Madeira

***My experience*** I have lived in Madeira for 13 years and I must say that I was really lucky to be in a place like this one. I've been to many schools in Funchal (the main city of the island) and I have to tell you it was a nice experience, the views are exceptionally beautiful and there is so much you can do although it can be a bit expensive at times. In the area where I used to live in (Camara de lobos) is the area which is well known for fishing. I should say the area is a free world as kids can go and buy cigarettes with no I.D, of course it is a bad thing but then you can always send your kids to buy cigarettes for you. However they are more vigilant ...  Read the complete review

Having visited Madeira twice now, and experienced different hotels and different sightseeing each time, I thought it would be a good time to write up our experiences of the island- which I have to say are entirely positive. I would go as far as to say that it's probably the best holiday destination we've been to yet- although with a few long distance trips planned, who knows if that will remain the case. All I can say is that Madeira will be a hard place to beat- and this tale of two trips will hopefully explain why. For those who aren't aware or only vaguely aware, Madeira is one of the Portuguese territories in the mid-Atlantic. It's actually closer to ...  Read the complete review

*************BACKGROUND***************** We went to Madeira this year , 2006 , in September for two weeks on a B&B basis in the Oasis Atlantic Hotel in Canico De Baixo . We had not been abroad for a couple of years due to financial restraints ( in other words we were skint ) and wanted a holiday that would live up to our expectations . This one did and some. On picking our destination we decided we wanted somewhere not too lively with good scenery , a nice hotel and good weather . The hotel was a four star but since returning I have read reviews that thought it was more three or four star . We were very happy with it and had no ...  Read the complete review

The travel agent tried to put me off going to Madeira, saying it’s mainly for older people and there’s no nightlife. True enough, this isn’t the place to go if you want a beach holiday with great nightlife, but if you’re looking for a peaceful holiday on a beautiful island with stunning, varied scenery and plenty to explore, then Madeira is a wonderful place to visit, whatever your age! Madeira is part of the EU and is located north of the Canary Islands, west of Morocco and south-west of Portugal. It is 36 miles long by 14 miles wide. Portuguese is the main language but English is widely spoken, particularly in Funchal, the capital. The currency is the ...  Read the complete review

Madeira is not for ravers or beach lovers. However if you prefer a quieter life it is perfect. It is a small hilly island belonging to Portugal and lying off the coast of NW Africa. It has a very even temperature, being in the seventies most of the year. It’s main attractions are the scenery and the flowers. The scenery is best seen on foot and walking is good, either on organised tours or by using buses. There are levadas – water channels – to follow but as the slopes are steep and the paths sometimes narrow you do need a head for heights in places. For the less energetic there are coach and boat trips. The climate and fertile soil make ...  Read the complete review