<BR>Holly - (Sorry it's taken me so long to reply, I must have overlooked your post before.) We thought Estepona was pretty clean, it just wasn't one of our favorite areas. We did like the marina Puerto Banus, and I especially liked the little village of Casares up in the hills. We chose our hotel, Hotel el Paraiso, because of it's convenience to where our friends were plus it was supposed to have view of ocean (not much), and a spa/masseuse/tennis pro which my husband was looking forward to - and they didn't that particular weekend! It was up in the hills too and not convenient to get to the main area, or shopping etc or places to walk around which I always like. But it's a nice golf resort, and huge pool. <BR>Mary - You'll love Portugal. As I said, my favorite was the Estoril coast and that whole area - pretty, clean, charming, interesting architecure, palaces, beautiful and rustic coast line. And tho I didn't get there, I'd suggest following Steve's advice about Praia da Rocha too - have heard good things about that area.

HI, <BR> <BR>We are planning a trip to Spain in Oct. for 2 weeks. Any suggestions where to go and what to see? What are some good hotels to stay at? Any suggestions would be appreciated. <BR> <BR>Rita

Actually, I have questions and not responses but I don't find such a place on this site. It must be somewhere... <BR> <BR>I am planning a trip to Portugal and would like to include the Azores, especially the big island, San Miguel, and the smaller island, Flora. <BR> <BR>I know nothing about the Azores. Any hints, suggestions, advice? <BR> <BR>Please do not hesitate to send e-mail to me directly. <BR> <BR>Thanks, <BR>Sharon

<BR>Rita and Sharon - my hotel/site info is above in this post, can't think of much else to add. We didn't get to the Azores, but hopefully you can find something by a search. <BR>Just an additional thought since in some other post elsewhere on this forum someone mentioned not feeling safe in Lisbon, that it was dangerous. I must admit that the first time our taxi driver dropped us off in the old section, Altos Barrrios I think it was called, that I was a little concerned. Kinda dark and dreary and lots of litter. It was early evening, and shops were closing, but we wandered and found a wonderful little restaurant and had great food and ambiance, and then back to the hotel. I wanted to give the area another chance, and we went back again the next day, more wandering and walking, in other areas too, and felt very comfortable. We loved Lisbon and I wished we'd had more time there.

Hi there Cheryl Z. <BR>I read your message about your trip to Spain and Portugal with great interest, I wish I had read it before I booked my flight to Faro. <BR>Ho hum, if you have any info on places to stay in the Algarve and restaurants that cook good seafood dishes, and any thing else that you think would be helpful for a first time to Portugal vacationeer. <BR>Thanks a lot

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Hi Cheryl <BR> <BR>We are going to Lisbon for a weekend break soon and wondered what hotel you would recommend in Lisbon itself? <BR> <BR>Many thanks, Debbie

<BR>Debbie, since it was our last couple of nights and we had an early morning flight home, we wanted to stay little closer to the airport but still convenient to the heart of Lisbon, plus we wanted a health club/pool. So we chose the Holiday Inn on Av. Antonio Jose de Almeida. ph#793-52-22, fax 793-66-72 Had a great view of the city from the roof top pool. I believe there's another Holiday Inn more central in town. Don't remember the rate but it was reasonable, included breakfast, and I think we used a discount of some sort.

Thanks for all your information. I am planning a trip to Portugal with family in September, and am taking my parents who are older/slower so was considering a tour group. Did you have any contact with any of the Portuguese tour groups or even American ones such as Grand European or Globus? <BR> <BR>Phil ([email protected])

what is the very best hotel in fatima portugal ??never went to portugal please answer thank you

going to madrid in june and portugal. what hotels would you recomend that are central located but clean and nice ?? hope to go over to fatima .any tips for there ???

<BR>Phil - Other than a couple individual half day trips (just signed up thru concierge at hotels) we didn't use any tour groups in either country, but did have a good experience with Globus a few years ago elsewhere, had polite, helpful and knowledgeable guide and driver. <BR>Cathy - didn't get to Fatima so can't help you there (but friends have taken day trip there and were fascinated0. In Madrid we stayed at the Crown Plaza city center in Plaza de Espana. From there we went down to Estepona, stayed at the Hotel El Paraiso, continued on to Vilamoura in Portugal and stayed at Dom Pedro Hotel, up to Porto, stayed at Hotel Boa Vista and Melia Confort, then to Cascais (Village Cascais) then Lisbon (Holiday Inn).

where did you stay in Cascais? Was it inexpensive-nice

I going to spain at the end of May. Can you provided recommendations on hotels in madrid? <BR>Thanks, Maria.

How should I spend one week in Portugal on my first visit? What are the 3-5 "must sees'? -- especially outside of Lisbon? If someone can point me in the right direction, I can find my way from there. <BR> <BR> Arriving in Lisbon in mid-May. Current thinking is to rent a car and tour the countryside / regional centers, but don't know which way to head -- maybe north?? Particularly enjoy experiences of locals / history / culture / good cuisine / opportunity to meet others. Brief stop or two at spa / beach sounds good, but its not where I want to spend most of my time. I've visited Europe 20-30 times and lived in Africa 5 years, and understand what it means to find those special moments and special spots. Fluent French/some German, no Portugese or Spanish. Can anyone help? <BR> <BR>Ideal answer, drive to __, spend 1-2 days poking around stopping at __ or staying at __, proceed toward __ , etc Thanks

<BR>To the last few posters - sorry I haven't replied promptly, we were in Mexico the first couple weeks in this month (April '00), and just haven't had a chance to get on the Forum much since I've been home. All my hotel info is in my above posts so I hope that can help you. I think you'll love Portugal. You may be put off at first by Lisbon, but we loved it and would go back. As mentioned before, the Estoril coast was my favorite, especially the Cascais and Sintra area, easily accessible from Lisbon. Try at least two days in Lisbon. And tho we didn't get North of Porto, friends did and really enjoyed it and said the coast was beautiful. <BR> Rich, I got your email and will try to answer that later. <BR>

Cheryl - didn't see a place to stay overnight in Toledo in your earlier postings. Any suggestions?

We stayed in the Hotel Domenico, which was a 50 room hotel across the river. Very good, not too far from town. Taxi was about $6.00. One side has good view of Toledo.

Re: Lisbon Hotel

Again! <BR> <BR>Re: Lisbon Hotel - we stayed at the Lisboa y Tejo. Great location, wonderful staff, the airlines lost our luggage for 3 days and they were great about helping us with phone calls etc... Another good one is the Metropole. <BR> <BR>Algarve: we went to Lagos and Tavira. I liked Lagos better - more to do and great restaurants and cove beaches! My husband liked Tavira better - more quaint, quiet little village.