João Branco

Joao’s planning and little surprises like room upgrades and event tickets were top notch. We would recommend in a minute. The guides and drivers were all really good, on time and providing context to everything we were seeing. They added other things to see ideas as well along with restaurant suggestions when we were on our own. Our only negative. Although we gave Joao a specific budget, which sets certain limitations, our hotel had some aging issues. It’s part of a bigger chain and probably just hasn’t hit the list for renovations yet. Again, overall a fantastic experience. Thanks.

We had the most amazing trip! Joao was always available and responsive to answer questions. Each driver was professional and courteous and the van was always extremely clean and comfortable. The itinerary that Joao put together was fantastic- it was the perfect blend of activities that we all really enjoyed. This trip truly exceeded all expectations. Thank you Joao and kimkim!

Joao and his team did an amazing job. We had a great experience from booking to his daily check in and agenda. 10 days, 3 locations all tours, and private drivers were great!! Thank you,

Overall it was a great trip. We were able to visit so many cities within Portugal and have a nice combination of activities as well as relaxation time by the beach. We enjoyed Lisbon, Porto, Évora, Lagos, Algarve, and Cascais were all incredible.

João Branco and his team from AP Portugal did a fantastic job planning an amazing trip. We had an incredible time that we will always cherish. They were readily available for any questions or concerns we had. They followed up every evening to see... read more

Overall it was a great trip. We were able to visit so many cities within Portugal and have a nice combination of activities as well as relaxation time by the beach. We enjoyed Lisbon, Porto, Évora, Lagos, Algarve, and Cascais were all incredible.

João Branco and his team from AP Portugal did a fantastic job planning an amazing trip. We had an incredible time that we will always cherish. They were readily available for any questions or concerns we had. They followed up every evening to see how the day was and provided a breakdown of what the next day was going to look like. They also gave recommendations on food, desserts, and places to visit during our free time. The planning done prior to the trip was clear and helpful. We had a lot of conversations, which helped us get the exact trip that we were looking for.

I just returned from a group trip to Portugal organized by Across Portugal. From start to finish, the experience was nothing short of amazing. The attention to detail and thoughtful planning were evident in every aspect of the journey.

Our itinerary was well-balanced and accommodations were top-notch. What truly set this trip apart was the amazing service received from Joao, who coordinated every everything to perfection. Top notch customer service and communication, can't recommend enough... read more

I just returned from a group trip to Portugal organized by Across Portugal. From start to finish, the experience was nothing short of amazing. The attention to detail and thoughtful planning were evident in every aspect of the journey.

Our itinerary was well-balanced and accommodations were top-notch. What truly set this trip apart was the amazing service received from Joao, who coordinated every everything to perfection. Top notch customer service and communication, can't recommend enough when visiting Portugal.

I am immensely grateful to Across Portugal and especially to Joao for crafting such a memorable experience. If you're looking for a seamless, enriching, and downright amazing journey, I wholeheartedly recommend considering their trips.

Portugal-- what an amazing country. The people, the food, the culture and the beauty. We both felt like home in Portugal and loved our whole experience. Our local specialist Joao checked in daily and had us in the most beautiful hotels, with wonderful transportation and drivers who were very engaging and knowledgeable. He was available for any last minute changes and had great recommendations. From start to end it was a wonderful holiday and we look forward to visiting again with our... read more

Portugal-- what an amazing country. The people, the food, the culture and the beauty. We both felt like home in Portugal and loved our whole experience. Our local specialist Joao checked in daily and had us in the most beautiful hotels, with wonderful transportation and drivers who were very engaging and knowledgeable. He was available for any last minute changes and had great recommendations. From start to end it was a wonderful holiday and we look forward to visiting again with our children some day. Thank you.

Our trip to Portugal was exactly what we hoped for. João was extremely helpful and responsive throughout. He made the planning process so simple. João seemed to understand exactly what we were looking for as a family and set up the perfect trip for us. Throughout our time in Portugal he made sure that we were taken care of and ready for all of our activities.

Matilde was our guide in Lisbon for the first day of the trip. I was amazed at her knowledge of absolutely everything relating to... read more

Our trip to Portugal was exactly what we hoped for. João was extremely helpful and responsive throughout. He made the planning process so simple. João seemed to understand exactly what we were looking for as a family and set up the perfect trip for us. Throughout our time in Portugal he made sure that we were taken care of and ready for all of our activities.

Matilde was our guide in Lisbon for the first day of the trip. I was amazed at her knowledge of absolutely everything relating to Portuguese history and the city of Lisbon. She answered all of my many questions, and I had a lot. Matilde was also very kind and friendly. She got our trip off to the perfect start.

Eduardo was our driver while we were in Lisbon. We were very thankful for him. He expertly maneuvered our van all throughout the city and was great to talk to. He was happy to make all of our silly detours and helped us find everything we were looking for. He even found us a music store so I could get a Portuguese guitar!

All together the trip was awesome and the people were so nice! While we hope to explore more of the world, we are definitely planning to return to Portugal!

We had an amazing vacation! Working with Joao and his team was great. They planned the perfect hotels for us and we loved every excursion, even every guide. Pedro was fantastic on our walking tour of Lisbon; he was friendly, funny and so knowledgeable. I cannot say enough things about our driver Antony….He was the best. The day trip with Simone, with Inside Lisbon was long but so worth it! She was a great guide and kept us entertained. We just wish we had more time in Obidos and... read more

We had an amazing vacation! Working with Joao and his team was great. They planned the perfect hotels for us and we loved every excursion, even every guide. Pedro was fantastic on our walking tour of Lisbon; he was friendly, funny and so knowledgeable. I cannot say enough things about our driver Antony….He was the best. The day trip with Simone, with Inside Lisbon was long but so worth it! She was a great guide and kept us entertained. We just wish we had more time in Obidos and Nazare. Not enough hours to really soak it in. I guess we’ll have to come back. Then the grottos tour with George and Fred of Bluefleet- just amazing! George was the best.
Hotels- the Britannia was so lovely. A little out of the way but the room and staff were worth it. Everyone was so kind and helpful. We enjoyed our stay there.
Cascade Wellness was no doubt a beautiful property and well situated to the walkways along the coast. The apartment was so lovely and we appreciated the upgrade Joao arranged for us. If we had been paying more for the apartment however, we would have been upset. There were some issues- ants, the shower didn’t work properly, the door handle fell off, the AC was “out of sync” so we were rather hot the first night until the repair man came (who was very nice and friendly) and we had to request wash cloths the first night as we had none. Also it seemed we were at the end of the house keeping rotation so every time we returned to the apartment at the end of the day, to get ready for dinner (around 4:00), housekeeping was there and it was inconvenient. We sat outside waiting for them to finish. We just expected more with the reputation they have. I will say the informal restaurant was great- the food and staff were fantastic.
The Miragem- WOW! A remarkable hotel and room! We were not expecting the room we stayed in and we were blown away with it. We wished we had more time to stay there. We were so exhausted we ate at the hotel buffet for dinner and it was fantastic. Sitting out by the pool with that view of the water was the perfect way to end our stay in Portugal. We loved Cascais and Joao was so helpful with last minute suggestions of where to go and what to see.
The only thing that was a little bit of a let down was the restaurant with the Fado -Mesa de Fradas; it was just okay. The service was not that good and the food was not outstanding. We kept waiting for the singer to come and we had to wait until after 10:00 pm, well after we finished our meal. She was amazing and we would have loved to hear more but we were just so exhausted after walking all day; we left after her first set.
Other than that I really cannot say enough wonderful things about this trip and Joao and his team. I didn’t think anything could top our Italy vacation last summer (also with KimKim) but I was wrong! Thank you so much for such a wonderful vacation.

João created an itinerary that was fun,informative, and relaxing over 12 days.
The guides were very informative and had great communication skills.
João reached out to us each night to inform us of the next days activities and with suggestions for local highlights.
We feel we came away with a feel for the history and the people of Portugal.
We certainly have a feel for the fish and the wine of Portugal.
We would highly recommend João and Kimkim for a trip there! read more

João created an itinerary that was fun,informative, and relaxing over 12 days.
The guides were very informative and had great communication skills.
João reached out to us each night to inform us of the next days activities and with suggestions for local highlights.
We feel we came away with a feel for the history and the people of Portugal.
We certainly have a feel for the fish and the wine of Portugal.
We would highly recommend João and Kimkim for a trip there!

We just got back from 8 days of the most well planned trips we’ve ever taken. Pedro and then Joao planned an incredible, budget friendly trip that did not seem budget in any way. We had private transportation everywhere. Our hotels were great. Our day trips incredible. Any little problems that arises Joao was quick to resolve to our satisfaction.
When we first planned this trip, Joao and Pedro listened to what we wanted and needed as a big group and delivered in every way. When I saw the 32... read more

We just got back from 8 days of the most well planned trips we’ve ever taken. Pedro and then Joao planned an incredible, budget friendly trip that did not seem budget in any way. We had private transportation everywhere. Our hotels were great. Our day trips incredible. Any little problems that arises Joao was quick to resolve to our satisfaction.
When we first planned this trip, Joao and Pedro listened to what we wanted and needed as a big group and delivered in every way. When I saw the 32 page itinerary, I thought I’d they can execute on half of this plan, I would be very impressed. They delivered in all points.
Our tour guide, Ricardo, really made this trip even more memorable. He was knowledgeable, patient with our loud large group, and made sure everything was perfect for us through out the entire trip. We wish we could export Ricardo to any future trips!
Highlights were: the walking tour in Lisbon, Fado dinner, Pena castle at Sintra, Obidos and Nazare, and the caves in Faro.
I can’t say enough about Across Portugal and would use them again in an instant.
Extremely happy!

Hotel Reviews

HF Fénix Lisboa

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

City center. Easy to walk to restaurants and shopping

Staff

Some staff at the front desk were not very nice but restaurant staff was great

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleanliness was great, AC was not very effective

Vila Galé Lagos

Lagos

Authenticity & Character

Not much character. Seemed cold modern design

Location

Close to the beach and 15 min outside of town

Staff

Front desk rude.

Cleanliness & Comfort

At times had an off-putting smell, no irons which was not disclosed to us.

Activity Reviews

Guided Cultural Walking Tour in Lisbon

Lisbon

Ricardo made sure we got the most out of Lisbon. We walked to some Lisbon highlights. He brought us to a beautiful spot for lunch and then took us to historical site by the water where we tried pastel de nada, the best we had while we were there.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ricardo and Armando-amazing!

Transport

New bus with AC, wifi, and Bluetooth connections

Dinner with a Fado Performance

Lisbon

Intimate experience in a small restaurant that fit just our group of 25 and 2 other couples. Beautiful singing and food. A uniquely Portuguese experience. Not to be missed

Quality of Experience

Food

Everything well prepared and delicious

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ricardo and Armando again perfect!

Transport

Private Driver Tour to Sintra with Tickets to Pena Palace & Cascais

Lisbon

At first we weren’t sure if this trip would happen because they were afraid the bus couldn’t make it up to sintra with its small streets but Joao and Ricardo worked their magic and arranged for tuk tuks to drive us up to the castle. The tuk tuks made the experience even better. The castle and its grounds were beautiful. The city of sintra also beautiful with quaint restaurants and shops. We then headed to casais for lunch and shopping. Ricardo picked a beautiful spot for us to leisurely enjoy a beautiful meal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ricardo and Armando did it again. Another perfect day.

Transport

Explore Óbidos, Nazaré and Alcobaça

Lisbon

We decided to skip Alcobaca and spend more time in Obidos and Nazare. Obidos was like walking into a different time. The medieval town has kept its charm from days gone by. E could have spent all day there. We then headed to Nazare for lunch at a restaurant on the beach which was absolutely delicious. We the. Drove up to the top of the cliff for views of beautiful Nazare.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ricardo and Armando. Best in the business.

Transport

Boat Trip to the Grottoes

Portugal

I wasn’t made aware that the boats we would use were very small and we would be separated in different boats. But it turned out fine and the experience was great. The caves are beautiful and not to be missed

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our family of 4 visited Portugal for 9 days to celebrate my husband and I 20th wedding anniversary and our advisor Joao planned THE MOST INCREDIBLE AND MAGICAL trip for us!
They customized our trip to for our family, the thoughtfulness and attention to detail was above and beyond! We felt like royalty with the amount of care, communication and thoughtfulness! Joao checked in with us a few times a day, he had our itinerary printed and sent to us via WhatsApp, he left a welcome gift at our... read more

Our family of 4 visited Portugal for 9 days to celebrate my husband and I 20th wedding anniversary and our advisor Joao planned THE MOST INCREDIBLE AND MAGICAL trip for us!
They customized our trip to for our family, the thoughtfulness and attention to detail was above and beyond! We felt like royalty with the amount of care, communication and thoughtfulness! Joao checked in with us a few times a day, he had our itinerary printed and sent to us via WhatsApp, he left a welcome gift at our first hotel with all things special to Portugal!

Activity Reviews

Half-day Private Driver to Sintra with Tickets to the Pena Palace

Lisbon

This place was magical! Joao had us visit in the morning, and he had suggestions to visit in Sintra! I would t change a thing about this day!

Quality of Experience

Our driver Rui was an added bonus

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cannot say enough great things about our driver Rui! He was knowledgeable and stayed with us to make sure we were settled before he left us to explore!

Transport

Guided Cultural Walking Tour in Lisbon

Lisbon

This was an amazing tour! Our guide Rita was so incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much of the history culture and food. She took us all over and we learned so much! Definitely a highlight of our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Guided Walking Tour in Porto

Porto

Our guide Sara was amazing! She taught us so much about the history of this city, the cathedrals, the past conflicts of the kings! She taught us about the food and took us to a few of her favorite places! Highly recommend Sara!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Cruise in the Douro River

Porto

This was an incredible night! The staff were so helpful, kind, and knowledgeable! They pointed out interesting and popular areas in Porto! And treated us to amazing wine!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bike Tour in the Douro Valley

Douro Valley

This was an amazing adventure! Pictures won't do this place justice! We rode all the way to the top to a small little village where we were able to get refreshments and ice cream which was perfect for the hot day! The Douro valley is magical!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Winery Lunch

Douro Valley

Magical Magical Magical!! Reta, the owner and her staff were amazing! This 200year old vineyard/ farm was so charming and special! The lunch was amazing and delicious and the wines we got to sample were also amazing! We ate lunch in the wine cellar and it was so intimate and special! They gave us a private tour of the vineyard and explained how the wine is made from vine to finish We cannot say enough great things about this day trip and experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Trip to the Grottoes

Portugal

Perfect day to see the Algarves from the ocean!

Quality of Experience

The guides were hilarious and knowledgeable and made the experiment so fun!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were so fun!

Transport

We were overwhelmed with planning our trip to Portugal for 3 couples for 2 weeks, but luckily we found Kimkim, who made it so easy. They connected us to a wonderful local agency, Across Portugal, who worked with us to create a customized trip within our budget. Our trip included private transportation when needed, private tours, and some time on our own with a rental van for 5 days. We visited Lisbon, Sintra, Porto and the Douro Valley, Serra da Estrela, and the Algarve. The hotels were beautiful and tours were top notch.

Overall this was a well planned trip!! What really stands out for me is how Joao was constantly in touch daily by text to keep us informed of the following days activities and helping us make last minute changes due to unforeseen weather issues!! read more

Overall this was a well planned trip!! What really stands out for me is how Joao was constantly in touch daily by text to keep us informed of the following days activities and helping us make last minute changes due to unforeseen weather issues!!

Planning this family retirement trip with three generations along with Joao was very user friendly. From gastronomic and boat tours in Porto, kayaking and wine tasting in the Douro valley, hiking with Nuno in Serra da Estrella, time on the Algarve on a private boat excursion to the beautiful arches of Lagos, and then Lisbon
And surrounding areas (Sintra and Obidos) was smooth and seem less. We loved having a private drivers who were courteous and helpful ( shout out to Miguel and Luis!). ... read more

Planning this family retirement trip with three generations along with Joao was very user friendly. From gastronomic and boat tours in Porto, kayaking and wine tasting in the Douro valley, hiking with Nuno in Serra da Estrella, time on the Algarve on a private boat excursion to the beautiful arches of Lagos, and then Lisbon
And surrounding areas (Sintra and Obidos) was smooth and seem less. We loved having a private drivers who were courteous and helpful ( shout out to Miguel and Luis!). There were some last minute changes due to timing and one one strike that affected our plans to see Pena Palace, but Joao was on it proactively with fun alternatives. Our ages range from 11-64 and this was a great trip of active outdoor activities as well as some more relaxing sightseeing.
We highly recommend the services and planning of Joao at Across Portugal!

Hotel Reviews

Pousada da Serra da Estrela - Historic Hotel

Covilha

This is a beautiful historic hotel in the mountains. It was beautifully appointed with fantastic grounds and proximity to hiking in Serra da Estrella.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

They were very friendly, and responsive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

H10 Duque de Loule

Lisboa

This is a beautiful boutique hotel. The breakfast was fantastic, and would recommend, including that in any stay. And the staff were friendly and responsive.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Centrally located and within 20 to 30 minutes walking of everything we wanted to see in the city. Close to restaurants as well.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had three rooms on three different floors in each of us were near a lot of noise. One room was in front of the elevator near the bar with a lot of traffic. One was next to an equipment room with a lot of machine noise. In addition the Wi-Fi went out for 36 hours, which normally wouldn’t be a problem on vacation, but it prevented my husband from doing work.

Activity Reviews

Visit: Porto

Porto

Puerto is a lovely city and we like the proximity to the Duro Valley, costa, nova, and the lovely town of Aveiro. We felt the 2 1/2 days we spent there were adequate in terms of timing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We loved Miguel from Anthea; he was very professional and courteous, as well as accommodating to our group of seven

Transport

Great ride for seven with lots of leg room in all three rows.

Gastronomic & Cultural Guided Walking Tour in Porto

Porto

This is the one experience in two weeks in Portugal that I would not recommend. We had a group of seven in the guide, walked very quickly in the front and spoke softly. We have done many food tours internationally, and got a lot more history and perspective on local culture, than were provided on this tour.. in addition, the restaurants we visited, were not the best representation of Portuguese gastronomy!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Cruise in the Douro River

Porto

We did a short boat ride and then a three hour kayaking trip. The beautiful Douro Valley was fantastic to see this way. Our only reservation is that we were dropped off from the boat and sent on our way alone without any offer of additional water or expectation that the kayak trip would be three hours long. In addition, weather was coming in and we were caught in the rain and lightning, thankfully, as we were finishing up, but there was no provision for pick up in case of this kind of weather. In addition, we had no guide. While we loved seeing the Douro Valley this way, I think expectations should be set about the actual kayaking trip if someone chooses it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver, Miguel from Anthea was as usual fantastic. We had no guide on the actual kayak trip, and on the boat there was a poorly recorded audio guide.

Transport

Experience the Ultimate Douro Valley Exclusive Driver Tour from Porto

Portugal

Quality of Experience

The ride and Miguel from Anthea were fantastic!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved Miguel’s flexibility and professionalism.

Transport

Kayaking in the Douro River

Douro Valley

I would rate this experience as a five in terms of the fantastic scenery and seeing the valley this way. We did not realize this was going to take three hours and that it was unguided and that’s why I give this a three rating.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Embark on a Breathtaking Guided Hike in Serra da Estrela with a Scenic Picnic!

Serra da Estrela Nature Park

Beautiful experience and our guide Nuno was fantastic. The hike, as well as his knowledge of history, geology, and botany really contributed so much to our experience. He also was very accommodating with some last-minute changes because of weather to ensure our safety. His provision of a light snack on the hike, as well as our picnic afterward with local winds, cheeses, and even jelly that his grandmother made was very special. He also provided us with several recommendations of activities that enhance our experience in this area.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Trip to the Grottoes

Portugal

Very interesting and unique rock formations. We loved having a private boat with the seven of us. Our captain and guide were very informative and easy to understand.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private your!!

Visit: Lagos

Portugal

We did a boat tour which was the highlight of this trip. Other than that, there is shopping and eating so not a ton of kids activities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discovering Lisbon by Tuk-Tuk

Lisbon

Fun, family activity, and a cute way to see historic Lisbon.

Quality of Experience

Our family of seven had two guides, both of which were excellent. They were very knowledgeable about the history of Lisbon, but create enough space to answer our questions and have organic conversation during the tour.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our drivers were great, even providing blankets when the weather got cool up on the hills.

Private Driver Tour to Óbidos

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Miguel was great!

Transport

Private Chef at Home

Algarve

Ee stayed at a lovely Beach House in the algarve for five nights, and had a private chef on our last night. He arrived with two staff and everything including cutlery and dishes for a lovely meal experience. He catered to food preferences and presented us with a wide variety of local appetizers and main course.

Quality of Experience

Food

The multiple appetizers on the menu were fantastic! As was the desert. We enjoyed the main course, but above mentioned courses were superlative.

Private Driver Trip to Sintra & Pena Palace Visit

Portugal

Our driver, Luis, was great! We never saw Pena Palace as there was a government strike. Fortunately, our driver, noted that there was something wrong with the fact that the lines were short at the gate, where he dropped us off, and took the time to find out that there was in fact a strike, and we would not be able to get in. Joao, from Across Portugal, helped us with a last-minute change of plans to go elsewhere in the area. Also, our driver made excellent recommendations for a local lunch establishment on the way back to Lisbon.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Helpful with suggestions. Including a lovely local lunch establishment on the way back.

Transport

Visit: Óbidos

Óbidos

If you have children, do this! The most fun part of this trip was walking the entire city wall. The local town was cute as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim and Across Portugal were wonderful to deal with! We went to Portugal with our kids and their grandparents and everything was very organized, timely, and efficient. Everyone enjoyed the tours that were arranged too. Across Portugal was affiliated with KimKim and had an assistance service line available so if you had any questions or needed details from the itinerary they were readily available! Joao was awesome and always available!

We had a walking tour in Lisbon and Elsa our guide... read more

KimKim and Across Portugal were wonderful to deal with! We went to Portugal with our kids and their grandparents and everything was very organized, timely, and efficient. Everyone enjoyed the tours that were arranged too. Across Portugal was affiliated with KimKim and had an assistance service line available so if you had any questions or needed details from the itinerary they were readily available! Joao was awesome and always available!

We had a walking tour in Lisbon and Elsa our guide was fantastic and told us some hidden gems about the city. The following day we went to Sintra with the arranged transportation and saw Peña Palace. Our tickets were pre purchased already so everything was hassle free! The parents wanted a date night so we had a cooking class arranged and we enjoyed making traditional dishes of Portugal and eating their infamous pastel de natas. The next day we headed to Algarve at Cascade resort and relaxed and saw some beautiful views. The grandparents were interested in a bike tour and explored Lagos with their wonderful guide from Volta do Mar. As well, the kids were interested in a boat ride so we enjoyed a beautiful boat tour through the grottoes.

If you are planning to go to Portugal we highly recommend using KimKim and Across Portugal — airport transportation, tours, and hotel rooms were all arranged based on preference and made travel planning seamless!

Activity Reviews

Guided Cultural Walking Tour in Lisbon

Lisbon

Elsa was a wonderful tour guide! She showed us hidden gems in Lisbon, best places to eat, and fantastic views! Her knowledge was great and we got a great understanding of the history and culture of Portugal! As well, we had two younger children so she moved with our pace and accommodated us well! Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Courteous and knowledgeable

Transport

Cooking Class + Meal

Portugal

This was my first international cooking class and it did not disappoint! Our chef/ instructor was awesome and had a great sense of humor! It was great to meet other people from all over the world and cook together to make a delicious meal! We made traditional dishes from Portugal and it was delicious!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lagos Bike Tour

Algarve

We enjoyed a beautiful bike tour from our wonderful guides from Volta do Mar! We explored the town of Lagos, learned the history from the town, and saw some beautiful views!

Boat Trip to the Grottoes

Portugal

Our family enjoyed the boat tour! We learned about the history of the town and beaches and saw some beautiful grottoes! The kids highlights were squeezing through the rock transformation with the boat! It was beautiful!

Our experience working with Kim Kim, and specifically João from Across Portugal, was absolutely stellar. When we started planning our trip, the communication was timely and responsive to our needs. João really understood the type of vacation we were looking for, and made it happen within our budget!

We were incredibly impressed with the communication platform on Kim Kim. We had all the details we needed for our trip, including confirmation numbers and contact information. Not only that,... read more

Our experience working with Kim Kim, and specifically João from Across Portugal, was absolutely stellar. When we started planning our trip, the communication was timely and responsive to our needs. João really understood the type of vacation we were looking for, and made it happen within our budget!

We were incredibly impressed with the communication platform on Kim Kim. We had all the details we needed for our trip, including confirmation numbers and contact information. Not only that, but we got a personalized message through WhatsApp every evening with a detailed plan for our next day's itinerary. Everything was seamless and well organized. When there was a minor issue with transportation to the airport on our last day of travel, João responded to us within 1 minute (at 6am!) to resolve the problem and issue a refund for the transportation we had paid for. We couldn't ask for better service.

The only negative is that we only had 7 days to enjoy this beautiful trip, and will definitely need to come back to explore more of beautiful Portugal!

Hotel Reviews

InterContinental Lisbon

Lisboa

Beautiful hotel, very clean, amazing breakfast buffet. A bit off the beaten track from downtown Lisbon, but easily accessible via transit and a short walk.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A bit outside the city centre, but easily accessible by transit and a short walk (uphill)

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cascade Wellness

Lagos

Beautiful hotel in a picturesque setting. Everything you need is on the resort, but it is a short walk or taxi to the centre of town in Lagos (downhill to get there, uphill to get back).

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pestana Cidadela Cascais

Cascais

Very unique hotel in the old fort in Cascais. Wish we could have stayed longer!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Cultural Walking Tour in Lisbon

Lisbon

Gui (Guillermo) from "Your Friend in Lisbon" was an incredible tour guide. His background in Portuguese history and culture added so much value to the tour. We learned so much about the history of Portugal! He took us to all of the most important places in the city, and pointed out some really helpful tips for getting around (i.e. the hidden elevator in Baixa-Chiado). The meeting point at the Restoradoes monument was a bit confusing as there was another large group tour starting there at the same time. In the future, it might be helpful to have a sign with the name of the tour company, as it was initially challenging to find our guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dinner with a Fado Performance

Lisbon

An amazing cultural experience with beautiful Fado music. The dinner was good, but not the highlight of the evening.

Quality of Experience

Food

Private Driver Trip to Sintra & Pena Palace Visit

Portugal

Our driver, Eduardo, provided a fabulous trip to Sintra for the day. Pena Palace is a very unique experience. We had time to explore the village of Sintra before it got too busy (and have some local pastries - highly recommend). We went to the Regaleira and initiation well in the afternoon, which was worth the visit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Trip to the Grottoes

Portugal

A beautiful boat tour of the grottoes to get a different perspective of the Algarve beaches. Our tour guide (Bruno) was excellent!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day tour to Sintra with guide Matilde and driver Miguel. We felt very cared for traveling with these 2 the whole day. Matilde answered all our questions thoughtfully and explained all the stops thoroughly.

The walking tour of Lisbon with Elsa was effortless. Elsa made the 8 hour long day seem very short. Her lively explanations and wonderful sense of humor made the day go by so quickly and the walk easy. She shared with us some of her favorite local spots. Bifana was delicious and her... read more

Day tour to Sintra with guide Matilde and driver Miguel. We felt very cared for traveling with these 2 the whole day. Matilde answered all our questions thoughtfully and explained all the stops thoroughly.

The walking tour of Lisbon with Elsa was effortless. Elsa made the 8 hour long day seem very short. Her lively explanations and wonderful sense of humor made the day go by so quickly and the walk easy. She shared with us some of her favorite local spots. Bifana was delicious and her recommendations for dinner were spot on! Obrigada Elsa.

Our drive up the coast to Porto with Nelson was very comfortable. Nelson was our very informative body guard/driver of the day. The beautiful streets of Obidos and the breathtaking view of the coast of Nazare were fabulous

Arriving in Porto we had our walking tour with Andre. He showed us the wonderful sights/sounds/tastes of Porto. You must try the Pastel de Nata of Porto since we learned it tastes very different from those in Lisbon. Much crispier crust and oh-so delicious.

Duoro Valley. WOW. What more can I saw about this place. Our private boat tour was exactly what the family needed towards the end of our visit.

Overall, I would definitely recommend working with Joao and plan to contact him again when I go back to Portugal. Joao was very patient and listened to our multiple requests and made magic happen. I thank him and his team for allowing our family to relax and have fun. Definitely a trip to remember. OBRIGADA!

Our experience was wonderful and our guides from Across Portugal were excellent. They were very informative and helpful. read more

Our experience was wonderful and our guides from Across Portugal were excellent. They were very informative and helpful.

Hotel Review

Maison Albar Hotels Le Monumental Palace

Porto

The hotel was centrally located and the staff were extremely helpful and friendly. The rooms were spacious and clean and the restaurant food and service was exceptional.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Hotel is located to many restaurants, shops, and monuments

Staff

Staff was excellent and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Discover the Essence of Portuguese Winemaking: A Winery Visit with Lunch in the Enchanting Douro Valley

Douro Valley

Excellent wine tour with Fabio at Pacheca winery. Learned a lot about the port wine, region, and history

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had great tour guides such as Elsa in Lisbon, Nunno for half the trip and Hugo. All very knowledgeable and extremely pleasant.

Transport

We had excellent drivers : Nelson and Luis. Not only did they accommodate to a couple of suggestions but also gave us details of the regions we were traveling to.

Experience the Ultimate Douro Valley Exclusive Driver Tour from Porto

Portugal

A must do if in Porto. Beautiful landscapes and region.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Port Wine Cellar Visit with Tastings

Porto

Excellent wine tasting at Sandeman . Very knowledgeable and extremely pleasant.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Cultural Walking Tour in Lisbon

Lisbon

Elsa our tour guide was excellent. We saw so much and learned of the rich history of Portugal that it was incredible.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Trip in the Douro River on a Traditional Rabelo Boat

Douro Valley

A definite to do . You get to see the region from the bottom up and all the vineyards.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

João and his team were amazing to communicate with in the planning process. We wanted an Azores adventure for our family (2 adults, 2 school-aged kids) and they recommended exploring Sao Miguel for the week, which was perfect. We stayed in Ponta Delgada and then Furnas and explored the different ecosystems around the island. We did the full gamut of activities including hiking, whale watching, biking, kayaking and canyoning. João kept in touch throughout to make sure everything went smoothly,... read more

João and his team were amazing to communicate with in the planning process. We wanted an Azores adventure for our family (2 adults, 2 school-aged kids) and they recommended exploring Sao Miguel for the week, which was perfect. We stayed in Ponta Delgada and then Furnas and explored the different ecosystems around the island. We did the full gamut of activities including hiking, whale watching, biking, kayaking and canyoning. João kept in touch throughout to make sure everything went smoothly, made sure we had adjoining rooms, to help when we were running late, helped plan a birthday surprise for my son and gave us tips on some local hot spots. :) We had an amazing time and will definitely be back to explore more islands!! Thank you, Across Portugal!!

Hotel Reviews

Octant Ponta Delgada

Ponta Delgada

Super helpful staff and awesome accommodations! Highly recommend!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walkable to all of town and easy to park in their garage, so can zip out to explore easily also.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Octant Furnas

Furnas

Really appreciated the filtered water in the thermal pools. Overall very relaxing atmosphere. Recently built within a historic building so the rooms are a bit small, but beautiful property. Hotel restaurant is delicious!! Staff were wonderful!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome Service

the Azores

Very warm and kind welcome.

Whale Watching

the Azores

Glad we went on a calm day! Saw dolphins and spent whales. The ride back was definitely an adventure!

This was our first time going to Portugal but Joao was so incredible addressing all of our questions over multiple emails and phone calls while planning the trip and then connecting with us daily via whatsapp to ensure we had the details for each day and also checking in with us at the end of the day to see how everything went. It was my birthday during the trip and Joao went above and beyond as a surprise, specializing a private boat tour of the Lagos grottoes (our Blue Fleet boat guides... read more

This was our first time going to Portugal but Joao was so incredible addressing all of our questions over multiple emails and phone calls while planning the trip and then connecting with us daily via whatsapp to ensure we had the details for each day and also checking in with us at the end of the day to see how everything went. It was my birthday during the trip and Joao went above and beyond as a surprise, specializing a private boat tour of the Lagos grottoes (our Blue Fleet boat guides Rui & Fea were so lovely and kind) and then when we got back to our hotel room there was a bottle of bubbly on ice and a birthday cake. Unreal and so touching! All the drivers/ guides were terrific, in particular Tony in Porto and Miguel in Lisbon. The level of customer service from Joao and company was second to none.

Hotel Reviews

Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel & World Heritage Site

Porto

Overlooking the river. Clean and comfortable rooms and great breakfast buffet. As it is right at the river, all roads lead uphill in terms of accessing the city and many sites.

M'ar de Ar Aqueduto

Évora

Wonderful hotel. Relaxing location. Clean and comfortable rooms- garden view room with private patio with deck chairs was so lovely. We were there late March and theOutdoor Pool was open and looked great but we didnt use. Underground parking was great for peace of mind with rental car. Easy walking access to the town.

Location

Quiet location but easy access to walk

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything

Cascade Wellness

Lagos

Fabulous hotel. Grounds huge overlooking the Atlantic and direct access to the beautiful boardwalk and panoramic cliffs. So peaceful. Our room had a beautiful private large patio that also led to shared space. Breakfast buffet was superb- chef prepared eggs to order- wonderful selection and comfortable dining area.

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisboa

Lovely old historic hotel in the heart of Lisbon. Small rooms but clean and comfortable but ours overlooked the street so leaving windows open was an issue due to noise. Breakfast buffet fine but not extensive- small dining area and it was quite crowded for seating during our stay. There is a small outdoor deck on the 5 th floor which was nice to have. So close to the Ave. Liberdade for enjoyable tree covered walks and outdoor food kiosks and downtown Lisbon.

Activity Reviews

Gastronomic & Cultural Guided Walking Tour in Porto

Porto

Disappointing. We only explored/walked to 1 area of Porto about 800m -1km from our hotel. While the history of this street / area was interesting it wasthe only 2 streets we walked and we spent most of our time sitting. Given that our tour started @ 10am- sitting down to eat a large meal less than 1 hour later ( and having just eaten breakfast) without much walking was too much. Wine tasting and charcuterie board followed 30 minutes later- again no time to digest with limited walking between.

Experience the Ultimate Douro Valley Exclusive Driver Tour from Porto

Portugal

Tony our driver was amazing. So knowledgable so we had an historical informed oral tour during our drive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Trip in the Douro River on a Traditional Rabelo Boat

Douro Valley

Lovely to be on the river but we did not know that you had to/ should download the audio guide for the tour ahead of time. As there is little to no cell coverage in the valley most people on the boat could not successfully access the English audio tour so we did not have any information about what we were seeing. The boat guide did not provide any assistance/ share about any of the river tour sites either in Portugese or English- just sat at the back of the boat. So, beautiful 1 hour vistas on the river but would not describe this as a tour.

Winery Lunch

Douro Valley

Outstanding. Beautiful winery. Exceptional lunch with wine.

Step Back in Time with a Private Guided Tour of Évora and the Bones Chapel!

Évora

Daniel, our guide, was superb. Very knowledgable and well planned tour. My husband has some challenges with hills and stairs but Daniel adjusted his route and made arrangements on the spot for an elevator in one of the sites so he would not miss out.

Boat Trip to the Grottoes

Portugal

This was a private tour and so special. Our Blue Fleet boat guides Fea and Rui were wonderful and went out of there way to make our tour memorable.