Hi, mjanensch,

It's your trip, and you're the only one who knows what is best for you, so I certainly don't presume to tell you what to do. But in my (unsolicited)opinion, if the choice is between driving from Evora to Marvao and then back to Evora again for the night or driving to Marvao and spending the night there, it seems to me that the time taken driving back to Evora from Marvao is way more than the time taken to check in and out of another hotel. But that's just my own preference, and it's based on our own travel habits, which include traveling with no more than a carry-on, so packing up and leaving and checking in the next night isn't much of a deal at all.

Evora is a city, Marvao is a town, and Marvao is a town up on a hill that looks out over the plain on all sides. It's a breathtaking view, it has an unbelievable castle, it's magical. At night, it's one of those places where you see the stars everywhere and breathe clean air deeply and just appreciate being alive and able to enjoy it all. And there are a couple of very nice places to stay in Marvao that are much more "provincial" than Evora, but, (again in my opinion), much more enjoyable. I don't mean to preach, and I'm sure you'll have a great time whatever you do!

lreynold1. I just wanted to tell you that originally we were to spend two nights in the Serra da Estrela before moving on to Estremoz.

But partly from your input about the Serra, we decided to stay only one night there and stay in Marvao one night before going South.

I don't like to move around packing and unpacking either, but I really feel that Marvao warrants an over night.

The first day is a pretty long one with us driving to Linhares by way of Guarda because I remember something you said if we went that way there is highway a great deal of the way.

So, no more changes, this is it. That is UNLESS we have a chance to have dinner with lobo_mau somewhere in the Alentejo before we move on to the coast. Then we may stay another day in Estremoz.

mjanensch. Remember you can always return. On our first trip in May 2005 there was a lot we didn't see. But here we are returning not so long after and we get to see more.

Enjoy.

lreynolds - i'm admittedly stubborn so that fact that i think you've convinced me to change my plan is a testament to you! Do you work for the Marvao tourist bureau or own a hotel there? I'll be very disappointed if you do ;-)

So, if i decide to stay in Marvao where do you think i should stay? Would it make sense for me to make Evora only a half day stop between Lisbon and Marvao?

I hope i'm not asking too many questions.

thanks again!

Sher - i know it looks like i'm agonizing over this but i know in the end i'm gonna love whatever we do. I hope you're having a blast.

mjanensch.
Hey. I have been planning this second trip for months.
Talk about agonizing. I got you beat hands down.
The most important thing is that you enjoy.
Sorry we will miss each other by a couple of days.

Hi mjanensch and sher,
I guess I have really gotten on the Marvao soapbox -- in spite of having no financial interest in anything in Marvao! I don't know, for our family, it was just a really fun visit. We've walked around a lot of castles in our day, and I think every one of the 8 family members would say this is one of their top two or three. And those stars at night.... Ok, I'll stop.

We stayed at the Albergaria el Rei Dom Manuel, http://www.turismarvao.pt/ , which is very nice, right inside the walls with parking right outside. We wound up eating dinner there as well, because the restaurant that had been recommended (whose name I forget) was closed. This was over the Christmas holiday, so we did occasinally find stuff closed.

The dinner in the Albergaria was fine, it wasn't one of our favorites on the trip, but it was fine. There is also a pousada in Marvao, I went inside to make a reservation in some other pousadas for a few days in the future, so all I saw was the entrance and front desk, but it looked nice. I've stayed in about 10-15 pousadas and have only had one mild disappointment (we thought the in-town one in Guimaraes was not up to the usual high standards, but they transferred us out to the out of town one which is simply out of this world). I mention that only to say that based on my experience, the odds that the Marvao pousada will be nice are high.

So, no more Marvao cheerleading, I promise! Have a wonderful trip. LR

Lreynolds
We are staying at the Dinis. I liked the look of it and saw somewhere written that they have a room #15 that has a tremendous view with a balcony.
The room is booked already but she wrote to tell me that the room next door has also a tremendous view but no balcony. If the party cancels the room #15 she will give it to us.
I never ask for a specific room and I just decided to this time.

Yes, you should get a comission though many have said Marvao is wonderful.

Unfortunately the Albergaria el Rei Dom Manuel is booked on the day we would stay there . The only other hotel in Marvao that i've found is the Pousada which is quite expensive. Do you have any other hotel options that are up on the hill?

mjanensch. Have you tried the Casa Dinis.
The price is about E55 for a double a night. It is supposed to have fantastic views.
We haven't stayed there yet but are going to give it a try.
They also have parking nearby, they tell me.
www.casadinis.pa-net.pt
They promptly answered my emails.

Good Luck.

Hello there

Sorry to confuse matters, but I feel it would be shame not to spend more time in Evora. Places like Obidos and Marvao are undoubtedly beautiful but they are small (Obidos is tiny) and Marvao is very out of the way, as you're aware. Evora is a wonderful city on a hill with cathedral, squares, a Roman temple, palaces, cafes, and a great atmosphere. I do not think half a day would do it justice.

On a more positive note, I'm pleased Sintra is still in there somewhere. For me, it was perhaps the most extraordinary place of the whole trip.

Sher - the casa dinis looks lovely. I have emailed them about availability. Thank you again!

SamInLondon - a partisan for Evora pops in at the 11th hour! We are definitely going to spend a whole day in evora. Now the question is are we going to spend another day there or a day in marvao.

Hi, mjanensch,

I think at some point all of us who are trying to be helpful just wind up making things harder for you, so I apologize if I'm doing that as the Marvao cheerleader.

I also happen to agree with SamInLondon that one afternoon is not really going to do Evora "justice," it is a lovely city with a nice "feel" to it, I agree.

So then I went back to look at your original itinerary, and you said:

Oct 10-12 - Evora (one of the days spent driving to a nearby town e.g., Elvas, Monsaraz, Marvao)

That's three nights, right? If so, and since Evora is only 90 minutes (at most two hours) from Lisbon, I don't think you have to make the choice to either see Marvao with an afternoon in Evora OR see Evora and not Marvao.

Evora to Marvao is 121 km (about 80 miles). Only a short distance is on the supre-highway, but the roads are all well paved. And there are many wonderful little stops to make along the way. SamInLondon is right that there's not a ton to do in Marvao, it's a small town, but the drive over has lots of possible stops, and having a couple hours there at night and again in the morning is enough to soak it in, I would think.

As far as the pousadas go, I don't know your age, but at 60 you are eligible for 40% off the rack rate on Sun - Thurs.

No matter what you choose to do, you can't go wrong with the choices you have! LR

lreynold1 - Thank you for your concern. I'm smart enough to know that i can't listen to everyone. But I do like to get all the advice i can so i can try to make a good decision.

We are now planning on leaving Lisbon the morning of the 10th. We should arrive in Evora by noon for lunch. We will spend the rest of the day and night exploring Evora. I now think we are going to check out the next day and drive to Marvao, stopping at other towns along the way. We should arrive in Marvao in the mid afternoon and hopefully check into casa dinis (availability pending) that afternoon. We'll spend the rest of the day and evening exploring Marvao. We'll explore a bit more in the morning and then drive to Obidos. We may stop in Almoural along the way as you suggested.

If i don't have fun i'm blaming you. Just kidding! thanks again.

If pousadas are an option (and I think they do something called the 'Pousadas Passport', which gets you four nights at a great rate) perhaps you could consider staying in the pousada in Evora. It's a converted monastery with great charm, and you get to eat breakfast in the cloister. The Roman Temple is just on the doorstep.

After reading all of these posts about Marvao, I really feel like I will be missing something. Just don't see how I can fit it in. We arrive in Evora (flying into Lisbon first) on Oct. 10 late afternoon/early evening and leave on the 11th to go to the Algarve (one day Falesia, one day Lagos) for two days, flying out to Madeira on the 13th. I would really be pushing it to try to squeeze in a drive to Marvao, wouldn't I? But you all make it sound so nice!!!

By my count, we have at least three great Portugal trip reports that will be coming in the next month -- newcomer, mjanensch, and sher. I wish you all a wonderful trip, and I am sure you will come back with your own favorites so that people like me will have new places to go when we return to Portugal!

Have a wonderful trip, and I look forward to hearing how things went! LR

Here is a link to the Pousadas Passport, for anyone who is interested:

http://www.pousadasportugal.com/specials/passport.asp

By my count, you should add Dwsnyder (just arrived back home), Imernal and Judi.
Newcomer, you miss the cheese and wine party by less than 24 hours
Mjanensch, are you joining the gang on the 9th?

That is a lot of pressure.

Yes, I know I will be missing the party, but I will be thinking of you all...
Lobo, do you know approximately what time the fountain light show in Belem usually is? We hope to see it before meeting you that evening (wherever it is that we are meeting...).
Yes, I will definitely do a trip report, but I certainly have a lot to live up to!! Sher is right - the pressure is on!

Well both Dinis and Albergaria el Rei Dom Manuel are booked! Phooey! We are not staying in any pousadas so i don't think the passport thing will help us. Anyone have any other suggestions?