Quinta do Palheiro Ferreiro, Funchal, Madeira

Advantages: Beautiful picturesque island, not too hot in summer
Disadvantages: Hilly, poor restaurants, no sandy beaches

...to the sea. ~Getting out and about~ On foot- As Madeira is on a large granite mass sat out in the Atlantic it has very steep cliffs and gradients. Just walking around Funchal requires good legs for hill climbing and negotiating large numbers of steps. After two weeks my calf muscles were like iron and my thighs were getting a great workout too. Fortunately for those less able there are other options which are available. By Car- We didn't hire a car as I have been to Portugal before and thought all the local drivers wanted to die. Their driving is fast, overtaking is hazardous and generally I didn't want to be a part of it. As Madeira is a small island you should not need a car if you stay in Funchal as the public transport is so good. If you do hire a car you should not need it for more than a week. By Taxi- Taxi's in Funchal... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Within the town of Funchal with all its amenities
Disadvantages: Steep climb back up to the hotel

...We stayed at the Quinta Bella Sao Tiego on our second visit to Madeira. It has a lovely outlook over the old town of Funchal. The room and room service were very good, well upto 4* standard. A fault with the ventilation in the bathroom was fixed quickly and politely. Receptionists were particularly helpful. The pool area is small, but adequate. Breakfast was good with a range of cold and cooked choices. We didn't eat there in the evening as there were so many great eateries in the vacinity. We loved the "smaller hotel" feel after staying in the larger, less personal one in the Lido area. The only problem with the hotel is that it is up a steep hill - great for going down to the town, but not so good when you return. There are loads of restaurants nearby, from a good Pizza place, to more expensive fish restaurants. It would... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Good rooms, helpful staff, free bus into town
Disadvantages: Its a bus ride from town.

...in others. They are called espetada and are well worth a go. The main specialtiy of Madeira is of course the wine. There is no shortage of tasting opportunities but unfortunately we both hate the stuff so can't give you much more detail about it. The hotel welcome presentation sets out all of the activities and trips available and I believe tries to sell you a timeshare. The levada walks are popular and well worth doing one or two. Take a waterproof jacket, some decent trainers or walking boots and a jersey as it can get cold, wet and misty at altitude. We hired a car and did our own thing for the week. Hiring the car gave us access to a couple of sandy beaches although one was man-made and a bit grotty. Pestana have a number of hotels around Funchal. The first Pestana hotel that we stopped at in the airport coach looked like... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful