Madeira Island Travel Forum

I want to visit Madeira with my 2 aunts in April 2009. We are South Africans temporarily working in London, whose family originates from Madeira but have never been there or met them. I don't have details for them and want to go and see it I can find them. I'm not sure they even know I exist so I don't wnat to be pushy by contacting them out of the blue and asking details. I am looking for accommodation but can't find the ideal type of place on the internet. I don't want big, commercial hotels. What I am looking for is a cheap self catering place for 3 people for about 2 weeks in Funchal. Money is an object. I also prefer off the beaten track, traditional, cheap but not far from everything otherwise transport will be an issue. I'm also not sure of what the areas are like and which are good ones. Could I get by with English as my Portuguese is diabolical? Has anyone got any ideas for me on where to look on the internet or does anyone know of any particular places?

I am sending away for you two links concerned in Madeira Islands.
One is in portuguese and may be your aunts have know-how to translate them.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g189167-Funchal_Madeira_Madeira_Islands-Hotels.html

http://www.madeira-web.com/PagesP/index.html

I suggest to use Google Earth to find out the hotel addresses. Maybe with these tools you will find the particular place you are searching for.

Cassiovieggore

You might like to have a look at a self catering possibility like this

http://www.scenicrentals.com/vacation/561/Funchal

This one would work out about 80 euros per day for 3 people.

For self catering accomodation have a look at the website www.homelidays.com and select Funchal. The areas called Se and Sao Pedro are very close to downtown and you can walk. Difficult to describe what to see and what to do. There is a lot to see, a lot of "quintas" beautiful mansions with incredible gardens. You see Monte and try de sliding cars (take the cable car on the way up), visit Camacha, Porto Moniz (natural swimming pools) and all norht coast, Santana with the typical madeirian houses, Calheta with the white sand beach, Curral das Freiras (Nuns Valley), Porto da Cruz, Camara de Lobos (typical fishing village) and of course Funchal. Walking arround, seating and looking at the people it will keep you busy. Madeira is now one of the most developled island in Europe. Have a good stay.