Portugal
Aug 11th, 2004, 03:20 PM
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Portugal
My mother and I are planning a trip to Portugal in the Spring of 2005. We usually rent a car and drive the country. I am looking for any recommendations of places to go, places to stay, things to avoid, best time to travel. We are American and language challenged so speak only English. Will this be a problem if we are on our own? Thanks to all who respond.
Aug 11th, 2004, 04:16 PM
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Aug 11th, 2004, 08:04 PM
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Portuguese is an easy and fun/beautiful language to learn. You could learn 3 words a day. You have way more than a hundred days, even if you took every other day as a "day off"!
Three hundred words is a very useful start towards communicating in any language.
Best wishes,
Rex
Three hundred words is a very useful start towards communicating in any language.
Best wishes,
Rex
Aug 12th, 2004, 05:31 AM
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May I gently suggest that you give some more information as to your interests, budget, etc?
Have you searched and read previous posts here? There are some detailed descriptions and plans.
Some general answers to your questions...
Make sure you have a detailed map if you drive.
You can almost never go wrong staying in a Pousada, if that is in your budget.
In cities, language was never a problem. In smaller towns and less touristed areas, you will want a decent phrase book. If you have any experience with Spanish or French, you will be able to recognize some written Portuguese. However, IMHO, spoken Portuguese is another matter entirely. I'm no expert but have a decent command of Spanish and took 2 semesters of Portuguese in college. While I agree with Rex, that it is beautiful to hear and speak, I don't find it easy to do so.
Have you searched and read previous posts here? There are some detailed descriptions and plans.
Some general answers to your questions...
Make sure you have a detailed map if you drive.
You can almost never go wrong staying in a Pousada, if that is in your budget.
In cities, language was never a problem. In smaller towns and less touristed areas, you will want a decent phrase book. If you have any experience with Spanish or French, you will be able to recognize some written Portuguese. However, IMHO, spoken Portuguese is another matter entirely. I'm no expert but have a decent command of Spanish and took 2 semesters of Portuguese in college. While I agree with Rex, that it is beautiful to hear and speak, I don't find it easy to do so.
Aug 12th, 2004, 08:28 AM
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Clarification: it is easy to learn 300 words.
Reading comprehension is the easiest to achieve, and very useful, considering the investment in time and effort it requires. The ability to write some short sentences in a language is the next easiest, and not nearly as useful. The ability to speak is next most difficult, and moderatly useful. Listnening comprehension is probably the most useful of all, and for many people,the hardest to achieve.
Reading comprehension is the easiest to achieve, and very useful, considering the investment in time and effort it requires. The ability to write some short sentences in a language is the next easiest, and not nearly as useful. The ability to speak is next most difficult, and moderatly useful. Listnening comprehension is probably the most useful of all, and for many people,the hardest to achieve.
Aug 13th, 2004, 08:27 AM
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In response to xxx (and thanks for the pointer that my inquiry was way too vague). We usually travel over a two week period. We are not high dollar people but do like comfort so are not bottom dollar either - middle of the road probably says it. I guess putting in in American Dollars - the average lodging cost we prefer is around $100.00, assuming similar lodgings in the States. If we are lucky, that will be the high end for Portugal (although I have yet to experience that overseas). We like to see places that the average tourist misses but also recognize that some of the tourist sites should not be missed. I did scroll through some of the other posts on Portugal and have some ideas from that.
Aug 13th, 2004, 10:50 AM
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Once again, The NW is wonderful and many if not most of the Pousadas have 35% Senior (over 60) Promotional discounts. Only negative I have seen is re: the Pousada in Obidos. Many helpful threads here in the last few months including lobo_mau's rec PT2day.
Most there speak English, but almost no Spanish (agree with xxxx - easy to read, but tough to listen/speak: scrambles my SP/GER/ENG language synapses.
Spring weather allows comfortable travel in the more touristy South.
The food is a bit salty in the NW.
M
Most there speak English, but almost no Spanish (agree with xxxx - easy to read, but tough to listen/speak: scrambles my SP/GER/ENG language synapses.
Spring weather allows comfortable travel in the more touristy South.
The food is a bit salty in the NW.
M
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