GUYANAGIRL

My mother's family migrated from Madeira in the 1800's, I am hoping to visit the island in either September or October. I live in Md. USA. Any ideas on the best way to get there and which is a good hotel to stay at in Funchal? Mid -range price in a central location. I am traveling with my adult daughter.

I am also hoping to locate any records of my mother's family migration, to see if there are any relatives still there. Any tips on where to start?

Thanks !!

dutyfree

I am planning our family Christmas trip there in December. I have been looking into flying into London and taking either TAP or Easy Jet there. You could also fly TAP from JFK to Lisbon and then on to Funchal. Let me know when you decide as I would love to hear about your trip!

Cali

My sister and her husband have a second home there and they go over several times a year from the Midwest. They usually fly to London and spend some time there and then fly to Madeira from there, but have also flown to Lisbon and then on to Madeira from there. They love Madeira and the people there. My sister said when they first started going there they would rent apartments that were very reasonable. I will see if she can give me some ideas for you.

dutyfree

Cali-any tips would be greatly appreciated as there are not many threads on Madeira here on Fodors nor books found in the US. I bought all of my guidebooks in the UK recently and on Amazon.
Sorry to butt in on this Guyandagirl?

Dukey1

There are plenty of threads about Madeira on the various cruise websites such as cruise addicts and cruise critic.

You may find cheaper fares by going on roundabout routes such as through Munich but I suspect flying to London or Lisbon and then going onward by Easyjet from either of those cities would be cheapest.

Rubicund

We were in Madeira in April for a week and very much enjoyed it. You say that you a "mid-range" price point, but one man's mid-range is another's dirt cheap. How much do you want to spend per night per room?

There were a couple of recent threads about Madeira one of which was:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...n-recently.cfm

Cali

My sister is traveling right now but will be back home later this week so will find out some things from her and then post them.

Cali

I promised I'd be back when my sister was back from her travels and could give me more info on Madeira. She's back and her is the info. She recommends the Pestana hotels and says the two closest to downtown are the Pestana Grand and the Pestana Casino. They usually run 90 to 110 Euros per night. The other Pestal hotels she would recommend are the Promanade or the Grand. The Promenade is closer to downtown but the Grand is definitely a bus ride or a taxi (which she said would not be expensive. She said all the hotels are right on the Atlantic and all have breakfast included and very good buffets. A mountain view room is also nice and cheaper than the ocean view rooms. If you want to rent a car she recommends Sea Rent which is close to the Pestana Carlton Hotel. She totally recommends you drive or take a bus tour of the island as the scenery and spectacular mountain to sea views are a must. She said that driving there can be scary but it has improved with more freeways and tunnels into the mtns. The Restaurants she recommends are Chalet Vincente - great dinners in a nice atmosphere in an old house that has been redone; The Forte - really neat place that is in the Old Forte which is along the harbor and has really good fish; Amazen Do Sol which is in an old Salt Factory and also has great food. The Forte and Amazen Do Sol are both downtown Funchal. Chalet Vincente is about a mile away and walking distance from the Pestana Carlton. They love to sit at the cafes downtown for coffee and pastel da nata's (custard tarts) in the morning and enjoy local beer, Coral in the afternoon. she also recommends going to the Market (for fruit, vegetables and fish() and is in a neat Art Deco Building. Hope this helps.

BigAleinstein

When there be sure to take a levada walk. Water for Funchal starts in the mountains and sluices take it down to the town. You can easily go on your own. There are varying degrees of difficulty and length.

https://www.google.com/search?q=leva...w=1675&bih=820

http://www.madeira-island-tours.com/Easywalks.html

It will hard to avoid the ugliest fish in the world but it is really good eating a espada.

https://www.google.com/search?q=peix...w=1675&bih=820

dutyfree

Thanks for sharing this info,Cali!

GUYANAGIRL

Thanks for all the advice and info. I really appreciate it, especially all the details from Cali.
I am sure we will have a wonderful visit, we have decided on September. Happy to hear from
any other travelers before we leave.

rhkkmk

we were there for a day in april and loved it.. I rented a car from budget and drove around a bit... to say it is hilly is an understatement... I can't imagine doing much walking..

there are lots of hotels overlooking the water in funchal, most not looking like mid-range...

dutyfree

Any places besides the hotels that you recommended staying? I am wanting someplace that has self catering and doesn't require us having to have two rooms. Thanks=

Gordon_R

<i>I rented a car from budget and drove around a bit... to say it is hilly is an understatement... I can't imagine doing much walking..</i>

Ah, but that's where the levadas come in. Madeira has this incredible network of irrigation channels running along the hillside with an adjacent narrow path. This means you can walk considerable distances on more or less the same level alongside the levadas, and see some of the most incredible scenery anywhere in Europe.