ET

HELP!! <BR> <BR>My husband & I will be in Portugal for 10 days. We will be staying in Sintra at Quinta de Sao Thiago for 5 days then traveling to Algarve and staying in Sagres for 4 days. While staying in Sintra, we are planning to visit Sintra for a day, Lisbon for a day, Caiscais & Estoril for a day & Nazare & Tomar for a day. Are there recommended sites that are "must sees" while I'm in this area (other than Obidos)? <BR> <BR>In Algarve, we were planning to pretty much relax on the beach. We will be staying in Sagres Infante. Is that a nice pousada? Also, are there any hidden areas (beaches, cliffs, caves) we should experience while in this area??? <BR> <BR>PLEASE RESPOND ASAP!!! THANK YOU! <BR>

Kristi

We've just returned from Portugal. If you're staying in Sintra for 5 days, make sure to make the short train trip out to see the palace at Quelez, a short walk from the train station (I think it was the Belas station, not the other one that starts with a "M"). My husband was more impressed with that than the Pena palace in Sintra. The gardens are delightful and the palace is fabulous. We saw the National Palace, the Pena Palace, El Morro and Quelez all in the same day but it was a bit rushed. There's a bus that travels around Sintra, don't walk from place to place unless you want a lot of exercise (all uphill). The bus (600 escudos for a day pass) stops at the train station, the National Palace (town), El Morro, and the Pena Palace, from the Pena palace you need to take another tram (200 escudos) to get to where the palace actually starts. After you take the tram back down, you can walk downhill to get to El Morro. <BR> <BR>If you're driving, you might also stop by the abbey in Batalha which you can see from the highway (IC1)and Alcobaca to see the church. In the streets around the church in Alcobaca there are quite a few pottery stores, with much better prices than those in Lisbon. We also had a nice lunch at Trinidade, to the left side of the church as you approach it. <BR> <BR>Tomar was interesting. We caught a tour at the Convento de Cristo at 3:30 where they let you see a bit more of the convent and gave a little commentary about the place. Nazare seemed to be a bit too commercialized for our tastes, hardly a quaint fishing village anymore. <BR> <BR>A couple more tips about Portugal. They bring plates of appetizers and bread, which you will be charged extra for, even if you don't eat it. If you're not interested, send it away. Also, their ATM network is all connected so if you're ATM card doesn't work in one, it probably won't work in another. Make sure you have a backup plan for getting cash, admissions to churches, etc. run about 600 escudos per person and add up pretty fast. We saw lots of signs regarding pickpockets, especially on trams and buses. Keep an eye on anything valuable. We also read a lot about theft from cars, especially from Sintra. Don't leave maps or luggage out in the open if possible. And if you're driving, the Portguese drive very fast, so stay to the right and let them pass. <BR> <BR>The Museum of Coaches in Lisbon (Belem)was pretty cool, as was the Castelo de Sao Jorge (take the trolley, the incline is steep)and the Monastery de Sao Jeronimos (also Belem). Belem is a short tram ride from central Lisbon. <BR> <BR>Have a great trip!

alice

Was in Portugal in 1991 and loved it. It is so preciously quaint. Went to Sintra briefly, and had lunch in Caiscais at John The Baker (they didn't translate it out of English). We had a marvelous fish dinner. Lisbon is beautiful. Try to go to the Fado Club if you enjoy seeing typical song and dance.

ET

Kristi & Alice - <BR> <BR>Thank you both for your recommendations. I will definitely take them under advisement! <BR> <BR>Kristi - <BR> <BR>As far as a backup plan for cash...what do you suggest? Will we be able to go to a local bank & have $ wired from our bank?? <BR> <BR>Anything on Algarve? <BR>

Paul

We have really enjoyed a B&B in Salema called AMARE. Salema is a very quaint little beach area close to Lagos. Excellent beach and beachfront restaurants. You can also do short hikes to other, more secluded beaches. <BR>

Kristi

I would either carry some travelers checks or make sure that I had a credit card that I could get cash advances from just in case. We had a credit card with us, but I didn't know the PIN so make sure you have that. You will accrue interest on the cash advance from the day you take it out but that would have been preferable to worrying that we were going to run out of money. I haven't used travelers checks in years and I probably still won't, but this was the first time I wasn't able to use my ATM card anywhere in an entire country. <BR> <BR>We received horrible exchange rates at a bank in Coimbra, the rate was better at the airport in Lisbon. There's an ATM at the airport but of course I wasn't able to use it.

Cheryl

We just got back from our honeymoon in Portugal. We absolutely loved Sintra and the area. I really liked Pena Palace and the moorish castle. The national palace wasn't too thrilling. The one thing we didn't have too much time to enjoy were the gardens at Monseratte. They are all overgrown and wild in places but you can really get the feeling for what a fabulous place it must have been in it's time. <BR> <BR>The Algarve was not my favourite place. Lagos was too built up for our tastes, Sagres was way too bleak, but Salema was just fine. It has a couple of good restaurants and a great little bar. All of the pousadas we stuck our noses into (couldn't afford to stay there) were gorgeous so I'm sure the Sagres one will be equally so, but we just found Sagres to be a little too windy and a bit too bleak. Still it's close enough to some great beaches and such so you should enjoy it. <BR> <BR>Cheryl

julie

YES! you should have a great time. Sintra is one of my all time favorites, and that Posauda is a great one. Also stayed at the one in Sagres (just this past march) and it is so beautiful. This part of the world is one of my all time favorites. It is windy and bleak and BEAUTIFUL. Seascapes as you could not even imagine! It was a bit chilly in March, but should be warming up. PS. the Pousada faces the ocean, and you can sit on your veranda and enjoy! (a slight downer--I didn't like the food so much at the Pousada), but maybe it's just me.

ET

Thank you all for your recommendations! I will let you know how it went when I get back!! <BR> <BR>

Debbie

We visited Portugal in Late March and early April of this year-loved it and the prices!!!!I have a recommendation that some may find strange but its worth passing on. If you have a couple extra pieces of "bubble wrap" in the garage or basement-throw it in your suitcase for the marvelous pottery/stoneware that you run across.I ended up buying some unusual pieces in a market on a Sunday afternoon in Lisbon and then some in Sintra and wished that I had better packing around them other than newspaper.Have a wonderful trip-Portugal was beautiful! Debbie