Lisbon for first timers
 

Hello fodorites, My husband and I (2 seniors) will be in Lisbon for about 4 nights this December. We will be visiting the Algarve with friends and family over Christmas but prior to that we'll have a few days to spend in Lisbon. We're flying into Faro as Air Transat has direct flights from Toronto. We considered taking a bus, train or plane to Lisbon but saw extremely reasonable car rental rates through AutoEurope with Tangerine being the provider. My husband has driven previously in Italy and France. Tangerine isn't a company we're familiar with. Would love to hear feedback from anyone who has used them. While I know we won't need or necessarily want a car in Lisbon and will require hotel parking, given the inexpensive rates and the flexibility having a car provides, are considering it. We would then have it to travel down to the Algarve.
Would love to hear recommended areas to stay in Lisbon and suggested hotels. I have read that the Real Principe area is very nice but maybe not as central as other areas? Our budget would be approximately 250E per night.
Many thanks.

As you note, having a car while in Lisbon is unlikely to be a benefit; it is more likely to be a hindrance. You really won't need it while there and you really shouldn't try to drive AT ALL within at least a day, and better -- two days -- of crossing multiple time zones. Driving before you adjust to a new time zone is MUCH more dangerous, to yourselves and anyone else on the roads, than most people realize.

If you want to pick up a rental car when you are ready to leave Lisbon, I don't know anything about Tangerine. I suggest you look at Auto Europe.

If you search this board, you will find several threads on where to stay in Lisbon (areas and specific hotel recommendations).

Thanks very much for your quick response kja. You're quite right regarding the issue of driving after an overseas flight. As noted in my message, Auto Europe is where I saw Tangerine listed as an option.

It seems I responded TOO quickly: I missed that reference! Sorry about that.

https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...tugal-1713270/
This may answer some of your questions.

Thanks very much for the link Virginia. Lots of great information there and it sounds like you had a wonderful trip. I'll check out the Hotel Da Baixa where you stayed and I see the Blue Liberdade Hotel has also been recommended on this forum so I'll have a look at it as well.

Finalizing details of our upcoming trip to Portugal and had a few questions regarding travel from Faro Airport to Lisbon. Our flight arrives 8 am and there is a Rede Expressos bus leaving at 9:10 and arriving at Sete Rios at 12:50 and also an Alsa bus at 9:30 arriving at Lisbon Oriente at 1:14 and many subsequent Alsa buses. Is it necessary to prebook either of these options? I'm hesitant to do so in the event our flight is delayed.
Our plan is to spend a few days in Lisbon then rent a car to drive to the Algarve where we'll spend a few days over Christmas with family who live in Tavira after which we'll have a few days before our return flight from Faro on New Year's Day. Would Lagos be a good base to spend a few days? Many thanks for any feedback.

We spent six nights in Lisbon in 2022. You can find out more here.

https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/portugal-2022/

Thanks so much Maitaitom! What a wealth of information. I'm making lots of notes. Unfortunately we're only in Lisbon for 3 full days and one of those days we'd like to go to Sintra before heading down to the Algarve. So we're really just scratching the surface.

Still hoping to get some information on the bus from Faro Airport to Lisbon. Many thanks.