Hi everybody,
I'm off to Madeira in October staying in The Golden Residence 4 star apartments in Funchal overlooking the beach Praia Formosa.
I cant find any reviews on these appartments nor much information on Funchal and things to do there.
If anyone knows of any nice restaurants or things to do while we are there please let me know. We are a couple of twenty somethings and are taking my parents. I saw online that there is a water park near by, does anyone know wether this is worth a look or best to avoid?
Also I know the beaches are rocky but is the sea ok to swim in?
Are there diving / snorkelling trips offered in the area or anything animal related like a zoo or dolphins?
Also what is it like for shopping in Funchal? I imagine it to be similar to Palma Majorca - would i be right in thinking this?
Any help would be appreciated as i am clueless!
Thanks
Goin to Madeira in October - Advice needed!
4 posts • Page 1 of 1
by woodster on Sat Jun 14, 2008 15:53 pm
Hi Tiggeroo well Madeira is my faveourite place in the world at the mo.
My wife and i fell in love with the place when we went on honeymoon in aug 06 we went bac for 2 wks in 07 and going again in jul 08!.
The Golden Residence is right on the other end of Funchal past,but still within easy reach of,the lido.This is where most of the hotels and restaurants are and also most of the nightlife (in the Lido)
You say you are in your 20s, but with parents,in my opinion there is very little for your age group to do.There is 1 man-made beach at Calhetta but no more beaches on the entire island also it is an EXTREMELY hilly place.
There is 1 main nightclub called Chameleon Disco-Bar near the centre of Funchal and about 3 or 4 'english' bars in the whole city.The nightlife is very low-key and mainly hotel-based (hotel Monumental Lido has acbaret every night and also reasonable drinks prices)
With regard to eating out in the Lido you are spoiled for choice.Try Granny's House,China Town (above Hotel Monumental Lido),Casa Italia for great pizzas,salads etc,Paradise for portugese/madeiran cuisine (try for a table right on the cliff edge!),but easily the best restaurant in that area has to be 'Solar Da Ajuda' brilliant service,great staff,top quality food,has people going back night after night. Try it i guarantee you wont be disappointed.(the restaurant is past Monumental Lido and left up the hill then on your left off the street.
There are plenty of shops in the centre of Funchal but we dont 'shop' on hol so cant really recommend any, but there are a couple of good shopping centres.
There is 1 half decent looking water park (never tried it tho) wich you will pass on your way to Funchal from the airport not sure if this is open in Oct tho.
There is dolphin and whale watching trips from the harbour in the city centre on catamaran but dont know about diving.
While on the island PLEASE PLEASE dont spend all your time in Funchal.
Get out on a trip and see the real Madeira....it is stunning!! Its what we mainly fell in love with!
You can book 3 main trips with Strawberry World Tours (again next door to Hotel Monumental Lido) these are East,West,and Nuns Valley.
My fave place on the whole island is a viewpoint called Eira Do Seraddo,which you will visit if you do the Nuns Valley trip the views are breathtaking....makes the hairs on my neck stand up every time i go there!
Other places on the trips are Porto Moniz,Pico de Arriero (again,stunning views!)Santana,Machico,Camara de Lobos and another of my faves,Cabo Girao the 2nd highest sea cliff in Europe! (my wife says im not a man im a mountain goat,as i love to be high as poss!).
couple more things:
1.The weather should be ok but even in high summer is unpredictable (max temps in aug dont usually exceed bout 28C) with some quite cloudy days but also sunny days.
2.We have found the locals to be the most friendly people we have met anywhere.Also the crime rate is extremely low or non existant
and we feel very safe walking around or sitting out having a couple of drinks at midnight or 1am (not something you would do in an English city center!)
Anyway thats enough from me hope you have a brilliant holiday and if i can answer anymore questions please contact me thru this forum.
Have fun!
My wife and i fell in love with the place when we went on honeymoon in aug 06 we went bac for 2 wks in 07 and going again in jul 08!.
The Golden Residence is right on the other end of Funchal past,but still within easy reach of,the lido.This is where most of the hotels and restaurants are and also most of the nightlife (in the Lido)
You say you are in your 20s, but with parents,in my opinion there is very little for your age group to do.There is 1 man-made beach at Calhetta but no more beaches on the entire island also it is an EXTREMELY hilly place.
There is 1 main nightclub called Chameleon Disco-Bar near the centre of Funchal and about 3 or 4 'english' bars in the whole city.The nightlife is very low-key and mainly hotel-based (hotel Monumental Lido has acbaret every night and also reasonable drinks prices)
With regard to eating out in the Lido you are spoiled for choice.Try Granny's House,China Town (above Hotel Monumental Lido),Casa Italia for great pizzas,salads etc,Paradise for portugese/madeiran cuisine (try for a table right on the cliff edge!),but easily the best restaurant in that area has to be 'Solar Da Ajuda' brilliant service,great staff,top quality food,has people going back night after night. Try it i guarantee you wont be disappointed.(the restaurant is past Monumental Lido and left up the hill then on your left off the street.
There are plenty of shops in the centre of Funchal but we dont 'shop' on hol so cant really recommend any, but there are a couple of good shopping centres.
There is 1 half decent looking water park (never tried it tho) wich you will pass on your way to Funchal from the airport not sure if this is open in Oct tho.
There is dolphin and whale watching trips from the harbour in the city centre on catamaran but dont know about diving.
While on the island PLEASE PLEASE dont spend all your time in Funchal.
Get out on a trip and see the real Madeira....it is stunning!! Its what we mainly fell in love with!
You can book 3 main trips with Strawberry World Tours (again next door to Hotel Monumental Lido) these are East,West,and Nuns Valley.
My fave place on the whole island is a viewpoint called Eira Do Seraddo,which you will visit if you do the Nuns Valley trip the views are breathtaking....makes the hairs on my neck stand up every time i go there!
Other places on the trips are Porto Moniz,Pico de Arriero (again,stunning views!)Santana,Machico,Camara de Lobos and another of my faves,Cabo Girao the 2nd highest sea cliff in Europe! (my wife says im not a man im a mountain goat,as i love to be high as poss!).
couple more things:
1.The weather should be ok but even in high summer is unpredictable (max temps in aug dont usually exceed bout 28C) with some quite cloudy days but also sunny days.
2.We have found the locals to be the most friendly people we have met anywhere.Also the crime rate is extremely low or non existant
and we feel very safe walking around or sitting out having a couple of drinks at midnight or 1am (not something you would do in an English city center!)
Anyway thats enough from me hope you have a brilliant holiday and if i can answer anymore questions please contact me thru this forum.
Have fun!
- woodster
- Posts: 0
- Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2008 17:23 pm
by woodster on Sat Jun 14, 2008 16:02 pm
Hi again Tiggeroo,
For reviews on the Golden Residence have you tried googling TripAdvisor or ****.
Also visit www.MadeiraWeb.com for all info on this beautiful island paradise!
We love it....hope you do too.
For reviews on the Golden Residence have you tried googling TripAdvisor or ****.
Also visit www.MadeiraWeb.com for all info on this beautiful island paradise!
We love it....hope you do too.
- woodster
- Posts: 0
- Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2008 17:23 pm
by woodster on Sat Jun 14, 2008 19:09 pm
Erm....just thort of prob the main tourist attraction in Funchal....the cable car and toboggan
take the cable car from the station near the front in Funchal and for bout 10 euros you get a spectacular ride up to the village of Monte where there is lots to see and do,like gardens,the church and the palace.
Then follow the cobble road from cable car station to the Toboggans and for about 25 euros (for 2 people) you can ride back down the steep roads in a wicker basket sledge steered by 2 of the guys with ropes.It's pretty hair-raising stuff but GREAT FUN (tho i doubt it's covered by any holiday insurance) lol anyway at the bottom they will try sell your photo for 10 euros but do tip them they work really hard all day on this.
Then you can either walk bac into Funchal,steep walk all downhill,or take a taxi but dont pay more than about 5-6 euros cos they will try rip you off.
also there is the indoor covered market selling loads of fresh fruit,veg, hand-made goods and a seperate fish market wich is very interesting.
if i can think of anything else i'll be back ta
take the cable car from the station near the front in Funchal and for bout 10 euros you get a spectacular ride up to the village of Monte where there is lots to see and do,like gardens,the church and the palace.
Then follow the cobble road from cable car station to the Toboggans and for about 25 euros (for 2 people) you can ride back down the steep roads in a wicker basket sledge steered by 2 of the guys with ropes.It's pretty hair-raising stuff but GREAT FUN (tho i doubt it's covered by any holiday insurance) lol anyway at the bottom they will try sell your photo for 10 euros but do tip them they work really hard all day on this.
Then you can either walk bac into Funchal,steep walk all downhill,or take a taxi but dont pay more than about 5-6 euros cos they will try rip you off.
also there is the indoor covered market selling loads of fresh fruit,veg, hand-made goods and a seperate fish market wich is very interesting.
if i can think of anything else i'll be back ta
- woodster
- Posts: 0
- Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2008 17:23 pm
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