rosetravels

DH and I are planning a trip to Portugal for late April/early May. We've got 15 nights and only a rough sketch so far. I liked Tedgale's TR from last year and I'm generally following his plan (thanks Ted, so helpful!). We are in our mid-50's. DH is a geologist, I'm a painter, we travel often and really love great views, museums, lively urban areas, stunning landscapes. My favorite travel moment is usually a glass of wine with a great view of the sunset. Or of crowds of people. I'm thinking of this:

Pick up a rental car at the Lisbon airport, return it in Porto.
3 to 4 nights in the Alentejo region
1 night near Tomar to see the several UNESCO World Heritage sites in the area
2 nights Douro Valley? (not totally sure about this but the landscape looks exciting to me)
3-4 nights in Porto (visit Guimaraes)
5 nights in Lisbon

We have been to Italy often and really love the off-the-beaten track hillside villages. We prefer to avoid seriously touristed areas as we never really enjoy that. I've used the website 'the most beautiful villages of Italy' to find villages to visit. Are there beautiful villages in Portugal we should visit and even stay in?

Where should we stay in the Alentejo region? Should we base ourselves somewhere or would we need more than one stay (and that's fine by us) to really see it? Would it be worth it to adjust our schedule to spend a day or two hiking along the coast on the Rota Vicentina? Should we head to Monsarez? Or other villages?

Thanks in advance for your help ~ Rose

rosetravels

Topping. Anybody?

bobthenavigator

Try not to miss Marvao---it is special.

rosetravels

Thanks Bob - I'll take a look at that.

Robert2533

I take it you will be flying in from Seattle (?), so you will need the first day to adjust to the changes, including dining, Portuguese style.

For 4 nights in the Alentejo, you might want to consider staying in Pousadas, Portugal’s equivalent of Spain's excellent Paradors. You can check out Pousada de Évora, Marvão and Crato to see what they have to offer (www.pousadas.pt) for your dates.

You can spend the night at someplace like Quinta da Anunciada Velha or Hotel dos Templários in Tomar and be on the way to to Régua in the Douro in the later afternoon. You might want to consider spending a couple of nights at the Quinta do Vallado in Régua, or at my favorite, the Quinta do Pégo. If you where staying a little longer, I would recommend SeMarkinhas (www.dourovillarental.com), a beautiful private villa overlooking the valley which you can rent at a very reasonable rate, or Casa de Govães (www.casadegouvaes.com).

For 3 to 4 nights in Porto, I highly recommend 4Rooms in Foz.

Where you stay in Lisbon will depent on you budget, but in April/May, you might want to consider staying out in Cascais at the Forol Design Hotel (www.farol.com.pt).

lobo_mau

Marvao and Monsaraz are similar with one difference. Marvao has been inhabited along the centuries, and Monsaraz was eventually deserted during centuries to be found recently. Marvao is more beautiful and Monsaraz is closed to what a walled town should have looked like in middle ages. Other places are Sao Bento do Corval (pottery), Arraiolos (tapestry). Beside those Pousadas referred in the above post, consider Arraiolos, Estremoz or Vila Viçosa. Any of these locations offer easy acess to Upper Alentejo Attractions.

lobo_mau

If you like small places, google "Casa de Terena".

rosetravels

Thanks to both of you for the thoughtful suggestions!

lobo-mau: Casa de Terena looks lovely. And they serve dinner! Would that be a reasonably convenient location for 3 nights?

Robert: yes, flying from Seattle via Philadelphia. We can drive for about 2 hours on day 1 but no farther. I'm researching the Pousadas. In Douro, Regua does sound interesting and the photos are beautiful. The Quinta do Valledo is available but not the Quinta do Pego. Casa la Fonte in Lamego has good reviews and is available - is that area less interesting?

Does my allocation of days sound right - 4 nights in the Alentejo and 2 in Douro?

Barb

You will love Portugal! and how great that you are getting off the tourist track and exploring some of the lovely small towns and villages. I spent two nights in Porto last fall after walking the Camino. I wished I had more time there. It is an artist's dream!! The food and port aren't bad either. This is where I stayed and I could not have been happier, location, lovely hosts, very modern chic design. http://www.inpatio.pt/photos/photos.html

yestravel

The Duoro Valley is spectacular. Don't miss spending time there. Coimbra and that area around it are interesting. We found Portugal to be way less touristed than most other places we have visited. Very easy to get around with good roads and little traffic.

rosetravels

Barb- I'm quite excited about the trip! We are using airmiles which seems like a miracle. The hotel in Porto looks lovely and a good price.

yestravel - how many nights do you recommend in the Douro Valley? I have penciled in two nights, is that enough?

Robert2533

Casa la Fonte is a bit further south and not in the Douro River Valley. Quinta do Vallado would be your best option for location and quality of accommodations. It's a true wine hotel. Ask to stay in the new section that opened a couple of years ago.

Besides, their reds are a knock out. The Touriga Nacional Douro 2008 receives 95 points from Parker, and is #7 of the top 100 wines in Wine Spectator.

The Ferreira family, who still owns the Quinta, are considered the first family of Portuguese wine making families. The daughter, by the way, works at Quinta do Pégo, which is just down the Douro River.

yestravel

I would think about 3 nights in the Duoro Valley. We spent time driving around, going to a couple villages and enjoying the scenery. We spent one afternoon taking the train up the valley and back. You can also do a river trip.

rosetravels

Robert - I just booked a room in the new wing at Quinta do Vallado. It looks lovely. Thanks for that recommendation!

Now I'm wondering if it makes more sense to visit Tomar after Porto, on the way to Lisbon. I guess the truth is I'm visiting them because they're on the UNESCO list (which is my life list) but they are less appealing to me.

I'm considering 3 nights at Casa de Terena, then a night at the Pousada in Marvao for the stunning views.

yestravel

What are the unesco sites to which you refer?

rosetravels

It's the Monastery of Batalha, Monastery of Alcobaca and the Convent of Christ, Tomar. The three are fairly close together and I think it may be possible to see them with just one overnight stay.

yestravel

we really enjoyed all 3. and i agree you could see them with a 1 night stay. we stayed at Batalha and saw Alcobaca in the late afternoon. Next day we did Batahla and Tomar.

rosetravels

Thanks yestravel - that helps. We'll do that, probably before we go to the Douro Valley.

rosetravels

Thanks for the help everybody. We've refined our itinerary and I've started to book the following places:
2 nights at Casa de Terena. Hope to visit Evora, Redondo, Monsaraz. Dinner one night at A Maria in Alandroal.

1 night at Marvao. Visiting Vila Vicosa, Estremez, maybe Elvas on the way (that's probably too much so we'll cut back.) Staying at El Rei Dom Manual, half board. Amazing views!

1 night at Batalha, hoping to visit Alcobaca & Batalha.

3 nights Douro Valley. Staying at Quinta do Vallado. Stop at Tomar on the way.

3 nights in Porto. We hope to stop at Guimaraes on the way. Returning our car. Staying at 6 Only Guest House (great price!)

5 nights in Lisbon. We're staying in an apartment our daughter rented in 2013.

It was hard to choose the number of days at each place and in the end I cut a day from the Alentejo to add to the Douro Valley. 3 each. I'm sure it'll be great.

Further opinions are very welcome!

yestravel

we really liked Castelo de Vide down the mountain so to speak from Marvao. We actually thought it more interesting than Marvao which does have some killer views.

Outside of Sintra, Guiamares was by far the most touristed and crowded place we stayed. We still enjoyed it a lot.

For great views in Estremez, head up to where the pousada is.

we got a very good rate and had a nice room at Hotel Villa Batalha.

There is so much to see in Portugal it tough to decide what to see and for how long.