Portugal (+ Spain ?) family trip next summer
Nov 4th, 2014, 01:56 PM
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Portugal (+ Spain ?) family trip next summer
Hi !
We are slowly planning ou next trip for summer (something like july 6 to july 28 ); We are two adults and two young kids (3 and 7)..
and firts we have think about Spain or Italy, but many peiple told us that the heat can be unbearable. Then we thought about Scotland and then, after lots of reading, i've foud that that seems great but not for this summer. Then we go back to Portugal (and maybe Spain)
First, some informations so you can can give better and more precise answers to me :
1) We are from Montréal Canada.
2) Both my girlfriend and I are teacher (not English be reassure, our main language is french !) so we don',t have the choice of our vacations. It must be july or august.
3)) For transportation we can use car or train. We would choose the best/cheapest way. What's your thoughts about this In Portugal ?
4) We are also open to rent 3 appartement for our trip (one week by appartement). So we could chose three towns that allows us to do day trip around (poorto, Lisbioa and ? )
6) We are not beach type, we don't like that much being at the beach so having access to one is not necessary but can be part of our trip
5 ) About the heat. I don't like the heat that much so we tend to not stay in intense heat for too many times. We don't like it much but we can manage it most of the time (the ideal would be to get a air conditionned room for the night !) Is Portogual will be a bit colder than Spian or Itlaly ?
6) maybe we could be in Portugal for 15 days and add couples of days in Spain (Seville ? )
7) From Montreal The easiest flight is Lisboa does anyone can suggest us a route that take us there at the begining and the end of our trip ?
8) Budget is around 7000 euros (including flight) Is it doable ?
Thanks !
We are slowly planning ou next trip for summer (something like july 6 to july 28 ); We are two adults and two young kids (3 and 7)..
and firts we have think about Spain or Italy, but many peiple told us that the heat can be unbearable. Then we thought about Scotland and then, after lots of reading, i've foud that that seems great but not for this summer. Then we go back to Portugal (and maybe Spain)
First, some informations so you can can give better and more precise answers to me :
1) We are from Montréal Canada.
2) Both my girlfriend and I are teacher (not English be reassure, our main language is french !) so we don',t have the choice of our vacations. It must be july or august.
3)) For transportation we can use car or train. We would choose the best/cheapest way. What's your thoughts about this In Portugal ?
4) We are also open to rent 3 appartement for our trip (one week by appartement). So we could chose three towns that allows us to do day trip around (poorto, Lisbioa and ? )
6) We are not beach type, we don't like that much being at the beach so having access to one is not necessary but can be part of our trip
5 ) About the heat. I don't like the heat that much so we tend to not stay in intense heat for too many times. We don't like it much but we can manage it most of the time (the ideal would be to get a air conditionned room for the night !) Is Portogual will be a bit colder than Spian or Itlaly ?
6) maybe we could be in Portugal for 15 days and add couples of days in Spain (Seville ? )
7) From Montreal The easiest flight is Lisboa does anyone can suggest us a route that take us there at the begining and the end of our trip ?
8) Budget is around 7000 euros (including flight) Is it doable ?
Thanks !
Nov 4th, 2014, 03:03 PM
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As far as your budget goes, it will be very tight, if not impossible, especilly if you're talking about Canadian dollars, which are currently worth nearly 14% less then the US Dollar.
After paying for your flight, you will have to cover everything else, lodging and meals included, for less than €100/day for 4 people. That would even be difficult backpacking.
After paying for your flight, you will have to cover everything else, lodging and meals included, for less than €100/day for 4 people. That would even be difficult backpacking.
Nov 4th, 2014, 04:46 PM
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Pardon the miss on Euros vs Canadian dollars. Assuming you can fly for €3000, the €4000 left, to last 15 days, will still be a rather tight budget (€266/day) for 4 people. It will have to cover food, lodging and transportation, plus any other expenses you may encounter along the way.
Finding accommodations will be your bigest budget problem during high season. Quad rooms are very rare, so you would have to look at two bedroom apartments to keep the price down.
Finding accommodations will be your bigest budget problem during high season. Quad rooms are very rare, so you would have to look at two bedroom apartments to keep the price down.
Nov 4th, 2014, 05:12 PM
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Lodging in appartment (airbnb) around €80 per day
Food: Grocery store, and some quick cheap reatuarant food around €40 per day
TRansportation cars (€600) trains (€250) public transportation (€150) for 21 days = €47 (Let's say €50)
Total: €170 per day.
Is my calculation is that wrong ?
Food: Grocery store, and some quick cheap reatuarant food around €40 per day
TRansportation cars (€600) trains (€250) public transportation (€150) for 21 days = €47 (Let's say €50)
Total: €170 per day.
Is my calculation is that wrong ?
Nov 4th, 2014, 09:49 PM
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You're now at 21 days for €4000? That amounts to €190/day for everything.
Quite frankly, 4 people cannot eat, certainly not healthy food, for €40/day unless you want to skip lunch, which is the main meal of the day for most. Even if you where cooking in the apartment you would find it difficult to stay within this budget.
One cheap menu at luch, €10/person, would eat up your entire daily food budget.
Quite frankly, 4 people cannot eat, certainly not healthy food, for €40/day unless you want to skip lunch, which is the main meal of the day for most. Even if you where cooking in the apartment you would find it difficult to stay within this budget.
One cheap menu at luch, €10/person, would eat up your entire daily food budget.
Nov 4th, 2014, 11:50 PM
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Fuel prices in Portugal in Cnd$ (change to Euros if you want)
http://www.globalpetrolprices.com/Po...soline_prices/
http://www.dieselogasolina.com/el-pr...-portugal.html
Note these prices are averages.
Car hire should be a family car rather than a city car. They are usually powered with a diesel engine so they are very economical. The more travelling you do the more you spend.
The main highways are all tolled. so account for this or travel on the slower untolled national roads. Speeds are lower and have more traffic.
To help you chooses something of interest read the main tourist website.
https://www.visitportugal.com/fr
Accommodation read http://www.booking.com/ http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rentals/portugal/r53
http://www.globalpetrolprices.com/Po...soline_prices/
http://www.dieselogasolina.com/el-pr...-portugal.html
Note these prices are averages.
Car hire should be a family car rather than a city car. They are usually powered with a diesel engine so they are very economical. The more travelling you do the more you spend.
The main highways are all tolled. so account for this or travel on the slower untolled national roads. Speeds are lower and have more traffic.
To help you chooses something of interest read the main tourist website.
https://www.visitportugal.com/fr
Accommodation read http://www.booking.com/ http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rentals/portugal/r53
Nov 5th, 2014, 03:30 AM
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Roberrt: not healthy food for €40 per day ? Veggies, bread and fruits doesn't cost much. Also, have you miss the part where i've said that our kidss are only 3 and 7. They doesn't eat as much as an adult does. It was 21 days from the first message you are the one who told me 15 days. I know that you try to be helpfull but can you leave our budget aside for a moment ? I know it should be enough.
Nov 5th, 2014, 10:36 AM
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Okay, then go! Sevilla is a marvellous city.
I don't know if it's very practical, though, to travel from central Portugal to Sevilla. It would be a very long drive. We visited Sevilla from Tavira in the Algarve (southern Portugal). It was less than 2 hrs drive. But since you are not into beaches, maybe the Algarve isn't a good choice for you.
I don't know if it's very practical, though, to travel from central Portugal to Sevilla. It would be a very long drive. We visited Sevilla from Tavira in the Algarve (southern Portugal). It was less than 2 hrs drive. But since you are not into beaches, maybe the Algarve isn't a good choice for you.
Nov 5th, 2014, 05:13 PM
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"I don't like the heat that much so we tend to not stay in intense heat for too many times."
I wonder, then, if Portugal and Sevilla are your best options. As already noted, southern Portugal and southern Spain (including Sevilla) can be exceedingly hot at that time of year. You might want to consider other options that might be a bit cooler.
I'm not trying to challenge you -- just to open the door to other options....
I wonder, then, if Portugal and Sevilla are your best options. As already noted, southern Portugal and southern Spain (including Sevilla) can be exceedingly hot at that time of year. You might want to consider other options that might be a bit cooler.
I'm not trying to challenge you -- just to open the door to other options....
Nov 5th, 2014, 05:29 PM
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You still have some time to study, research and read before you firm up any flights or hotels.
Unless your trip can be easily arranged with great sightseeing in one country or a small area, making a big loop to arrive and depart from the same city (Lisbon) because of cheap airfare may not actually be that cost effective. It wastes some of your precious vacation time and costs extra money. You might as well cut a day and night from your trip and use the money you would have spent for transportation and a hotel to return from a final city. When booking, look at multi-city tickets where you fly into one city and out of another.
Seeing major places that are either close together or have good and easy transportation between is a more efficient use of time and money. Create "Bookend" cities you like and see what is between.
Not knowing where you have traveled and exactly why you are considering Portugal, I do not know alternatives that would interest you, but will throw out a couple of things. I know you did not mention these, but Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, etc. are all lovely in Summer with great easy train travel and a wonderful variety of things to do and see.
If you must keep Spain and Portugal, what about more Northernly areas where it may not be so hot?
If you stay South, even if it doesn't seem to interest you now, get a place with a pool. You will be glad you did. You will want it in the afternoons. I have visited Spain twice in July. The first time, near Seville, everything closed during the afternoon, not just for siesta, but because it was too hot to be out. We never ate dinner before 10:00pm. Have food available for the little ones in the afternoons when restaurants are closed. Be sure to plan for that right away upon arrival.
Stay in places with lots to do and good transportation where you won't need a car. Example: Barcelona has great parks and would be fantastic for the little ones with plenty of architecture, music, etc. for the adults to easily spend four or five whole days, plus some interesting, easy day trips and a beach.
A couple of planning examples:
You could fly into Lisbon and stay nearby for four or five days (using trains/busses), fly to
Seville for three or four days (including Cordoba), train to Madrid for three days (let the kids row in Retiro park, day trip to Segovia or Toledo), fast train to Barcelona for rest of trip. Fly home from Barcelona.
You could visit Lisbon for a week or so, fly to San Sebastian for a few days, rent a car and visit areas on the way to Barcelona, fly home from Barcelona.
You could fly into Amsterdam and stay nearby for three or four days, train to Bruges and do day trips to Ghent, one day at the beach on the North Sea, etc. train to Germany, rent a car and travel South along rivers and visiting castles, on down to Bavaria for King Ludwig's castles, home from Munich. Or arrive in Frankfurt, rent a car and tour the lovely castles and Bavaria, (gorgeous lakes) on over to Austria and home from there.
When you firm up more what really excites you, people can give the best advice for an itinerary.
Unless your trip can be easily arranged with great sightseeing in one country or a small area, making a big loop to arrive and depart from the same city (Lisbon) because of cheap airfare may not actually be that cost effective. It wastes some of your precious vacation time and costs extra money. You might as well cut a day and night from your trip and use the money you would have spent for transportation and a hotel to return from a final city. When booking, look at multi-city tickets where you fly into one city and out of another.
Seeing major places that are either close together or have good and easy transportation between is a more efficient use of time and money. Create "Bookend" cities you like and see what is between.
Not knowing where you have traveled and exactly why you are considering Portugal, I do not know alternatives that would interest you, but will throw out a couple of things. I know you did not mention these, but Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, etc. are all lovely in Summer with great easy train travel and a wonderful variety of things to do and see.
If you must keep Spain and Portugal, what about more Northernly areas where it may not be so hot?
If you stay South, even if it doesn't seem to interest you now, get a place with a pool. You will be glad you did. You will want it in the afternoons. I have visited Spain twice in July. The first time, near Seville, everything closed during the afternoon, not just for siesta, but because it was too hot to be out. We never ate dinner before 10:00pm. Have food available for the little ones in the afternoons when restaurants are closed. Be sure to plan for that right away upon arrival.
Stay in places with lots to do and good transportation where you won't need a car. Example: Barcelona has great parks and would be fantastic for the little ones with plenty of architecture, music, etc. for the adults to easily spend four or five whole days, plus some interesting, easy day trips and a beach.
A couple of planning examples:
You could fly into Lisbon and stay nearby for four or five days (using trains/busses), fly to
Seville for three or four days (including Cordoba), train to Madrid for three days (let the kids row in Retiro park, day trip to Segovia or Toledo), fast train to Barcelona for rest of trip. Fly home from Barcelona.
You could visit Lisbon for a week or so, fly to San Sebastian for a few days, rent a car and visit areas on the way to Barcelona, fly home from Barcelona.
You could fly into Amsterdam and stay nearby for three or four days, train to Bruges and do day trips to Ghent, one day at the beach on the North Sea, etc. train to Germany, rent a car and travel South along rivers and visiting castles, on down to Bavaria for King Ludwig's castles, home from Munich. Or arrive in Frankfurt, rent a car and tour the lovely castles and Bavaria, (gorgeous lakes) on over to Austria and home from there.
When you firm up more what really excites you, people can give the best advice for an itinerary.
Nov 6th, 2014, 04:13 AM
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Thanks a lot for that answer Sassafrass, there a ,ot of godd advice in it, it's much appreciated.
>>Not knowing where you have traveled and exactly why you are considering Portugal >>
My girlfrien and I have 2 lifes has travelers, the life before, whene we didn't know each other, and this life together with kids. As solo traveler I've been to Netherlands, France (Paris and Alsace), and 5-6 days in Germany (the western part. My girlfriend made paris , northern France and the loire valley.
As a couple , In europe, we've been To London, Poland and Czech Republic.
What interest us is history (i'm an history teacher), cultural places, vibring city and quiet village. We also like scenic views that can'T be foud found were we live (mountains). Now we must add places were our could have some fun from time to time (kids museum, parks)
Why Portugal ? because it was un many list of place to get for not too much money ! And Robert tell me that 200euro wouldn't be enough at all...so i'm but confused.
Germany is very appealing to me, but not so much for my girlfriend , but nothing is lost she have borrow a Germany guidebook at the Library !
Vienna doesn't seems to be that great, Budapest seems cool but maybe a bit out of the way.
Like you can s
>>Not knowing where you have traveled and exactly why you are considering Portugal >>
My girlfrien and I have 2 lifes has travelers, the life before, whene we didn't know each other, and this life together with kids. As solo traveler I've been to Netherlands, France (Paris and Alsace), and 5-6 days in Germany (the western part. My girlfriend made paris , northern France and the loire valley.
As a couple , In europe, we've been To London, Poland and Czech Republic.
What interest us is history (i'm an history teacher), cultural places, vibring city and quiet village. We also like scenic views that can'T be foud found were we live (mountains). Now we must add places were our could have some fun from time to time (kids museum, parks)
Why Portugal ? because it was un many list of place to get for not too much money ! And Robert tell me that 200euro wouldn't be enough at all...so i'm but confused.
Germany is very appealing to me, but not so much for my girlfriend , but nothing is lost she have borrow a Germany guidebook at the Library !
Vienna doesn't seems to be that great, Budapest seems cool but maybe a bit out of the way.
Like you can s
Nov 6th, 2014, 06:24 AM
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Vitoria Gasteiz , in Spain, and from there you could easily reach Oporto by plane from Bilbao airport/train from Vitoria, and Biarritz in France.
Vitoria was named green city capital 2014 and easy walking, and communications are good either by train or by main road with France, Madrid, Santander, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Paris and Lisboa (last both connected by train)
I'm sure you would like it. Good food, nice weather, well connected...
Vitoria was named green city capital 2014 and easy walking, and communications are good either by train or by main road with France, Madrid, Santander, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Paris and Lisboa (last both connected by train)
I'm sure you would like it. Good food, nice weather, well connected...
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