We're due to fly out to Madeira in 2 weeks but want to find out if we'll be able to do the walking holiday we planned. Our base is very close to Funchal. Tour operators say everything's fine, but we would like to know the reality of the situation. News stories make it sound like a disaster area.
Concerned, Scotland
I got this from a Madeira resident. (Not the newpaper!)
For anyone who has booked or is thinking of booking a holiday in Madeira - PLEASE come! Everybody is working so hard to get the island up and running again and it is so important that we continue to have the valued support of our visitors.
What has happened has been horrific and tragic, but it is exceptional. Tourism is a huge part of the lifeblood of this island and as you'll have seen from the comments of earlier visitors, all of those who have visited have loved it. You will too!
The Madeirense will work even harder to make people welcome. I have friends who are going in 3 weeks and have encouraged them to continue with their plans. The island has NOT been destroyed. it is still beautiful and the weather will be warm as usual in March. I know you will have a good time.
My daughter works for Pestana Hotels and says that the hotel area has been affected very little apart from swimming pools around the Lido area which were swamped!
For anyone who has booked or is thinking of booking a holiday in Madeira - PLEASE come! Everybody is working so hard to get the island up and running again and it is so important that we continue to have the valued support of our visitors.
What has happened has been horrific and tragic, but it is exceptional. Tourism is a huge part of the lifeblood of this island and as you'll have seen from the comments of earlier visitors, all of those who have visited have loved it. You will too!
The Madeirense will work even harder to make people welcome. I have friends who are going in 3 weeks and have encouraged them to continue with their plans. The island has NOT been destroyed. it is still beautiful and the weather will be warm as usual in March. I know you will have a good time.
My daughter works for Pestana Hotels and says that the hotel area has been affected very little apart from swimming pools around the Lido area which were swamped!
Thank you. That's very encouraging. We will keep an eye on the situation, but hope to go ahead with the holiday. 
Madeira floods death toll hits 42
Official figures show that 42 people lost their lives following flooding on Madeira on Saturday.
A further 32 are missing.
Of the 70 people who were injured in the flooding, 18 remain in hospital, according to the Madeira Promotion Bureau.
Shelter is being given in military quarters for 370 people who have been displaced from their homes.
Cleaning and recovery work on the island is proceeding quickly and effectively, according to the Bureau.
The main tourism areas of Estrada Monumental and Lido are operating normally.
Electricity has been restored to the whole of Funchal and is being reinstated in the Serra D'Agua area. Water has been restored to all parts of the island apart from the highlands of Funchal (Santo António) and Ponta do Sol.
Mobile phone reception and internet connection has been reinstated to the areas of Santana, São Vicente and Porto Moniz, fully restoring connectivity to the island.
Both Funchal airport and the harbour continue to be operational and running. A ferry boat connection to Porto Santo is also running a regular service.
The main roads are still accessible from the east to the Ribeira Brava district. The road from Ribeira Brava to São Vicente in the North of the island remains closed.
"The island of Madeira is grateful for the overwhelming messages of support and solidarity communicated across the globe," a Promotion Bureau statement said.
With permission from Travelmole
I have just returned from Madeira. We arrived shortly after the disaster. We desperately tried to cancel but Thomas Cook were not having it.
Most of Madeira is fine. We kept out of the centre as it is still a bit of a mess but should soon be clear.
The big problem is that there is a bad stomach virus around. Needless to say I caught it and didn't eat for a couple of days. We thought it fishy that the hotel were issuing bottled water from the beginning. After about 4 days they sent a letter around saying the bug had been brought out to Madeira by British holidaymakers.
Affected more than our hote. On the way home the cabin crew became alarmed at the number of passengers reporting illness. They took names and we were met by a paramedic at Manchester. He inspected the named passenger before allowing them back into the uk.
Not a pleasant experience!
Most of Madeira is fine. We kept out of the centre as it is still a bit of a mess but should soon be clear.
The big problem is that there is a bad stomach virus around. Needless to say I caught it and didn't eat for a couple of days. We thought it fishy that the hotel were issuing bottled water from the beginning. After about 4 days they sent a letter around saying the bug had been brought out to Madeira by British holidaymakers.
Affected more than our hote. On the way home the cabin crew became alarmed at the number of passengers reporting illness. They took names and we were met by a paramedic at Manchester. He inspected the named passenger before allowing them back into the uk.
Not a pleasant experience!
Hello
We are due to visit Madeira on Monday. We tried to cancel or change destination but Thomas Cook most unhelpful. Tried to find out real situation there but was fobbed off with "it was safe to travel". Have heard one returning visitors report that they were virtually confined to hotel as most places were no go areas. Has anyone returne recently and can advise of situation. We are still trying to decide whether or not to go.
We are due to visit Madeira on Monday. We tried to cancel or change destination but Thomas Cook most unhelpful. Tried to find out real situation there but was fobbed off with "it was safe to travel". Have heard one returning visitors report that they were virtually confined to hotel as most places were no go areas. Has anyone returne recently and can advise of situation. We are still trying to decide whether or not to go.
Hi, we have recently returned from Madeira. These are our experiences as copied from another forum:
We recently went on a holiday to Madeira with Thomson. We were scheduled to arrive on Feb 22nd, two days after the disaster.
We tried desperately to cancel or rearrange but Thomson said there was no problem with our 'resort', which they seemed to define as our hotel and immediate area and referred us to 'terms and conditions'.
We argued that central Funchal was devastated and the quality of our holiday would be adversely affected.
Given the money involved and their attitude, we felt we has no alternative but to go.
On arrival at the hotel we were surprised to be issued with complimentary bottled water each day, with no explanation as to why. I became ill with a bad tummy bug part way through the holiday and could not eat for 48 hours. The hotel then sent out a letter saying the bug was widespread as it had been brought out to Madeira by British tourists.
By the middle of the week there was some access to Funchal but the Thomson rep consistently advised us to keep away. The free shuttle service into Funchal advertised by the hotel never ran, though other hotels seemed to be running theirs.
On the way home, the Thomson Airlines cabin crew became so alarmed at reports of sickness by passengers that they took the names of passengers reporting sickness. On returning to Manchester we were met by a paramedic who came aboard and 'vetted' those of us who had been sick before we could return. I personally believe the tap water on Madeira is contaminated and the bug is endemic there at the moment.
Anyone think we have any chance of progress with a complaint to Thomson?
We recently went on a holiday to Madeira with Thomson. We were scheduled to arrive on Feb 22nd, two days after the disaster.
We tried desperately to cancel or rearrange but Thomson said there was no problem with our 'resort', which they seemed to define as our hotel and immediate area and referred us to 'terms and conditions'.
We argued that central Funchal was devastated and the quality of our holiday would be adversely affected.
Given the money involved and their attitude, we felt we has no alternative but to go.
On arrival at the hotel we were surprised to be issued with complimentary bottled water each day, with no explanation as to why. I became ill with a bad tummy bug part way through the holiday and could not eat for 48 hours. The hotel then sent out a letter saying the bug was widespread as it had been brought out to Madeira by British tourists.
By the middle of the week there was some access to Funchal but the Thomson rep consistently advised us to keep away. The free shuttle service into Funchal advertised by the hotel never ran, though other hotels seemed to be running theirs.
On the way home, the Thomson Airlines cabin crew became so alarmed at reports of sickness by passengers that they took the names of passengers reporting sickness. On returning to Manchester we were met by a paramedic who came aboard and 'vetted' those of us who had been sick before we could return. I personally believe the tap water on Madeira is contaminated and the bug is endemic there at the moment.
Anyone think we have any chance of progress with a complaint to Thomson?
-
Edited by
rugbyballs
2010-03-07 09:40:27
RugbyBalls - we were in Madeira the same time as you, and had the same experience (including sickness). We too tried to cancel/rearrange before we left, but Thomson were not interested (assuring us our holiday would be unaffected...).
We have written a letter of complaint to Thomson, and they have acknowledged the letter and will reply within 28 days. We will update you when they have replied fully!
Suggest you also do the same!
We have written a letter of complaint to Thomson, and they have acknowledged the letter and will reply within 28 days. We will update you when they have replied fully!
Suggest you also do the same!
If you look in the holiday complaints section of this forum you will see that we have written and just got our answer.
The reply will come as no surprise!
The reply will come as no surprise!
We went to Madeira and my wife and I were both ill. We traced our my illness to the flight out and believe it was norovirus. My wife became ill towards the end of our holiday.
It could have been the water in the case's quoted, but in January and February many people got the virus in the UK and all over.
We have been back twice since then and everything is fine. You wouldn't even know there was a disaster.
It could have been the water in the case's quoted, but in January and February many people got the virus in the UK and all over.
We have been back twice since then and everything is fine. You wouldn't even know there was a disaster.
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