Madeira to host WTA Gala Ceremony in 2019

MADEIRA has been revealed as the host for the World Travel Awards Europe Gala Ceremony 2019.  The Portuguese destination, which has taken the title of Europe’s Leading Island Destination four times, will use the event to boost its profile on the international stage.

#Madeira Tourist Board, which also walked away with the title of World’s Leading Island Destination at the World Travel Awards last year, will welcome hundreds of industry leaders to the event.


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Fred.Olsen fleet get-together

FOLLOWING on from the success of its ‘Four Ships in Bergen’ event in Summer 2015, and with it exciting ‘Captains in Cádiz’ celebration on the horizon on 10th September 2018, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is now pleased to announce that its fleet of four ocean ships – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch – will be reuniting once again, this time in Funchal, #Madeira on Saturday 4th April 2020.

Fred. Olsen’s third fleet get-together in Spring 2020 on the stunning ‘Garden Island’ of Madeira - 'Four Fred.s in Funchal' - will be packed full of lively celebrations and festivities, on four specially-themed cruise itineraries, went on sale on 22nd February 2018.

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Madeira: World's leading island destination

FOR the third year in a row, the World Travel Awards has recognised #Madeira Islands as the World’s Leading Island Destination of 2017.

Competing alongside with other emblematic and exotic island destinations, Madeira again collected the annual award that recognises excellence in the stand-out tourism brands and locations around the world, distinguishing itself as the best island tourist destination on the globe since 2015.

The “Tourism Oscars” were awarded at a ceremony held on December 10th, in Vietnam.

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Make your way to Madeira

THE #Madeira wine festival celebrates one of the most famous products from Madeira Island, Portugal taking place from August 27 until September 10.

The Wine Harvest Festival is always the perfect excuse to visit Madeira. In Funchal, the light, sound and music shows are the high points of the celebrations that take place at other points on the island.

Head to the Estreito de Câmara de Lobos parish, 12 km from Funchal and take part in one of the oldest local traditions of the live wine harvest, whether picking grapes or following the grape harvester groups.

festasdovinhomadeira.visitmadeira.pt

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Experience Madeira

THE municipality of Câmara de Lobos presents a new tourist attraction, ‘The Câmara de Lobos Experience’, arising from a partnership between two established tour operators, Carristur - YellowBus and Madeira Green Train, in addition to other local cultural and economic entities.

This new tourist route gives visitors the opportunity to visit different places of interest passing through the city’s narrow streets and stopping to visit the Henriques & Henriques wine cellars, the convent of San Bernardino and the Pico da Torre viewpoint.

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Floral Funchal

MADEIRA'S flower scene is bursting with colour throughout the winter and spring. For those keen to take advantage of the warm temperatures – which average a comfortable 20C+ - Prestige Holidays has a selection of late offers and early booking discounts to the Capital of Portugal’s floating garden isle.

The charming converted manor house Quinta das Vistas stands in substantial gardens atop a hill overlooking Funchal and is famed for its gourmet cuisine. It also offers an extensive spa facility with a range of treatments as well as Jacuzzi, sauna and a Turkish Bath.

The luxurious family run Quinta da bela Vista is a five-star property ideal for couples who want to explore the nature trails behind the hotel as well as take in the city sights of Funchal, which is a 10 minute complimentary shuttle ride from the property. Guests can also pop over to the neighboring island for lunch and a Spa treatment at sister hotel Port Santo.

The super stylish Royal Savoy has an oceanfront location with huge terraces boasting uninterrupted views of the Atlantic Ocean, plus an extensive range of facilities including two outdoor seawater pools, a health suite, games room, internet corner, cocktail bar and various dining choices; so much so, the hotel feels like an upmarket cruise liner.

www.prestigeholidays.co.uk

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Brighton, Liverpool tipped for tourism

ENGLAND and Portugal dominate Trip Advisor’s list of top ten European holiday destinations ‘on the rise’. Brighton and Liverpool are tipped, as are Porto and, on the Portuguese island of Madeira, Funchal.

Top ten …

• Porto, Portugal 
• Moscow, Russia 
• Brighton, England 
• Liverpool, England 
• Granada, Spain 
• Funchal, Portugal 
• Oia (Santorini), Greece 
• Krakow, Poland 
• Valencia, Spain 
• Cologne, Germany  

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Picture Credit: Brighton Beach and Pier by Christine Matthews. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Travel award for Madeira

#PORTUGAL’S Madeira Islands have been named the planet’s leading island destination in the 2015 World Travel Awards, beating off competition from 
Bali, Barbados, Crete, Jamaica, and the Maldives.

‘Our archipelago´s main asset,’ says Eduardo Jesus, regional secretary for Economy, Tourism and Culture, ‘is its exuberant nature. #Madeira is gold!’

Madeira is an archipelago comprising four islands off the north-west coast of Africa. Popular outdoor pursuits include hiking, golf, surfing, and scuba diving.

One of the main events of the year is the Madeira Flower Festival (April 7-13), which attracts thousands of visitors from all around the world.

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Picture Credit: Flower horses during the Flower Festival, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal by Paul Mannix - originally posted to Flickr as Flower horses during the Flower Festival, Funchal, Maderia, Portugal. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

UK tourists warm to Portugal's lesser-known regions

WITH UK visitor numbers up 7.1% year-on-year up to August 2015, more Britons are holidaying in #Portugal. The fastest growth is coming from the least established destinations and regions, according to Turismo de Portugal president, Joao Cotrim de Figueiredo. 

‘The UK is our most important market,’ he says, ‘and has been very dependent on the sun and beach sector, but this is moving. For a long time 75% of stays were in the Algarve and Madeira, but this is changing.’

The Azores saw 40% growth from the UK this year, following the launch of Ryanair flights in April, and the Alentejo rose 26%.

‘Both of these have a lot to offer specific segments,’ said Mr Figueiredo. ‘The #Azores appeal to travellers over 50 who are in love with nature, and the #Alentejo to younger, more alternative visitors who enjoy the new age, spiritual side of travel and who are quite affluent.’

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/67525885@N00/2178211833">Camara de Lobos, Madeira</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">(license)

Croatia highlighted as upcoming Brit hotspot

CROATIA is set to be the new hotspot for British holidaymakers, according to research conducted by beach holiday specialists On the Beach.

The country has shown the biggest year-on-year increases in bookings during the big January sales month. 

Holiday bookings to Croatia were up 250% on the previous year with the Portuguese island of Madeira showing the second biggest increase, up 228%. 

The Neapolitan Riviera in Italy was the third fastest-growing destination (up 194%), while Tunisia (up 183%) and Cyprus (up 64%) made up the top five. 

Alistair Daly, chief marketing officer at On the Beach said January was “busier than ever”. 

‘With an increase in flights from the UK to Madeira, we expect more people than ever before will be heading to this beautiful island this year.’

The research also shows self-catering holidays in luxury five star resorts are on average 33% cheaper than last year.


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Picture Credit:"Sisak Fortress, Croatia" by Darko Tepert Donatus - Own work via Wikimedia Commons; "Curral-das-Freiras" by Dietrich Bartel (my father) - father's work via Wikimedia Commons.