Madeira? Anyone been?

[Fimbo]

I need the low down please?

Um what do you want to know - its great, we enjoyed our week there when DD1 was 3, we went in early Jan. It is not a beachy place though. We stayed in Funchal, in the hotel area (most of them are all grouped together) called the Eden Mar Suite Hotel which was perfect (had a 1-bed suite with kitchenette) - its connected to a newer 5-star hotel and they share facilities including a fab heated indoor/outdoor pool.

There was enough to do & see to keep us occupied for a week and its not completely full of full rinses either!

Kiwinyc - thanks. Your hotel is what we have been looking at. I am finding it hard to book on line, as most companies don't give the exact room layout. We have 2 dc of 11 & 5 so ideally we want a suite but with 2 separate bedrooms.

Was it warmish in January? We are hoping to go next Easter. I just want to go somewhere that is not Blackpool in the sun!

We went, pre-children, in January. It was cool and wet. Sometimes it's warm and sunny then but the island does get a lot of rain, say compared to the Canaries - that's why it's so green and lush. Good for walking, but not so good if you want sandy beaches.

Walking is good, dh is not really into beaches and lazing about.

We went in the summer hols sorry, no idea weather in Jan but surely warmer than here. Would have thought that by Easter it would be quite warm but not boiling.

It's lovely and family friendly. I went with my mother and she loved it - there were lots of oldies there if I remember. ( a good thing for me as wanted to be in a quiet place)

We stayed in Funchal too. It is certainly not Blackpool in the sun.

Good, sounds very nice. We too like oldies.

Next thing is trying to persuade dh to go at Easter as he wants to take the dc out of school at May half term for an extra week, which I don't agree with. Far too expensive in the summer!

First week of Jan was 18-22 degrees. Pleasant but not hot, there was nobody swimming outside but it was warm enough to sit out in teeshirt and shorts. We thought by easter it would be lovely and warm but not too hot yet.

Am not sure if the eden mar can do two beds in the living area but you should check I think they did have larger suites iyswim? DD1 turned 3 while we were there so she was in a cot in our room but we still benefitted from having two rooms to the suite so we could stay up and read etc after she'd gone down.

Did enjoy it though, kids are free into all the attractions and we found food prices v. reasonable also. YOur boys might like the 'electricity museum' ! (DH made us go!) And do take the gondola to the park at the top of the hill they have - its cooler up there too.

Its lovely. Nice in April/May with the flower festivals, very hot in the summer and warm and temperate in winter.

In summer, it can still often cloud over and with a cool breeze from the sea you will think it is OK and then get badly burned. Be careful with kids skin.

Weather is very changeable as it comes in off the sea but almost always a nice bit of sun every day, can rain but it is not a beach holiday type place.

I would go back and have several times.