Portugal
 

My husband and I plan a trip in early fall 2003. Any tips on places to stay, places to visit, shop , eat, etc.Thanks

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Laura, Early fall suggests Bella Italia to me. Stay big picture as you narrow your choices--this may help:<BR>SO, YOU WANT TO SEE ITALY !<BR>FIRST, GET A GOOD MAP ! Having planned more then sixty personalized itineraries to southern Europe and Italy, I have learned that the best trip plans start with a good map. It takes about six weeks to see most of Italy, and that does not include Sicily.<BR>So, any typical two week sojourn requires a geographic orientation and thoughtful planning to optimize the total experience. The temptation is to try to see too much, and that is a big mistake. My advice is to limit yourself to FIVE DESTINATIONS OR LESS for any two week itinerary. Perceive Italy as geographic regions and plan accordingly. Here is a menu to help you to plan well. Let your total time<BR>in Italy, and a good map, determine your feasible choices !<BR><BR> THE BEST DESTINATIONS IN ITALY---BY CATEGORY---NORTH TO SOUTH<BR><BR>REGIONS OF NATURAL SPLENDOR:<BR>1. The Lakes of Lombardy/Piedmonte [ Maggiore, Como, Lugano, Orta]<BR>2. The Dolomites/Lake Garda [ Cortina, Ortisei, Merano, Riva del Garda]<BR>3. The Ligurian Coast [ Portofino, Cinque Terre, Portovenere]<BR>4. Tuscany/ Umbria [ quaint and historic hill towns]<BR>5. The Amalfi Coast [ Sorrento, Positano, Ravello, Capri] <BR><BR>THE HISTORICAL ART CITIES:<BR>1. Venice & Veneto [ allow 3 days---more if you include Vicenza, Verona et al]<BR>2. Florence [ it all happened here--plan for 2 days just in Florence]<BR>3. Siena [ deserves a full day, perhaps as a day trip from Florence]<BR>4. Rome [ the Eternal City demands 5 days---some would say two weeks]<BR><BR>ROMANTIC RESORT DESTINATIONS:<BR>1. Bellagio [ the best of Lago Como]<BR>2. Cortina [ the Vail of Italy--ski resort in heart of the Dolomites]<BR>3. Portofino/ Santa Margherita [ splendid sea-side venue]<BR> 4. Positano [ the best location to explore the Amalfi coast] <BR> 5. Taormina [ fabulous sea-side location in Sicily]<BR> 6. Ravello [ la dolce vita above the Amalfi coast]<BR> <BR> <BR><BR>

Ooops ! I posted to wrong question.<BR>For Portugal, get a good map and find these wonderful places:<BR>Sintra, Obidos, Viana do Castelo, Marvao, Evora, Lagos, Lisbon. That will be a great itinerary for a 2 week sojourn. Portugal is the best value in western Europe. Have fun !

Hello, Laura!<BR>Here is a copy of my trip report from July of 2001, when I stayed in Sintra (a little north of Lisbon.) I had gone with Untours, who arrange airfare/apartment/ transportation. I really recommend them.<BR>Anyway, here's the trip report:<BR>Ocean crashing against the cliffs; moss covered monastery in the fog; exhilarating wind and views at the Moors' Castle; Serra cheese and olive oil and luscious ripe tomatoes with fresh bread for lunch; friendly, fun Lisboa: I loved Portugal! <BR>I spent two weeks in an apartment in old town Sintra, a 45 minute train ride to Lisbon (after an incredible flower filled 10 minute walk to the train station). I used public transportation to get around. The town has a reasonable tourist crowd by day, but at night it's peaceful, lovely, and cool. I concentrated on just the area around Sintra, going as far as the medieval town of Obidos in the north and down to Lisbon south, with a three day weekend trip to incredible Madeira thrown in for good measure. I booked Madeira after I got to Sintra; the wonderful lady at the travel agency spoke enough English to make it work, as my Portuguese is a bit limited! <BR>Highlights of the trip included a clear day at Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of Europe, with a great walk along the cliffs; the mountains of Sintra with Pena Palace, Castelho do Mouros, and San Pedro market; the Manueline extravagance of the Monasterio de Jeronimos in Lisbon, and hiking the levadas of Madeira. <BR>"Highlights" that were less concrete but very, very important include the friendliness and helpfulness of so many Portuguese people, the lack of crowds, and my kind of weather: 70's and sunny! <BR>I'll be glad to try to answer any questions. (I'm ready to go back!)

Hello, there. Here are some suggestions.<BR>If you're coming in early fall, I think you are not thinking on going to the beach !! correct ?? - if so, let´s cut the Algarve out of your plans.<BR>So, What´s nice in early fall ? River Douro Valley. <BR>It is during that period, that the grapes are picked up, and then Port wine is made. <BR>Last year, Douro Valley was considered by UNESCO, world legacy, and, let me tell that is very nice. All the leaves of the grape fruit plants got brown and yellow colors - like gold - and the river valleys are really beautiful.<BR>There are cruises available, and extraordinary hotels with great views.<BR>Near that region ( easy to reach from Porto airport ), you also have all the Minho region, with cities like Guimar&atilde;es ( once again, world legacy - the medieval centre ), or Braga and Ponte de Lima.<BR>All this region ( in the north of Portugal ) has a mild climate in this time of year, and has great food, a National park ( peneda-Ger&ecirc;s ), good wine, and local parties.<BR><BR><BR>"almost all the answers in just one single place, <BR>www.tourist-in-portugal.web.pt

We went to Portugal in 1997. It is less expensive than other European countries because it is much poorer. We saw what appeared to be a woman in her 70s or 80s pulling a cart of twigs and firewood. Among the more beautiful things we saw were the monasteries with their beautiful cloisters at Batalha and Alcobaca. We liked Coimbra, the university town and Porto. If you get a chance to go to Coimbra, stop overnight at Bucaco, a wooded forest just northwest of Coimbra, and stay at the Palace Hotel. It is the most beautiful hotel I've ever stayed in. Built as a hunting palace for the King of Portugal, it was given to the cook when the King was deposed. He opened it as a hotel. Walls covered in blue and white tiles, outdoor dining on an arched secondfloor stone deck, beautiful staircases, 1920's furnishings in the high ceilinged bedrooms. Absolutely fabulous and very historical.