10 Wonderful Days in Portugal
Portugal
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Apr 22 - May 1, 2025
This was our second KimKim adventure. Everything went smoothly from the moment Paulo gathered us at the Lisbon airport and on. The hotels were wonderful and the breakfasts had everything imaginable. Lisbon is a hilly city but we trekked on guided by Marina to learn a lot about the city and the country that we would not have without a guide. Also Marina showed us where to get the best Nata. Later we experienced a Fado music dinner which gave us a glimpse of local culture. We were back with Paulo the next day on a trip to Sintra to see the winter palace and there we bought sardines! On the way there we stopped in Obidos and sampled cherry liquor in a chocolate cup. Then on to Porto where we checked into another great hotel and another hilly walking tour culminating with a tour of the Sandeman Port winery. Fantastic! And the port tasting was splendid! The next day we had a driving tour around Porto with Ricardo. We experienced the Douro Valley and saw other towns and cites. We really liked Cascais. The next trip was from Porto to Lagos in the Algarve region stopping for lunch in Evora and the food was fantastic. I had not tried Vino Verde before and drank it at most meals! We were all amazed at the expanse of vineyards, some dating back to Roman times. Another wine tasting and a boat ride on the Douro completed the day. In Lagos, we were greeted at the hotel with beautiful views and learned we were at the most western point in continental Europe! We were there during the power outage but were still able to tour around and have a great dinner. Last trip, up to Cascais and driving along the coast through Estoril and Cascais to see the beautiful beaches. As "foodies" we ate a lot of incredible meals. Cataplana, whole dorado, octopus, a mountain of olives, Portuguese fish soups, and the list goes on. Go to dinner hungry and with an open mind!
Hotel Reviews
The hotel itself is spectacular! The rooms are spacious and our only regret is that we did not have more time to spend there.
Very nice accommodations. A good location to start walking tours. If you need a coffee and delightful pastry, try Bom Gusto around the corner.
Terrific views from nearly everywhere in the hotel. A nice pool although a bit cool. Will be nice in warmer weather.
Activity Reviews
We had fun looking at the sardine store! The palace was wonderful, the amount of workmanship and tile was extraordinary!
We called to make reservations but nobody answers. Then we had the hotel call for reservations and nobody answered them either.
After seeing the photo of the seats by the round window we were all excited to have dinner. We actually got that table!
It was OK but not up to the rest of the trip. Half our up river, half hour back down river.
Very interesting tour of the vineyard area.
We got there on the early side an were just about the only people there. By the time dinner was over the place was full and there was a waiting line out the door. We had cataplana, a seafood dish with shellfish and fin fish. Along with the crusty bread and olives it made for a memorable meal.
Weather prevented us from taking this tour. Sadly it would have been fun
Marina was terrific. She was very knowledgeable and covered a lot of topics.
A very educational hour at the Sandeman port winery. We loved learning about the history and tasting the various types of port wine.
Hi Stan,
Thank you very much for your feedback! It is always grateful to see that we helped create such special memories of our home country. Hopefully, you’re taking a few bottles of Vinho Verde with you to keep the Portuguese habits :)
Muito obrigada!
Your friend in Portugal - Diana