Advice on Madeira please.

elsien

Looking at going later this year, probably September with my mother. Mum has been told by a relative to go all inclusive as the food and drink is very expensive - this advice came from someone whose default setting is 5* travel. I really really don't want AI but also don't want to be wandering round restaurants going "how much?!"
Also any suggestions for areas / places to stay - I like walking and mooching round local neighbourhoods, and it needs to be somewhere we can hop on a bus to explore. (No mobility problems although mother will grumble if the hotel is at the top of a steep hill.)

DUKE

Hi elsien, we stayed at Calheta Beach Hotel, in Calheta a few years ago & really enjoyed it. There's not a great deal to do, but there's a small shopping centre over the road, a harbour to the right along with a few eating places. To the left (& up a hill) the rum factory. The hotel does a few trips to local places for free too, which we really enjoyed. This included the rum factory, where you get some samples. You can get a bus outside the hotel to Funchal for around 9 Euro, or the hotel will take you in the mini bus for twice the price. We booked a driver & went all over the island. If you wanted something a bit busier you could always stay in Funchal, there's various buses that you can hop on & off. Sorry I went off on one there It was such a lovely holiday.

PompeyPete

Duke, what do you reckon to the roads for anyone with a nervous disposition? They used to all have that "edge of the cliff" feeling.;)

DUKE

Just don't do it Pete, I'd forgotten how hilly it was! :eek: Even the bus ride from Calheta to Funchal got me holding on tight, although I enjoyed it.

Alfrescodave

Recommend staying in Funchal, lots to see and do and the bus service is cheap and easy to use.

sandsy

Stayed at the Residence Porto Bay resort last summer on a bed and breakfast basis, about 2.5km out of Funchal. There's a couple of other resorts on site which all share facilities but offer different styles of accommodation.

Ate out every evening at one of the many restaurants within walking distance -didn't find them particularly expensive. Similar sort of prices to the Canary Islands and a wide variety in terms of prices and quality. We found the Tripadvisor restaurant recommendations were pretty spot on. The steak on stone meal we had was particularly memorable!