Cover Stars 2026: Idle Travel's Tyler Hunter savours a taste of Madeira

Q. What was your hotel like?
A. Savoy Palace was brilliant – very modern and in the heart of Funchal. There was a feeling of luxury as soon as you stepped inside. My room was really comfortable with views of the pool and ocean; at night on the balcony you could watch the lit-up ships coming in. I liked the Galáxia Skybar, which also had incredible views over the city and ocean. The service and facilities were perfect.

Q. What did you think of Funchal and the places you visited?
A. I enjoyed exploring Funchal, especially walking through the Old Town. Visiting Mercado dos Lavradores (farmers’ market) was a highlight; a couple of the other agents and I tried fresh dragon fruit, which was very tasty. We also visited Monte Palace Gardens, which were amazing, and went to see traditional Santana houses [triangular, thatched-roof buildings] which gave us an insight into the island’s culture and heritage.

Q. Which activities did you take part in?
A. I joined in a range of activities, including a cable car ride, a 4x4 tour and a lesson on making poncha [a traditional Madeira cocktail made of sugarcane brandy]. The 4x4 tour was a great way to explore parts of the island you wouldn’t otherwise go to, with incredible views along the way.  

Q. Any trip highlights?
A. My highlight was definitely day four when we went on the 4x4 tour, had lunch and a wine tasting, and the poncha-making class in the evening. It was a combination of amazing scenery, great food, a fun atmosphere with the group and, most importantly, lots of poncha!

Q. Tell us about your photoshoot
A. It was a bit out of my comfort zone, but a fun experience – the team made me feel comfortable. I had my photo taken in Funchal with some lovely backdrops.

Q. Has the trip helped you sell the destination?
A. Yes, 100%. Experiencing Madeira has given me much more confidence when recommending it to customers. I’ve started promoting the island and sharing my experience and photos, which has attracted a lot of attention, and I’ve made bookings. The destination could appeal to a wide variety of people – there’s something for everyone.

Q. How did you get on with the other agents on the trip?
A. It was a great group and we had lots of fun. Despite the age range we all got on really well from the very beginning when we met at the airport. I’ve definitely made new friends in the industry.

Tyler Hunter’s career

After my GCSEs I did one-year BTec courses in sport, Spanish and hospitality at sixth form. I was going to do a hospitality and catering course at college but my grandad (Tony Mann, owner of Idle Travel) suggested an apprenticeship at the agency, and I thought, why not? I’d worked as a Saturday boy at Idle Travel since I was 14. I was just helping at the beginning, giving out brochures, then started sorting out tickets and doing admin. 

I started my Level 3 travel consultant apprenticeship in November 2024 with AS Training while working at Idle Travel, and passed in November 2025. When I started full-time, I became much more interested in the job, but it took me a while to gain confidence. My first booking was in March 2025 – after that, I was off! Now I’m doing a content creator apprenticeship on social media marketing. I’m really enjoying it and I think it’s suited to me because I’ve been involved in putting content on our social media sites since I started.

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