Madeira

I loved going to Madeira! Lovely place.
I recommend going to the Botanical Gardens. Lovely plants and lovely views from there.
Bring your camera!!!
Oh and there were lots of thunder storms when we were there.. every day.. if there was thunder in the morning (really early) it was really hot all day.. if there wasn’t then there was thunder all afternoon (from 12 onwards).
Watch what hotel you book though. We booked a 5 star and paid alot of money.. but what we got wasn’t what I’d call a 5 star… more like a 2 star. Most hotels in Madeira seem to be 5*s. I’m sure there not all bad, we just had a bad experience with one.
I’d love to go again.. really is a lovely place but I think next time I’d try to rent a villa or apartment or something.

but good cake

more for a walking enthusiast without the fear of heights

I’ve never met my father or his side of the family. I recently traced his lineage and guess what I found? My grandfather is from Madeira, Portugal!!! I’d love to experience my heritage first hand!! Maybe I’ll even find a few relatives..who knows?? =)

Reids Hotel is a tranquil place. In fact this is one of the nicest places I have been. I came once when I was 11 years old and the next time I visited I was 52! Both times were only for a day though, I want to visit for longer.

Funchal is a nice small city and have nice views, for example from the Cape “Girão”. In the east of the island there is a lighthouse with a great view too.

U must also go to the “Pico do Areeiro” mountain, the highest place of the island.

Although there isn´t much nightlife in the island, the natural beauties are amazing!

Very special. I hope to go again.

Do go if you get the chance!
Basically a mountain sticking out of the Atlantic !..Lovely mild to warm weather all year. A botanical wonder! Loads of places to stay…from reasonable to expensive. DO visit the fish market in Funchal & then eat Espada Fish. The do great banana fritters there too!!

Madeira was a substitute trip for me, I was supposed to be going somewhere else for Christmas but it got cancelled. Although it is true that the hotel zone in Funchal is a bit of a concrete jungle, I thought the island as a whole (not that I saw all of it!) was fantastic, I particularly enjoyed a levada walk and a trip to Porto Moniz on the local bus, with fantastic views down sheer cliffs to little villages at sea level, and at Porto Moniz itself, huge waves breaking over the natural rock pools. Shame I had to return before the New Year’s Eve fireworks, I was told locally that they are quite spectacular, but I did get to enjoy the Christmas lights in Funchal. The gardens are beautiful and having experienced several showers, I can understand why the vegetation is so lush there. Luckily, the sun also shines a lot, sometimes even when it is raining, I don’t think I have ever seen so many rainbows!

Absolutely amazing fireworks, and I had no idea how beautiful the island is..(See my photos) The food is amazing and the ppl are really friendly too. Great little holiday I’d say ;)