Every time I have to cancel our Portugal trip, I have decided to add two days to the trip that will possibly be canceled by my nemesis Covid. This year, I added two nights in Guimarăes, a lovely town we now won't see until next year ... hopefully. For our 2022 trip, I have decided to add two nights in Evora. Our flight from SF to Lisbon would arrive ostensibly at 11:20 a.m. I was contemplating taking a taxi to Sete Rios Train Station, which seems like just a ten-minute ride from the airport, and then taking a 1:44 p.m. train to Evora. We'd return for our Lisbon stay and three-week trip a couple of days later.

Questions: First, does what I just wrote make any sense or am I cutting the arrival time and train to Evora too close?
Is this idea the best way, or do you have an idea that is better than mine, which is usually the case? Just ask Tracy
Finally, does someone have knowledge of a lace you like for our foursome to stay (all I ask for is a walk-in shower ... ok, a good bed helps, too)? Since I have spent more on our dog this year (by the way Frankie is still hanging in there for a bit more) than any European trip we've ever taken, we'll just throw the hotel budget out the window here. You can't take it with you!

Hopefully, this will be my last addition to our trip, or I might have to visit Portugal posthumously. Thanks!

Our lodgings were at the Stay Hotel Évora Centro, a stone’s throw from the main square. We were in the annex. Very clean, recently renovated, $124 for two nights. Some drivers actually drove to the front of the hotel in a fairly large car. I would not take the chance as the turn into the side street is very tight. We parked on a designated parking space for the hotel on one of the main streets going out of the walled city.


Not the hotel:

https://flic.kr/p/7RsiXx

My first thought is - are you nuts? After that length of flight you will be a dishrag for at least a day and could risk falling onto the tracks at the train station in your brain fog. Much better to get a place to crash in Lisbon and recover then set out on touristic undertakings the next day.

I did a day trip to the Alentejo region from my Lisbon base with a fabulous local guide, Maureen Ferguson, who picked me up at my hotel and arranged visits to three wineries with a great lunch at one of them. Highly recommend her services!

"After that length of flight you will be a dishrag for at least a day and could risk falling onto the tracks at the train station in your brain fog. "

Seamus, I've liked a lot of your posts and appreciate your thoughts about us being tired, but you must not have read a lot of my trip reports. I've traveled to Europe two dozen times. I might be a dishrag when I arrive, but I clean up well. Yeah, we'll be somewhat tired when we reach Evora. Big Deal. I'll rest when I die. A ten minute cab ride and a 1 hour+ train trip should not kill us. All we have to do is walk around town, eat dinner and crash. We'll be fine the next day. All I want to do on this thread is find about timing. If I drop dead in Evora, that will be my problem. Thanks.

When I went to Evora (flying in from France so no jet lag) I took the bus, having read that Evora's train station was further from the center.

Highly recommend https://adcevora.com/ I found it very comfortable (although my standards are likely lower than yours) and one of the admirable staff was my guide on a winery tour.

Don't get too excited about the Roman temple, I was not impressed, although I had expected that from the photos.

Tom, definitely include a stay in Evora. We stayed at the historical pousada there Pousada de los Loios/ aka Pousada Convento.Go to pousadas.pt. We loved staying there and did not want to leave! Take a look at it. The ancient temple is directly opposite it.

Tagging along with interest as we too hope to eventually get to Portugal (had to cancel our May 2020 trip). I might just let Tom do all the research and then follow in his footsteps

thursday - I happened to be perusing the Albergaria de Calvário website last night. It looks great and gets wonderful reviews. I hadn't though about a bus. I'll check in to that as well.

Happy Trvlr - The Pusado Convento looks good, too. Being near something ancient will make me feel younger.

Melnq8 - "I might just let Tom do all the research and then follow in his footsteps."
That can get you in a lot of trouble. I found out as I was canceling my 2021 hotels this past week that I had booked my last night in Lisbon and our first night in Sintra on the same date. Although it might have been for some good reading in the trip report, it could have made for an early disaster for us.

- Its not too close, unless your flight is delayed for some reason, and there are a few reasons for that to happen (and the customs sometimes take a bit longer than you might expect). So maybe you can just stay in Lisbon for half a day and one night, doing what locals do. Hangins around, eating, drinking, admiring the sunset at "Graça" (near the Castle), sleep, and let's go to Évora!

- You wouldn't dare! I don't accept a glass of wine in heaven! You've promised!

Helena

"You wouldn't dare! I don't accept a glass of wine in heaven! You've promised!"

See you next September ... alive ... For sure ... I promise! The only bad part about the first night in Lisbon, then a night in Evora and five more nights in Lisbon is schlepping luggage. I'd rather just get to Evora for the latter part of first day and entire day the following. We're all pretty good about adapting to time, getting a good night's sleep on Night one, and ready to go full blast the next day. Of course, I've never been 70 before (which I will be by next year's trip), so I might just fall on my face at the Roman Temple, snd everyone can say, "I told you so," Exercise for the next year is the key.

Yo MT,
HappyT has suggested the Pousada dos Loios. We agree, as it is excellent value. Once stayed there in '88. Manager claimed then that it would cost 3 times as much had it been located in Paris, London or NYC.
Btw, those interested in pursuing wine excellence in Portugal beyond the obvious charms of Porto, might wanna be aware that the Bucaco forest/hotel has its own appellation, one that produces both reds and whites that some sommeliers rave about. The quiet forest itself is worth a hike around, for its historic religious items spread throughout.
Extra tip: those looking for a less-popular hilltop village to visit may want to check out Marvao.
Hope things work out for you.
I am done. the chanfana

We are older than you are, Tom. We always opt to power through our first day.....we're already tired so why not be really tired and make the most of that first day and keep going. We'd choose to take the train and not "waste" a night in Lisbon.

Pretty clear, tom, that we would make lousy travel companions!
I used to hold with the "power through the first day" philosophy, fueled by a sort of FOLO. As I have aged it lost its appeal, probably at least in part due to the influence of my husband who embraces the mańana attitude.

"Pretty clear, tom, that we would make lousy travel companions!"

Seamus, you are very much not alone. As a matter of fact, Kim and Mary are probably the only people that would travel with us for more than three days, although I have mellowed a bit, and we always have time for relaxing wine time. How much longer we'll be able to travel like this remains to be seen. What does FOLO mean?

I'm jealous, maitaitomi! We were in Lisbon for 5 nights and fell in love with that city, and the Portuguese people.
It seemed like a very friendly & hospitable country which welcomes tourists, made easier by the fact that they speak English.
We only ventured as far as Sintra and Cascais/Estoril. Would love to return and visit the Algarve, and elsewhere. Our daughter and her family stayed in the castle in Obidos, which looked stunning.

Where are you staying in Lisbon? We loved the Avenida Palace. Really a charming hotel, which served the best breakfast buffet we've ever had. (Probably they have altered the buffet, due to COVID now, though the food would still be awesome and served in that gorgeous dining room.)
We arrived at the Avenida Palace at 10:30 a.m., and they graciously ushered us to our room, instead of having us wait till afternoon check-in. I had alerted them that we'd be arriving early, and might need luggage storage. They made sure to have our room ready early for us (no extra charge). It was a welcome surprise to weary travelers.
Also, the day we arrived, there was an international bike race taking place directly under our hotel room window, at the square. DH is a bike addict, so this was really special for him to see.

'Obidos' is the place whose name is not spoken in our presence. It was where a certain Berliner conman once took my naive mother and scammed her yet again, for a great deal of money.
We are still living with the consequences. No fun.
I am done. the clenched teeth

Maitaitom, i was just about to send you the link to Albergaria de Calvário. I stayed here in 2018 and thought it was just lovely and in a good walkable location.

FOLO = fear of losing out. Sometimes also used is FOMO = fear of missing out

I think that story needs to be told in its own Lounge thread, zebec!

Tom, I'll second or third the Albergaria do Calvario. From my trip report a little while ago:
Evora: Albergaria do Calvario (sometimes listed as ADC): an old olive oil factory remade into an airy, sleek hotel; located inside the medieval walls; repeat—flawless service, delicious breakfasts. 175 euros
Check my TR "Sintra, Evora, Lisbon" for more about Evora, especially about the small group tour of ancient cave dwellings (neanderthal?) by a very knowledgeable anthropologist.
Portugal, a fabulous country!