Portugal - Hotels/Hostals?

Hi there! We are contemplating a quick trip to and are looking for recommendations of hotels/hostals and also places to visit. I don't really know anything about Portugal and it will be a weekend visit or perhaps 4-5 days.

Thanks!

Chica can I piggyback on your posting? We are also travelling to Portugal (Lisboa to be exact) in July and would like recommendations as well.......

Anyone out there who has info? recommendations?

thanks from me too......

I have to give you the short version!

I visited Portugal for two weeks in 2004 and it was before my first visit Spain in 2005. I stay in Lisbon for over a week and Porto for three days. I think Porto is one of the most romantic places at night, far more romantic than Paris.

In Lisbon, I stayed at Residencial Florescente and in Porto Residencial Pao De Acucar. I can recommend them “but” that was from my trip in 2004. Thing might have changed. I do remember when planning to trip I did not have much to choose from, finding places to stay in the heart of Lisbon. There was not much to choose from.

I think Lisbon is really special city and is over looked as a European travel destination. Which is good because it does not feel touristy at all. I found the coffee in Portugal far better and more interesting than the coffee I had in Spain.

Can I say that without being banned from MadridMan?

The cafes in Portugal should not be missed, especially in the morning were you will be rubbing elbows with the locals who are going to work. One of cafés you must visit should be Braseleira, even if you do not want coffee.

Another thing about Portugal I loved is the pastry. They taste like heaven and it is very hard to walk past a pastry shop and not walk in to buy some. Be careful you can put on some extra weight. Everyone I have talked to about his or her visit to Portugal when it comes to pastries, as they are talking they have a big smile on their face.

Lisbon has smaller museums but it makes up with spectacular views because it is hilly and the wooden trolley cars are fun to ride. The best views are the ones from Castle Sao Jorge and Santa Justa Elevator. In the Belem area, there the Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. Make sure you ride to the top of the Monument to the Discoveries. There is a huge tile map of the world in front of the museum. If you go to the top you can see the entire map of the world. The Monastery Jeronimos, The Se and the Gulgenkian Museum with its garden in the back that should not be missed. The Aquirim Oceanario de Lisboa should not be missed but is a train ride away, like a ½ hour. The aquarium is a huge globe type fish tank that you walk around that is two stories tall. I was never interested in visiting aquariums, but after visiting the one in Lisbon and found it so fascinating, now in my travels I will visit aquariums.

If you are into tiles as an art form Museu Nacional do Azulejo is a must see and there is a church which is completely decorated in tiles. When I first walk in to church and saw all the blue tiles decorating the inner wall of the church it was a WOW moment.

A must day trip from Lisbon is Sintra. You have this Moorish fort overlooking Sintra very fun to walk around taking in the Birdseye views. Then Pena Palace, a fairy tale palace filled with the stuff of the royal family before they ran off to Brazil.

The Subway system is very modern and every subway station is decorated in an artistic style. But the wooden trolleys are fun to ride. The have modern trolleys and it seems it is for those who have to be somewhere and are more comfortable. The wooden ones are fun to ride. I rode it to Belem district and one I rode the around the Alfama district just to take the sites in.

Another thing about Portugal that I remember is that when I was there they have the most friendly and helpful tourist offices. I went to the plenty of times not only in Lisbon and Porto but other towns I visited and I was always shock how much they went out of their ways to make sure I had the information I needed.

One of the gems I found in Lisbon, the prefect reminder for my trip. It started to rain and I decided to duct into what I thought was another souvenir store selling ceramic dishes and tiles. Actually the dishes and tiles are made in China and you will see it all around Lisbon.

I walked around and saw all the color tiles and dishes and they were somewhat different from the other souvenir shops I saw in Lisbon. I talked to the owner behind the counter and he let me know out all the dishes and tiles are hand made. The tiles are painted by employees that do restoration work at the Lisbon’s tile museum, Museu Nacional do Azulejo.

My last day in Lisbon bought a set of three tiles at the store. Together they makes a colorful picture one of Lisbon’s wooden trolleys going up a street. It was hand painted and it cost me 55 Euros. The store packed the tiles up in bubble wrap I was able to get them safely. When I got home, found a store that built a custom frame to so I can hang them on the wall.

The store is located close to the Cathedral Se, a block or two from the waterfront on the street Rua dos Bacalhoeiros. The shop is Atelier. Hopefully it is still there and still makes hand made tiles and dishes. If you see it of visit it. Please let me know it is still there.

Have fun in Portugal. With all this talk about Lisbon I have to go back again.

Bill

The New York Times has a travel article about Porto.

Here is the link:
New York Times Article - Porto

Enjoy and check out the photographs.

Bill

Thanks Bill!

Bill, thank you for your post, it gives me an idea where to start planning.

Chica, when are you going? Can you post about your trip when you come back?

...hi Chica...fyi, in Portugal the 'pensao' is probably equivalent to the Spanish hostal. You should get plenty if you Google it.

Also have a look at www.visitlisboa.com

I'm sorry i am unable to suggest actual places to stay as it was so long ago that i was last there. Good luck and enjoy yourself.

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for you responses. Neddie, thanks for the weblink, I will definitely check it out.

We were thinking of taking a last minute trip during Semana Santa (leaving Thurs.)...but have decided to stay at home during this long weekend. Perhaps in the future we will consider Portugal..along with the long list of other places we have to visit!

laduque are you still coming to Spain this spring? Be sure to look me up when you get here!

Hi Chica, I'm coming to Madrid on 22nd June till 18th July....I would love to meet if you are available....A MadridMan lunch is definitely in order....

After you visited Portugal make sure you come back here and let us know how your trip was and where you stay.

Bill

I've never been to Portugal but I read this article in the New York Times recently. The town it describes, Marvão, sounds lovely.

In Lisbon, I usually stay ar Residencial Estrela do Saldanha Avda. Republica, 17 (Metro Saldanha, Duque de Avila exit). Co-owner Carlos Ferreira speaks English and has a website.

A weekend just allows you time for the Lisbon area: you could daytrip to Sintra and/or Estoril. Public transportation in Lisbon is very good. You definitely want to spend time in Belem and maybe at the Expo'98 site (Parque dos Naciaoes). If you happen to be in Lisbon the first Saturday of a month, the ladies at Nossa Senhora da Fatima Cathedral in Lisbon have a full day charter bus to Fatima (if that's your 'thing').

For dining, I like the Portugalia (brewery) restaurants: one at Colombo Shopping Mall, one about 400m west of Cais do Sodre Ferry Terminal (Quayside), and the original on Almirante Reis, a few blocks from Metro Alameda.

There's also the old chalkboard outside Tavern menu in commercial areas. Tapas at most bars include Croquetas de Bacalao (I love 'em!).

This Sunday's New York Times (June 24) featured an article in the Travel section about Portugal. This one is about a university town called Aveiro. Happy reading!

Well, either The New York Times has fallen in love with Portugal or the Portuguese tourism industry is working overtime! Here is an article from this Sunday's (8 July) travel section about the pousadas in Portugal, which are similar to the paradors of Spain. Click here to read the article.

We stayed in the Hotel Altis in Lisbon. It was rated as a five star. We booked it through a travel agency in Madrid and got it for a very reasonable price because in those days you could use the coupons....which I have forgotten the name of.

The hotel was near the Plaza Maruqes de Pombal.
Not exactly downtown, but an easy trip by metro...or whatever they call it in Lisbon.

Dress warmly, Lisbon is like San Francisco.

Be aware that at the restaurants they will put out items for you to snack on. These are not free, and if they give you what looks like the Portuguese version of Serrano ham, it will be expensive. Just don't eat any of it, and they will take it back at no charge. They will then give it to someone else. Not very sanitary...but that is the truth.

Make sure and go to Porcao. It is a Brazilian chuhasscaria. It is a little pricey, but well worth it, unless you are a vegetarian. This a meat place with a capital M.

They speak a lot more English in Lisbon than they do in Spain, so language should not a problem. And I am sure a lot of people speak Spanish. For heaven's sake, Spain used to own Portugal until the Pope made them give it back.

Have a good trip!!

We just spent 5 days in Lisbon and surroundings and I was blown away! It was such a great experience!
We left Madrid Chamartin train station at 1130pm and slept in a sleeper car, awoke and departed the train in >Lisboa at 9am....Went straight to our hotel at the Plaza Marques de >Pombal and it was a 4star hotel (Hotel Marques de Pombal) great service and buffet breakfast included! We were 7 in our family and rented a large van and daytripped a couple of times to Sintra, Estoril, Cascais and surroundings! Sintra is a must see if you are in the area, great old pueblo with palace old castille ruins and quaint old quarter! lots of gardens and walking....
I was also very impressed with how amiable the Portugues people are! they were so warm and friendly everywhere, and didn´t become arrogant when I spoke in Spanish and they responded either in Spanish or slower Portugues. A lot even spoke English (in the hotel)....We experienced Fado(WOW, emotional, if you like that kind of music)
and Bacalao 100 different ways!!!!!
We are already planning a trip back to explore more of Portugal next summer!
Loved every minute of it!

Eddie wrote: So don't keep us in suspenders!! Give us the website!!

Another useful website for Lisbon is http://www.golisbon.com/ .

Saludos, MadridMan

I had a very good experience renting an apartment in a wonderful middle class area in Lisbon through Holidaylettings.co.uk.

The landlords were simply wonderful and the total cost was less than a regular hotel.
When I made the reservation I was concerned (first time); then, after having the place for a couple of days, it was simply a delight.

[Your must make your bed everyday though...]

Lisbon is in fact a well kept secre, l let's keep it that way.

JA

http://www.portugalinstantbooking.com/services/reservation/view_destination.php?...
is about the best I can do, MM. click on that very long link for details.

I wasn't sure where to post this article in the Spain forums, so I figured here would be as good a place as any. Yesterday's Chicago Tribune (25 May) had an article entitled "Lisbon and Madrid: So close, yet worlds apart." It was a comparison of both cities in terms of food, nightlife and culture. I haven't been to Lisbon, but I thought it was an interesting article. You can read it here .

What a great article by Peter Mandel of The Chicago Tribune ! I've spent a week in Lisbon ( Lisboa in Portuguese ) and his comparison of that city with Madrid , where I now live , is excellent .
The trip from Madrid to Lisboa is a short one but they are worlds away from each other in terms of city life .
I have to say I loved Lisboa and would , unreservedly , recommend it to anybody .It even has some spectacular beaches on the Costa da Caparica .

Of course Portugal's famous for the beaches in the South ( Algarve ) . In summer it can be crowded with European holidaymakers . But i'd like to recommend a little town called Tavira , quite near the Spanish border ... Much quieter and more relaxing , with a regular boat service that takes you to spectacular beaches on the Ilha da Tavira .

Scenic landscapes, sandy beaches, subtropical climate, rich cultural traditions and fine cuisine make Portugal an ideal destination. Lisbon is a stunning city with impressive buildings, mosaic sidewalks, cafés and museums. The elegant Estoril sits in the heart of the Lisbon region increasingly coming to be known as the Portuguese Riviera. It is famous for its attractive beaches, glamour casinos and historic palaces. Visit Sintra to admire the Palcio da Pena and remains of the Moorish Castle dated from the 8th century. Considered not only one of the wonders of Portugal but indeed of Europe, Sintra is truly a gem. Also along this stretch of coast lies headland of Cabo da Roca, the most westerly point in mainland Europe. If you are looking for the charming historic place to stay in Portugal try pousadas. These are government owned and operated former mansions and castles, restored and converted into the beautiful hotels. They are ideally located in the historic cities or rural areas of outstanding natural beauty. They offer high standards of comfort and service, delicious food. Check this link for more information: http://www.pousadas.pt/historicalhotels/EN. You can also book pousadas through the tour operators. Escapade Vacations: www.escapadevacations.com for instance. They offer special pousadas tours including car rental. I was on one of those tours last year, and it was absolutely awesome.