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José Guia

Hi there! My name is José and I was born and raised in Lisbon, but I've been travelling around the country since a very young age, trying to discover as much as possible about it, which eventually led me to work in this industry, assisting others who want to know more about this Southern European paradise called Portugal!

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I am specialized in crafting unique and bespoke travel experiences to discerning travelers and despite being based in Lisbon, I cover the whole country from North to South, including the islands of Madeira and the Azores.
I am constantly looking for new, exclusive and exiting experiences to offer to my travelers, as well as carefully inspecting all the hotels and properties I work with. This is one of my secrets to guarantee I only plan memorable trips!
Experiential and Slow Travel are my main focus, and this is exactly what I offer to everyone who decides to give the me the pleasure of planning their trip: tailor-made luxury travel services focused on authentic and exclusive experiences.
For me, it is all about experiencing a destination by really connecting to its history, culture and, most important, people, in truthfully authentic ways. Due to my deep knowledge about the destination and my personal connections, I'm able to offer you not only this, but also those off the beaten track locations, hotels, restaurants and activities that will result in a bespoke itinerary, specifically designed for you.
This is the essence of what I do and what I believe will make your experience in Portugal one that you will cherish forever!"

How did you get involved in travel?

"Traveling is one of my biggest passions, but the more I traveled the world, the faster I realized how fascinating Portugal is and how much potential it has as a Tourism Destination!
There was a time in my life where living abroad seemed the right thing to do, but instead of doing what everyone else did, I decided to stay in my country and start a company dedicated to show people the best of what Portugal has to offer! That was when I started my own company, to show the most authentic sides of my home country, through unique experiences that have a direct impact in the local communities. "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"As an experienced traveller, there's a myriad of stories I could tell you. However, one thing that traveling around the world has taught me is that no matter where I go, Portugal will always be my favorite country to visit!

From herding a herd of goats with a Portuguese shepherd in the mountains of Peneda-Gerês Nature Park, followed by a workshop of goat cheese making with him; to harvesting grapes to producing my own wine or even having dinner at one of Portugal's most famous painter's place — experiences that allow me to connect with the local communities are my favorite! "

José is part of the following groups: Portugal Travel Agents
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Recent trip reviews for José

José & his associates did an AMAZING job cre...
Portugal | Jul 5 - Jul 25, 2022

S
Stacey H.
Belmont, CA | Reviewed on Aug 22, 2022
José & his associates did an AMAZING job creating a fabulous trip for us. He gave us just what we asked for in terms of lodging, activities, food recommendations & guides. I can’t forget the guide they got for us—they were phenomenal. We had access to their staff 24/7 via WhatsApp, & they were responsive when needed. The islands of São Miguel & Madeira are a must see for anyone that has the time to go to Portugal beyond the mainland. We also LOVED almost every restaurant recommendation they... Read more

José & his associates did an AMAZING job creating a fabulous trip for us. He gave us just what we asked for in terms of lodging, activities, food recommendations & guides. I can’t forget the guide they got for us—they were phenomenal. We had access to their staff 24/7 via WhatsApp, & they were responsive when needed. The islands of São Miguel & Madeira are a must see for anyone that has the time to go to Portugal beyond the mainland. We also LOVED almost every restaurant recommendation they offered.

Hotel Reviews
The Wine House Hotel - Quinta da Pacheca
Lamego

Oh my gosh, where do I start..the location & grounds are stunning. We arrived & were informed that there was an optional wine tasting that we could attend if we wanted. We went to the meeting area for it, where we were then separated into two groups: those that spoke Portuguese & those who spoke English. They then took us to rough the winery, into their caves & did a very fun, entertaining , informative, wonderful wine tasting. Afterwards we were invited to their tasting room if we wanted to sample other wines, which we did. They were happy to have us taste many wines, liberal pours. We couldn’t help ourselves, we ordered serval bottles of various wines & had them shipped home. Lovely staff. Food in the restaurant was very good & service was perfect.

Authenticity & Character
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Hotel AlmaLusa Baixa/Chiado
Lisbon

Really enjoyed our stay at this hotel. The Lobby deco was very cool, blending old & rustic with current decor tends such as industrial. The breakfast buffet was the best of our entire trip. Top notch. The only minor change I would have made was to have been up on a higher floor. We were just above the lobby, so at certain times we could hear the music from below, but it was not on late. Would stay here again in a heartbeat. Great location. Close to everything including the water, without being loud & noisy.

Authenticity & Character
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Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: José Guia