WHY IT RATES: Madeira Island represents a significant expansion of the brands’ travel offerings in Portugal. --Janeen Christoff, TravelPulse Managing Editor

Pleasant Holidays and its luxury brand, Journese, launched a new destination in Europe with the addition of Madeira Island, Portugal, featuring a collection of 4- and 5-star hotels and resorts. Pleasant Holidays & Journese offer 23 countries in Europe with over 750 hotels, river & ocean cruises plus trains.

Madeira Island represents a significant expansion of the brands’ travel offerings in Portugal, which total more than 30 hotels and resorts in Lisbon, Algarve, Cascais and Porto, along with Douro River cruises and Mediterranean or ocean cruises departing from Porto and Lisbon. Azores Airlines flies nonstop weekly from New York – JFK to Madeira Funchal (FNC), and is also easily accessible from Lisbon, Porto, Paris, Madrid and major European capitals. Commissionable airport transfers and sightseeing excursions are available as well. Pleasant Holidays and Journese highly recommend travel protection coverage for international travel with up to 100% commission protection and cancel-for-any-reason options to protect travelers’ vacation investment.

“The picturesque island of Madeira is a popular spot to include in any Portugal vacation for couples and families,” said Jack E. Richards, President and CEO. “With a subtropical climate and affordable cost of living, its appeal is made even stronger by the favorable exchange rates Americans currently enjoy in relation to the Euro. Travelers can combine Madeira Island with visits to Lisbon and Porto for a unique Portuguese experience.”

A territory of Portugal, Madeira is located in the North Atlantic Ocean and boasts a mild, spring-like climate year-round. Best known for the fortified wine that shares its name, Madeira is volcanic with stunning landscapes, rugged cliffs, exotic flora and a variety of water and mountain sports. Locals celebrate the Flower Festival annually in April and May, highlighting the vibrant colors with a mural of flowers.

The following hotels and resorts in Madeira are available for online bookings through Pleasant Holidays and Journese: Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Madeira; Royal Savoy - Ocean Resort; Saccharum Hedonist Design Resort and Savoy Palace - The Leading Hotels of the World. Additionally, Pleasant Holidays offers Calheta Beach All-Inclusive and NEXT by Savoy Signature.

Cruise options in Portugal are plentiful and include Douro River itineraries and Mediterranean and ocean cruises departing from Porto and Lisbon, aboard Norwegian Cruise Line, Scenic Luxury Cruises, Emerald Waterways and AmaWaterways. Pre- and post-cruise stays are available including transfers from the traveler’s hotel to the cruise terminal or between the airport and hotel.

SOURCE: Pleasant Holidays press release.