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Depart 22 November 2024

Return 29 November 2024

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What 6976 of our customers thought of Australia...

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See another reviews on Trustpilot where 98% of customers say they'd book again.

Definitely will use DialAFlight again and recommend to others. Trip was fantastic - thanks!

Lost my baggage on return trip but delivered following day to my home - inconvenient but all OK

Great service

Leo was the best, he searched for ages for the best flights for me and was so friendly and professional. I would 10/10 book more long hauls from him as he made the process so easy and stress free.

Thank you for all your help. Everything ran very smoothly. Harry was brilliant

Wouldn't recommend flying economy to Australia - seats cramped and food not that good

Qatar Airlines operate a comfortable and efficient service with Business Class lounges at Doha and Melbourne. The only failure was at Birmingham with no lounge on departure and a shortage of ground staff at 0600 arrival which caused a delay in docking and progress through customs. Not the fault of DialAFlight who had excellent attention to detail.

A very thoughtful company which kept us informed all the time. Helpful and polite and cannot thank them enough.

Everything went smoothly and everything was exactly as promised. Thank you for a stress-free trip!

Excellent service from Thomas. Our trip to Singapore, Melbourne and Cairns went very smoothly and exactly as planned with no problems at all. Would definitely recommend DialAFlight

Very pleased with your help and the fact that a person answers the phone. All my queries were promptly resolved.

Always helpful even when I ask awkward questions

Seamless as always - excellent service

Bradley was excellent. Responding immediately to any questions. A fantastic service and always contactable.

I will never again fly with Jetstar. They are without doubt the worst airline I have ever used in over 30 years of longhaul travel.

Very impressed with Liam Rush who took my draft itinerary and arranged it all very quickly and got back to me with a quote. He was always available for follow up questions and changes

Billy Gardner a great help every time

All went very well, thank you.

We have been using DialAFlight for 12 years now, booking trips to Australia. Michelle Dooler and her team have been excellent throughout.

Very professional.

Tommy Ellis was a real help. Thanks Tommy I’ll be booking again shortly

Would not recommend The Swan River Hotel in Perth

Excellent communication and help from Joey and the team.

When will Qantas be flying direct from Manchester? The only downside to flying from London is Heathrow Airport - the worst airport we’ve ever used.

Great service as always from Gino. Everything worked out perfectly and I have already recommended DialAFlight to friends who have booked a holiday.

Just a comment on our wait for London to Manchester flight. We were waiting 5 hours but we could have been on a much earlier one

Everything as promised. I was very pleased with all arrangements and will definitely use you again

Very helpful. Enjoyed the flight

I wouldn't book my holiday with anyone else but DialAFlight. Lovely friendly people when I phone even with a wee problem they are most helpful and I always recommend you to my friends.

We spent a month in the Far East and Australia. DialAFlight organised 11 different flights, 9 hotels, transfers and a number of excursions for us. Everything was perfect!

Portugal Reviews 832

Portugal Offers 9

Portugal Hotels 270

Portugal Pousadas 36

Madeira in full bloom

The spectacular gardens on this remote Atlantic island are awe-inspiring, as Charlotte Metcalf discovered

The most famous of Portugal's Atlantic islands, Madeira is a gardener's heaven. Perched on windowsills or on steps up to the doors of even the tiniest houses, flowers are a constant welcome to visitors.

The semi-tropical climate means you are as likely to see an African flame tree, a jacaranda or a popcorn bush as a lupin or hollyhock. I was guided by landscape architect Dr Gerald Luckhurst, author of The Gardens Of Madeira.

Here is his pick of the bunch…

Gardens at the iconic Reid's Palace

Belmond Reid's Palace Hotel
This is Madeira's most iconic landmark and Gerald helped design its peaceful and soothing gardens. Paved with pebbles, the terraced garden was the vision of hotel founder William Reid.

'I used to think cacti and succulents were something small boys collected – but since working in this climate, I have realised what beautiful forms they have,' says Gerald, showing me a crown of thorns set off by towering agapanthus.

Quinta da Boa Vista
High above red tiled roofs, a green door in a crumbly wall transports us into Madeira's orchid farm.

Originally a vegetable and then a flower farm, Boa Vista is run by Patrick Garton, whose late father, Group Captain Cecil Garton OBE, was British Consul in Madeira and founded the orchid garden in the Sixties.

Long staircases with Spanish moss and steep paths flanked by hibiscus lead to glasshouses, where rare orchids bloom.

The Botanical Garden is as spectacular as the views if affords of Funchal

Botanical Garden
Behind tall, iron gates in a faded ochre wall lies a handsome old mansion, a late 19th-century cream house with dark-green shutters – today home to a natural history museum.

The garden is divided into five parts and is known for its formal mosaiculture, or carpet bedding, an ornate purple and green patchwork with views over the city of Funchal.

Monte Palace Tropical Garden

Monte Palace Tropical Garden
This lofty garden is reached by cable car. It plummets from a Gothic structure housing African sculpture and an impressive gem and mineral collection. Archways, rails, bridges and pagodas are a vibrant Chinese red, accentuating the lush green around them. Waterfalls tumble into pools and lakes.

Palheiro Gardens at the Casa Velha do Palheiro hotel

Palheiro Gardens
These best represent Madeira's flamboyant soul. They are mainly the work of the Blandy family, who bought the estate in 1885 from the Count of Carvahal.

They were neglected until the Eighties, when Mildred Blandy's Swedish daughter-in-law Christina re-invigorated them. 'Christina likes serendipity, rather than colour plans,' explains Gerald as we walk amid jasmine, calendula, birds of paradise, azaleas, camellias, pansies, dahlias, foxgloves and roses.

First published in the Daily Mail - October 2016

More articles below...

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Magnificent hotels with wall-to-wall history

Magnificent Madeira

There’s a reason the capital is called Fun-chal, says Louise Thomas

God's waiting room

But Harriet Sime finds that a younger crowd is now discovering Madeira's glories

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Clients range from TV companies to Space agencies, investment banks to firms recruiting nurses, doctors and teachers around the world. One saves tigers, elephants and and orang-utans, another clears landmines around the world.

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98% would book again with DialAFlight
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Amazing Business Class Fares

Save on First & Business Class

Save on First & Business Class Fares

Let us extend the personalised service of your booking into your holiday with great prices on business class flights ready to add a touch of class to your trip.

Take the stress out of travelling with a host of wonderful perks on offer from priority check-in and premium lounge access to chauffeur service and fine in-flight dining, plus the supreme comfort of a fully-reclining seat.

Call us to see how much you could save on Business Class flights.

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Airport lounges

Relax in comfort before you fly

Beat the airport chaos. Swap the crowds for a luxury lounge

Airport Lounges from £25

Once you’re through security leave the crowds, kids and chaos behind you with a visit to one of our comfortable airport lounges.

All offer complimentary food, drinks, wifi and newspapers with some also including Fastrack through security. Prices from £25.

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Meet and greet

We'll arrange to meet you on arrival

Avoid the stress with our Meet & Greet service

Use our speedy private transfer service to avoid the stress of finding your way out of the airport terminal and looking for a taxi or bus on arrival.

With our meet and greet service, our driver will meet you in the arrivals hall. They will monitor flight arrival times giving you peace of mind that someone will be waiting for you with a name board even if your flight is late.

They will then assist you with your luggage and organise a private transfer directly to your hotel - there’s no waiting around for other passengers for shared transfers!

So no queues, no delays and less stress.

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Travel Vouchers

Gift of Travel

What could be better than giving someone the Gift of Travel?

Starting at just £50, with no maximum value, DialAFlght's 'Gift of Travel' vouchers make the perfect present for any occasion or celebration.

And it couldn't be simpler to organise, just contact one of our travel experts today and they will organise a personalised travel voucher to be sent out.