The PROS and CONS of living in Madeira

[@BelaMadeira]

Loved this video, perfectly articulated. In terms of “cons”, I would also add the ubiquitous barking dogs, which has almost become iconic, and the extremely loud motorbikes. Keep up the great work!

[@fanstream]

Great info. I can't get over how well-mannered Phillip is and he always seems to be so happy.

[@PheepSheep]

Aww thank's for saying that :D

[@AngeldeJongTHE1]

Olá linda, thank you for a great video! What you say is so true, thank you for your honesty. I was in Madeira for the first time last year, I stayed at Savoy hotel in Funchal for 6 weeks to explore. It was more like exploring how life is in Funchal. Where I stayed is a really nice area, it was a nice experience. Greetings from the Netherlands Angel xxx Tchau!

[@PheepSheep]

Ola Angel, thank you for such a lovely comment :). It sounds like you had an amazing time exploring Funchal, and I hope you got to try some of the incredible restaurants in that area too!

[@lancelotstewart173]

I like watching your videos and I can see how much you love Madeira, I'm not from the Island myself but my wife is and we travel there frequently and we get around there quite a lot, On the contrary, Madeira has more than two sandy beaches if you are not just counting the white sand in Machico and Calheta, There is Seixal, Prainha and Praia Formosa which is about half sand and half pebble, The only difference is they have black volcanic sand. Just pointing that out. "Still love your videos"😊.

[@noahj.5740]

Interesting, we found groceries to be incredibly affordable to us, but maybe we were focused on the wine, wonderful breads, salads and olives 😂. And we are from a very expensive location in the US so used to ultra high. Fully appreciate the challenge on a Portuguese salary. Aldi would be amazing.

[@TheJoeyP]

Nice list! More videos in future please too!

[@sdbrickoven]

Good afternoon, I live in Madeira also, and I'm from United States, those large cockroaches you're talking about are sewer cockroaches and the reason you see them dead is because they cannot survive outside, if you look around your house and make sure all your sewers are covered or they have a air trap or water trap, they cannot get through. You will have solved your problem, and if they're outside, obviously there's some kind of open sewer somewhere and they come up from there, I hope that helps

[@RuePhoto]

Thanks P, I couldn't have said it better myself 🙂 This was a great list! & you even informed me of things I wasn't aware of! Hope to see you next week & hi Joe if you're reading this! 🤗

[@hungrytoexplore]

I expect to see a collab video or two 😉

[@thevirtualrelaxation]

No cockroaches here in the north! I also live at a fairly high elevation, 460m above sea level, so I think it's too cold for them :)

[@PheepSheep]

You don't have to tell me twice! Already packing my bags xD

[@teodoro1007]

Very useful info for me !! Since 2021 I´m living in Coimbra, but I fell in love with Madeira at the start of 2023. I´ll start 2025 also in Funchal, but I´m considering buying something in Santana near to the Continente

[@Kay-tf9cj]

Haha..this video was VERY real!😂 Thanks for sharing a balanced picture of life in Madeira 😊🙏

[@PheepSheep]

Hahha I had a few things to get off my chest, but absolutely love living here ❤

[@АлександрШохнин-о9н]

Can you do a review of the cost of real estate on the island and the pros and cons of certain locations for purchase?

[@PheepSheep]

Great video recommendation! I’ll definitely give it a shot

[@АлександрШохнин-о9н]

@@PheepSheep I'm really looking forward to it

[@internationalmack6450]

Great video!

[@PheepSheep]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mondarinvino107]

Good observations P. Let me add these: Pro: water temps are so comfortable year round. Cons: cigarette butts and dog poop are too much on the ground

[@PheepSheep]

Spot on!

[@teodoro1007]

One of the comments said of the lack of roaches in the north !! Since 2021 I´m living in Coimbra, but I fell in love with Madeira at the start of 2023. I´ll start 2025 also in Funchal, but I´m considering buying something in Santana near to the Continente

[@thevirtualrelaxation]

I live in São Vicente, which I consider one of the best places to live in the north for several reasons: Climate: Contrary to popular belief, São Vicente is the sunniest village in the north. The surrounding mountains shield it from ocean clouds, providing more sunshine and less wind. Location: It’s just 20 minutes away from the south coast at Ribeira Brava, where a long beach is currently under construction, and 15 minutes from Seixal, home to one of the best beaches in the area. Natural Beauty: The landscape is stunning, with lush greenery, waterfalls, and trails (levadas) perfect for nature lovers. Convenience: A new Continente supermarket is under construction, adding to the convenience of living here. However, there are a few cons to consider: Rain: It can experience heavy rain at times, with occasional periods of rain lasting up to a week, though this is not very common. Cool Nights: Due to the surrounding high mountains, cold air can settle in the valleys at night and in the mornings, making it cooler than coastal areas. In summer, this can be a blessing, as it offers relief from the warm summer nights in Funchal (which stay around 20-23°C). High Humidity: Humidity can be an issue, so investing in a dehumidifier or a wood-burning stove is advisable to help keep the house warm and dry.

[@PheepSheep]

Hey Teodoro, I agree with all the points made by @thevirtualrelaxation , São Vicente is truly an incredible part of the island! I haven’t explored much of Santana beyond the usual attractions, but I think being close to local amenities makes all the difference.

[@teodoro1007]

@@thevirtualrelaxation This notice of the Continente is really important for me. I have a Pingo Doce at 250 meters and an an Auchan at 1000 meters. Well, in Coimbra I have all the rest. Humidity, rain, etc are no problems for me. I lived on a sailboat, in Argentina I went to college and became a widower in 2017, in Hamburg I had a house. In Madeira you have to respect the banana line & the landslides (a big banana tree) Greetings

[@thevirtualrelaxation]

@@teodoro1007 Yes, I agree! I find that Continente has really good products. Wishing you all the best!

[@clivebixby1494]

Thanks for your Video! We live in Gaula on around 300m and also have 3-4 Cockroaches a week. usually they come when darkness sets in and mostly from one of the bathrooms. It might be a sewer problem as someone mentioned before. But we leave all windows open very often... Maybe they just sneak in 😅

[@PheepSheep]

Haha, glad to know I’m not the only one battling cockroaches! They really are sneaky and will squeeze through any gap they can find. At this point, it’s probably best to think of them as unwanted pets xD

[@sevensidesjoinery6370]

Really good video , I was lucky to find an affordable houses on the south, my energy efficiency is D and had a hole in the roof, cockroach are part of the island unfortunately, but not that bad where I live, stray cat is very upsetting, considering it's free to neutering if you book with the Camara, you are right about microclimate I can leave home in Ponta do sol in t-shirt and short and will visit my friend in Monte and will freeze there , i would say up to 7c difference in winter ....I hardly advice to anyone coming here, to learn some skill before moving here hard to find any tradesman, for cheap fly found lots of last minutes deal but expensive if you book in advance

[@salsichalivre5401]

Looks like RIo de Janeiro from Favela.

[@PrisonBreak1234fb]

É exactamente igual.. o aglomerado de casas umas em cima das outras, os gangs da droga, a policia militar, as balas perdidas.. é exactamente tudo igual.. parabéns, quando brasileiro abre a boca, é para falar merda

[@PheepSheep]

@salsichalivre5401 it really does! Brazil looks incredible - I've always wanted to experience it in person

[@marcusdestelle-roe7042]

Thanks for the video!! May you do a comparison on Madeira vs Azores and what made you chose one over the other please (if that was even a choice you ever made at all?)

[@PheepSheep]

Thanks for watching, and I appreciate the video suggestion! I did consider Pico Island for a bit, but in the end, I felt like Madeira was a better fit for me.

[@mariafernandes-pp6bj]

Ola. Living. Madeira. Eu. Em. Ferias. Este. Momento. Na. Madeira.

[@PheepSheep]

Ola Maria :)

[@mcbyrneable]

Pro - the food. Con - the service

[@PheepSheep]

Agreed :)

[@lesleysmith8300]

Re cats, what needs to happen is for the cats to be neutered. Maybe you could get willing people to help and to financially contribute to help with vet bills and hope the vet is willing to reduce the costs. I know other parts of Portugal have done this. Just an idea.

[@sevensidesjoinery6370]

Ribeira Brava council does it for free, also a place in boa Nova does as well.

[@mcbyrneable]

@@sevensidesjoinery6370 please could you share a link to the service if there is one for the Funchal/Monte area?

[@VlogAdlerPT]

Hello beauty . About the parking places, here in continental Portugal I have the same impression, people are so liberal about the spaces they can park. I don't know if it break any law or not, but is that what I see.

[@PheepSheep]

Agreed :)

[@lhl999]

Awwww yeah Portuguese are! Just because I am coming from the similar culture, I love it lol 😅😊😂

[@PheepSheep]

❤️

[@xTrengo]

the price of insularity... it was horribly expensive 30 years ago, nothing has changed :D rough landings used to be much worse, and much more frequent, I believe... it's almost good now!

[@PheepSheep]

xD i like your outlook!

[@michaelgiles59]

Linda como sempre

[@PheepSheep]

Obrigada Michael

[@ritaprofft1603]

Beijos 💐💐💐💐💐😘🙋🏻‍♀️🇧🇷🇩🇰

[@PheepSheep]

Rita! ♥️

[@kwak6509]

I'm surprised the animal rescues don't capture the stray cats and dogs and neuter them. They need to get funding and get the vets onside to help reduce the costs of the operations. This arrangement works great in the UK 🐱🐶

[@TugaTubeOficial]

I live here and we all hate cockroaches 💀

[@PheepSheep]

Glad to know i'm not alone! xD

[@carinajasmins]

I want to thank you for the video you made about Madeira, your observations are relevant. I would just like to leave some observations: Madeira is not a country, it belongs to Portugal. As for hiking, you're right, excrement and paper and other lack of civility are common, especially now that we have more mass tourism, another problem is that some people camp anywhere, something that was unthinkable a few years ago. Another situation that has happened is that many people prefer to rent their houses and apartments to tourists instead of locals, it is happening that many people here do not have the possibility of having their space because they cannot afford it, the prices of houses and apartments to buy have skyrocketed and many people have to live with their family and with too many people in the same house to have a roof over their heads. That is a major problem that in the past didnt exist só bad as today. Thank you for your video, and hope you enjoy living in Madeira.  Feedback

[@awm3852]

The housing situation seems to be what has happened in many places in the UK. I think it is shocking that all people in their own country cannot afford to live there and have to move away, or stay in a cramped house, all whilst thousands of properties are left empty most of the year as holiday homes, and other houses bought up for airbnb and not rented out fully.

[@PheepSheep]

Hi carina, Thank you for sharing your thoughts. It is clear you really care about Madeira. The housing and tourism challenges are definitely tough, and I hope things start shifting to better support locals. I really appreciate your kind words. Madeira is such a special place!

[@bob-007]

first :p

[@PheepSheep]

@@bob-007 yay! 🥳

[@АлександрШохнин-о9н]

I can't imagine living with cockroaches. I'm shaking all over.

[@PheepSheep]

Haha, I probably shouldn’t tell you about the time one fell right on my face xD

[@АлександрШохнин-о9н]

@@PheepSheep Jesus Christ. My nightmare.

[@saragomes6242]

Madeira não é um país, Portugal é que é um país, Madeira é Portugal

[@PheepSheep]

Estou plenamente ciente de que Madeira não é um país, mas sim uma região autónoma de Portugal. Quando falo sobre amar Madeira ou viver 'neste país,' estou me referindo a Portugal como um todo, já que também passei algum tempo em Portugal Continental.

[@pnvgordinho]

Madeira is not a country.

[@PheepSheep]

@@pnvgordinho I know, it’s an autonomous region of Portugal.

[@rjs69]

Who said it was?

[@pnvgordinho]

@@rjs69 She did.

[@teddydavis2339]

Madeira is not a country. Madeira is part of Portugal. I'm sure you know that, but you said that Madeira is a safe country. I hope you learn the language so you can really understand the humor. Welcome back!

[@PheepSheep]

Hey Teddy! I’ve had a few comments like this and was honestly a bit confused at first, as I didn’t realise I’d said Madeira was a country instead of Portugal (oops!). Learning the language is a slow process, but i'm definitely making progress

[@ciprianoneves7246]

Portugal his becoming less safe because of all the immigrants who haved moved in… Duh…

[@PheepSheep]

'Portugal has the highest emigration rate as a proportion of population in the European Union. More than two million Portuguese people (20% of the population) now live outside the country'