Sunny, Enchanting Madeira Island Offers Great Winter Escape

Historic favorite winter destination for American's in Winter now closer, more affordable with new air and hotel packages. President Franklin Pierce went there after leaving office.

Boston, MA (PRWEB) November 7, 2008 -- Madeira with its warm winter climate, year-round sun, and dramatic landscapes was once the place for Americans to escape the cold of winter... Now, Azores Express/SATA has new air and hotel packages to the island of Madeira - a first from the U.S. to the warm and sunny island some 750 miles south of Lisbon in the Atlantic. Prices, including roundtrip air, hotel, and breakfast starting at $1,169 per person, before taxes and fees.

Flights will leave Boston's Logan Airport each Tuesday and Friday. Kids under 6 stay free and pay only a child's airfare. Passengers will have a choice of six hotels, each with breakfast each day. Upgrades to SATA Plus Business-Class are a few hundred dollars each way.

The islands of Madeira and Porto Santo form an archipelago with a nearly perfect climate - warm and clear in winter with temperatures in the 70s. Add to that world-class hotels, and sweeping ocean views.

Hotels included in the package deal are the new CS Madeira, Cliff Bay, Tivoli Madeira, and the Madeira Regency Palace--all 5-star properties. Four-star hotels include Alto Lido and Baia Azul. All hotels offer seaside views, outdoor saltwater pools and resort faculties. Prices range from $1,169 to $2,949 depending on hotel and travel dates. Rate is per person, based on double occupancy for land & air packages departing from Boston. Rates valid for select travel 11/01/08 to 04/17/09. Taxes, fees and fuel surcharges are additional.

Madeira's landscape is characterized by volcanic cliffs that rise dramatically from the sea. The steep rise creates six unique climate zones, each with its own beautiful flora and fauna that are often compared to the Hawaiian Islands.

Visitors come for the natural beauty, and they stay to experience the ocean, golf, hiking, deep sea fishing, diving, and old world charm of the islands and its mountains and seaside towns.

Americans are no strangers to Madeira or its wine. American patriots toasted the Declaration of Independence with a glass of Madeira wine. George Washington's inauguration was celebrated with Madeira and the legendary frigate Constitution was christened with it. President Franklin Pierce spent several months on the island after leaving office in 1857.

Azores Express has connected New England with Portugal for more than 20 years. Today it offers direct flights on wide-body A310 aircraft to São Miguel, the main island in the Azores archipelago. Connecting flights from São Miguel to Lisbon, Porto and/or the islands of Madeira are available. The company is part of the SATA Group.

For more information and reservations, contact Azores Express at 800-762-9995, www.sata.pt.

Hotel Websites:

http://www.hotelaltolido.com/html/home.html

http://www.portobay.com/Hotel.aspx?areaId=49

http://www.hotelregencypalace.com/

http://www.tivolihotels.com/hotels-portugal/destination/madeira/hotel_funchal_ocean_park/list.aspx

http://www.hotelbaiaazul.com/

http://www.csmadeiraatlanticresort.com/

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