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Porto, Galicia and Asturias (plus Leon) Hotel recommendations (??)

Porto, Galicia and Asturias (plus Leon) Hotel recommendations (??)

Old Jun 15th, 2017, 11:11 AM
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Porto, Galicia and Asturias (plus Leon) Hotel recommendations (??)

I have a long thread here on a trip that would include Porto, probably Viana, and then move on to Galicia. In doing some reading, I decided to look into possibly including Asturias with a stop in Oviedo (or Gijon). Rather than continue t hat long thread, I'll just ask here about which cities to make my base and which hotels might be worthy to consider. Although there are many rural lodgings that look lovely, we usually prefer to spend most nights in oro very close to towns or cities when I Spain, to take advantage of the tapas bars and the nighttime activity, centered around eating. (No night life for us after dinner!!)

I'm having a very difficult time with this itinerary, to say the least. I should say a mention a few things to help narrow down the search:

I'm hoping to take this trip in the fall, late September/October of this year.

I prefer a minimum of two nights in each hotel, with more if warranted. So I prefer to not have too many bases. We will rent a car but only one of us will drive and I do not want to subject the driver to drives of more than 2 hours a day unless really necessary, and prefer to ahve days when we do not use the car.

I think I'd like to fly into Porto and stay there and then in Viana. Can this be done sans rental car? Should I really have rental car for the Portuguese portion?


Then move on to Galicia, where I am thinking of making two bases: Pontevedra and Ourense. Baiona sounds lovely but would not be able to rent car there so must go from border to best car rental destination, and from there to one of our two or three bases in Galicia.

From there to Leon. Parador in Leon will close in October so might need other hotel. One of main reasons for visiting Leon (where I have been only as a drive by, a hundred years ago!), is to eat the ox steak at Bodega del Caprichio, near Astorga.

Then, we might drive north to Asturias, with rental car, maybe flying home from that airport via Madrid.

Totally open to making a stop in Donostia/San Sebastian if I can fly there on Vueling or AirNostrum (??) from Oviedo (doubtful). Otherwise I think the drive is too long.

Not including Santiago or Picos de Europa on this trip; have seen these places and adored them but want to branch out. But would never turn down a chance for a few days in San Sebastian.

Partner has little interest in vineyards, as we have visited quite a few over the years and while they are all unique, we would visit only if staying at one. (Le Domaine in Sardon del Duero is an exceptional example of one we did stay at, last year)

Food is a main interest of mine as many of you already know from my earlier reports and endless commenting on that subject on this forum. We can eat in dives, bars, or upscale places as long as the food of the region is well prepared. We like modern and traditional restaurants. I love food markets, and supermarkets, too.

The order I mentioned can be reversed, places can be added, or left out.


Please help me with basic route and hotels; please recommend your favorite places. I received some wonderfully detailed information on this thread and now hopping to narrow down and iron out some further details.



http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...th-galicia.cfm


Also need a hotel in Porto and in Viana do Castelo. I do not think I will include Braga or Guimares unless that it a terrible mistake. As I said, we cannot visit every place and I do not want to move around too much, or to spend every day in the car. The Parador in Viana do Castelo sounds lovely, from the reports I've read here.


Thanks a million to everyone who helped on the previous thread. Please keep chiming in so I can get this thing nailed down!!
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Old Jun 15th, 2017, 11:33 AM
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Parador in Pontevedra is nice, has parking. Just at the very edge of the centro so you only have a few steps to be in the heart of town. You wat to eat in town.

In Ourense I staed in a really old fashioned business hotel (Francesco II) whose slow wi-fi drove me crazy, but that has probably gotten better. Still, you can probably find something nicer. Look at a map so you get a sense of where the center is, where it is extremely difficult to drive. Much of Ourense is easy for driving, but it also sprawls, so book closer to where you will want to eat and sightsee.

Guimares & Braga have some interest but if you're pressed for time, no.

I really enjoyed samping port cocktails in Porto at the Yeatman and was sorry I didn't eat there. Food I ate in Porto (and Foz) was mainly disappointing (you really must avoid both sides of the riverbank). Quite franky I might stay at the Yeatman were I to return to Porto, although I wasn't unhappy at the workaday Mercure Porto Centro, which has surprisingly lovely views and is just steps away from some tourist highlights (the Cafe Majestic being one of them -- be sure to sit inside if you go, not outside).
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Old Jun 15th, 2017, 11:33 AM
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I read that there is a new Pousada in Porto near the riverfront. We found the Pousadas of Portugal to be of a higher level than Spain's Paradores, especially in regard to their dining rooms. We had a wonderful experience in Porto staying at Hotel Infante de Sagres. Beautiful room and service. We drove through Viana do Castelo and want to return there and stay at it's Pousada. A forum poster highly recommended it. Sorry I don't recall who that was. Perhaps bobthenavigator?
We also enjoyed Guimares, Portugal's first capital city. The Pousada where we stayed in town is gone but there is a beautiful one just outside the city. I remember earing Ox steak there.
We also enjoyed the Parador in León; what a shame you can't stay there! We loved León and the stained glass windows in the cathedral were beautiful with the sun shining through them.
I am away from home and my travel notes for the summer or I would offer more.
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Old Jun 15th, 2017, 11:58 AM
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yes, such a shame about the parador in Leon. In fact I only came here to urge you to stay there - I've never been to any of the other places you have on your list. DH and I spent only one night there about 30 years ago, and those pure linen sheets made a huge impression on us! [so much so that when we had the opportunity, we bought our own]. I don't remember the food there being bad, but it's a long time ago.

What I also remember about Leon was a large number of bathroom shops; we had just put up with over a week of french plumbing, and modern Spanish bathrooms were a revelation.

funny the things that stay with you so many years later.
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Old Jun 15th, 2017, 12:33 PM
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In León you might take a look at the NH Collection León Plaza Mayor. It's not perfect, but not bad! Get a room with a view of the plaza.

If you don't want to stay in León, then check out Casa de Tepa in Astorga (http://casadetepa.com/en/). I think you'd like this one! It's an easy 20-minute drive from Bodega del Caprichio (in Jiménez de Jamuz).

There are a couple of others in the immediate area should you need an option; Posada Real La Lechería and La Posada de Toribia.

In Asturias check out:
Hotel Palacio de Luces (www.palaciodeluces.com) in Lastres (top choice)
Torre De Villademoros (www.torrevillademoros.com) in Valdés
Hotel Villa la Argentina (www.villalaargentina.com) in Luarca
Palacio de Preio (www.palaciodeprelo.com) in Prelo
Hotel Palacete Peñalba (www.hotelpalacetepenalba.com) in Figueras
La Rectoral (www.larectoral.com) in Taramundi
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Old Jun 15th, 2017, 12:34 PM
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It looks like the Parador de León will be closed for at least 2 years for renovation.
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Old Jun 15th, 2017, 07:48 PM
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we stayed at the Doubletree in Porto - it was nice, easy to get to restaurants - not the best hotel I've ever stayed at but fine
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Old Jun 16th, 2017, 05:42 AM
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We stayed at Hotel La Bolsa in Porto, it was quite nice. Worth checking into.
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Old Jun 16th, 2017, 05:55 AM
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We loved the Pestana Palacio do Freixo right on the river. It is not right in town but a very short cab ride. The restaurant is amazing and this hotel is one of my favourite all time hotels. It does offer shuttle service as well.
The Pousada in Guimaraes is amazing as well but I understand you may not have time. The town, while lovely, is somewhat understated.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 01:39 PM
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Eks, have you finalized your trip? Would love to hear where you are staying and eating. I'm thinking of a St. Jean Du Luz to Asturias and maybe Galicia region expedition next year. We have similar eating tastes and I've appreciated your TR's a lot in our trip planning. Just got back from Camogli and stayed at the Cenobio dei Dogi and I still remember you recommending it years ago.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 02:18 PM
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We booked a private room with private bath for 5 nights in Porto for May 2018 for under 60€ a night


http://www.gallery-hostel.com/en/
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 04:13 AM
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Thanks, all..Ever since I got back from Botswana I have been fighting a bug that got into my skin and makes me dream and read about and plan the next trip to Africa, in about two years time, I hope.

So have done almost nothing on the Spain trip but will get back to that soon and will post here...still would love to go in October..
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 01:02 PM
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Exks- we had a driver arranged by hotel in Porto to drive js to Vigo to pick up our rental car and then we drove to Baiona to stay at the Parador.
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Old Sep 10th, 2017, 06:08 AM
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After doing no planning for a couple of months, I am again thinking about going to Spain this fall. To avoid so much driving, I think we will concentrate on Asturias, with a delve into the Leon area. I will begin a new thread asking a few questions.
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