That's my opinion too, renting a car would certainly be the best option, if you're nor afraid of asking directions to people on the road (better practice your Portuguese... ;)). Taxis are expensive and you risk getting a driver that would cheat you, wandering around unnecessarily just to win a few more Euros, besides all the loss of freedom. You can hire it on the Airport, on Rodavante or one of the many other rent-a-cars that have an office there. If you are going to the East I recommend you not to miss the wonderful and picturesque sea-by villages of Jardim do Mar and Paúl do Mar (there's a very nice restaurant and tea house where you can see the sunset on this last one, on the extreme East of the seaside road). Ponta do Pargo is also beautiful, with an old lighthouse and wonderful views. On the inland you have Fanal, Rabaçal, 25 Fontes, which are beautiful spots with "levadas", waterfalls, little ponds where you can swim (though the water is very cold), and lots of trees, bushes and ferns, some of them endemic to Madeira. And there's much, much more to see... :) Paulo On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 09:26:50 -0600, Cece Camara <cece@soccer4all.com> wrote: > David, > Don't know what Paulo will tell you, but Ed & I visited Madeira last > summer > & had a rental car. > We wouldn't have done it any other way. You will miss so much if you are > not > able to get out and around anytime you want. > Plus I can't imagine driving some of those roads with a local...never > mind a > local Taxi driver!!! > Getting around was really easy. The cost of renting a car was very > reasonable. > We only used taxis when we were actually in Funchal...after parking...and > after becoming exhausted! > If you have any other questions about Madeira...feel free to ask. > I'm sure Paulo will be able to tell you about getting around during a > holiday and not to miss festivities. > We wish you a wonderful trip! > Cece -- " Pallida mors aequo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas regumque turres." -- Horacio