We are still traveling. In Paris now. Will write a report next week.

We LOVED Lisbon. Very friendly, interesting, and affordable. Weather was perfect. Food is great. Very easy day trips from Lisbon.

The Hotel Avenida Palace is the best value anywhere! It is gorgeous, serves a full hot/cold breakfast buffet, and the staff could not be nicer.

Welcome to the "I love Lisbon" club!

Glad you had a good time.

Thanks, all, for your help in planning our awesome visit to Lisbon. My friends are tired of hearing how much I love Lisbon!

I wrote up my notes and posted them on my other thread. Please take a look!

Here's the link to the trip report

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-price-tag.cfm

PeaceOut,

I LOVE PORTUGAL!! And am so happy that you enjoyed your time there.

My family is Portuguese -- we still have many relatives in Lisboa -- was there in 2010 and can't wait to go back next year.

Wish I had seen your thread earlier, I would have suggested so many day trips you can take from Lisboa (Sintra, Cascais, Estoril, Boca do Inferno, Obidos, the list is endless)....

Looking forward to reading more!

saving for December planning. Great ideas........I will be 'annoying' ;-) you all shortly for ideas for our 17 days driving Portugal & a bit of Spain.
Thanks

Thanks for posting the link, lincasanova. I looked up the Sheraton, remembering your good price deal there!

And Judy, we did day-trip to the first three locations you name. We loved them. Especially Cascais's oceanside setting.

Aussie, annoy away!

bookmarking

<<<While in Lisboa be sure to take the train to Sintra. I am the furthest thing from a romantic, but there is a true storybook quality about that town.>>>

I wouldn't bother with Sintra, unless you have a specific interest in kitsch.
To me the Pena palace is one of the ugliest and tasteless buildings I've ever seen, right there with Neuschwanstein Castle.

In Sintra, we much preferred the Palacio Nacional with it's incredible tilework.