Hello everyone:

I've been frantically planning a trip to Spain and Portugal and we leave in < 2 weeks!

This is our tentative itinerary - does this sound reasonable:

Madrid (3 nights - Catalonia Moratin)
Sevilla (3 nights - YH Giralda)
Granada (2 nights - Melia Granada)
Barcelona (4 nights - Hotel America)
Oporto (3 nights - Residencial dos Aliados)
Lisboa/including surrounding areas
4 nights) -> not sure yet...

Since this is our 1st trip to these two countries, I suppose I'm trying to hit some of the "highlights". I know we will miss a lot of smaller villages and towns this time, but I figure we'll go back and hit those next time

After reading through many posts on the area, I have a few questions for everyone:

1) I've based many of the hotel recommendations from reviews here - any comments?

2) I'm still considering looking for a more "basic" hotel in Barcelona since we don't plan on being in our room all that often - anyone know much about Hostal Oliva or Hostal Central? I've searched on the two and I've only seen a few comments.

3) Does anyone know what the best route from Lisboa to Evora would be (i.e. train, bus, car (I'd like to avoid driving, but if it's really the best option then...). We are also considering staying in Cascais or Sintra and commuting to Lisboa (I've seen a few threads on this - seems like it is "do-able&quot

4) How is the train ride from Sevilla to Granada? On Renfe's site, it looks like it takes 3-4 hrs, but that's not too bad.

Sorry my "1st" post is so long-winded.

Thanks in advance everyone!!

P.S. Maribel - I posted in another thread, but I would greatly appreciate any of your files that you have on my destinations in Spain. Your posts have been invaluable in helping me setup parts of my trip!

Whoops - I forgot to include my email. It is [email protected]. Also, If anyone else has Maribel's files and wouldn't mind sending me them, I'd appreciate it (I'm sure she gets swamped with requests for it).

Thanks!

I know that since is the Foder's site I probably should recommend other books, but Rick Steve's Europe Through the Back Door series is absolutely fabulous, I planned four months on the train and almost exclusively used his advise on hotels, and B&B's. Since you are only goin to Spain and portugal just buy that book rather than the whole ETTBD book. It has hotel rates, phone number, advise on sight-seeing, travel, and what not to do. Also he's pretty funny.

Can only comment on the Portugal portion of your trip. The drive from Evora to Lisbon took around 2 hours if I recall correctly. It is very easy as it is all 4-lane, divided, toll road. We drove immediately to the airport to return the rental car as we knew we would not want it in Lisbon. We chose to stay in Sintra rather than Lisbon (other than for 2 nights at the end of the trip). The train takes approximately 45 minutes and goes directly to Rossio. We liked it. Others have commented that they prefered to stay in Cascais as the train ride into Lisbon is shorter. What do you plan to do with your 3 nights in Porto?

Thanks for the quick replies:

XXX:
In Porto, I wanted to spend some time visiting wine lodges and the Port Wine Institute. We may also try and take a river cruise (probably day only). I figure that by the end of our trip, we'll be a little tired of sightseeing anyway so we can relax a little.

Do you think it would be better to travel from Porto all the way to Evora and then back to Lisboa/Cascais and turn in the car then? I'm admittedly a little nervous about driving in Europe - we only took the train on our trip last year to Italy.

Hi,

Here goes my contribution...

Residencial dos Aliados is in downtown ("Baixa&quot, which currently is undergoing some major civil construction and underground/metro works, namely in Avenida dos Aliados.

My personal opinion is to stay at Foz, not at Baixa.

If you want, check this link...
http://pwp.netcabo.pt/ricardo-duarte...stay-eat-2.htm

where i further explain my opinion.

Three choices at Foz:

- Youth Hostel
http://www.pousadasjuventude.pt/Defa...Conteudo=13841

- Residencial Porto Foz
http://www.portofoz.com/

- Hotel da Boa Vista
http://www.hotelboavista.com/

Regards,

Ricardo Correia Duarte
Porto, Portugal.
advice and tips when traveling to Portugal:
http://pwp.netcabo.pt/ricardo-duarte/

Ricardo:

Thanks for all the information. Foz looks great and I may have to rethink my plans. However, we were planning on spending a fair amount of time in the city itself. Is it that noisy right now? Also, how long does it take to get into the center of the city? Are buses easily accessible and relatively easy to figure out, or will we have to take a Taxi? I'm not sure yet if we will have a car while in Porto.

Hi again,

It's not that noisy, it's more visual pollution other than sound pollution...

If you really want to stay in city center, that shouldn't be the problem. However, Porto downtown is getting more and more desertified and the more livelly part of town is undoubtedly Foz.

From Foz to Baixa it takes about 20 minutes by car (but you'll have to park underground at Baixa...) and 30 minutes by bus. There are some bus going from Foz to Baixa, plus an old tram (i recomnend the tram at least one time). The new metro system doesn't cover Foz.

For transportation check here:
http://pwp.netcabo.pt/ricardo-duarte...sportation.htm

Regarding Porto, check:
http://pwp.netcabo.pt/ricardo-duarte...o-portugal.htm

summing it all up:
If you prefer to stay in a central location, stay at Baixa, but don't forget to visit Foz and wander around, where there's lots of restaurants, cafes and esplanades.
If you prefer to stay in a more "livelly" part of town, stay at Foz and go by car to the city centre (where you may have to pay for the parking) or take the bus (which may take you some time).

Regards,

Ricardo Correia Duarte
Porto, Portugal
http://pwp.netcabo.pt/ricardo-duarte/

Thanks again Ricardo!

We're going to think about whether to move out to Foz or stay in Baixa.

Anakasha:

I forgot to thank you for your advice - we do have a copy of Rick Steve's book along with the Fodor's ones.

Things are moving quickly, so I have to go continue to plan out last minute details.

Anyone have any advice on car rentals in Portugal?

Do not short yourself on Barcelona. I have been three times and still find so much to do that is new. My brother lives there so I do have a place to stay so can't help on Hotel's. I know anything downtown is grand and easy to walk just about everywhere. A grand city and great food. I am going in November again.
Good luck and enjoy your trip.

Auntycon:

Barcelona sounds great - I know we only have 4 nights there, but we also don't want to miss out on other places as well.

Any restaurant recommendations or any "must-sees" while we are there (since you've been several times already)?

Anyone with recommendations regarding Evora hotels?

I have heard mixed things about Solar Monfalim - any opinions?

ttt

Hi Dr. Sneeze,
Your itinerary seems fine, it doesn't look like you're rushing. I'm only wondering if you are visiting the cities in the order you listed. I ask because if you're planning to go from Granada to Barcelona and then back to Portugal, they are on opposite sides of the peninsula, so you'll be criss-crossing the country.

I don't know what city you're flying into/out of, but if you could start in Barcelona, and then make your way to Madrid, then Granada, then Seville, then Portugal, you might find it easier.

Good luck, and don't forget to post your trip report when you're finished.

TE

Tanya:

Thanks for your advice. Actually, that is the order - we are flying into Madrid and out of Lisboa. The way it's planned is because of economics(it was cheaper flying into Madrid than Barcelona) and because we were planning on flying a little bit within Spain and into Portugal because we didn't want to spend a lot of time travelling long distances. Part of our advantage (price) didn't work out too well when we waited too long to book the "domestic" flights

Oh well, live and learn...

Ah, well, as you say, live and learn. Anyway, I'm sure it won't be your last trip over here. I hope you have a great time!

TE