Hello everyone!

My name is Linda and I have been lurking on this board since February when I started planning our trip to Portugal.

Thanks to all of you who have been so generous with your time, sharing so much good information with the rest of us.

We will be in Portugal from 5/20 -5/29 and we have rented a car for the entire time. I have some questions regarding the using the car all the time or taking public transportation some of the time. We will begin in Sintra for three nights, then to Evora for two nights and then finish in Cascais for four nights. My questions are regarding Sintra and Cascais and sightseeing in Lisbon and elsewhere nearby. Should we plan to drive or take public transportation? Any insights appreciated.

Linda

Hi Isabel. We did not go to Sintra from Lisbon because we dropped the car off before Lisbon and since we had only three days there, we wanted to concentrate on Lisbon proper. We still haven't decided on a hotel in Lisbon. Do you have any suggestions?

We were there in early May, so you know the traffic was lighter than it will be in July, but there was still guite a few people touring.

We parked near the T1 and train station which is lower than the historical center of Sintra. We then rook the bus, I believe it was #434 on the loop up to the palace, etc. We hopped on the bus for the return to the car.

I think I am remembering this correctly

Visiting Sintra was not the only thing we did that day. You are correct that you can group it with other things, if you have the car. Or maybe someone with more knowledge of train travel would be able to give you hints about how to do this without a car.

I wouldn't have rented a car by myself because I feel the logistics of driving and reading signs is rather difficult on a first trip. But if there are two of you, it is much easier.

Brazilnut. Thank you so much for the restaurant tip and also for the explanation of lobo_mau's secret. The LDC has enough suggestions for many meals and this is another good one.

Hi ladylin915. Welcome.
I think parking in Lisbon may cause you some problems. Someone will advise you the best way to visit the city from either Cascais or Sintra. Since I have been told getting to these towns is easy from Lisbon, I am sure the reverse is true.

I'm back on duty. Still recovering from Easter break. Brazil, Lady amd Toninha, is very nice to see you around.
Lady, there are plenty of Fodorites planning to come by end of May. If you wish to join the LDC meetings, let Matt know the dates you plan to be in town, and he will try to arrange the best possible combination that suites everybody's agendas.

The LDC sounds great. Probably the time we are in Cascais would be best for us and that would be Thursday 5/25 - 5/28 and we leave for home on Monday morning the 5/29. Have not made any plans for dinner yet, so let me know and if it works out, it would be great. Your help has been invaluable in planning our trip.

Hi guys-
Well I'm searching for hotels and hitting some road blocks because the weekends in Lisbon at the end of June are hopping! Many of the places I've had my eye on can only accommodate some of our dates. I'm realizing that we can get a deal at the beautiful (and posh...not my original vision of the trip...) Pestana Palace but fear that it's so far out of the way. Anyone have any thoughts or experiences to share? I've also looked at the Lisboa Regency Chiado but I've read enough bad reviews that I'm hesitant. Thanks for any help-

Hello everyone, I have been away for a while. I put my trip plans on hold while I worked in the Garden. The weather has been lovely here in the midwest USA. Nancy1652: We are also going to Salema. We will be there at the end of June. I have a friend of a friend who goes to Salema every year and she recommended the Salema Beach Club. It is on a hill overlooking the ocean with a pool and very cheap. They are 2 bedroom condos. You can look at pictures at http://www.secretdestinations.com/sh...p;citycode=PSA. but I found it cheaper to call the condos directly at: 351-28-269-5252.
Matt and Lobo: I loved seeing the pics from the LDC and can't wait to join in the fun.

There has been so much helpful information on this thread and the old Lisbon thread I was hoping you could all help me just a little more. We will be spending 2 nights in Evora as per Matt and Lobo's suggestion. We may take a day trip to Monsaraz and a tour of the monoliths. We will stay at the Best Western Hotel Santa Clara. Is anyone familiar with this hotel? We would like to use fairly inexpensive hotels because we have 3 kids and may need 2 rooms. Then we will go on to Fatima then spend the night near Sintra. I am looking at the Hotel Arribas on the beach with a cool looking pool and lots for the kids to do that night before we spend the next day sightseeing in Sintra. Does anyone know anything about this hotel? I just happened to stumble onto the web site and it looks good but looks can be deceiving. I haven't booked it yet. Then we will go on to Lisbon for 3 nights. I am still looking for a place to stay in lisbon that wouldn't require 2 rooms. Any suggestions? I still need to look into VIP Eden Aparthotel. FYI if anyone is looking for fun things to do with kids Matt has listed them on the old Lisbon thread. Thanks Matt.

Hi Sarasara,
Thanks for your information on Salema; unfortunately, they require a week's stay. We finally decided to book into the Pousada in Sagres.
We're staying in Evora at Solare de Monfalim which is only 85 Euros and looks very nice. www.monfalimtur.pt

In Lisbon, we're staying at the Hotel Dom Carlos Park which I found on TripAdvisor and that looks good as well at $148.00 on Expedia. I had a hard time finding a place for the end of May. Hope this is useful.

sara,
when exactly will you be in Lisbon? I have an apt. rented right in downtown Chiado area till the 30th. Great location, nice apartment, nice price?Our stay starts on June 19th-30th. I also looked a one that is a little bigger, costs a little more but was quite beautiful. And lastly, if you are perhaps interested in staying near Cascais, I found a nice home worth taking a look at;too big for us.

Namaka. How are your plans coming? Did you decide on a car rental company? I am still looking.

Sher

Sherry,
I have yet to book my car in Lisbon. My car rental in Lisbon, my airport transfers in Paris and London are all I have left as far as bookings go. Then I still need to finalize my specific itinerary in each country. That is rather slow going. Paris is coming along, due in part to the overwhelming responses to this website. Lisbon is next due to you,Matt, Lobo and everyone else answering questions. I have to say that with exception to London, the UK part of the trip is far from finalized. That has a lot to due with trying to arrange family gatherings with the relatives there. I still have a little less than 2 months to go! I am on the site constantly cutting and pasting information. Nevertheless, I am consumed with this trip. I think of it as my trip of a lifetime, but in reality, I know that it'll just leave me wanting more.

Nameka: we will be in Lisbon on June 30, July 1 and 2. I would love suggestions for an apartment. When we stay near Sintra we will be arriving in the evening after spending the day in Fatima and will leave early morning the next day to see Sintra so we probably don't need a house for that short time. I am also still looking for car rental. Any suggestions? thanks

Namaka. I am still researching car rental in Lisbon. I must have looked at a million companies.

I have lots of time yet, but like to get those kinds of things completed
before I work on the itinerary.

My husband has drawn a large map of the Alentejo on poster board and as we read, we want to pencil in things to do in certain areas.

I am still looking at hotels in Lisbon and I think I am hoping that some five star hotel will take pity on me and let me stay for $100 a night. As that is not likely to happen, I keep researching self catering, but will not be satisfied unless we are in the center of old Lisbon. For four nights, I do not want to be going back and forth on the subway.

I still have time between my trip and some of the others of you so that I am depending on good information when you guys return.

Keep me posted.

Hello everyone!

My husband and I will be staying at Pensão Gerês in Lisbon for 60 euros per night. It's centrally located near Rossio Square. Of course, it's a budget pension and not a 5-star hotel, but I recommend checking their website out and seeing if it's your cup of tea. I've seen many good reviews. When we get back from our trip, I'll be sure to post our review of the Pensão Gerês.

http://cb2web.com/geres/index-en.shtml

Sher - I took your advice about Carjet and booked our rental through them. We require an automatic and their prices are much cheaper than anything else we've seen - about $480 for an Opel Astra for 8 days (includes $80 for insurance buy-out).

Great Bailey. I was very happy with Carjet. I don't know which company they will hook you up with, but we had a car from Budget. It was just a little automatic, but I was very happy with it.
Sometimes they do have small automatic diesel cars available when you arrive. I was not able to pre order one. I do not know if there is a difference in price when you pick up. You might want to ask them upon your arrival if you are interested. Last year the price difference was .10E or so difference in the cost of the gasoline and diesel fuel, not a lot really.

I think you will be happy near Rossio. It is too busy an area for some people, but it was great to be able to walk around the center of old Lisbon and get to other places so easily.

Thanks for the tip. I would really rather go more budget for rooms and spend the money on the LDC!

I will be very interested in your reports.

This is my list (based on personal perceptions) about where you need and don't need a car.

You don't need a car to:
- visit all Lisbon, including places like Belem and Parque das Nações (former Expo98)
- travel from Lisbon to Sintra
- visit the main attractions in Sintra
- eat travesseiros and queijadas in Piriquita Sintra's coffe shop
- ride the Apples' Beach tramway (comboio da Praia das Maçãs)
- travel from Lisbon to Cascais
- visit the main attractions in Cascais

You need a car to:
- travel from Cascais to Sintra (direct route)
- explore the sea cost from Cascais to Ericeira) stopping in small villages and beaches
- visit Queluz palace
- visit Azenhas do Mar

Bottom line: no need to rent a car while in Lisbon, Cascais or Sintra, unless you want to go to very specific places. Save your money to rent a car to visit places like Obidos, Evora, Nazaré, Fátima, Alcobaça, etc...

Sher, check your husband's Alentejo map to see if it has marks in:
Evora
Monsaraz
S. Bento do Corval
Vila Viçosa
Estremoz
Marvão
Redondo
Alandroal
Castelo de Vide
Arraiolos
In a previous incarnation I wrote some notes about my favourite activies in this area. If you don't have it, please tell me and I'll post again.

lobo_mau. I do have your notes. But we have not started marking the places of interest around these towns yet, just the towns themselves.
I know that one of the places is the restaurant A Maria which we are definitely going to.

Also. Is the leather factory near Cartaxo just on the road very easy to find? I think you said between Cartaxo and Santarem.

henryandcasper,

I don't know what your budget is but take a look at Olissippo Castelo. I got excellent rates for October although that was an early booking special. I think it's fairly new, so it may still have availaibility for your dates. It's located near Castelo S. Jorge. website is www.olissipohotels.com

Can anyone here recommend a place to buy Portuguese pottery? I'm looking for a place that has a good selection and has reasonable prices.

Thank you.