Lisbon - overnight
 

hey guys- I really need help! first time in Portugal and Spain. Going (2 couples, mid 60"s) to Marbella, Spain. However, we are flying into Lisbon, renting a car and driving to Marbella,Spain. Questions: 1) do we need an international drivers license?
2) staying in Lisbon for 2 nights - what are the must see or the most exciting sites there? 3) what hotels are in the most appropriate area for site-seeing? (modest to moderate $$). thanks for your help.

1) I have no idea
2) Borges - modest, Regency Chiado - moderate, Avenida Palace - expensive

First, get your car as you are leaving Lisbon. It is a nuisance to have a car in L.

We have taken the Hop on- Hop off sighseeing bus in L. It is a very efficient and conveninet way to see the major sights in L, at your leisure for 15EUR p.person. It does not cover the Alfalma and the former Exposition districts If you have the time, the aquarium there is fabulous, and we had our best dinner at the Casino. The four of you could take a taxi to go to these two districts. Taxis are cheap in Lisbon and plentiful.

We stayed in 2 hotels: The LeMeridien had a good location for the "hop-on, hop off portion of our stay. Then, after our return by train from Porto, we stayed that Tivoli Tejon, right across form the Orientale RR station, 10 min. by cab from the airport and within walking distance of the aqarium and the rest of the Expo. grounds. We took a taxi for the short ride to the Alfalma district and the Tile Museum, which we considered a highlight of the trip.

As to driver's license: There is no such thing as an International Driver's License. The International Driver's Permit (available through your local AAA) is essentually a translation of the key dcntents of your US driver's license (I assume you live in the US) and only valid in conjunction with it. It is not required to rent a car in Lisbon, but I usually get one when traveling in Europe. The $10 it costs (excluding passport pix) are worth it if ou are involved in a fndere bender and the other person doesn't speak English or you don't speak Portugese or Spanish (in Spain! The Portugese don't like to speak Spanish)

Finally, have you looked into the cost implications of picking up a car in Portugal and dropping it off in Spain? Cross-border drop-offs tend to be expensive in Europe.

we are planning on returning to Lisbon on the return to fly back home. So the car would be with us in Spain. any reasons why not????? we plan to go to Granada and some other towns along the way.

Then, by all means go by car.

On your way back, you may want to spend the last night in the Hotel Tivoli Tejon, because of its convenient location to the airport. It is a fairly modern hotel, more business than tourist travelers because of its proximity to IT company offices, like Vodafon. But a visit to the aquarium, gondola ride along the river, and dinner (after 7PM) in the main dining room of Casino are recommended. All within walking distance of hotel.

If youn want to simplify your life, drop your luggage off at the hotel, drop the car off at the airport, return by cab to the hotel and then, the next day, return by cab to the airport. The hotel has not shuttle service.

The airport is right along the main autobahn (not the Portugese name for it) as it enters the city.