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🌴 Welcome to Madeira.life 🌊
Your home in Seixal, Madeira

👋 About Us

Hi! We’re Stuart & Faye, your hosts here at Madeira.life. You can read more about our story on www.madeira.life

We also welcome amazing volunteers who help us keep things running. Right now, you’ll see Kata, Quincy and Gabby around the house — don’t hesitate to say hi!

🚗 Getting here & Parking

  • We have a dedicated page on the website with directions & a map to find the hostel, where to park, and information on public transport options.  

  • Onsite there's just 3 parking spaces - these are reserved for the private rooms (pre-booking required).

  • Important: the road is steep & narrow with a sharp turn into the lot.

  • If you’re unsure, park at the top of the road in free street parking and walk down (less than 100m).

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VERY IMPORTANT WHEN STREET PARKING - 

Please take care to only park in designated spaces. PARKING IN FRONT OF ACCESS / OUTSIDE OF DESIGNATED SPACES WILL VERY LIKELY RESULT IN A FINE, TICKET OR TOWING!

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                                                 Example of where not to park ....

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⚠️Important Bits

  • Check in - 15:00 to 21:00. Please contact us if you plan to arrive after 9pm. Feel free to arrive earlier than 15:00, leave a bag in the co-working room, and explore Seixal. 

  • Checkout is at 10:00 - you are welcome to relax on the terrace until 12:00 but please be prompt in leaving your room as we will begin stripping beds and preparing for next guests at 10:00. 

  • Smoking - the guesthouse and hostel are non-smoking. This includes the private balconies and the wooden decking.  There is a table and chairs for smokers on the lower gravel terrace.

  • No drugs are allowed on the premises - anyone found with drugs will be asked to leave

  • QUIET! - From 23:00 until 7:00 is absolute silence - Please respect other guests who may be sleeping prior to an early start for a sunrise hike.

  • Breakfast - is available for €10 per person.  This need to be pre-booked at least 48hrs in advance!

📶 Wi-Fi & Tech

        Network: Madeira.Life          Password: naturalpools

​🔑 Smart Locks → Your code opens the main door & your room, allowing the option of self check-in.

      Using the smart Locks → tap the middle of the keypad to wake it up. Enter your code, not forgetting #  And magically the door unlocks. Any issues, call us!

      WhatsApp group - we have a little WhatsApp group for the MadeiraLife community, a great place to meet other guests - share tips, organise hikes and lift sharing.

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🛏️ Housekeeping

  • Laundry: Sorry, guests cannot use the laundry machines. We can't make exception so please don't ask - the machines are running all day washing hostel bedding and towels.  There is an excellent self service laundrette in the Continental supermarket in Sao Vicente.

  • Bins & Food: Please DO NOT leave unsealed food or rubbish in your rooms - or you will awaken to ants in your room. Hence, we only have bins in bathrooms. Please use the kitchen bin for general waste.

  • Apartment 1: This room has a kitchenette - we will pop in daily to empty the bins and remove any waste.

  • Towels & Bedding: As a small hostel we don't offer daily room cleaning.  For stays of over 7 nights, rooms will be cleaned and towels replaced every 4/5 days.  If you would like an extra room clean and/or additional towel(s), these can be provided at a small charge.

  • Guest laundry: Our laundry room is generally very busy with guesthouse bedding, so please don't be offended when we direct you to the public machines at the Continente supermarket in Sao Vicente :-)

  • Bathrooms: Just ask if you’d like your bathroom bin emptied.

  • Sand: An outdoor shower (behind the laundry) is perfect for washing off sand & mud. You’ll also find a spot to hang wet clothes and shoes.

🚶 Exploring Seixal

Our village is small, peaceful and traditional.  We absolutely love it.  If you’re a fan of the great outdoors, you’ll be spoilt for choice. We have 3 natural swimming pools, a world famous black sand beach and spectacular hiking to Chao de Ribera, and the very adventurous can hike all the way to Fanal forest.  We also have a small supermarket and some fabulous lookout points.  Our fancy new Seixal guide includes all these, plus the small selection of local bars & restaurants.    

The village is very quiet in the mornings and evenings, getting busy with day visitors through the middle of the day, so get to the pools and beach early and have them all to yourself. *our closest pools charge €2.50 entry after about 10am.

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Seixal is crisscrossed with narrow lanes & small pedestrian roads. Please respect our neighbours' privacy — many live in houses right on these tracks.

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🐕 Local dogs: You’ll see “self-walking” dogs. They’re not strays — just locals out on their daily wander.
🐈 Cats & Dogs: Please don’t feed them.

🗺️ Explore Like a Local

We’ve made you a custom Seixal map with:

  • Restaurants & cafés

  • The black sand beach, natural pools & scenic viewpoints

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🏖️ Towels & Extras

  • House towels → stay indoors only

  • Beach towels → available to rent in the Honesty Shop (co-working room)

🛒 Honesty Shops

We run on trust 💚 You’ll find:

  • Co-working room → beach towels, earplugs, head torches, walking poles, umbrellas and more to rent or buy

  • Laundry room fridge → beers & wine 🍷

  • Laundry room → yoga mats, weights, etc. (free to use, but use at your own risk. We accept no liability for any injuries)

👩‍🍳 Kitchens

  • Both kitchens are closed daily from 11:00 to 13:00 for cleaning.

  • Fully equipped & shared by all

  • Each guest gets a fridge cubby + dry food cubby with their room/bunk number

  • Essentials provided: tea, instant coffee, sugar, oil, bags, paper towels, washing up liquid 

  • Please respect your fellow guests by doing your washing up and leaving the kitchens how you found them 

  • Let us know if anything runs out!

💻 Co-working & Fun

  • Desks for work, strong Wi-Fi

  • Puzzles, board games & rainy day fun 

  • World Map Puzzle Challenge → try it, record your time in the leader board

💬 We’re Here For You

We live in the tiny house behind the car park. If you ever need help — just knock!

🌐 More info: www.madeira.life

✨ Relax, explore, connect — welcome to your Madeira adventure! ✨

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