Madeirs

[Dagman]

Hi Ab'ers, next year we are looking at Madeira for a holiday. Do you recommend certain places to stay? Places worth a visit or places not to miss? We're well past the laying around on beaches phase so Madeira fits that bill, perhaps somewhere with stunning mountainous views by the coast, easy access on buses, quiet with nearby shops etc. Oh, and nice wines to chill out with! Tia.

[Hopkirk]

The flight in can be a bit of a roller coaster ride.

[EdmundD]

20 years or so ago we went for a holiday there. We stayed in the Carlton in Funchal. Good hotel then. Near to the town centre. Beautiful little island. Because it is mountainous it has a micro climate but I remember the weather was good.

[ubasses]

Went 11 years ago, beautiful island, stayed in a hotel by the old town in Funchal, where most of the local food restaurants were. Occasionally blighted by a cruise liner coming in. An Island tour is well worth it, but there was was a very good bus service to get around locally but, if nothing has changed, they have more than one service with the same number, so be careful you get on the right one.
Botanical gardens are worth visiting and you can get the cable car up if you don't fancy walking the hill. If you are into walking there is some great walks following the levadas of which we did several.
When we were there they had started to develop some new resorts along the coast.

[Dagman]

Thanks for your suggestions, EdmundD, we are at this moment trying to book the Carlton, it looks stunning so thanks for that, Hopkirk, a bit weird to say but I quite like an exciting flight, Mrs Dag would disagree tho! Umbasses, we are noting your great suggestions, yes we do like to explore (in a lazy fashion ;).

[Dagman]

Sorry, Ubasses!

[Hopkirk]

Don't tell Mrs Dag. The airfield is on the side of a mountain, and can have surprise downdrafts.

Experienced and specially trained pilots only.

[Hopkirk]

I'm wrong, it's not on the side of a mountain, but it is near one.

[Dagman]

Just noticed, I also can't even spell Madeira right in the title :-o

[Dagman]

We once flew into Glasgow during a storm, if we weren't belted in we'd have hit the ceiling a few times for sure, loved it!

[Dagman]

Carlton booked, not cheap but big birthdays make it special. Thanks all.

[Fitzer]

We went to Reid’s for afternoon tea hoping that people still dressed but from that aspect it was a disappointment, the meal and service were excellent though. The sled down from Monte, although a bit touristy, is at least old touristy ( Regency visitors used to do it) and we enjoyed it, cable car up and sled back :-)

[LadyCG]

I once flew into Glasgow, and not intentionally!

[DTCwordfan]

You weren't looking for your phone, I hope, Lady CG?

Any success on that front today?

[DTCwordfan]

Looks like a good pool there, Dagman - take tea or something at Reids, fading Britishness, not quite the quality, of say, Raffles in Singapore...

[LadyCG]

Yes, the phone has been located and OH is on his way into Birmingham to fetch it. He's picking us up a takeaway on the way back.

When we came back from Boston a few years ago we missed our connecting flight from Reykjavik. Iceland Air blatantly lied to us when they said all the flights would wait for us to get there. They started sending people into Reykjavik for the night but when I got my turn at the front of the queue I told them in no uncertain terms that I needed to get home that day. The swines sent us from Reykjavik to Glasgow - Amsterdam - Birmingham. My luggage arrived a couple of days later. How to do five countries in one day!

[DTCwordfan]

well done in getting your phone back! (Phew)

Enjoy the take-away and I'm sure you'll thank your OH (credit points to him!).

I've had similar eff-ups on routing though that's a first for me as usually Icelandic have been good at re-routing folk....(even more reason for C/J/F class!).

[LadyCG]

Thanks, DT. I finally got it back with 1% battery left and then it died on me and I couldn't find the charger!

Bless my husband, he's one in a million ❤

[Dagman]

Thanks for the info on Reids, didn't realise what it was, sounds like something we'll do. The cablecar and sled sounds interesting too!.