hire a car. Am a bit wary as I haven't driven on the right before

Porto Muniz and Camara de Lobos look great. Hoping to go whale watching and on the cable car too.
Click to expand...
Good luck with that. Some roads are quite narrow, hilly and twisty and prone to the occasional landslide.
Enjoy.
 
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