I am finally getting around to reading this, as our trip planning for our April visit now begins in earnest. Once again I am struck by the high level of factual reporting, which few of us here have equaled. Long may you travel, write and flourish.

I am sad you didn't seem to love Portugal. We went 2 summers ago and we LOVED it! Found it very inexpensive as far as European countries go, with very reasonable food and wine prices. We could not believe how inexpensive the wine was and it was excellent . To bad we can not buy much of it at home. We got the device for tolls on our car too. Well worth it. We had no trouble driving around (except for some scary narrow, high roads in the Douro). We stayed in Sintra, Obidose, the Douro and Porto. The Douro valley was our favorite. I would like to go back and stay there a week. We stayed at Quinta De Nova. It was fabulous with unbelievable views. We can't wait to go back!

hi, and Madeira ? is very beautiful island

http://www.madeira-holidays.eu

Hi Dedlaw
Great report !
We are doing a 10 day trip to Portugal in May and are basing ourselves in Lisbon and Porto, with day trips to :

Sintra/Cascais
Evora
Obidos/Nazare
Douro River Valley
Braga/Guimares
and possibly -
Batalha/Alcobaca
Tomar
Aveiro/Coimbra

You visited a lot of the above, so would appreciate your comments on any of the above places that were disappointing to you and that you would leave out, as well as the places you feel were definite “musts”. Also is 1 day in Porto itself enough?
Thanks

Thanks to your recommendation we spent three days at Chanceleirias and loved our stay there.