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As part of our trip to Portugal, we had planned a stay in Madeira, this mountainous Portuguese island that’s a hiking paradise for all levels. Without hesitation, it was the biggest highlight of the trip!
To get to the island, we took a flight of about 1 h 45 from Lisbon on TAP Airlines — tickets reimbursed with the travel credit obtained with each HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® we have, which we signed up for last winter.
Early in the morning, we have breakfast at the ANA Lounge at Lisbon Airport, thanks to my Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
We land in Madeira around 9:30 AM, on this legendary runway built on stilts that gives us the impression of landing right in the middle of the sea.
We pick up the Fiat Panda — whose small engine will struggle on several incredibly steep roads — booked and paid for with points from our Scotiabank Visa Infinite + Passport + Bank. Then we hit the road to Funchal, the capital.
After a — very! — hearty meal at Restaurant Londres (boiled pork, liver, potatoes, cabbage and plenty of other vegetables), we settle into our first booked accommodation: a private room in a small hostel-style place, with a shared kitchen.
Our stay was reimbursed with points from our American Express Cobalt® Card, as will our other two accommodations. Our stays were booked on Hotels.com to earn and get a free night, by first going through Rakuten to collect a 2% cashback.
The next morning, we head to Pico do Arieiro, a fantastic hike above the clouds. In the evening, we come back exhausted but amazed.
We notice that Pereira d’Oliveira, a Madeira wine producer offering free tastings, is located right across from our accommodation. We go in, join the group of French people who have just arrived, and we’re served 3 samples of this sublime nectar… a nice little end-of-day bonus.
In the evening, we go up to the rooftop of Hotel Madeira for the view of illuminated Funchal.
On Saturday, we hit the road to Ponta de São Lourenço, this long wind-swept peninsula that forms the eastern tip of the island.
In the evening, we enjoy a free Coimbra-style Fado concert at the Jesuit College of Funchal, just a stone’s throw from our place. A lovely evening.
On Sunday, we head west. After a short visit to the legendary Reid’s Palace Hotel — where Empress Sissi used to come to treat her chest ailment — we have a 100% local dinner at Viola in Camara do Lobos, where we seem to be the only tourists.
It was quite an experience: huge beef and chicken skewers hanging above the table, polenta, a killer little house wine, and tons of atmosphere! We even try our first mandarin Ponchas, this spirit-based drink typical of the Madeira archipelago.
Monday morning, we set off for Levada das 25 Fontes. The levadas are a stunning network of 2,000 km of irrigation channels, often built into cliff faces and accompanied by lovely — and sometimes dizzying — green trails. During our stay, we’ll hike a few of them, each more beautiful than the last.
On Tuesday, we visit the town of Porto Monitz and its strange volcanic pools.
On Thursday, we head to the summit of Pico Ruivo, the roof of Madeira. A spectacular hike on a path entirely paved with large stones, which took us to nearly 2,000 metres of altitude.
We end our stay on a high note in Portugal. Our last accommodation, Casa das Proteas de Sao Jorge, delights us with its rustic-chic decor, the quality of the meals offered, the hosts’ kindness, and the enchanting surrounding countryside.
After a short visit to the TAP Premium lounge, we leave Madeira early the next morning, telling ourselves that we’ll surely come back one day!
Here are the credit cards used for this trip, each providing a benefit:
A few resources to help you:
Here are a few highlights of this trip to Madeira with points:
To maximize your Membership Rewards points accumulation, consult our complete guide to the American Express Membership Rewards program as well as our ranking of the best American Express Membership Rewards credit cards, updated monthly by the Milesopedia team.
Savings are this way:
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