Lisbon and Lisbon airport
Apr 21st, 2007 | 01:36 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 12,492
Likes: 0
Lisbon and Lisbon airport
I have just returned from a very quick conference (3 nights) with one free long morning to lovely Lisbon.
I had been there almost 40 years ago as a student, and was happy to return, and will not stay away so long again!
It is a place I would not rush through. Lisbon has a lot more to offer than meets the eye, with hidden gems spread all around.
I could have easliy spent a few more nights there and done the lovely side trips most posters have written about.
Not to repaet what has already been said, I will point out a few things that I can recommend.
Our hotel was the Lisboa Corinthia 5 star. It is located in front of a bus stop,(746) and had a metro at the back side.( the zoo station)
There are a number of hotels also a block or two away. (Novotel, Ibis, Sana Jose malhoa).
I would go back to this convenient area.
It had an outdoor swimming pool, gym, and all 5 star amenities. Pleasant attentive staff.
We got this for an incredible 60 euros/night including tax but not breakfast on www.talonotel.com.
The all day bus/metro/tram combination pass ( bought at manned metro booths) was only 3.85 euros. It also gives you access to the "elevators" in town.. Sant Justa, for example, which turned out to be a fun experience, especially when a guitar singer played up on the roof terrace.
As suggested in every post..
do not miss Belem, nad all it has to offer.
And especially for non-diabetic gourmands.. those yummy mini cream /custard warm puff pastry sinful specialities at the blue awninged pastry shop (name??) seen from the tram as you go by.
i am still dreaming about them, but ate enough to raise my cholesterol for quite awhile.
About the trams.. when they are crowded, take the bus that also follows the same route.
In the end.. you can be squashed and uncomfortable and it is just not worth it.
We enjoyed the short ferry ride over to calinhas to take the taxi up to the feet of cristo rey monument.
Everywhere we had Very good coffee.
Prices: good value for money. Inexpensive taxis, coffee, hotels, transportation and the museums were also reasonable.
At the airport:
Give yourself plenty of time. I just came back a few hours ago, and there was such a traffic jam just to get INTO the lanes to drop off passengers, some people were getting out of the taxis 100 ft. from the terminal. The Iberia and TAP lines were terribly long.
Then security was a long snake line, but I have to admit it moved very quickly as they had at least 6 scanners open.
It only took 10-15 mins. from our hotel by taxi, but we were happy we had left 1.45 hours (for an intra-european flight) as had we left any later we would have gotten a bit nervous seeing the lines inside on this Saturday morning.
Put Lisbon on your list, if it is not already. It will not "jump out" at you, perhaps, but if you move around and investigate some of its many lovely "corners" I am sure you,too, will leave with a warm respect for the city and its friendly hosts.
I had been there almost 40 years ago as a student, and was happy to return, and will not stay away so long again!
It is a place I would not rush through. Lisbon has a lot more to offer than meets the eye, with hidden gems spread all around.
I could have easliy spent a few more nights there and done the lovely side trips most posters have written about.
Not to repaet what has already been said, I will point out a few things that I can recommend.
Our hotel was the Lisboa Corinthia 5 star. It is located in front of a bus stop,(746) and had a metro at the back side.( the zoo station)
There are a number of hotels also a block or two away. (Novotel, Ibis, Sana Jose malhoa).
I would go back to this convenient area.
It had an outdoor swimming pool, gym, and all 5 star amenities. Pleasant attentive staff.
We got this for an incredible 60 euros/night including tax but not breakfast on www.talonotel.com.
The all day bus/metro/tram combination pass ( bought at manned metro booths) was only 3.85 euros. It also gives you access to the "elevators" in town.. Sant Justa, for example, which turned out to be a fun experience, especially when a guitar singer played up on the roof terrace.
As suggested in every post..
do not miss Belem, nad all it has to offer.
And especially for non-diabetic gourmands.. those yummy mini cream /custard warm puff pastry sinful specialities at the blue awninged pastry shop (name??) seen from the tram as you go by.
i am still dreaming about them, but ate enough to raise my cholesterol for quite awhile.
About the trams.. when they are crowded, take the bus that also follows the same route.
In the end.. you can be squashed and uncomfortable and it is just not worth it.
We enjoyed the short ferry ride over to calinhas to take the taxi up to the feet of cristo rey monument.
Everywhere we had Very good coffee.
Prices: good value for money. Inexpensive taxis, coffee, hotels, transportation and the museums were also reasonable.
At the airport:
Give yourself plenty of time. I just came back a few hours ago, and there was such a traffic jam just to get INTO the lanes to drop off passengers, some people were getting out of the taxis 100 ft. from the terminal. The Iberia and TAP lines were terribly long.
Then security was a long snake line, but I have to admit it moved very quickly as they had at least 6 scanners open.
It only took 10-15 mins. from our hotel by taxi, but we were happy we had left 1.45 hours (for an intra-european flight) as had we left any later we would have gotten a bit nervous seeing the lines inside on this Saturday morning.
Put Lisbon on your list, if it is not already. It will not "jump out" at you, perhaps, but if you move around and investigate some of its many lovely "corners" I am sure you,too, will leave with a warm respect for the city and its friendly hosts.
Apr 21st, 2007 | 03:53 PM
#2
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,227
Likes: 0
Hi, Lin !! Glad you liked Lisbon as I do, you have told it very very well 
I also see you discovered "pasteis de belem", I almost cry everytime I remember them, I miss them soooooooooo much !!
I'm still thinking on how lucky you are with your hotels...60 euros ...5 stars ? I know Lisbon it's probably the best value for money place in western europe but that's too good !!
PS : I sent you an SMS, did you get it ? I'm awful with them...they hate me.
I also see you discovered "pasteis de belem", I almost cry everytime I remember them, I miss them soooooooooo much !!
I'm still thinking on how lucky you are with your hotels...60 euros ...5 stars ?
I know Lisbon it's probably the best value for money place in western europe but that's too good !!PS : I sent you an SMS, did you get it ? I'm awful with them...they hate me.
Apr 21st, 2007 | 04:22 PM
#3
Original Poster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 12,492
Likes: 0
hi!! yes i got your message but haven´t remembered to call you at a decent hour. i see you are also a night owl, but i am signing off soon.
yes, i have been lucky with hotels, and so enjoy it when i get a good deal. kind of silly, but that is an inherent part of me.
hope you are fine.
oh.. those pastries. maybe i can learn how to make them! will let you know.
yes, i have been lucky with hotels, and so enjoy it when i get a good deal. kind of silly, but that is an inherent part of me.
hope you are fine.
oh.. those pastries. maybe i can learn how to make them! will let you know.
Apr 22nd, 2007 | 06:08 AM
#6
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,227
Likes: 0
No, Nikki, not at all !! My neighbourhood is still as a tomb after 10 pm, only on weekends you hear a noise from the street after that hour. Lots of people who have to wake up at 5 AM for work !Even my parents that are retired go to bed at 12. This is not Madrid, hahaha, only place on earth where I have been on a traffic jam at 3 AM in the morning !
My neighbourhood is still as a tomb after 10 pm, only on weekends you hear a noise from the street after that hour. Lots of people who have to wake up at 5 AM for work !Even my parents that are retired go to bed at 12. This is not Madrid, hahaha, only place on earth where I have been on a traffic jam at 3 AM in the morning !
