Madeira Get Away for Winter

-Paradise!

-Absolutely.

What if you could live abroad in winter for the same cost

as living in the UK...

-This is priced at 595 per month.

-Is that all?

..by renting a piece of paradise?

Unbelievable. Wow, this is amazing.

You could swap sleet and snow

for sun and sand.

-Right, let's go and have a look at some properties.

-Well, absolutely.

Get Away For Winter teams up sun-seekers

with a local property expert...

-Can you see yourself in here?

-I can, yeah.

..to find their perfect rental retreat.

It's like you're on holiday all the time.

Together, they'll leave no stone unturned...

This is unbelievable, isn't it?

..in order to find and fund their dream winter getaway.

This is what I was dreaming of and didn't even think existed.

As you know, UK winters can have Jack Frost nipping at your nose,

but Scottish winters will have you running for your hot water bottle.

In Perthshire, in Scotland, the temperature is tumbling.

Two people hoping to warm up over winter are Diane and Alan Murdoch.

I get so high at Christmas time

and then it's a big slump for me afterwards.

And the weather is horrible and I just need my sunshine.

Bus driver Alan and optician's receptionist Diane

have two children together.

They have now grown up and flown the nest and after 18 years

raising a family, they've decided that now is the time

to shake things up.

My whole purpose in life was working

to make sure the kids had everything they wanted.

Now they've gone, they are living their own lives,

so now it's time for Diane and me to do some of the dreams that we've had

without having to worry about the kids all the time.

Good idea. Now, when they're not working,

this couple like nothing more than

roaming the Scottish countryside on foot.

We try and get away, every day off go hillclimbing

or just generally walking round the lochs.

And he comes back in a happier mood.

If they find their perfect winter getaway,

they are looking forward to continuing their passion

for country walks in a much warmer climate.

I'm looking forward to getting out and climbing in my shorts

and T-shirt rather than hats, gloves and scarves!

We haven't done that for a while!

Diane and Alan have a plan to make their winter dream a reality.

They're selling their Perthshire house and with the proceeds,

Alan has his heart set on buying a smaller house in north-west Scotland.

But in order to do this, he had to strike a deal with Diane.

The premise was always, if he got what he wanted going north,

I would get two months of sunshine for February and March.

This is Diane's part of the deal,

so I'm just happy that Diane wants it to be her part of the deal

as long as I get my house on the West Coast.

-You will.

-I do like compromise.

Now, after selling their house, Diane and Alan think they should

have enough money to buy Alan's dream home

in the north-west of Scotland.

And have enough left over to have Diane's dream

of an annual two-month stay abroad.

So from the proceeds of the sale,

plus savings they have already,

they have set their winter sunshine budget at £1,380 a month.

Now, this will cover all food, travel and entertainment.

£700 of this would be set aside for accommodation

and although they have never been there before,

they've got their heart set on Madeira.

It just looks really nice, a lot to do, a lot to see,

there's quite a bit of history

and outdoors things to keep us occupied.

Diane and Alan are leaving behind the chilly Scottish countryside

for a taste of Madeiran magic.

Madeira is a Portuguese island in the North Atlantic

off the south-west coast of Portugal.

It's a volcanic island and Madeira is famed for its dramatic mountains,

pebble beaches and rugged coastlines.

Its capital, Funchal, on the stunning south coast,

is the centre of all the action, with countless bars and restaurants.

It's a popular holiday destination all year round,

with winter temperatures hovering around 20 degrees.

And looking to find Diane and Alan

their dream winter rental is Cecilia Lewington,

who set up her property business on

the island with her husband Alan ten years ago.

The reason Madeira attracts people the most is obviously the weather,

the food, the beauty of the island.

Cecilia, Alan and their daughter Alicia have two huskies,

Sasha and Dallas, and they enjoy nothing more than long walks

to take in everything that Madeira has to offer.

Here in Madeira, we have all sorts of properties - like two-bedroom,

three-bedroom apartments, or little houses,

and they are mainly in the south of the island.

We have some properties in the high regions,

because people do like also to go away and stay in the mountains

or in the very remote, peaceful places.

Back in the UK, Diane and Alan are waiting to video call Cecilia

to let her know what they're looking for in a winter rental, and -

as only one of them will be joining her in the search -

which one she'll be meeting.

-Hi, Cecilia, I'm Diane.

-Hi, Cecilia, I'm Alan.

-Pleased to meet you.

-Nice to meet you, too, Diane and Alan.

I am here to try and help you find the right property for you.

Do you have an area in Madeira in specific?

We're completely in your hands.

Obviously the areas that are most looked for are the south.

The north of the island is a little bit more temperamental

in the weather, so if you want to escape your winter,

then let's make sure you see a place where...

I can't guarantee the weather, but we'll do our best.

So the sunny south coast it is,

but Diane and Alan need more than just sunshine

to make their stay perfect.

What type of property are you looking for?

We want to live like a local,

so we don't expect anything, like, too fancy.

Preferably two bedrooms, in case our children come over.

-OK.

-Diane and Alan would like to be in an area where they can experience

an authentic Madeiran lifestyle,

but preferably within walking distance to local amenities.

I'd rather not drive, cos I'm a bus driver for a living

and I want to be away from driving for at least two months.

So if you're not hiring a car,

then you need to be close to supermarkets and restaurants.

-Yeah.

-Yes.

I would like something with a sea view if possible, or mountains.

I was going to say or mountains. Alan loves his mountains.

We hillclimb quite a lot.

Oh, OK, so you've come to the right place.

There's plenty of mountains to climb.

-Good, good.

-Apart from a mountain or sea view,

Diane and Alan don't have any specific requirements

for the type of property they will be staying in.

Do you feel that a swimming pool is important or not important or...?

No.

-What is your budget?

-It was 700 a month, wasn't it?

Yeah, we're looking at around 700 a month, probably be our maximum.

And is there any room to manoeuvre on that budget?

It's depending on how much we get the house sold for,

so, I mean, there might be a slight flexibility, but not...

-Not a lot.

-Not a lot, no.

-Oh, OK.

That's why we've ruled out the swimming pool.

Who will be coming over physically to do the search?

-I'll be coming over to see you.

-Oh, that'll be nice.

-I look forward to meeting you.

-Thanks again.

-Thanks.

-Bye.

-Bye.

-Bye.

Now that I've spoken to Cecilia,

I'm looking forward to it even more.

I think she's very friendly.

I think I'll get on really well with her when I'm there.

Due to the uncertainty of the house sale,

Cecilia will be working with quite a tight budget of £700 a month,

which might not get Diane and Alan a swimming pool,

but they are hoping it will afford them a two-bedroom property

in a traditional area,

with good access to local amenities and transport routes.

Now, while Alan gets the house ready to sell, Diane, I'm afraid,

has got the better end of the deal.

She will be enjoying the sun,

sampling Madeira wine and finding them the perfect winter getaway.

In the magically mountainous island of Madeira,

Diane has made the four-hour journey from Scotland to Madeira Airport,

otherwise known as Cristiano Ronaldo Airport,

because the famous footballer was born on the island.

A new day has dawned and she's soaking up the sunshine.

It is amazing, feeling some sunshine on me.

Getting from -8, scraping the car when I left, to this,

it's just beautiful.

Cecilia's on her way to pick up Diane and get the search underway.

What they were looking for was close to facilities in a way,

so that they wouldn't have to hire a car,

but not too much in a tourist area.

Yeah, so we were able to select a few properties for them

and I'm looking forward to meeting

Diane and show those properties to her.

-Hi, Diane. Lovely to see you.

-Nice to see you.

-Nice to finally meet you.

-Nice to see you in person.

Nice to meet you, too, in person. So, are you OK?

-Have you settled in OK?

-Yes, I've loved it.

I had a nice walk around today, got a feel for the place.

So are you ready to go and see some properties?

-Absolutely.

-Let's go, then.

Over the next few days, Cecilia will show Diane

four properties centred around Madeira's stunning south coast.

The landscaping in Madeira is very dramatic, isn't it?

-Uh-huh.

-Cliffs and falesias.

-All the hills are going to keep me fit.

-Yes! Yes.

Diane will video call Alan back in the UK

to show him around each property and give him a little taste

of the Madeiran lifestyle.

I was chatting with Alan earlier

and I didn't want to tell him how lovely it was,

because I know he is so cold and it's miserable at home.

Right, Diane, now we're going to take you to the first property.

It's an area called Canico de Baixo, which is east of Funchal.

Only a 15-minute drive east of the capital Funchal,

Canico de Baixo is a quiet coastal community,

which forms part of the larger city of Canico.

It has a lot of restaurants and cafes

and a very good bus service as well.

The town extends into the surrounding hillsides,

where you're met by the Quinta Splendida Botanical Gardens,

home to hundreds of tropical plants.

Oh! That's like the one in Rio, isn't it?

Yes, it's a smaller scale of the Rio de Janeiro one.

En route, they are passing the towering statue of Christ the King,

with a viewpoint offering sweeping ocean views.

You're selling this well. It sounds perfect.

With good public transport routes,

it's perfect for Diane and Alan's car-free time in Madeira.

So is it mainly residential or is it a touristy place for holiday-makers?

No, it's mainly residential. Mainly residential.

Good, not too many parties, then.

No, no. Well, I can't guarantee that!

Local people do party as well!

Well, we'll invite you if we have one.

Oh, that's lovely, thank you.

I think Diane's ready to party, although she should save

the celebrations until after she's seen the apartment.

This stylish two-bedroom apartment has been tastefully furnished,

with modern colours and designer lighting.

-Oh, it's nice and bright.

-Yes.

The master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom and has plenty of storage.

Oh, lots of storage as well. That's good.

The living area opens out onto a private balcony,

with views right across the sea and banana plantations.

Oh, I'm so glad you can see the sea from here.

The area gives Diane and Alan the traditional life they were after,

but at what price?

-So what do you think?

-I don't know Madeira well, I've never been here,

but what I've seen here is really nice.

Hopefully within our budget.

At the moment, we are able to do for £690 a month.

-Oh, ten under.

-And the good thing is, it includes all bills.

Utility bills for an apartment of this type in winter will be in the

region of £135 a month, so without those to worry about,

the apartment comes under Diane and Alan's £700 budget.

Back in the UK, Alan has been busy-busy getting the house ready

to sell, while standing by to hear

if Diane is any closer to finding them one to rent.

When you are used to someone for 25 years,

when they're not there for a few days, you do miss them,

so I'm looking forward to speaking to her

and hopefully finding somewhere

that we can carry on with our plans for the future.

-Hey, Hubby.

-How are you?

-I'm good.

-Good.

-OK, can you see now?

I can see a wall.

OK, that's fine, that's the right way.

Here is the start of the living room, lounge, dining area.

It's very '70s.

Well, yeah, but it's retro and it's quite homey as well, isn't it?

Yeah. So, where exactly is it?

We're ten minutes east of Funchal by car.

OK.

Well, it went really well. I think Diane liked it very much.

She was surprised at the size of the apartment and the view

and everything was just something

that she really liked and the veranda.

It looks a nice view from the windows.

It is, it's a banana plantation over there.

Free bananas in the morning!

You go steal them, I'm not doing it!

I think overall it went really well, so at the moment,

she is showing Alan and we'll see what he says.

-What do you think so far?

-The only thing that concerns me slightly is,

it's a bit more modern than I was hoping for.

I can imagine myself there.

I'd still like something a little bit more traditional

if it's possible, but I'd be quite happy to jump on a plane right now

-and come and join you right now.

-Oh, honey, I wish you could.

-Honestly.

-Right, love, I think I've seen everything I need to see,

so you send me some pics and have fun and I'll speak to you later on.

Bye.

Well, Diane, how did it go with your call with Alan?

It went really well.

He said if he could, he would hop on a plane and come and join us.

Oh, that's good.

The one thing he said was a negative

that he expected it to be more traditional.

-Mm-hm.

-But I know we are limited to what we can expect for our budget.

Good to see Diane again.

She can tell she's really loved the apartment.

She is looking really excited.

Just slightly too modern for what I was thinking about.

So, along with the traditional area,

it sounds as if Alan has his heart

set on a traditional property as well.

Available to rent for £690 a month including bills,

the area of Canico de Baixo gives them the authentic Madeira lifestyle

they want, while still being a short

bus journey from the capital, Funchal.

Diane loved the modern interior,

but Alan has his own opinions.

Cecilia has something more traditional to show them next,

but do Diane and Alan actually have different hopes

for their dream property?

For an island with over 60 miles of coastline,

Madeira offers surprisingly few sandy beaches.

Instead, you'll be met with grey

pebbles and volcanic black basalt stones.

To help boost tourism, some artificial beaches

have been constructed by importing thousands

of tonnes of sand from Morocco.

Madeira has always been a destination

for outdoor activities

and that's exactly what Diane and Alan are on the lookout for.

Back in the UK, Alan is very busy with some indoor activities,

getting the house ready for potential buyers

and he's had some good news.

I got a phone call this morning and somebody would like to come along

and view the house, so hopefully that's the beginning of the process

of selling it and moving on.

Diane and Alan are hoping to sell their three-bedroomed house for

around £138,000 and downsize to a two-bedroom cottage

on the West Coast.

The UK is facing a downsizing boom with over 300,000 people opting for

smaller lodgings in the last 12 months alone.

And when it comes to downsizing, I'm afraid it's out with the old.

Where do I start?

There is a lot of stuff in here.

A lot we've gathered up over the years.

I think it's time for a stock take.

Having a look at all this stuff

is really beginning to make it feel real.

I'll be sad to leave here,

but it's another chapter in our story.

Back in Madeira,

Diane and Cecilia are on their way to the next property.

And Diane is just getting the good news from home.

We've just had a text from our property agent

saying there is someone interested in viewing our house later,

so fingers crossed.

It is one step closer, hopefully.

With the first property giving Diane her dream modern abode,

Cecilia now has something in mind

which might be more Alan's cup of tea.

Now we're going to Calheta.

It's west of Funchal.

It takes us about 45 minutes to drive there.

It's a very nice village.

Just over 20 miles along the south coast from Funchal...

..Calheta was first colonised in the 1500s,

making it one of the oldest inhabited parts of the island.

Quite nice restaurants, local restaurants.

A handful of local bars and restaurants line the picturesque

marina and it even boasts one of the

few man-made sand beaches on the island.

Very sunny, it is less windy than some parts of the island.

Diane and Alan would have everything they need on your doorstep.

A bit more remote as well.

Except their doorstep isn't exactly on the beach-front.

High in the hills above Calheta...

We can see the sea, that's always a good start.

And look what you can have for breakfast.

-Avocados.

-Avocados.

-Couldn't get much fresher.

Alan did want traditional and that's exactly what he would get.

This stunning two-bedroom converted farmhouse features a large open-plan

kitchen living area with an indoor barbecue.

It works as a barbecue and also a fireplace.

-To heat up in the winter.

-I love that.

-You can also cook in it.

The staircase with original stone walls leads up to two large double

bedrooms with views right out over the ocean.

-There are worse views to wake up to.

-Of course there is.

The outside space is more of an allotment than a garden,

growing fresh fruit and vegetables which Diane and Alan would be very

welcome to help themselves to.

That is the fruit from the garden,

so you can have fresh fruit every day.

It gives Alan the taste of traditional Madeiran life

he's been looking for.

But is it too traditional for Diane?

That's nice.

As far as restaurants here, this is more remote.

This is more of a local community,

therefore there aren't so many restaurants available,

you would have to get the bus or taxi to go down closer to the sea,

where the restaurants and the hotels are.

There is more to think about with this one, isn't there?

-Yes.

-Because it is beautiful. And I like the remoteness.

-But, again, the remoteness could be the one drawback to it.

-Yes.

-We managed to stay within the budget.

-OK.

It is £545 per month for the property.

That's good, that's still within our budget.

At £545 per month, it is one of the few traditional properties Cecilia

could find within their £700 budget.

Prices for traditional properties nearer the sea start to skyrocket,

but will the remote location bother Alan?

-Hello, Wee Wifey.

-Hey, Hubby.

-How are you doing?

-I'm good. You?

Good, yeah. Very excited about seeing the next property.

So we are more south which means it would be a bit more sunny

and it is just as well you like going up hills,

because we are up a hill.

OK. Is that vines to the left, grapevines to the left of you?

There's grapevines, potatoes,

chillies, everything is growing here.

This is the idea I had my head, something like this.

-I thought so.

-It is looking good so far.

It went really well, the viewing,

because it is more what Alan was looking for,

the traditional furniture and decoration.

I like that you are going up and you can see the natural stone.

It is lovely, isn't it?

Quite impressed with what I have seen so far.

To be in a more traditional home and in a quiet area, you have to

compromise on the things you would need and expect to be within walking

distance like restaurants, supermarkets.

I think that looks really, really nice,

so what is the downside, travelling-wise?

What if we wanted to go for a night out?

You would need to go into Calheta down at the bay.

That's fine, as long as it is not too far away,

that it's going to eat into our budget.

OK, hon, so if there is nothing else you need,

I'll just sign off for now.

That's fine, go and explore and find all the decent places there are.

-OK, hon, love you.

-Bye-bye, love you too.

How did you go with your call with Alan?

Yeah, he really liked it, I think it was more what he had in mind as a

traditional Madeiran house.

He was very impressed.

I will check to see what the buses are like and the amenities

but I think you have to weigh up the pros and cons,

because it is such an idyllic, quiet place.

There you go. Property two has given Alan exactly what he wanted,

but there are question marks surrounding the location.

Available to rent for £545 a month,

it's as far from a tourist area as you get

and comes with everything Diane and Alan would need.

But, without a car, they are limited

to the few amenities around them.

There has been a difference of opinion

over the last two properties, so Cecilia has something lined up that

might just impress them both.

Diane and Alan's search has focused

on the desirable southern part of the island.

During the low season, the accommodation on offer across

all budgets can dramatically lower in price,

giving winter wanderers a lot more bang for their buck.

At the higher end of the market is this stunning oceanfront cottage

located in the old town of Funchal.

It features a private swimming pool

and ocean front garden where guests can even

spot dolphins from the comfort of their sun lounger.

It is available to rent for just under £900 a week in winter,

down from £1,700 in peak summer months.

Or this recently refurbished four-bedroom villa,

featuring a spacious and bright reception living room.

The private pool and outdoor dining area offers breathtaking views over

the Atlantic Ocean.

It is available to rent in summer for £2,290 per week,

which drops to a surprising £815 a week in the low season.

As well as the cut-price rates,

one of the things Diane and Alan

were hoping to take advantage during their time

in Madeira is the opportunity to live like a local.

Today, Diane is going on a mountain levada walk to explore

the more remote parts of the island.

Hi, I am Diane.

-Hi, I am Leonardo.

-Hi, Leonardo.

-Welcome.

I am going to be your guide today, welcome to the national park.

Diane and husband Alan just love their weekend walks in Scotland

and hope to continue their rambles if they make their winter getaway.

-The weather is lovely.

-It does look good.

-Are you ready?

-Absolutely.

-OK, let's go then.

They are ready all right.

Leonardo is a walking guide in Madeira

and is keen to share with Diane an increasingly popular way

to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

There are lots of walking associations

that on weekends go walking and discover the island,

discover the nature.

So if we were here for a couple of

-months, is that something we could do for a short time?

-Of course you can.

This path follows the route of ancient irrigation channels,

known as levadas,

originally built in the 16th century to divert water from the

wetter north to the more populated and farmed south of the island.

There is now an ever-increasing network

of over 1,200 miles of canals.

That is the first role that the levadas played, irrigation.

The levadas are a total feat of engineering,

each one is the perfect gradient to

allow the flow of water to reach its chosen destination.

Today, they are also used to generate electricity.

Most of the water does not come from rain itself,

it comes from this.

And that's the beauty of this forest, it is a water maker.

The beautiful path winds through the UNESCO-protected forestry park

back down to the village where Leonardo's friends

are preparing a traditional Madeiran meal, known locally as espetadas.

Espetada is meat on the skewer.

-The meat is marinated with garlic...

-I love garlic.

-..if you love garlic.

-I do.

-This is...

Sounds good. Espetada is cooked in thick salt, which sticks

to the meat, adding to the flavour.

When it is done, the salt is simply knocked off.

We will knock this out now. Look.

No salt at all now.

Here we are. So enjoy your meat.

Oh, that marinade is lovely.

-My husband would love this.

-It's good.

It looks as if Diane and Alan have

picked the right place to continue their wilderness wonders.

All they need now is a property.

Back with the search, Diane and Cecilia are on their way

to property number three.

We are back in the tunnel.

Due to its uneven landscape,

Madeira has a vast network of roads carved

right into the mountains.

There are more than 45 miles of tunnels on the island

and this number is ever growing.

Tunnels have played a vital role in the island's development

for hundreds of years, starting with the levadas.

The next property is an apartment, it is in Garajau.

Garajau village belongs to the city of Canico.

The village of Garajau is only a 50-minute drive

along the coast from Funchal.

Perched on the hillside with dramatic views,

it is a quiet village with lots and lots going on.

As far as, for example, you not wanting to hire a car -

so everything is there within a few minutes walk.

Diane and Alan could take their pick from the many local bars and

restaurants serving traditional cuisine.

It will take you about ten minutes

to walk from the apartment to the cable car.

Opened in 2007, the Garajau cable car runs from the village

to the beach, very popular with divers

and those who just want to enjoy a quiet drink by the shore.

It has a nice fish restaurant down there, a couple of cafes.

With easy access to some of Madeira's most famous levada walks,

Diane and Alan could be out hiking every single day.

Diane and Alan have had different opinions about the last two

properties, but Cecilia is hoping they will both like this property,

because it offers something that

they didn't think they could even get for their budget.

The apartment we are going to see has two bedrooms, two bathrooms,

it is a bit more modern and it has a little swimming pool as well.

-Oh, excellent! So good.

-Yeah. It's really good.

Excitement! Now, the apartment may be more modern,

but with a swimming pool on offer,

Diane might be just ready to dive in.

This brand-new third-floor apartment

is kitted out with stylish furniture and black leather sofas.

It is close to the kitchen, so you have a nice,

spacious dining room table.

With two large double bedrooms and a separate modern kitchen,

complete with everything Diane and Alan would need.

I like a separate room, you can make a mess and close the door,

-worry about it tomorrow.

-Yes.

It is the only property Cecilia has shown Diane

that has its own communal pool area.

-Diane, the only thing left to show you is the balcony.

-OK.

Let's have a look.

The living area opens out onto a private balcony with

dining space and those ocean views.

This one is still within your budget

or just slightly over, it's £722 a month,

but that includes all the bills as well.

If we can put it in comparison to any of the others,

I don't know if any of the others for that budget would have a pool.

At £722 per month, the apartment is

just tipping over Diane and Alan's £700 budget.

It is a bit more money, but will the pool make a big splash with Alan?

-How are you?

-I am fine, how are you?

Good. I will just turn you round so you can start having a view.

-Oh, there's a pool.

-There is a pool.

-Good start.

-It is a bit of a bonus having a pool.

-Yes. I think so.

We will step in and see what...

Before I do, have you cleaned up the house for the viewing tomorrow?

I have been working my fingers to the bone, the house is spotless.

You're such a bad liar.

It has got a big plus in this apartment building,

it has a swimming pool,

that's a bonus for their budget.

Next, we will head into the dining area of the lounge.

I think, on the property, Diane's reaction was less positive.

I think it is because of the decor, it does not have the cosiness.

To be honest, it reminds me of a London studio flat type of thing.

It is funny you should say that,

because that is one of the pictures there.

I don't know what Alan's reaction is,

but, from Diane, I feel like it is probably not one of their choices.

So what do you think overall?

when you first walk through it, it just looked like a hotel complex.

-Yeah.

-It is a nice flat and that,

but it is just not the sort of thing we're looking for.

I don't think so either, honey.

I am glad we're on the same page with this one.

-So you agree with me for once.

-Hey, it has to happen!

So just keep looking and I will speak to you soon.

-Absolutely.

-Bye-bye.

Diane, so what was Alan's reaction to this property?

-It wasn't that good.

-Yes?

He thought it could have been a London apartment somewhere.

It is not often we agree on anything,

but we have agreed that this isn't right for us.

At last, Cecilia wanted to show Diane and Alan something

they would agree on and, well, she did just that.

Available to rent for £722 a month,

it showed Diane and Alan a location where they could be

comfortable and have the added bonus of a pool.

But the apartment wasn't quite what they had pictured

for their time in Madeira.

Cecilia has one more property to show them and fingers crossed

they will agree again,

but this time for the right reasons.

One of the big draws for Brits living abroad is enjoying the sun

for a lower cost of living than in the UK

and Madeira, whatever the season, is no different.

Utilities here are roughly 15% less than they are in the UK.

And indulging in a lovely three-course meal

will set you back about half the price of the British equivalent.

Diane and Alan just need to find the right property

and Cecilia has one more to show them.

Now we are going to Madalena do Mar.

Madalena do Mar, it's between Funchal and Calheta.

It is a nice little village right by the seafront.

Around 18 miles west of Funchal on the south coast,

Madalena do Mar is a traditional Madeiran fishing village

with a beautiful promenade running alongside the pebble beach.

The usual things you have around the village

like a little church, bar or cafe.

The promenade offers a string of cafes, restaurants

and even a karaoke bar, which would suit me.

All surrounded by the biggest banana plantation on the island.

And we just passed a bus stop, so

-that's good to know.

-Yes, that's good.

Definitely a traditional feel, with good public transport links.

And a wealth of mountain walks nearby.

Diane and Alan should hopefully agree that the area is perfect,

but it is all about the property.

This is Edificio Sol e Mar.

-And the apartment we are going to see is the penthouse.

-Excellent!

-Good.

-What a good start.

-Let's go.

This impressive two-bedroom apartment features an open-plan

kitchen living area with a separate dining room.

-Shall we go and see the bedrooms?

-Yes, please. I am loving it so far.

-OK.

-The master bedroom offers floor to ceiling sliding patio doors

leading out onto the balcony.

-It's lovely!

-It's very nice. Very fresh and light.

The massive outdoor terrace actually has more floor space

than the apartment itself,

with breathtaking views of the ocean and the mountains to the rear.

I mean the view is...

Wow.

From the terrace, the penthouse looks more like a beach hut

than an apartment.

I don't want just two months, I could live here.

And Cecilia is hoping Diane and Alan will agree that

it is the perfect place for them.

With the terrace and the mountain and the sea,

have you still managed to keep it in our budget?

Yes, we have.

It is £700 a month and it includes all the bills,

-which is really good.

-Everything is covered.

-Everything is covered.

-You did well.

But we have to speak to Alan now and see his opinion.

And I know he is going to want something traditional.

We might end up having an argument over this one.

Oh, dear, dear, get ready for the sparks.

At £700 a month, it is bang on budget.

And Diane is ready to fight her corner,

but who will emerge victorious?

-How are you?

-Good. We are penthouse.

-Penthouse!

-I'm trying to not be excited.

I can see you are just bursting at the moment.

I think she liked this one the most,

because of the big terrace and the sound of the waves

and being so close to the beach.

Can you turn around and look as if we are waking up in the morning?

-That is me lying on the bed and that is our view.

-That's amazing.

If it was just up to her, Diane would have chosen this one to stay.

That whole top side is all ours?

-Yep.

-You could play football up there.

You would lose it, it's pretty windy.

I get the feeling you're loving this, aren't you?

I am loving this.

If Alan is quite strong about having a more traditional property,

then obviously I don't think he'll be as keen as Diane on this one.

What do you think so far?

I will be honest with you, I'd...

It's not exactly what I was looking for, however...

-I know.

-..I like the views.

So although it has not grown on me as much as the more traditional one,

I would still be quite happy staying there,

cos I can see that you love it.

Well, as long as you are open to it,

because I know it's not what you wanted,

and I would never do anything to make you unhappy.

No, no, I know, I am open to it.

I just love this view, waking up in this room every morning,

I think it would just make us happy.

That is all I needed to know.

-OK. I love you, hon.

-Love you too, bye-bye.

-Bye, Hubby.

So, Diane, how did it go with Alan?

It went well, but not as well as I hoped,

he didn't love it as much as I did.

How important do you think it is, having a property,

a traditional Madeiran home for Alan?

I think it is important to Alan to have a traditional one.

To be honest, I would as well, but when I saw that it was...wow.

I think it's perfect.

Available to rent for £700 per month, it's Diane's dream home.

Alan hasn't given up yet though on the idea of a more traditional life,

so this couple have a lot to talk about.

Thanks to Cecilia, Diane has witnessed the majesty of Madeira.

-Oh, yum, yum.

-Wow.

Tomorrow, the sunglasses will be packed away

until the couple can decide between them

which property would be perfect for them both.

-Hello!

-Hey, Hubby.

-Hello, Cecilia, how are you doing?

Very well, very well.

From the very start, it was clear that it wasn't going to be an easy

search, with Diane falling for one property...

I know it was a more modern one,

but I did like the views from that one.

..and Alan falling for another.

It just seemed to be perfect in every way.

You would have to look after the vegetables.

I would have no problem doing that at all.

LAUGHTER

One of them will have to compromise and, fingers crossed,

they will get the one they want.

We can't say a yes to anything until we get the house sold,

but whether we do it this year or the next,

we are definitely coming here again, because it is beautiful.

-Take care.

-Love you.

-Nice talking to you, Alan.

-You too, Cecilia.

-Bye-bye.

-Bye, Hubby.

-See you soon.

Fed up with their freezing winter walks,

Diane and Alan wanted some warmth.

I just need my sunshine.

With Alan staying behind to get the house ready to sell,

it was up to Diane to find their dream winter rental.

-So are you ready to see some properties?

-Absolutely.

The Canico apartment impressed

Diane with its stylish modern interior.

-It's nice and bright.

-Yes.

But Alan clearly had something else in mind.

I would still like something a bit more traditional, if possible.

Cecilia showed Alan his ideal authentic Madeiran home,

but Diane wasn't sure how practical the location was.

The remoteness could be the one

-drawback to it, at the same time.

-Yes.

Cecilia hoped she would get Diane and Alan to agree

on the Garajau apartment with this communal swimming pool,

but they could only agree that it wasn't for them.

It's just not the sort of thing we're looking for.

I don't think so either, honey.

And when it came to the Madalena do Mar penthouse,

Diane was ready to move in, but

that would mean Alan giving up on his traditional dream.

-I think it would just make us happy.

-That's all I needed to know.

Diane and Alan have had a glimpse of island living -

the question is did they manage to sell their house,

pack their bags and make the move to Madeira?

-Hello.

-Hi!

As you can see, we are still in Perthshire,

living out there was based on us selling this house,

and unfortunately it is still in the market.

In Madeira, there were two.

Alan liked the one that was very remote,

the converted farmhouse, and then when we saw the one I liked,

the penthouse one, it looked beautiful.

As soon as the house gets sold, we will be straight on to...

-Cecilia.

-Yes.

..and just try and get there as quick as we possibly could.

We know it will happen. If you want something enough

and you try hard enough for it, you'll get it eventually.

-Goodbye.

-Bye!

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