Most tourists book their Madeira accommodation through Airbnb or Booking.com and pay 15–20% in platform fees. There's a better way — and it also means you rent from the people who actually know the island.
The Problem with Booking Platforms in Madeira
Airbnb and Booking.com charge guests a service fee of 12–20% on top of the base price. They charge the owner another 3–15%. By the time a booking is confirmed, a significant portion of your holiday budget has gone to a company headquartered thousands of kilometres away.
On a €140/night apartment for a week, that's €150–250 in fees that don't go to the owner, don't improve the property, and don't add anything to your experience.
There's another problem: the big platforms flatten everything. The most characterful, personal, locally-owned properties often aren't there at all — because the owners choose not to pay 15% commission on every booking.
- Guest service fee: 12–20% on top
- Host commission: 3–15% deducted
- Communication goes through the platform
- Reviews can be suppressed or manipulated
- Cancellation policies set by platform
- Your money to San Francisco, not Madeira
- Platform fee: €0
- Owner commission: €0
- Direct WhatsApp with the owner
- Genuine reviews from real guests
- Flexible terms agreed directly
- Your money to local Madeira owners
What is madeira.rentals?
A Madeira-based platform where local property owners list their rentals directly. Guests contact owners via WhatsApp, agree terms personally, and pay by bank transfer. No intermediary, no service fee, no algorithm deciding whether your message gets seen.
A Property Worth Knowing About
Among the listings on madeira.rentals, one stands out for the combination of location, design, and view. It's the property I recommend when guests ask where to stay in Funchal.
What Makes This Property Special
The garden
The tropical garden surrounding the property is genuinely exceptional — avocado, banana, papaya, lemon, macadamia and Surinam cherry trees, plus aloe, herbs and flowering plants. It takes ten minutes to walk around properly and an afternoon to fully appreciate. For guests arriving from northern Europe, stepping into this garden on the first morning tends to produce a visible decompression.
The view
At 400 metres above sea level, the view from the terrace takes in the entire city of Funchal, the Marina, the bay, and the open Atlantic beyond. Cruise ships entering the harbour are visible from the breakfast table. At night, the city lights below and the stars above make this one of the most atmospheric positions in Funchal.
The location
São Gonçalo is Funchal's elevated hillside neighbourhood — cooler, quieter, and more residential than the tourist zone. The Botanical Garden is within walking distance. Funchal centre is 10 minutes by car. The airport is 20 minutes. A bus stop is directly outside for those who prefer not to drive.
The design
Container architecture has a bad reputation it doesn't deserve. This property uses the steel structure as a canvas for panoramic glass walls, wooden terrace decking and contemporary interior design. The result is light, spacious and genuinely beautiful — boutique hotel quality in a private setting.
How to Book Direct
Also on madeira.rentals: Other apartments in Funchal, a lava-pool retreat in the west, campervan rentals, boat trips and sunset cruises — all bookable direct from local owners. Browse all listings →