Madeira Island Travel Forum

We're arriving at Funchal and want to get to our hotel - Monte Mar Palace, Sitio do Montado, Ponta Delgada, and just wondering how much we should expect to pay for a taxi from the airport.

Hello all.
We have booked our flight to Madeira. I wonder if Madeira island has an special tax system like the Canary Islands have compared to Spain.
We are not much into buying things when travelling, but if there is a good discount...we should check some items.

In the canary islands you can buy perfums, alcohol or electronics and some other things much more cheaper than in mainland Spain...so I guess it would be a good oportunity to buy the christmas presents.

Thank you for any info.

Hello!
We have already booked our week in the island!!

Thanks to a vt advice, we are going to Hotel Montecarlo.
Now I would like to know if there is any sandy beach in the island...I have been told that there are not. It is not really important for us, as we are not much into sunbathing...but maybe one day would be interesting to relax close to the ocean...

Thanks for any info.

Hello all.
Finally we are going to book our week in Madeira in December. From dec 5 to 12.
We have 3 diferent hotels to choose in the price range we can afford.
-Vila Camacho
-Cabanas de San Jorge Village
-Monte Carlo.

Transport from and to the airport is not included, so I would like to know if there is good public transport to those hotels, or shuttle buses, or do we have to grab a taxi(how much would it be?)

Any updated info about those hotels? We want to visit the island doing daytrips, and spend 2 or 3 days just relaxing at the beach, or in the city. We like bars and pubs at the end of the day, but not into "big party"...

Any info will be apreciated!! thanks.

Hello. I have seen an interesting offer to visit Madeira in December. It includes seven nights in a hotel in Funchal the capital city.

Are there interesting daytrips from there? Any recomendations would be apreciated. We enjoy the urban life, but we love nature and beautifull landscapes.
I have checked stadistics about weather in Madeira and it is very "constant", but temperartures are not very high compared to what I am used to. Is it warm enough to bath in the sea?.

Thank you very much.

I'll visit Madeira for at least week from 4-6th of November and reading package lists still confused about it. We plan to stay in Funchal and Sao Vicente and will walk a lot or use public transport. Should I take any "summer" light cloth, light anorack or warm one? Summer boots or warm ones? The problem is that leaving home I have to take the complete "all seasons" set, because November is deep winter in my region, so I try to make a packing list as universal as possible and not overweighted:-/ The people in their pages write that the winter in Madeira is extremely warm, but they pose in the pics wearing sweaters and warm boots:-)))))))) Thank you in advance,
Elena

Hi,
does anybody know if there is any bus going to Pico do Arieiro ?

Thanks,
Sergio

I'll have 6 days in Madeira in late September. Is it worth taking an excursion to Porto Santo? I read that there are only a handful of resort hotels on Porto Santo, so I assume they are for people on package tours, not indie travellers like me. Are there any agencies in Funchal that sell a package with an overnight in Porto Santo?

Or should I just concentrate on Madeira Island and the walks? Where I come from there is no shortage of beaches, and also I will have just come back from Northeast Brazil.

Thanks in advance.

Ill be going to Madeira in Septemember with my boyfriend and I wanted to do a tour so that I can see as much of the island as possible.
Could someone please recommend what part of madeira is the nicest to see, im looking for picturesque/cultural. I need something to keep my boyfriend interested as hes not the biggest fan of culture, so Id like something I know we can both enjoy without me worrying hes bored.

I have found several such as full Day Tours, doing either
*West Tour
*East Tour
*Southwest Tour
*Northeast Tour

or Half Day Tours

*Nuns Valley
*Southeast Coast

Also are the jeep tours better that foot? Thanks for your help.

I am trying to find a decent hotel and wondered if anyone had any suggestions? I am looking at the hotel Dorisol Mimosa, has anyone stayed here? Is it nice,clean ect...??
Or is the hotel Monumental Lido a better option? Ive found the Monumental Lido for around £70 more is it worth paying this extra to stay there or are the two hotels similar? Please help, Thank you.

We are coming to Madiera on a cruise on 28 April 2009. Any thoguhts on a taxi tour . We have only about 5 hours. Would like to see some of the island. My wife and I have been to Madiera before and remember it very fondly. The other couple travelling with us were never in Madiera.

Hello again....more questions!!

Would someone know the current cost of the cable car to Monte, per person, one-way?

Also, would you know the cost of the wicker basket/sled ride?

We are trying to put together a tour and would like to know the cost of things we want to do.

Thank you so much for all your help...past, present and I'm sure....future :)

Joyce

Hello.....I am arriving by cruise ship to Funchal. I would like to have tea at Reid's Palace. The cruise ship offers this excursion for $80US. It includes a short city tour and tea.

Does anyone think it would be possible to obtain my own transportation to the Palace, have the tea, then transport myself back to the ship for much less than $80US.
Do taxicabs go from the port to the Palace?

Ship tours are always expensive....but they do get you back on time....and that's a consideration.

I don't know where Reid's Palace is in relation to the pier at Funchal.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!!

Joyce

We have a weeks holiday booked in Funchal again this year from Feb 2nd. Will any other members be there at this time?

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?

Hello everyone,

We are going to Madeira in Novemeber, and trying to decide which hotel to choose.
Main criteria should be as follows:
Not far from Funchal city centre - max 25min walk
Sea view + balcony
Kitchenette would be a great advantage
Swimming pool
Hotel has entrance to the sea
Parking

Budget - max 550-600 Eur.

At the moment have chosen 3 hotels: Madeira Regency Club, Savoy Gardens, Quinta da Penha de Franca, Baia Azul.
Also was looking at Monumental Lido, Regency Cliff and Enotel Quinta do Sol.

Any suggestions?

Boa tarde.

Estou a planear uma visita a ilha da madeira em novembro deste ano.

Como será a minha primeira vez nesta ilha, preciso de uns conselhos.

Irei apanhar o avião em lisboa e irá aterrar no funchal.

Quais são os melhores e mais baratos locais ( Tipo hoteis de 3 estrelas) para ficar durante 3/4 noites?

Obrigado!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Good afternoon.

I am planning a visit to Madeira island in November this year.

Since this will be my first time on this island, i need some advice.

I will departure from lisboa and will arrive in funchal.

What are the best and cheapest places to stay during 3 / 4 nights? (maybe 3 stars hotels)

Thank you!

Hi, me and my fiance are planning a weeks trip to Madeira, the only compromise we can live with are the lack of beaches. However we are looking for a relaxing break and have seen a Hotel in Santa Cruz, near Funchal. Has anyone stayed in this resort. We are in our 20's but not into loud bars and nightlife. Are there any better suited resorts.

When is the best time to visit for the weather and less crowds. We can either go in the middle of August or towards the end of September

please can somebody help me with a question. how much roughly does a meal for two average? also, how much money should i take for a weeks holiday, not including car hire? i have never been to madeira before and i am planning a trip for the end of september, any ideas on weather that time of the year also please. thank you

i would be grateful if somebody could please contact me to let me know an average cost for meal for 2 people in cafes, restaurants etc, along with average cost for buying essential items, toiletries, bread, milk etc if required to buy. i am planning my first trip for the end of september this year, any advice would be welcome. thank you kindly.

I'm looking for a cruise that spends New Year's Eve 2008 in Funchal.

Am thinking about coming to Madeira for 3 or 4 days at the beginning of June.

What is the weather normally like? Is it quite warm?

Is windsurfing very popular there and if so, whereabouts?

Thanks for any help

Cat

xx

We'll be in Funchal on March 28th. We always enjoying visiting the downtown Market (fish, flowers and vegetables) We would also like to go to the Grocery Store.
Can you please help me with the Super Market names? And are any in the downtown area?
Thanking you in advance
Martha

We will be in Funchal for only one full day on November 5th as a cruise port.
We wanted to explore the main town, markets, etc. on our own for a few hours.
There is a company that offers a half day tour as follows:

Nun’s Valley – 2 persons at 19 each (lunch not included)
Funchal – Eira do Serrado – Curral das Freiras – Pico dos Barcelos – Funchal

Does that seem worthwhile to do for a few hours in the morning and then explore on our own for the afternoon? Any advice would really be appreciated.

Thanks,
Marty

Hi
This maybe a silly question but; -
We were thinking of going to Porto Santo for the 1st week in July. How busy do the beaches get as I have been told that the Portugese take advantage of this lovely island at this time of year. Being a small Island we didnt know if it was going to be heaving with people.
Thanks
Chris

I have been doing some research regarding a holiday in May this year and have seen a lovely place to stay near Sao Vicente. My question is - is it cooler in this area on the North coast than in the Funchal and South Coast region, and if so by how much at this time of year.

Also, with regard to hiring a car we are thinking of doing this as we are planning on taking my parents (who are in their early 70's) who have slight mobility problems (one more than the other). When driving through the villages and in Funchal what is the parking like - are there car parks or spaces along the promenade etc?

Thanks,

Sue

What is a cheap way to travel between Lisbon & Madeira? TAP and other airlines are not less than 160 Euros Plus one way (taxes extra). Please help!!!

We have the chance of a good deal to Funchal in late Feb. However,though we understand the weather should be ok give or take the odd shower, we are concerned that we will miss out on flowers in bloom. Would it be worth us waiting and paying more for a May booking?

hi; i'm thinking of travelling to madeira in early january. i'd like some accurate info regarding the weather at that time of year i.e from a real person rather than a statistic. should i bring my wellies and umbrella or cozzy and shades. much depends on the reply.

dr. gonzo beerlizard m.d.

We're going to be in Funchal for a day at the end of the month, and I'm trying to find a way to make the most of our 8 hours. In addition to some sights around Funchal, I think we might like to head over to see Cabo Girão.

If we took a taxi, about how long would it take and how much would it cost? Would it be possible to get there/back by bus?

Thanks for your help!