Madeira information

Madeira Island, as a vital part of Portugal as well  as the main island in the archipelag along with Porto Santo in north east ,  has almost 37 miles length and 13 miles width and its population is estimated  to be approximately 300.000  people half of which are located in the capital Funchal. Funchal is located 15 miles distance from the airport. The luck of  residents in Ilhaas Desertas ,located in south east ,as far as in other islands situated between Madeira and Canary islands establishes Madeira as  a very popular holiday destination for a variety of reasons.

Language
The official language of the island is Portugis even though English is wide spread.

Transfer
As far as transfers are concerned , the use of the Aerobus as well as the taxi are the most common ones from the airport.

Money and credit card
As Madeira island belongs to Portugal which is part of European Union, euro is the official currency you will be needing. The use of credit card is always an option when it comes to payments on restaurants, shops or any other shops. The presence of cash points at several places will make  possible all types of transactions.

Shopping
Madeira island has a low price level in comparison to most European countries.

Care and health
On Madeira Island you will be met with great quality of medical care. A very well organized hospital with long experience on taking care of patients from various countries is situated in Funchual where special vaccination is not needed.

Newspaper and magazine
Both Magazines and newspapers are available for you on a variety of different languages for 2-4 times a week , at specials shops as well as at  the big hotels.

Disabled people
Although the pavement is a bit high up from the street and many roads are up and down causing various problems to wheelchair carriers, a wonderful promenade near the Atlantic Ocean  offered to them is rewarding.

Climate
This is possibly Madeira’s strongest point! 300 amazing  sunny days are waiting for you   throughout the year to secure your   perfect getaway on Madeira’s subtopic climate . When you first set your feet  in Madeira, take a good look around.   

Bath
You are given the choice to enjoy the wonderful crystal clear Madeira’s sea waters for the whole year even though you won’t find any sandy beaches on the island! Also available for you are the big pool areas with Ocean water directly in the Atlantic Ocean .

Water to drink
Although water has a slightly different smell you can undoubtedly drink it. Either way you always have the option of buying water to drink on bottle in the shops available.

Visa and passport
A valid passport is required even if you won’t need a visa when you are coming from  a different European country.

Phone
Even if Madeira’s country number is 00351  you can always use your mobile phone when departing your country to check with your operator.

Night Life
The one and only Casino of the island and a number of discos are the best attraction for the youngsters and all those who still feel young ! A variety of other places which give you the ability to explore the cultural and musical side of the island are offered to you, giving you the chance to attend local carnivals and festivals which will undoubtedly make you live by the island’s pulse starting with Funchal Jazz 2007 that  will be held on the 5th, 6th and 7th of July in Quinta Magnólia gardens, as in past years. For next year it is already guaranteed the performance of Rosa Passos and her Brazilian sextet, the band of 8 musicians Roomful of Blues and the American saxophonist Rick Margitza which will play with some Madeira musicians  promising  three more fantastic jazz nights in Funchal.

Next July Funchal will hold, for the seventh time, its Jazz Festival. On the 6th, 7th and 8th of July there will be two concerts each day, played by international musicians with different styles and personalities for the amateurs of the kind and not only!
The Gardens of Quinta Magnólia, an old but very well preserved Madeira Quinta will be the stage for the following program:
Thursday - 6th July at 9,30 pm
Joana Machado - A Madeira Jazz singer that has recently revealed her self in the national Jazz. She will be presenting her album “CRUde”, edited in Januray of 2006 and she will be accompanied by three prestigious Portuguese musicians.
Paquito d’Riviera Quintet – Not only an excellent saxophone and clarinet player but also a very original composer who has his own concept of Jazz – a fusion of rock, jazz, classical and traditional Cuban music.
Friday – 7th July at 9,30 pm
Ivan Lins Group - Ivan Lins is a renowned pianist and vocalist but also one of the best Brazilian composers.
Lonnie Brooks Blues Band - Lonnie Brooks is the inventor of the voodoo blues, a contagious sound and rhythm with lots of energy on it.
Saturday - 8th July at 9,30 pm
Laïka Fatien – A jazz singer with a fantastic voice that lights everything around her. McCoy Tyner Septet – A true Jazz legend with 80 edited albums and 4 Grammys who is always innovating his music and sounds. He will be presented “The Story of Impulse! Records” together with an exceptional group of musicians.

Using the happy coincidence of, this year, the Regional Tourism Board gave the theme of Madeira Nights to the local groups of samba that are going to participate in the Carnival parade of Saturday night, and allying this to the recently published book with the same title, which the Savoy Group has sponsored. Additionally, Savoy decided to entitle its already traditional night of Carnival Friday as Nights of Savoy.

More than five hundred people  are expected to appear  on  this special night, not only Savoy and Royal Savoy guests but also local people. The party will be animated by the samba groups of Caneca Furada and Fura Samba that are going to make their first public appearance in this eve of Carnival Parade. Beyond these, the privative Hotel Trio to which the voice of Vânia Fernandes will join, are also part of the entertainment program.

The chosen menu will make reference to the more emblematic bands and musicians that performed in Savoy Hotel since the forties. This will also be the Savoy’s fair homage to all of them and a way to make our repeating and long years loyal customers revive something that they still bring in memory, the Nights of Savoy.

On the other hand ,Funchal offers alternatives for all kind of tastes. Generally almost all hotels have night programs, after dinner, for your entertainment. It is possible that during your stay some concerts or theatre performances take place in one of the main halls of Funchal. Beyond that   cinemas spread through the city are always a brilliant alternative choice.

Transport system.
Taxi and bus are the most common transport means at your disposal that won’t cost you a fortune. Although if you decide to go for an excursion tour with taxi make sure you agree for the price beforehand.

Car rental
You will find on Madeira Island all big car rental companies representatives on very reasonable prices.

Bike /Moped/MC
The same thing that appeals to cars goes for that department as well, as roads are not very easy to drive as you won’t find the same standards that can be found in your home country

Fly 
Tap is the Portuguese fly company that you can  use when it comes to flying on many big European cities. There is also at your disposal available a variety of low cost fly companies that fly to Madeira Island through Lisbon .

Internet
In the capital of Madeira Island ,Funchal, you will find a variety of places offering internet facilities as well as in the hotel and in the supermarket area. Therefore you can always take with you your laptop as wireless internet connection is offered to you free of charge in the whole Funchal area.

Nature
When you first   arrive to  Madeira, take a good look around.Madeira island,   offers you the opportunity to enjoy  natural  beauty  as it’s built up from lava stone creating a beautiful scenery with  great valleys. Besides when Madeira Island  was discovered it was mostly a forest area full of trees that have now become pinge, eucalyptus and chestnut .Therefore when being at 1000 meters height you are still able to find special types of trees like convalj tree (Clethra arborea),Laurus azorica and Madeira blueberry (Vaccinium maderense) amongst 1000 tree types. Additionally at  that height you will find many moscitos  and shells  .   The top of Pico Ruivo is the top of the highest mountain of the island approximately  1861 meters. The climate is mild sub tropic  which implies temperatures of 16 degree C in February and approximately 22 degree in August  on a 24 hours basis. Rainy days are most common during the winter period.    

Golf
For the amateurs of the kind and not only , golf courses take place on Madeira island one is Santo da Serra Golf (27 hole)and the other one is Palheiro Golf. For more information regarding that you can always visit www.santodaserragolf.com and www.palheirogolf.com . Therefore , the majority of hotels do have golf courses with low green –fee and transfers.

Water
The abundance of water on Madeira island provides the island with it’s green colour throughout the year . The water comes from spring high up in the mountain and  goes out to the water channel . Water is then going to a water power system for electricity production and afterwards to the channels. During your stay to the island  don’t forget to enjoy  the  levada walks  along the maintenance paths beside the Levadas as you will undoubtedly experience unique activities not accessible by cars.

Airport
Before 1964 – that  Madeira’s Airport was built – the airport was only accessible either by boat or  by flyboat. As the runaway was not as high as required  many charter fly weren’t able to depart with full tank and they had to go down on an other place to fill up. On 1986 the runaway became even bigger, with the use of money from the EU but it still wasn’t sufficient to cover all the needs. On 2002 the new runaway had been finished being 2781 meters long. At this moment  there is a new and modern terminal building.