Timeshare Agents in Funchal, Madeira Video

Lido to Funchal Walk	Funchal Promenade	Cabo Miradouro

If you visit Funchal you can expect to be approached by agents that are promoting various forms of timeshare holiday accommodation in Madeira.

Whilst touting for timeshare business is not prohibited in Madeira, the Regional Secretary of Tourism and Transport does liaise with such providers to help maintain the reputation of Madeira as a quality tourist destination. In particular, timeshare agents should not use aggressive or harassing tactics when engaging with holidaymakers.

In and around Funchal you will see a number of Information Centres. These are, without exception, timeshare purveyors of one kind or another. They usually offer cheap excursion tours in return for your attendance at a timeshare presentation. Sometimes they advertise free maps in order to try and get you into their shop. We have even seen the inducement of a free glass of chilled water!

We have found these Information Centres low key in their approach and have never been worried by them.

Unfortunately, we cannot say the same for some timeshare agents who prowl the favourite tourist haunts.

The hotel district near the Lido area and the walk along the Estrada Monumental into the city centre have proved to be spots where we have encountered unpleasant timeshare agents.

In our experience, those agents that tend to harass you are part of the ex-patriot community. Perhaps they are staying in Madeira for a few months and are just working temporarily and have no interest in the long-term reputation of the island.

Whatever the reason for their rude persistance, you will find that they speak the same language as you as a mother-tounge and will usually present themselves as conducting a survey or some other similar spurious activity.

The worse will follow you down the street, ignoring all your polite rejections, demanding information and pleading with you.

Once, we were even asked if we owned our own house back home and how much money we had saved in the bank. When we refused to answer, we were accused of being ignorant and rude!

The best ploy we have found to deal with these timeshare people is to simply ignore them, walking on without replying or saying anything. Pretend that you haven't understood anything they have said. The don't know otherwise, you could quite easily be a visitor from Uzbekistan and not understand a word of English / German / French or any of the Scandinavian languages.

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