Thanks to all of your trip reports and other suggestions, I just put together a 3 wk trip to Spain and Portugal for my DH, myself, and two friends. I know it sounds ambitious but think its doable. Would like some suggestions if anyone thinks it can't be accomplished. We will fly into Barcelona, Bilboa, and Lisbon and pick up vehicle when we leave from Barcelona and Lisbon (didn't want car in city based on everyone's comments).
Barcelona (3nts/3 full days); San Sebastion (2 nts/2 full days); Bilboa (1nt/1 full day)
Lisbon (3 nts/3 full days) and drive to Coimbra (2 nts); Porto (3 nts), Belmonte (1 nt) Crato (1 nt), Evora (1 nt) Setubal (1 nt), Algarve region (where??) 2 nts, return to Lisbon or closeby (1 nt). I think this leaves us plenty of time to sightsee in between. Pretty certain this will be independent driving but was also looking at two companies (Portugal Trails and Skyline Travel) that offers some perks we might be interested in ). Just wondering if anyone has experience with either or has heard of them. Thanks everyone

I am confused as to how you can have three nights and three full days in Barcelona. The same for your time allotments for San Sebastian, Bilbao, and Lisbon. The day you travel between cities is not a full day. The way I read your itinerary, you will have two full days in Barcelona, one in San Sebastian, and two in Lisbon. This is not impossible, although some people might feel it was too rushed.

I am also confused about where you are driving from Barcelona. You say you are flying into Bilbao. From where?

Sorry for the confusion, Nikki. We fly into Barcelona, arriving at 8:30am so I count that as one of my full days. After 3 nts there, we fly into Bilboa for 3 nts on a 7am flight so I also count that as a full day. We have a car for those 3 days and then fly to Lisbon. We have 3 nts in Lisbon and 2 1/2 days of sightseeing and then pick up our car which we will have for 12 days. We will have one additional day in Lisbon before leaving.

Have you heard of either of the companies I mentioned??

loving:

Too many one night stands (5), IMO...it'll be like moving day every day. It would be better if you could set a few bases from which to fan out on day trips. In 12 days you should be able to take in a good part of Portugal...we did not include Porto or the Algarve in our trip last year. But in addition to 5 days in Lisbon and vicinity, we did visit Obidos, Nazare',Sintra, Cascais, Arraiolos, Evora, distant Belmonte for it's historic <i>sinagoga</i>, and also stayed at the beautiful Pousada therein. Try to fit in the perched Marvao pousada overlooking the "plains in Spain where it mainly rains"...(for pousadas there is usually a Golden Pass major discount for seniors. We ended up paying 40% of the posted rates).

Here are the pics from that visit..perhaps you can get a few ideas from them. Any questions, please pop them, or write.

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/Portugal2008#

(and the fascinating Belmonte story)
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,...738534,00.html

I don't do trip reports but I'd be happy to share ideas. We loved Portugal...a true gem of a country...the last remaining country in continental Europe we had yet to visit.

Enjoy your retirement, folks. I suppose I would retire, if only I had something to retire from!

Stu Tower [email protected]

(view pix as a slide show, 5-sec. intervals)

.. and while in Bilbao, take in the unique "painted forest" near Gernika. Quite possibly unlike anything you've seen.

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuartto...ForestOfSpain#

http://www.pbase.com/txirloro/elbosque

I have not heard of those tour companies, but I have never looked into taking a tour in this area.

I am still confused about where San Sebastian fits into your schedule.

It still sounds like quite a bit of driving on quite a few days, but some people like that, and I have taken trips like that myself that were fun. I think that three nights in Lisbon and three in Barcelona are fine, even though one could spend much longer (especially in Barcelona).

I have not driven in Portugal, in the areas described, in many years. Are the roads between cities still two lanes or have they modernized? If not Loving's trip will become a chore.

Be sure to spend a full day in Evora, an echanting town with nearby car drawings.

Car drawings? But if they win, what will they do with the rental car?

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. We are use to doing lots of driving but allowing time to stop and smell the roses along the way (hopefully). From Lisbon, we travel as far as Coimbra where we spend 2 nts. This should allow time for stops and day trips to Obidos, Alcobaca, Nazare, Fatima and Tomar. Next, we're in Porto for 3 nts which also should allow stops and day trips to places like Aviero, Guimaraes, Viana do Castelo, Barcelos, Braga,Valenca de Minho, etc. Then we get a little chaotic which was Towers concern. We then have a few one night stands (Belmonte-Crato-Evora) down to Algarve for 2 nts, one night in Palmela on return back toward Lisbon and last night in Lisbon. Even with a few one nighters, distance and time from Google maps sounded reasonable. Do you have any other good sites for distance/time charting in this region?
Tower: I'll email you as I would love your suggestions as to hotels, restaurants,etc as it looks like we're going to many of the areas you mentioned. I did see the Golden Age discounts offered by Pousadas because we will stay at several. I think they also offer a 5nt passport discount for standard rooms only. We hope to stay at the one you mentioned in Belmonte.
Nikki: San Sebastian fits in the beginning of our trip before flying into Portugal. We start in Barcelona, spend 3 nts, fly to Bilboa. Pick up car and drive to San Sebastion for 2 nts and return back for one nt in Bilboa before flying on to Lisbon. Those companies I mentioned don't really provide tours, they just do the bookings for cars, hotels, etc and provide emergency contact #'s, maps, etc. I would only consider using them if their rates are similiar to what I could get on my own but would have the reassurance of their assistance in emergency situations (car breakdowns, etc). If anyone has any serious concerns about us doing to much, we haven't booked hotels yet, only international air so we could be flexible. thanks again

If you spend two nights somewhere that is in-effect only one full day in that location.
I know as I run a Casa Rural and have seen made folks regret staying longer.
I would recommend that you think about rescheduling, so that you fit everything on your list into the days so far allocated. For example Braga and Valença de Minho together are worth a full day, maybe a bit more. To add to these tow cities you may have to miss out on the lovely countryside around. You will not need to use a car in the larger cities like Lisbon and Oporto. In fact they will be a hindrance to you because of parking fess etc.
The trouble with Google maps is they can only give you an idea of travelling times as sometimes you get delays bad weather and they are normally optimistic. Plus you need time to add for pee breaks or meals too.