What you need to know before you book your airfare and tickets
Want some sun, but not the flight loads of tourists from the UK? Then book a cheap flight to Madeira now. The temperature here never drops much further than 17 Celsius, so it's nice and warm all year round. Miles of sandy beaches and a Portuguese culture make Madeira a perfect getaway destination. There are numerous water activities available such as fishing, surfing and scuba diving. The Madeira Islands are also a great place to do some ocean safaris. Because of its location smack in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, you will be guaranteed to see a great variety of both whales and dolphins. If you are more of a land person, there are loads of hiking trails in the mountain range in the middle of the main ilsland. Pousada Dos Vinhaticos makes for a perfect base to explore the mountainous surroundings. Funchal is an historical town with buildings that date back to the 15th century. Walk around its old streets and browse the quaint shops or have a coffee at one of the many cafes. Take a look around Blandy's Wine Lodge and taste 5 year young Madeira wine for free. You can also take a tour and see how local wines are made and at the end you will be offered some of the more aged and more expensive wines.It's really worth a visit as this is still a working wine lodge. There are also many restaurants to be found in Funchal that serve some tasty local dishes. Try the espatada at Churrascaria Galinha Dourada. It's not the classiest of places, but the food is excellent. Or go for some seafood at the Dos Combatentes. It's a tiny place, but the food is again very good.
