Sunny Portugal in Spring 2004
Written: Sep 20 '05
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Pros: Portugal overall as an experience, yummy food, beach, good hotels, first-class vacation
Cons: staying in Lisbon for one night (noisy), don't see the northern regions like Oporto.
The Bottom Line: I would travel with Collette again. I have very sweet memories of my vacation in Portugal.
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| collette25's Full Review: Collette Vacations |
I traveled with Collette Vacations in May of 2004 for their 10-day Sunny Portugal tour. I'm single and traveled alone and of course had to pay a single supplement---about $400 extra. Most people on the tour were in the 50-65 age range. All very nice, mostly American, mostly couples. As a twenty-something, I was hoping to meet people closer to my age, but it didn't happen.
The tour itself: First stop was Estoril, located about 30 minutes outside of Lisbon. We stayed at a lovely resort hotel called the Eden Estoril. My room was like a suite, complete with sofa, armchairs, and a magnificent terrace with a view. Next, we went to central Portugal and finally south to the sparkling Algarve region with breezy beaches and plenty of golf courses. Again, hotel was great with a fabulous view, this time of the ocean. Last night of the tour we spent in Lisbon in a very LOUD hotel undergoing construction. Room was tiny and this was my least favorite part of the trip. I was ready to go home at this point.
Food: Delicious and varied. Fish is a specialty throughout Portugal, also lots of meat, tasty vegetables and desserts were either served buffet style or sit-down. We had some good Portuguese dry wine and sweet wine (Port). Breakfasts were American-style complete with scrambled eggs, bacon, pastries, and anything else you could help for to get your morning started.
Shopping: Portugal has a lot of leather products as well as cork, which is their specialty. The rooster is the national symbol, representing truth and integrity. You'll find plenty of plates and place mats depicting the rooster. Crafts sold on the street are nice. You'll also find merchants selling fresh chestnuts or other goodies on the street.
Attractions: We saw beautiful churches, a museum (the Gulbenkian, very fascinating), and plenty of natural scenery. Portugal is a country filled with warm, friendly people.
Tour guides/staff: No complaints! Very nice and energetic
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Seniors
Tour type: Group
Tour format: Various
Tour length: Over a Week
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Epinions.com ID:
collette25
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Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
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