Madeira is a very popular holiday destination for lovers of holiday homes. The beautiful island has long hot summers that make it an ideal vacation destination to sun lovers. Many find it a superb location for family holidays and choose to spend their vacations in some of the self catering apartments and holiday villas that Madeira has to offer.

Madeira is often referred to as the floating garden of the Atlantic. The Portuguese island of Madeira lies in the Atlantic, off the coast of north-west Africa. It a beautiful holiday island with some of the best holiday homes in Europe. Many of the holiday villas are set against the stunning backdrop of the island's rugged mountains, which drop down into the ocean.

The island is covered with flowers and is the home to beautiful gardens bursting with orchids and bougainvillea. It is possible to rent holiday cottages that have superb gardens. Holiday farm houses may also be rented and many of these holiday homes sit perched in the mountain side in picture-postcard villages.

The climate of Madeira is sub-tropical, with hot summers, mild winters. It is a very popular family holiday home destination due to the beautiful sandy beaches and the warm sea temperatures that are maintained all year round by the influence of the Gulf stream.

Funchal is the capital of Madeira and many families stay here in self catering apartments. They find that these holiday apartments make the perfect holiday base to explore the island's architecture. Popular local dishes with familes on vacation are Espetada, beef kebabs seasoned with bay leaves, or the traditional dish, Espada Preta, fish usually cooked with bananas. Another local speciality is pork, marinated with garlic and wine.

Lovers of the outdoors can sample some of the local culture and hike in some of the stunning countryside that covers this picturesque island. Many families on vacation to Madeira choose to rent one of the many holiday farmhouses that are dotted around the island. For those families with a bigger budget, they may rent a villa with swimming pool direct from their owners.

Madeira is an extremely popular holiday destination in the summer months with tourists coming to the island on vacation attracted by the near perfect weather, beautiful sandy beaches and clean blue sea. Lovers of water sports may rent a holiday cottage or holiday villa with swimming pool that are situated next to some of the best stretches of clean sandy beaches in Europe.

Many families return to Madeira on vacation year after year staying in one of the many holiday homes on this peaceful beautiful island. The combination of warm climate, beautiful scenery and friendly locals make this a popular holiday hotspot for families wanting to stay in self catering holiday homes.