Madiera, Malta or Majorca
Discussion
I'm looking for something a little bit last minute, I was planning to go to Cala Dor in Majorca. We went 2 years ago and although some of its a bit tacky we enjoyed sitting down by the Marina and doing nothing. It was pretty relaxing. We are trying to get close to the centre as thee further out you get the tackier it gets. So we are looking at the aptly named Cala Dor hotel
However when we started going away in July - the first week of, it was always to be a cheapish holiday around £1000 half board for both of us, with the drop in pound v euro Cala Dor with flights is coming in around £1800
So it got me looking at Malta and Madiera, both of which can be cheaper. Having never been to either i'm not sure where to go. It needs to be somewhere nice, ideally near a marina so i can have a beer and watch the world go by. I don't want to have a car and ideally within a 10 minute walk of shops, bars etc.
We like Playa Blanca too so something similar to the rubicon marina end would be nice. We usually stay at Princeses Yaiza or the White Suites behind it.
Any feedback would be great, its just 2 of us in our 40's
However when we started going away in July - the first week of, it was always to be a cheapish holiday around £1000 half board for both of us, with the drop in pound v euro Cala Dor with flights is coming in around £1800
So it got me looking at Malta and Madiera, both of which can be cheaper. Having never been to either i'm not sure where to go. It needs to be somewhere nice, ideally near a marina so i can have a beer and watch the world go by. I don't want to have a car and ideally within a 10 minute walk of shops, bars etc.
We like Playa Blanca too so something similar to the rubicon marina end would be nice. We usually stay at Princeses Yaiza or the White Suites behind it.
Any feedback would be great, its just 2 of us in our 40's
We went here last year with Jet2.
https://www.jet2holidays.com/portugal/madeira/func...
Had a seaview room. Half board with 4 restaurants to choose from. 15 mins walk into town, weather great in September - 25 degrees.
Transfer from the airport, didn't need a car - did a couple of tours and walked alot.
Would defiantly go back.
https://www.jet2holidays.com/portugal/madeira/func...
Had a seaview room. Half board with 4 restaurants to choose from. 15 mins walk into town, weather great in September - 25 degrees.
Transfer from the airport, didn't need a car - did a couple of tours and walked alot.
Would defiantly go back.
I'd plump for Madeira too, greener than Malta, plenty to see and do (you can walk the Laverdas up in the hills, that bring fresh water to the towns below), snorkeling/scuba diving, jeep safaris, insane sledging down streets in Funchal.
Funchal is lovely, imo, far nicer than anything I've seen Spanish (I have to say Portugal has consistently impressed me, Spain hasn't, although to be fair I've not seen a lot!) and I'd choose it over Malta.
Lots of great places to eat, especially if you like seafood.
Funnily enough the wife and I went for a walk at lunchtime and discussed how much we enjoyed our holiday in Madeira some years ago.
We stayed here - http://www.penhafranca.com/
One of the loveliest locations for breakfast I've experienced, up there with the Amalfi coast and a Kenyan waterhole.
M
Funchal is lovely, imo, far nicer than anything I've seen Spanish (I have to say Portugal has consistently impressed me, Spain hasn't, although to be fair I've not seen a lot!) and I'd choose it over Malta.
Lots of great places to eat, especially if you like seafood.
Funnily enough the wife and I went for a walk at lunchtime and discussed how much we enjoyed our holiday in Madeira some years ago.
We stayed here - http://www.penhafranca.com/
One of the loveliest locations for breakfast I've experienced, up there with the Amalfi coast and a Kenyan waterhole.
M
waynedear said:
I wonder what else you will get wrong today.
It's not wrong at all. Madeira is the number 1 holiday destination for OAPs. It's only been in recent years they've started to build some trendy bars and night life to attract the younger generation but it will take a long time to change.We went to Malta for the first time last year and loved it so much we're going back this year too.
Lovely people, great food and very reasonably priced. Brilliant and easy to use bus service covering the whole island. Valletta is beautiful as are many other places too.
I can't recommend it enough.
Lovely people, great food and very reasonably priced. Brilliant and easy to use bus service covering the whole island. Valletta is beautiful as are many other places too.
I can't recommend it enough.
NoIP said:
waynedear said:
I wonder what else you will get wrong today.
It's not wrong at all. Madeira is the number 1 holiday destination for OAPs. It's only been in recent years they've started to build some trendy bars and night life to attract the younger generation but it will take a long time to change.I've never been to Malta but went to Madeira for the first time last year. It's nice, especially if you like gardens or walking, and the ports are busy and fun. In general. it seems like a mature place for mature people. It doesn't sound like you're the clubbing type, so you'll probably love it.
CharlesdeGaulle said:
I've never been to Malta but went to Madeira for the first time last year. It's nice, especially if you like gardens or walking, and the ports are busy and fun. In general. it seems like a mature place for mature people. It doesn't sound like you're the clubbing type, so you'll probably love it.
I've been to Madeira a couple of times recently and I have 20 years of work left in me so definitely not an OAP. I'd reiterate the above. Funchal is a pretty good place to get about on on foot and always feels safe and relaxed with mostly helpful friendly locals. Plenty to see and so. All it really lacks is sandy beaches if you like that sort of thing.Me and the Mrs went to Funchal last August, stayed here - https://www.pestana.com/uk/hotel/pestana-promenade
We absolutely loved it and would definitely go back again, 25 & 31 by the way, so well under the 65 mark.... It's possibly the most relaxing place I've ever visited, and you can easily while away days sat down by the marina or the centre of Funchal. Blandy's is a must also, and they've even opened a small restaurant which is really good- their tapas is amazing.
We absolutely loved it and would definitely go back again, 25 & 31 by the way, so well under the 65 mark.... It's possibly the most relaxing place I've ever visited, and you can easily while away days sat down by the marina or the centre of Funchal. Blandy's is a must also, and they've even opened a small restaurant which is really good- their tapas is amazing.
Edited by MikeGTi on Monday 1st May 17:37
NoIP said:
Madeira is fine if you're over 65. If not choose somewhere else.
That's a broad brush you've got there... when was the last time you went? If you've been at all of course.We were there in March - lovely island - would recommend. I've got a fair few years before I reach my dotage and so had plenty of other people we met.
Last year we stayed in a really old court yard hotel in the centre of Palma. We booked it through Expedia with the flights separately then hired a car to travel to the various parts.
Tip - early early or last thing visit Sa Calobra and Cap De Formentor.
I was almost wiped out by another tourist on 'Cap so definitely go before 9am. There's a Evo vid on it on YouTube
Tip - early early or last thing visit Sa Calobra and Cap De Formentor.
I was almost wiped out by another tourist on 'Cap so definitely go before 9am. There's a Evo vid on it on YouTube Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff