Madeira is a top rate holiday choice because it is extremely cheap to visit and is unusual among European islands due to its mild sub-tropical climate.
The weather is ideal and the fact that Madeira is a volcano which emerges from the Atlantic Ocean means that the island is covered in lush vegetation.
Nowhere is this better seen than in the island’s stunning botanical gardens. The trip to them is an adventure in itself as you have to take a cable car from the city port which has you up into the mountains in a few minutes.
As the cable car rises through the mist, you could be forgiven for thinking that Madeira, with its red topped houses which sit among banana plantations, was actually Rio de Janeiro.

Once you have reached the botanical gardens prepare yourself to see an incredible array of plants and trees as well as amazing water features and architecture. There is plenty there to keep you occupied for hours but make sure you see the world’s oldest olive tree. Having been on the planet well before the birth of Christ, this gnarled old tree has surely seen some incredible things happen during its lifetime.
There are plenty of hotels in Madeira, but if you want to really experience the island at the best possible price you should stay in a holiday home. To be recommended is the Garajau Riviera villa, courtesy of island homes where the friendly owner who lives upstairs is always happy to show you around the island. The only drawback to this super romantic location with sweeping sea views is that it does not have its own pool. However, you can use the pool of the neighbouring hotel.
Having a car is absolutely essential in Madeira as the bus system is unreliable to say the least and taxis are expensive. Staying in a villa will save you a lot of money on eating out as groceries are cheap in Madeira.
Not only does the island have many beautiful beaches, but there are quite a few seaside clubs which have built freshwater swimming pools into the surrounding rocks. If you have children these are good places to take them as it is a friendly family environment and there are some small water slides too.
Finally, don’t miss out on the chance to explore the mountainous interior of the island. The summit stretches thousands of metres up past the clouds giving you stunning views across the island.