Cascais or Sintra?
Jul 21st, 2004, 10:16 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cascais or Sintra?
I found two nice hotels, one in Cascais (Casa da Pergola) and one in Sintra (Quinta Verde) for the end of August. I don't know where I should book? Any thoughts? I plan on visiting both cities but want your advice as to which one I should pick for staying in?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Jul 21st, 2004, 10:34 AM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,943
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do you want to be at the beach (Cascais) or in a forest (Sintra)? I would stay in Sintra because it is more beautiful than Cascais, and there is more to do there. It is very easy to get to Lisboa from both towns.
Do you have any specific questions about either town??
Cheers,
John G.
Do you have any specific questions about either town??
Cheers,
John G.
Jul 21st, 2004, 10:42 AM
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi John,
Thanks for your reply.
I prefer the beach
I will definitely visit Sintra but if I have the chance to be by the beach maybe I should sleep in Cascais?
Any suggestions for things to see in Sintra or restaurants suggestions?
Many thanks.
Thanks for your reply.
I prefer the beach
I will definitely visit Sintra but if I have the chance to be by the beach maybe I should sleep in Cascais?
Any suggestions for things to see in Sintra or restaurants suggestions?
Many thanks.
Jul 21st, 2004, 01:57 PM
#4
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was comforted by an article that appeared in a recent copy of a popular US travel magazine that nominated Hotel Tivoli Palacio de Seteais in Sintra as one of the ten best beach hotels in Europe. I guess it cant be too far away from the beach, albeit in an old castle in the forest. We are really looking forward to our stay there in late August. In their package deal they arrange a driver to take you to the beaches.
Jul 21st, 2004, 05:03 PM
#7
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Okay, SydneySteve, the Instituto do Vinho do Porto is a MUST do, MUST see in Lisboa! What it is: an institute for port-wine tasting- how great is that? A quite, cozy "club-like" (Spygirl likes the cozy-club scene!) lounge area,-leather chairs, couches, stone walls,-you settle in, relaxing and taking in the scene, and then they bring you a thick BOOK. A book of port wines to be pored over and ordered by the tasting glass or bottle-take your pick-most are quite inexpensive! Try as many as you like-there are over 300 varieties, from dry whites to reds-and a bit of description about the area from whence produced, etc. They may even have "flights" of tastings, don't know, all I know is that we had about 5 or 6 different glasses -there were none that I sampled that I didn't like! I just looked up the address again, it's open from 10-10 Mon.-Sat., Rua de Sao Pedro de Alcantara 45. To get there, from Praca de Restauradores, take the funicular elevator UP (the Elevador de Gloria-that's kind of fun in itself) it will deposit you right across the street from this quite wonderful place. Enjoy!
It may well be a highlight of your trip to Lisboa- it was for me!
It may well be a highlight of your trip to Lisboa- it was for me!
Jul 21st, 2004, 06:48 PM
#8
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Excellent - Thank you Spygirl - we wll take some back to the Hotel Palacio de Seteais in Sintra and thank you again as we sit on the terrace looking out over the Atlantic. Seems like we might stock up for some of the more viticulturally deplete areas we will visit like Liguria.
Jul 21st, 2004, 07:39 PM
#9
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No prob, SydneySteve. The hotel sounds VERY nice-Sintra is so green and leafy. But the National Palace there is truly lovely- I've never forgotten the magpie room -couldn't get over that the King had black magpies painted all over the ceiling sometime in the 1400-1500's- each representing a gossiping lady-in-waiting in his court-in the magpie's beak is a saying "por bem" (all the best). It's very striking!
Jul 21st, 2004, 09:39 PM
#10
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 2,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SydneySteve,
in case you have not been to the Port Wine Institute: When I visited it during the European Football Canmpionships a few weeks ago, the facade of the building appeared to be under construction, so it was hard to miss. But Spygirl's advice to just cross the street from Elevador da Gloria is spot on!
Apart from that and to return to rozelle's question, I don't think you will be regretting to stay in Cascais. I unfortunately do not have any experience with Sintra, but during my short stay in Lisbon recently, found Cascais an extremely pretty village.
in case you have not been to the Port Wine Institute: When I visited it during the European Football Canmpionships a few weeks ago, the facade of the building appeared to be under construction, so it was hard to miss. But Spygirl's advice to just cross the street from Elevador da Gloria is spot on!
Apart from that and to return to rozelle's question, I don't think you will be regretting to stay in Cascais. I unfortunately do not have any experience with Sintra, but during my short stay in Lisbon recently, found Cascais an extremely pretty village.
Jul 22nd, 2004, 01:23 AM
#12
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for your comments about the Port Institute. One of our great interests is to be able to include visits to wineries and wine industry venues when we travel both here in Australia and elsewhere.
Sintra is very close to the coast and therefore it is easy to visit the beaches from there - much closer than central Lisbon for instance. We are staying in Sintra for that reason and a very strong recommendation by a Canadian friend to stay at the five star Tivoli Palacio de Seteais Hotel which can be found by searching at www.tivolihotels.com. There are very good two day package deals there including one dinner, breakfasts, private car visit to the beaches etc. I am told the view from the terrace there looking across to the coast and out to sea is possibly the best view in Portugal. I guess it all depends on how long one stays in the Lisbon region and what the mode of transport is.
Sintra is very close to the coast and therefore it is easy to visit the beaches from there - much closer than central Lisbon for instance. We are staying in Sintra for that reason and a very strong recommendation by a Canadian friend to stay at the five star Tivoli Palacio de Seteais Hotel which can be found by searching at www.tivolihotels.com. There are very good two day package deals there including one dinner, breakfasts, private car visit to the beaches etc. I am told the view from the terrace there looking across to the coast and out to sea is possibly the best view in Portugal. I guess it all depends on how long one stays in the Lisbon region and what the mode of transport is.
Jul 22nd, 2004, 05:19 AM
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,943
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The beach at Cascais is as big as a postage stamp. On the other hand, Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage site. I am not trying to dissuade you from staying in Cascais, just trying to let you know the differences between the two towns. I, personally, would be bored in Cascais. However, you could take a 3-minute train ride to Estoril for golf and gambling. The beach at Estoril is slightly bigger than at Cascais. But, these are not Bermuda-type beaches with white sand and azure water. The beaches at both Cascais and Estoril are slightly seedy. If you want a beautiful, sandy beach, you have to go to Nazare.
Cascais is very cute, with lots of little cafes and shops. If you like to shop for jewelry and t-shirts, Cascais is for you.
Spygirl is correct about National Palace at Sinta, but you should also visit the storybook castle, Pena Palace. One room here is made of Meissen, and there are beautiful views of the sea from a terrace.
Cascais is very cute, with lots of little cafes and shops. If you like to shop for jewelry and t-shirts, Cascais is for you.
Spygirl is correct about National Palace at Sinta, but you should also visit the storybook castle, Pena Palace. One room here is made of Meissen, and there are beautiful views of the sea from a terrace.
Jul 22nd, 2004, 07:37 AM
#15
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is for Rozelle:
The properties you are considering are not in the same price range as the Palacio de Setais in Sintra.
The Casa da Pergola is a lovely property, but you need to know that it is on a narrow, busy shopping street about 1/2 block from the train station. The Casa is hemmed in on all sides by commercial buildings. I am not criticizing the property or location; however, you need to know that is more of an "oasis" in the middle of hustle and bustle, particularly in August---traditional travel month for Europeans.
From my recollection, there is no a/c in the rooms and I am not certain if there were ceiling fans or not. You should check. Remember, you are talking August!
The beach in Cascais is not somewhere I would swim. If you are going to have a car, beaches north of Cascais are more attractive and much cleaner.
Sintra is lovely with more historical things to do (and cooler temps) than down on the coast. A lack of air/con is not a problem in the cool,green hills of Sintra.
Both areas are going to be crowded, but I would also vote for Sintra (or Lisbon) as a base to see the three areas.
If you plan on seeing the sites of Lisbon and also doing Sintra and the beach coast from Cascais (going north), have you considered spliting your stay (if it is long enough) between Sintra and Lisbon, or Sintra and Cascais.
If you like the sun and some relaxing, the rooftop pool (which has a "dead on" view of the Castelo Jorge in Lisbon) of the VIP Hotel Eden may be a good option for you for a few nights.
We have stayed in Cascais (Hotel Albatroz), Sintra (Hotel Tivoli) and four different properties in Lisbon (Lisboa Plaza, Metropole, Avenida Palace and the VIP Eden). Best value for dollars, plus convenient location, makes the Eden a winner above the others.
The properties you are considering are not in the same price range as the Palacio de Setais in Sintra.
The Casa da Pergola is a lovely property, but you need to know that it is on a narrow, busy shopping street about 1/2 block from the train station. The Casa is hemmed in on all sides by commercial buildings. I am not criticizing the property or location; however, you need to know that is more of an "oasis" in the middle of hustle and bustle, particularly in August---traditional travel month for Europeans.
From my recollection, there is no a/c in the rooms and I am not certain if there were ceiling fans or not. You should check. Remember, you are talking August!
The beach in Cascais is not somewhere I would swim. If you are going to have a car, beaches north of Cascais are more attractive and much cleaner.
Sintra is lovely with more historical things to do (and cooler temps) than down on the coast. A lack of air/con is not a problem in the cool,green hills of Sintra.
Both areas are going to be crowded, but I would also vote for Sintra (or Lisbon) as a base to see the three areas.
If you plan on seeing the sites of Lisbon and also doing Sintra and the beach coast from Cascais (going north), have you considered spliting your stay (if it is long enough) between Sintra and Lisbon, or Sintra and Cascais.
If you like the sun and some relaxing, the rooftop pool (which has a "dead on" view of the Castelo Jorge in Lisbon) of the VIP Hotel Eden may be a good option for you for a few nights.
We have stayed in Cascais (Hotel Albatroz), Sintra (Hotel Tivoli) and four different properties in Lisbon (Lisboa Plaza, Metropole, Avenida Palace and the VIP Eden). Best value for dollars, plus convenient location, makes the Eden a winner above the others.
Jul 22nd, 2004, 10:24 AM
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow!
Many thanks to all of you for your valuable input!
I'm now thinking of staying in Lisboa (Pensao Londres) and do day trips to Sintra and Cascais.
Any thoughts on Pensao Londres?
Can't wait to go to Portugal!
Many thanks to all of you for your valuable input!
I'm now thinking of staying in Lisboa (Pensao Londres) and do day trips to Sintra and Cascais.
Any thoughts on Pensao Londres?
Can't wait to go to Portugal!
Jul 22nd, 2004, 12:21 PM
#17
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Caiscas is so touristy, crowded and beach area not pretty. If you stay in Sintra you can take a back road through the forest to the beach area.Fav thing to do was to ride along the coast, stop at a restaurant on the side of the ocean, pick out fresh prawns from the tank in front, drink the house wine while your fish was grilled and have a side of bread and fresh salad all for about 25 dollars for two. I love Portugal, was there for two weeks. Drove everywhere all the way to Oporto where we did major port tastings at all the port caves. Just writing these things makes me want to return.
Jul 22nd, 2004, 02:20 PM
#18
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Georgine. I know the Palacio de Seteais is a Five Star but I think they have very good package prices principally because the location is outside of the main Sintra area and there is competition from the golf course resort in the area . What we found when we did our research is that for a two night package in the best room at E440 there was a lot of value with one full dinner, car visit to the beaches and various other inclusions. I think they list 4 or 5 different packages on their web site.
Jul 31st, 2004, 04:59 PM
#19
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sintra is nice, cool and w/in 40 minutes of Lisbon.The trivoli is ugly modern w/ views of the valley which seems to be filling w/ new construction.The Central Hotel next door should be avoided.Sintra can be done in one full day-nice quiet w/ decent food.Casais is 20 minutes from Lisbon and busy in an exciting way - lots to do -classy shops.The beach is not dirty-cleaned every morning-less adolescents-the water?Swimming is not always a priorty.We enjoyed the town-we were there last week.Try the Biais (sp) overlooking the beach-100 e.Rest and recourperate-Sintra.Rest and envigorate-Cascais.
Jul 31st, 2004, 06:24 PM
#20
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You are reffering to the 3-4 star Tivoli Sintra I think. The Tivoli Palacio de Seteais is a different establishment 5 star - refurbished old palace up a long driveway a fair distance from the main part of Sintra.
