Our Second Trip to Wonderful Portugal Is In The Works.
Nov 28th, 2005, 10:01 AM
#1
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Our Second Trip to Wonderful Portugal Is In The Works.
My husband and I are planning to return to Portugal, but not until this coming October.
I know it is a long way off, but I love to plan.
This time I would like to include Madeira. I am hoping to fly TAP from the US (Newark area) directly to Madeira at the beginning of the trip. Then we would fly to Lisbon, pick up a car for the Alentejo and return to Lisbon.
This is what I am thinking:
Fly to Madeira and spend three nights there.
Fly to Lisbon on the fourth day and pick up a car.
Spend six nights exploring the Alentejo.
Return to Lisbon on the tenth day and spend three nights in Lisbon.
I really need input on this schedule. Thanks.
I know it is a long way off, but I love to plan.
This time I would like to include Madeira. I am hoping to fly TAP from the US (Newark area) directly to Madeira at the beginning of the trip. Then we would fly to Lisbon, pick up a car for the Alentejo and return to Lisbon.
This is what I am thinking:
Fly to Madeira and spend three nights there.
Fly to Lisbon on the fourth day and pick up a car.
Spend six nights exploring the Alentejo.
Return to Lisbon on the tenth day and spend three nights in Lisbon.
I really need input on this schedule. Thanks.
Nov 28th, 2005, 10:21 AM
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I stayed in the Alentejo two years ago and rented the cottage near the other buildings.
http://www.manorhouses.com/manors/portugal/touril.html
The best thing about the area is the lack of other tourists - only Portuguese go there. The food is great and its a really great escape.
http://www.manorhouses.com/manors/portugal/touril.html
The best thing about the area is the lack of other tourists - only Portuguese go there. The food is great and its a really great escape.
Nov 29th, 2005, 07:40 AM
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Sher...Have you investigated www.pousadas.pt ?? Don't know your budget but these hotels/castles/historic sites have super accom. and pretty good price points especially off season. Also Bussaco Palace Hotel is outstanding and resonable for the off season which Oct. is.We had nothiing but a wonderful experience with pousadas..Do not need a car in Lisbon or Porto for that matter.Keep a-planning..
Nov 29th, 2005, 08:35 AM
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I also heartily recommend pousadas (except Obidos) especially if you can get midweek or off-season deals.
We stayed at Casa dos Pensamentos (or a name similar to that) in Estremoz. The drive back to Lisbon to return the rental car at the airport was easy.
We enjoyed Evora, Estremoz (& the monoliths in the area), Monsaraz. We also toured Vila Vicosa (tour only in Portuguese). Marvao was a highlight, not just of the Alentejo, but of the trip. Don't miss it.
We stayed at Casa dos Pensamentos (or a name similar to that) in Estremoz. The drive back to Lisbon to return the rental car at the airport was easy.
We enjoyed Evora, Estremoz (& the monoliths in the area), Monsaraz. We also toured Vila Vicosa (tour only in Portuguese). Marvao was a highlight, not just of the Alentejo, but of the trip. Don't miss it.
Nov 29th, 2005, 10:00 AM
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Hi Sher, as a Portuguese I think your itinerary is very good. I can recommend you a good website where you will find the best places to stay in Portugal during your trip, with plenty of pictures and informations. The loveliest inns,b& b, pousadas, etc.
It's www.secretplaces.com.
You can also book through them. Hope you enjoy your trip
Teresa
It's www.secretplaces.com.
You can also book through them. Hope you enjoy your trip
Teresa
Nov 29th, 2005, 10:24 AM
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Greetings Sher
Another website for you to visit covering Portugal and the Isle of Madeira:
http://home.online.no/~nancys/portugal/
When in Madeira, there is another nearby island which you reach by boat ... unfortunately it didn't operate the day we decided to visit: our one regret when reliving our holiday to Madeira. Jay
Nov 29th, 2005, 12:03 PM
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Hi Everyone.
amer_can. We stayed one night in the Bucaco Palace Hotel on our trip in May. Isn't it lovely! We did not stay in any posadas on this last trip as it seemed a little beyond our budget. But we are now almost 60(or will be by next Oct.) and they give a very good discount for seniors. Also it is off season. So I am looking quite closely at them.
xxx. Thanks for the Estremoz tip. We will have a car for that part of the trip before we spend the last several days in Lisbon. It is nice to know how easy it will be to return it to the airport. I think we will taxi into town.
Tere. We made the reservations for Bucaco from Secret Places. Not only was their service wonderful, but we obtained the best price for the hotel from them. Their price was even more reasonable than dealing directly with the hotel.
lomajay. Nancy's Portugal is a wonderful sight. One of the nicest places we stayed (Casal dos Patos) we found on this web site. I am definitely going to look at her listings again along with the posadas.
Ahhh heather_17. Romance! Well, let me think. You understand that we actually only really saw a very tiny portion of Portugal. But I would have to say Bucaco was like a fairy tale. Also Alcobaca, of Pedro and Inez, is enough to get anyones heart strings going. To see them lying there forever.
We loved the drive along the Douro, and really thought of going back. But I want to see more of the country before I return to places we have visited. Except Lisbon. Three nights was not enough on the first trip.
amer_can. We stayed one night in the Bucaco Palace Hotel on our trip in May. Isn't it lovely! We did not stay in any posadas on this last trip as it seemed a little beyond our budget. But we are now almost 60(or will be by next Oct.) and they give a very good discount for seniors. Also it is off season. So I am looking quite closely at them.
xxx. Thanks for the Estremoz tip. We will have a car for that part of the trip before we spend the last several days in Lisbon. It is nice to know how easy it will be to return it to the airport. I think we will taxi into town.
Tere. We made the reservations for Bucaco from Secret Places. Not only was their service wonderful, but we obtained the best price for the hotel from them. Their price was even more reasonable than dealing directly with the hotel.
lomajay. Nancy's Portugal is a wonderful sight. One of the nicest places we stayed (Casal dos Patos) we found on this web site. I am definitely going to look at her listings again along with the posadas.
Ahhh heather_17. Romance! Well, let me think. You understand that we actually only really saw a very tiny portion of Portugal. But I would have to say Bucaco was like a fairy tale. Also Alcobaca, of Pedro and Inez, is enough to get anyones heart strings going. To see them lying there forever.
We loved the drive along the Douro, and really thought of going back. But I want to see more of the country before I return to places we have visited. Except Lisbon. Three nights was not enough on the first trip.
Nov 30th, 2005, 05:18 AM
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Sher, thanks for posting and to all who have responded. We are going to Portugal in October for the first time and I am enjoying this thread.
On this trip I would like to concentrate on the mid section, flying into and out of Lisbon. We will have two weeks and I don't like to rush. Perhaps we will will do a circle of Obidos, Marvao, Evora and back to Lisbon. That may be too ambitious as my husband does not want to hire a car. Is it possible to do this on public transportation?
Thanks again.
On this trip I would like to concentrate on the mid section, flying into and out of Lisbon. We will have two weeks and I don't like to rush. Perhaps we will will do a circle of Obidos, Marvao, Evora and back to Lisbon. That may be too ambitious as my husband does not want to hire a car. Is it possible to do this on public transportation?
Thanks again.
Nov 30th, 2005, 08:29 AM
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Hi Judi. Cannot help you with public transportation because we rented a car.
The roads are very good and we had no problem with road signs or directions.
Transportation in Portugal is very reasonable. We did take the train from Braga to Porto return and I believe it was less then 10E including parking the car all day at the train station.
We really like the freedom of our own car, especially driving the back roads.
I guess I just do not have the patience to master bus schedules for some of the outlying areas.
The roads are very good and we had no problem with road signs or directions.
Transportation in Portugal is very reasonable. We did take the train from Braga to Porto return and I believe it was less then 10E including parking the car all day at the train station.
We really like the freedom of our own car, especially driving the back roads.
I guess I just do not have the patience to master bus schedules for some of the outlying areas.
Nov 30th, 2005, 11:29 PM
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Judi, Sher is right. Driving in Portugal is so easy and now the roads are very good , you don't want to go on public transportation. That will take you most of the joy of the trip. She also gave you many good tips. The North is beautiful, the Douro region, and Portugal is so small you can drive easily anywhere. Have a great trip
Teresa
Teresa
Dec 1st, 2005, 01:47 AM
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By the way - here is one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in - and its in lisbon
http://www.pestana.com/EN/Hoteis/Lis...ascais/Palace/
http://www.pestana.com/EN/Hoteis/Lis...ascais/Palace/
Dec 1st, 2005, 04:47 AM
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We have been trying to keep our two week trips in no more than three locations and to rent apartments.
European hotel rooms seem to be on the small side and I love the extra room we can have even in a small apartment.
We were at the Metropole in Lisbon. We originally rented an apartment there. We were just not happy with it and just walked up to the Metropole and asked about rooms. We really liked it but will look into different place for this trip.
Thanks lawchick for the tip.
I wanted to tell Judi to look up Carjet if you decide to rent a car. We have rented cars in many countries from a lot of different agencies. It is a UK company. The service was good and the price (when we traveled) was fantastic. Just put it on your list for a comparison. We rented an automatic and they may not be requested very much in Portugal so maybe that is why the price was so good. Anyway, it is worthwhile to check them out.
Also, I ordered a Thomas Cook Signpost Guide (driving) from Amazon, I believe, and it has great driving routes.
I can say without a doubt that you will love the people.
European hotel rooms seem to be on the small side and I love the extra room we can have even in a small apartment.
We were at the Metropole in Lisbon. We originally rented an apartment there. We were just not happy with it and just walked up to the Metropole and asked about rooms. We really liked it but will look into different place for this trip.
Thanks lawchick for the tip.
I wanted to tell Judi to look up Carjet if you decide to rent a car. We have rented cars in many countries from a lot of different agencies. It is a UK company. The service was good and the price (when we traveled) was fantastic. Just put it on your list for a comparison. We rented an automatic and they may not be requested very much in Portugal so maybe that is why the price was so good. Anyway, it is worthwhile to check them out.
Also, I ordered a Thomas Cook Signpost Guide (driving) from Amazon, I believe, and it has great driving routes.
I can say without a doubt that you will love the people.
Dec 1st, 2005, 04:50 AM
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We really enjoyed the NW in July '04: the Pousadas in Guimaraes and Viana do Costelo were great (and the 35% senior discount helped), but the Parador in Baiona, Galecia, Spain was world class.
We rented a VW Polo 1.2L in Oporto with a man trans: it would have been undriveable with an automatic.
The toll roads are like the German Autobahnen, but without traffic, and they are expensive.
M
We rented a VW Polo 1.2L in Oporto with a man trans: it would have been undriveable with an automatic.
The toll roads are like the German Autobahnen, but without traffic, and they are expensive.
M
Dec 1st, 2005, 01:06 PM
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Thanks again for your replies to the car situation.
I emailed the Portuguese Trade and Tourism Office ([email protected]) last week and promptly received a wonderful packet of books, maps and print outs. I highly recommend that anyone who is interested in Portugal to ask for material.
We go to Nerja, Spain every year for two weeks and add an additional week or two to explore other parts of Spain. After eight years we are ready for new territories which prompted us to check out Portugal. I expect us to spend a few years exploring Portugal which is why I want to concentrate on a small area on our first trip. I am definitely interested in staying in some Pousadas.
I emailed the Portuguese Trade and Tourism Office ([email protected]) last week and promptly received a wonderful packet of books, maps and print outs. I highly recommend that anyone who is interested in Portugal to ask for material.
We go to Nerja, Spain every year for two weeks and add an additional week or two to explore other parts of Spain. After eight years we are ready for new territories which prompted us to check out Portugal. I expect us to spend a few years exploring Portugal which is why I want to concentrate on a small area on our first trip. I am definitely interested in staying in some Pousadas.
