We are taking a Rick Steves Tour to the heart of portugal June 6-17, trying to decide if we should leave Porto to Maderia and stay there 2 nights before flying home. When I look at hotels Aqua Nature in Porto Moniz looks like a great place to stay but the distance from FNC airport looks far and do not want to spend to much time just trying to get to the hotel. Would like to book flight out of SJC want a direct flight but noted SFO only at this point making direct flights to Lisbon. Since our trip is next year and Portugal is level 4 for Covid should we wait to January to book flights?
Posted by
Washington DC
27092 posts
I struggle to imagine flying to Madeira for only two nights. It's a gorgeous island with a lot to see. If you cannot extend your trip, I suggest you consider spending those two nights on the mainland so you avoid the flight to Madeira and back.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Sorry, I have no idea what your airport abbreviations mean.
No one knows what the Covid situation will be at the end of September so next June is even harder to call. If your flights are fully refundable, then you could book now if you are happy with the price. One thing I will guarantee is that any flight booking will change before June!
I would stick to the mainland, because (a) it is one less country of Covid risk (b) 2 nights i.e. 1 day isn’t long enough to see anything of Madeira (c) potentially one less flight to worry about being changed and (d) you aren’t going to see much of Portugal in only 11 days of the tour.
Posted by
San Francisco area
1803 posts
SFO = San Francisco International
SJC = San Jose International ( about 50 miles south of SFO)
Please note that there is a difference between nonstop vs direct flights. Nonstops are as the name implies nonstop. Get on in departure city and get off at destination. Direct flights nomenclature is used for a flight that makes one or more stops until it’s final destination. Flight number does not change for each leg.
I don’t believe that SJC has had nonstops to Portugal. The only recent nonstop flights have been to London and Germany (Lufthansa). Perhaps there was a Paris flight as well. Currently there are no nonstops to Europe although it appears that London maybe starting soon.