The apartment building is right on the beach (Formosa Beach), in a complex called Atlantic Ocean Gardens, is side by side with Pestana Bay, in west Funchal, with no noisy roadway between you and the spectacular views, with swimming pool, direct access to the beach and to the ocean promenade and reception. The apartment is self-catered. It is located on the 2º floor (2 lifts are available), it is a spacious apartment (134 m2) with stunning views of the pool and lovely gardens (Beautiful sunset). The apartment has been a privately owned, family holiday apartment for the last years, and is very well equipped. The kitchen has all the appliances you would find at home, although there are plenty of lovely cafes and restaurants close by, if cooking isn’t on your agenda! If you do opt for some home-cooking, we would recommend the beautiful fresh fish and vegetables for sale on the island. We love cooking when we stay down there. Evenings on the terrace are very relaxing, dining and watching the sun setting. The apartment was renovated in 2016 and simply decorated, but still has a lovely comfortable feel to it. It is our home from home! The apartment has: (*) - Free internet (wireless internet - 200 megas) - Cable Tv with more than 140 channels - UK & Irish Channels by satellite: BBC, UTV, Sky News and much more - NetFlix - Big Fridge - Big Oven - Stove hob with 4 hotplates - Modern - Washing Machine and Dishwasher (*) This is not common to find in other apartments The apartment is located in Praia Formosa which is in walking distance or very close to the main areas in Funchal. Near the complex, along the beach you will find several local restaurants and coffee shops with esplanada by the sea, within walking distance. On the upper road, accessible by stairs or by road, you will find as well as grocery store, pastries, supermarket, pharmacy, bank and car rental, at less than 10 minutes walking up to main road. This complex is situated at the last stop of the aerobus. The transfer time to the airport takes approximately 35 to 50 minutes, just € 5.00. To the center of Funchal there is a bus stop at the same level of the complex, number 43 (Praia Formosa / Romeiras). On the upper road accessible by stairs or by road you will find more bus stops (Bus Nº 1 and 2). Car hire is recommended in order to have more independence. Free Parking. Guest access Guests have access to the pool which is part of the complex. There is also direct access to the beach from the pool area and with direct access as well to the walking path that connects Lido village to Camara de Lobos. In March 2023, the new promenade was FINALLY completed, which is on the left side of the building complex, which allows access to the natural pools of Doca do Cavacas, all year round (Big NEWS). The tunnel was officially opened on 6 April 2023 and will be open all year round - 09am until 10pm The apartment is near Doca do Cavacas, lava pools and near the best restaurants used by local people, for example Barqueiro, Doca do Cavacas, By the Sea for fish and Espettus for meat and much more (Real Canoa, Bear Garden, Clássico etc). It is near as well of Shopping Center called Forum Madeira, all at a walking distance. On the right side of the complex, was also inaugurated on June 2, 2023, the new pedestrian path, which allows to walk along the beach to Câmara de Lobos, avoiding having to use the road. Going Around: Nearby you have some restaurants and coffee shops for your first meal (a local fish restaurant “By The Sea”, just leaving the parking area, at your right side). Two doors after the restaurant you have a “lounge bar” called “Maresia” for a drink (they are open in the afternoon and evening). After these restaurant and bar you will find some steps on your right. These stairs lead you to the street above, the main street called Estrada Monumental where you have everything: a bus stop (all the buses run on this road, namely the yellow ones that go to the city center); a grocery (that sells fruits, vegetables and basics like water, milk, etc.); a bakery & coffee shop; a pharmacy; a rent-a-car company and a bank (all just crossing the main road). If you keep walking along this main street to the right you will find the Forum Madeira” shopping center with a bigger supermarket (10 minutes walking). This is big building with a palm trees entrance on the left side of the avenue. The supermarket is called “Pingo Doce” and it is situated inside the shopping centre on the ground zero (it opens at 9h am and closes at 10h pm every day, including Sundays). I remember there is a taxi rank just in front of the shopping center in case you would like to use it to get back to your apartment (situated at Atlântic Gardens, by Formosa Beach). Than if you keep walking along this street you will reach Lido village and then Funchal city centre in the end. From your apartment complex pool door to the left side: From your balcony you will see the beach. From the swimming pool area you will find a door to access the beach. If you walk along the beach to the left side you will find a tunnel – close at 22pm (5/10 minutes walking). This tunnel will cross the rock and leads you to the natural swimming pools. Here you have a good restaurant for fish called “Doca do Cavacas” (they close on Mondays). From here you can climb the steps to reach the upper road where you will find more restaurants (a seafood restaurant called “Barqueiro” and a good Italian restaurant called “Papa Manuel”) and a bus stop to take the yellow bus number 2 to go to the city centre. Near both restaurants you have a small shopping and inside you will find a small supermarket called “Meu Super” and a bakery called Bruno`s. If you keep walking along the walking path (no cars here) you can walk until “Ponta Gorda” and “Lido” (swimming pools complexes with entrances to the sea) with restaurants, bars along the way. In the middle of the way you will find a “tea house” on your left side. Immediately before the “tea house” there is a walking path to go up on the left side. If you go up you will reach other road with more restaurants. If you keep walking along this road to the right, you will see the “Forum Madeira” shopping center with a bigger supermarket (from the tea house to the shopping it takes around 5/10 minutes walking). The “Forum Madeira” shopping centre is big building with a palm trees entrance. The supermarket is called “Pingo Doce” and it is situated inside the shopping centre on the ground zero (it opens at 9am and closes at 11pm every day, including Sundays). I remember there is a taxi rank just in front of the shopping center in case you would like to use it to get back to your apartment (situated in Pestana Aparthotel complex, by Formosa Beach). Backing to your apartment complex: From your apartment complex pool door to the right side: From your balcony you can see a big cliff called Cabo Girão with 580m high. From the pool area, if we go to the right side, you can walk along the new promenade, where it`s possible to reach 3 more black sandy beaches and have a great walk where you will find more restaurants and coffee shops always along the beach This walking path goes direction to the next fisherman's village Câmara de Lobos” (from the last white restaurant by the beach it will be 3 kms to reach the fisherman’s village – easy walk; flat). This walking it is better to do in the morning.... Enjoy :) Madeira was elected "World's Leading Island Destination" in 2015, 2016 and 2017 by the World Travel Awards. In 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, won the "Europe’s Leading Island Destination"... The fastest way to travel to Europe from the US and Canada is by taking the plane directly to Ponta Delgada (Azores), only 5 hours away with SATA INTERNACIONAL Or direct flight from New York to Madeira Island, only 6 or 7 hours From Ponta Delgada you can go to Madeira or Portugal Mainland etc with SATA