Draft Portugal initerary
Nov 3rd, 2010, 09:22 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Draft Portugal initerary
Hi - Planning a trip to Portugal in mid January to celebrate a birthday. This is what i was thinking. We like non stop planes. Want to take at least 1 train. I want to stay in at least these 3 places. Any input as to order or recommended non stop flights would be greatly appreciated.
Fly from Newark to Algarve for 3 nights.
Train to Lisbon for 3 nights.
Fly to Maderia (Funchal) for 3 nights.
Fly home to Newark NJ.
And how is weather in mid January?
Fly from Newark to Algarve for 3 nights.
Train to Lisbon for 3 nights.
Fly to Maderia (Funchal) for 3 nights.
Fly home to Newark NJ.
And how is weather in mid January?
Nov 3rd, 2010, 10:06 AM
#2
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 730
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As far as I know there are no direct flights EWR to FAO. You will stop in Lisbon first if on TAP (or Continental) then have to wait for the flight to Faro or rent a car to drive down and a one way rental would be $$ There are busses that run to the Algarve from the Gare Oriente (train station)
Algarve weather can be nice in Jan with temps in the low 60's in the day, chilly at night. If you are lucky you will have sun but be prepared for rain as that is the rainy period and last year it never stopped. Lisbon will be colder yet but Funchal should be as warm or warmer than the Algarve.
Easy Jet has very good fares from Lisbon to Funchal.
Where in the Algarve do you plan on staying?
Algarve weather can be nice in Jan with temps in the low 60's in the day, chilly at night. If you are lucky you will have sun but be prepared for rain as that is the rainy period and last year it never stopped. Lisbon will be colder yet but Funchal should be as warm or warmer than the Algarve.
Easy Jet has very good fares from Lisbon to Funchal.
Where in the Algarve do you plan on staying?
Nov 3rd, 2010, 10:19 AM
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for reply. I would appreciate suggestings on places to stay. I was going to look at trip advisor. Trying to first work on the itinerary.
Maybe we should fly to Maderia first and then fly to Algarve and then train to Lisbon to fly home. It can be any order. Rain will be disappointing but set on January.
Is 3 nights in each place good to get a flavor of the area?
Maybe we should fly to Maderia first and then fly to Algarve and then train to Lisbon to fly home. It can be any order. Rain will be disappointing but set on January.
Is 3 nights in each place good to get a flavor of the area?
Nov 3rd, 2010, 12:16 PM
#4
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tivoli Lisbon is a great place to stay. Its in the heart of the downtown area and you can walk to the Castle, Bairo Alto, Docks, Alfama, etc. They usually have specials online, but will give you the same rates if you call.
Not sure how warm Algarve is in Jan, but Armacao de Pera is nice as well as Albufeira.
there is a high speed train from lisbon to algarve, making travelling very quick and efficient.
Not sure how warm Algarve is in Jan, but Armacao de Pera is nice as well as Albufeira.
there is a high speed train from lisbon to algarve, making travelling very quick and efficient.
Nov 4th, 2010, 03:24 AM
#5
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 730
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is a very nice hotel (actually just joined the Holiday Inn chain recently) in Armacao de Pera (Algarve). Our friend works there and recently showed us the new rooms....lovely.
It is directly on the fabulous beach and has very nice common areas looking over the sea. Only problem with the town is the overbuilding of tall high rises but you would be near the sea and the new pedestrian walking area that borders it. Armacao de Pera is right in the middle of the Algarve which would put you in a good location for any touring. Will you rent a car for the 3 days there? If you do go to the Algarve I can give you some restaurant recommendations.
One thought is if you are going to stay a bit longer in Lisbon I recently was looking at a beautiful apartment, a VRBO listing in a great location and the price was reasonable. If you want me to I can get you the number of the listing so you could look at it.
If you could locate flights from Faro to Funchal that would make the travel easier but not sure if they exist especially in January. With a little investigating you can find that out. We love the Algarve as we have a place there going from the US 2X a year but I am not sure that I would pick that as a Jan destination as it is all about the outdoors.
Maybe consider more time in Funchal and then when in Lisbon explore Obidos, Sintra, Estoril and the area immediately south of Lisbon...a car would be necessary.
Yes, 3 night will give you the flavor of each location but maybe not the best choice due to all the travel time involved. It always takes more than you think.
It is directly on the fabulous beach and has very nice common areas looking over the sea. Only problem with the town is the overbuilding of tall high rises but you would be near the sea and the new pedestrian walking area that borders it. Armacao de Pera is right in the middle of the Algarve which would put you in a good location for any touring. Will you rent a car for the 3 days there? If you do go to the Algarve I can give you some restaurant recommendations.
One thought is if you are going to stay a bit longer in Lisbon I recently was looking at a beautiful apartment, a VRBO listing in a great location and the price was reasonable. If you want me to I can get you the number of the listing so you could look at it.
If you could locate flights from Faro to Funchal that would make the travel easier but not sure if they exist especially in January. With a little investigating you can find that out. We love the Algarve as we have a place there going from the US 2X a year but I am not sure that I would pick that as a Jan destination as it is all about the outdoors.
Maybe consider more time in Funchal and then when in Lisbon explore Obidos, Sintra, Estoril and the area immediately south of Lisbon...a car would be necessary.
Yes, 3 night will give you the flavor of each location but maybe not the best choice due to all the travel time involved. It always takes more than you think.
Nov 5th, 2010, 02:01 PM
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for input. I think we decided on 7 nights. 3 in Algarve area and 4 in Lisbon.
In Algarve, we are looking for a nice hotel within walking distance to some pubs/restaurants. Nice beach view but we know swimming is not an option - January. Want to see the top sites. Would need public transportation from airport and when leaving to train station. After reading, is Albufeira were we want to be?
Lisbon - easy access to public transportation. Nice hotel where we can walk to pubs/restaurants at night and see sights during the day. Maybe a train ride to a close city. for a day.
In Algarve, we are looking for a nice hotel within walking distance to some pubs/restaurants. Nice beach view but we know swimming is not an option - January. Want to see the top sites. Would need public transportation from airport and when leaving to train station. After reading, is Albufeira were we want to be?
Lisbon - easy access to public transportation. Nice hotel where we can walk to pubs/restaurants at night and see sights during the day. Maybe a train ride to a close city. for a day.
Nov 11th, 2010, 05:15 AM
#7
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My two cents, fly to Lisbon, stay 4 days, then Madeira (easyjet) 3 days, then home.
Please don't go to the Algarve, there's nothing happening there in January, awful weather, lack of character. Those still there are just waiting for that month to be over.
I was there last year and unless you need to rest and read and play some golf there's no reason to be there.
Lisbon is great at that time, big winter sales are happening, museums and restaurants are great, you have Sintra, Cascais, small fishing villages, nearby, you also have Alentejo for a day trip, Évora, Estremoz, etc.
Madeira, great hotels, great food, great golf, nice temperature, etc.
Please don't go to the Algarve, there's nothing happening there in January, awful weather, lack of character. Those still there are just waiting for that month to be over.
I was there last year and unless you need to rest and read and play some golf there's no reason to be there.
Lisbon is great at that time, big winter sales are happening, museums and restaurants are great, you have Sintra, Cascais, small fishing villages, nearby, you also have Alentejo for a day trip, Évora, Estremoz, etc.
Madeira, great hotels, great food, great golf, nice temperature, etc.
Nov 13th, 2010, 11:26 AM
#8
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
serbap, I make mine, your words!I had also friends coming in January, but with an average of 11 rainy days...they dropped it off. In any case it might be sunny (cross my fingers for you!) and definitely, Lisbon and surroundings have a lot of character and a sweet welcoming spirit, which I can only recommend!
