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Madeira holidays

At a glance

Madeira
Madeira

As a holiday setting, Madeira simply can't be beaten on the charm front, whether you're in its little markets, pretty mountain villages or friendly restaurants. A blanket of colours, you'll find its peacock blue waters, cherry red flowers and terracotta-roofed homes all mix to create a delightful island.

Free Kids

 

You can take your first child on holiday with us free of charge. If a Free Child Place is available on the holiday you choose, it’s yours – and your discount will be shown on the breakdown of your holiday price. Free Kids are generally found on holidays departing outside of 12 weeks.

 

We offer hundreds of Free Child Places on selected holidays and dates, but they won’t hang around forever! Book early to secure your Free Child Place and make fantastic savings online.

Best for Families

These accommodations are family-friendly, offering entertainment and facilities for both kids and grown-ups.

 

Some may feature their own kids’ club, crèche, kids’ dens, or sports and activities for families to enjoy together.

Best for Adults

These accommodations provide a holiday experience geared toward grown-ups. They’re best suited to couples, single travellers and groups of friends.

 

Although we can’t guarantee they will be child-free, these accommodations are more suited to those travelling without children.

All Inclusive

Our All Inclusive holidays cover all your essentials, so you can relax knowing that everything is already paid for while you’re on holiday with the UK’s ‘Best All Inclusive Tour Operator’.

What’s included?

  • Unlimited local alcoholic drinks
  • All meals and snacks
  • Unlimited soft drinks, tea and coffee
  • Ice cream for the kids in many hotels
  • Sports and watersports facilities in most hotels
  • Daytime and evening entertainment and activities

Premier

An exclusive selection of quality four and five star hotels, our Premier range offers superior standards of comfort, service and dining, with luxurious facilities and fantastic extras. In-flight and in-resort benefits vary across our Premier Family, Premier Luxury and Falcon Premier holidays.

 

Benefits may include:

  • Free in-flight meal and reserved seating on First Choice Airways flights
  • Increased baggage allowance (up to 23kg per person)
  • Free day before check-in at London Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham Airports
  • Priority airport transfers to your resort or return private taxi transfers
  • Premier Reps providing outstanding customer service and assistance
  • Complimentary children's’ pack with Premier Families

Close to the Beach

Choose one of these accommodations to ensure you are within 300 metres of the beach (1km for villas).

Central Location

These accommodations are guaranteed to be less than 200 metres from the centre of your resort, close to bars and restaurants.

Things to do

Madeira

Memorable moment...

Climb aboard a wicker toboggan, steered by two men in traditional white clothes and a straw hat using their rubber-soled boots as brakes, to slide at high speed down winding streets from hilltop Monte to Funchal.

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Things to do

Explore Funchal's impressive cathedral, churches and galleries. Visit Câmara de Lobos, painted by Winston Churchill, or see Santana, best known for its colourful 'A'-shaped thatched cottages. Walk on one of the levadas, or experience the natural pools, which lie between lava rocks and fill up when the tide comes in.
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Beaches

Madeira's rocky coastline is home to clear warm waters, superb for swimming and scuba diving. There is a new man-made sandy beach at Calheta, while the pebble beaches in Funchal include Areeiro. The popular Lido Bathing Complex offers alternative swimming in its natural pools.

Blue Flag Beaches

15 beaches in Madeira. Details at www.blueflag.org

www.blueflag.org

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Explore your destination

Here's a little taste of what's on offer: for more excursion ideas, speak to your Rep.

Eastern Delights

Explore this beautiful side of the island and its fabulous unspoilt scenery. You can enjoy a short levada walk to the spectacular viewpoint of The Balcoes and see the famous 'A' shaped cottages in Santana.

Flavours of Funchal

Experience the unforgettable city of Funchal, with many things to see and do. You can enjoy spectacular views as you ascend high above the city on a cable car ride to Monte, and watch the descent of the famous snowless toboggan. You'll finish the day with a sample of Madeira wine.

Western Wonders

Explore this fascinating side of the island as you travel through spectacular mountain scenery. Enjoy panoramic views over the volcanic rock pools of Porto Moniz and the charming village of Câmara de Lobos, which so endeared Sir Winston Churchill.

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Food and drink

Try Espetada, beef kebabs seasoned with bay leaves, or the traditional dish, Espada Preta, fish usually cooked with bananas. Another local speciality is pork, marinated with garlic and wine. Try Madeira cake, made from molasses, and complement your meal with a glass of Madeiran Malvasia wine.

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Evening Flavour

Funchal's various discos and bars will provide ample choice for a livelier night out, with the Casino da Madeira great for a little flutter. The international restaurants along the marina offer a more relaxed night out.

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Shopping

Renowned worldwide for its handicrafts, choose lace, embroidery, wicker items, beautiful flowers and long-lasting Madeiran wines. Bring back a bottle of Poncha, meaning firewater, a mix of sugarcane schnapps, white rum, lemon juice and sugarcane syrup.

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Fact File

Local weather

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Information

Language: Portuguese. Currency: Euro. Standard GMT +1hr. Portugal and Madeira Tourist Office: 22-25A Sackville Street, London W1X 1DE. Tel: 0845 355 1212. www.madeiratourism.com

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Travel money

Euro

You can get commission-free foreign exchange on currency notes and travellers cheques at most First Choice Travel Shops and Holiday Hypermarkets.

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Brochure download

Summer Sun Brochure Download

Summer Sun brochure

Select from the available dates below, then we will email your bespoke brochure straight to you.

To read your e-brochure you require Adobe Acrobat Reader Software, which you can download for free.

Winter Sun Brochure Download

Winter Sun 08/09 brochure

Select from the available dates below, then we will email your bespoke brochure straight to you.

To read your e-brochure you require Adobe Acrobat Reader Software, which you can download for free.

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