Language  
 
Portuguese

           Climate

Mild climate. The temperature varies between 19°C (in winter) and 23°C (in summer). Sea temperature is practically equal all over the year due to the influence of the hot current of the Gulf.
  
           Hour

Madeira has the same hour as the Mainland. According with the rules of the European Community, one hour is fast on the last Sunday of March and slow on the last Sunday of October.

          Electricity

220 Wats

           Telecomunications

Telephones, telex, fax, cable TV are disposed at the main hotels.
Access to Internet WWW is also possible.

          Airport

24 Km far from Funchal (25 minutes by taxi).
Madeira Island has an International Airport - Madeira International Airpor
Porto Santo Island has a modern terminal and a runway with 3.000 metres, which permits receive all kinds of planes.

           Transports

There is a good quality of public transport services between Funchal and the nearer regions.
To go to places more distant, it is better choose organised excursions.
Rent a car is easy, and relatively cheap.
Taxis are at disposal at the airport, at the main hotels and at Funchal.

          Currency

The currency is the Euro.

          Banks

Opened from 08.30m to 15.00h from Monday to Friday.

          Credit cards

Are accepted at all hotel, restaurants and shops

          Shopping

During the week, from Monday to Friday, shops are opened from 09.00h to 13.00h and from 15.00h to 19.00h.
On Saturday, it is opened from 09.00h to 13.00h.
Shopping Centres are opened from 10.00h to 00.00h, every day

          Hospitals

There are two hospitals at Funchal and several public health centres all over the Island.

          Post office

The main post office is situated at Funchal, nearby the Hotel Madeira
Daily pick-ups at 11.00h, 15.00h. and 19.30
Several post offices in Funchal neighborhood and villages are also open.