Portgual

[Garnet Canuck]

I am heading to Portugal for vacation in April and am looking for some suggestons as to what places/things to visit. I have never been to Portugal and we will be staying in Faro (southern Portugal). I will have a rental car and will only be a short drive to Spain, so some Spain recommendations would be appreciated also.

[94gxe]

Stayed in Albufeira a couple of years ago for two weeks. Took a coastal cruise/day trip out of Faro that was really nice. Some decent shopping in Faro once you get away from the central downtown area where all the tourists are. Fantastic beaches just West of Faro all the way up past Albufeira. Really a great vacation spot and I plan on returning. I didn't rent a car while in Albufeira. Walked everywhere as the town is not that big. Lots of little day trips available through your hotel, tours through the hills above town with lunch stop in a country restaurant. French Fries everywhere. Some really good local seafood, caught and served the same day.

[Garnet Canuck]

Originally Posted by 94gxe

Stayed in Albufeira a couple of years ago for two weeks. Took a coastal cruise/day trip out of Faro that was really nice. Some decent shopping in Faro once you get away from the central downtown area where all the tourists are. Fantastic beaches just West of Faro all the way up past Albufeira. Really a great vacation spot and I plan on returning. I didn't rent a car while in Albufeira. Walked everywhere as the town is not that big. Lots of little day trips available through your hotel, tours through the hills above town with lunch stop in a country restaurant. French Fries everywhere. Some really good local seafood, caught and served the same day.

Good stuff, thanks for the info. Did you end up going to Spain as well? What time of year did you go?

[GK88]

Spent 6 months in Portugal and have been to Spain a few times also. To really explore Portugal I'd suggest, Algarve, Lisboa, Coimbra and Braga/Porto ( great opportunity to see celtic culutre in Iberia).

With regards to Spain, for longer trips, I'd certainly check out Pamplona and Barcelona. For shorter trips from Portugal I'd consider Seville and Malaga.

Enjoy the trip

[ChicagoX]

You can also swing by Gibraltar; just don't feed the monkeys.

Isn't there a legend about England and the Gibraltar apes?


One of my most striking memories was a trip where we sailed past these amazing sheer cliff faces gracing the southern Pourtugese coast on a schooner. Just as everyone was settling in for another postcard sunset, smoke started billowing from the cliffs; we soon found out that rather than smoke, it was a cloud of bats erupting in search of an evening meal!!!

The bats engulfed the ship, and we took refuge in the salon. Literally millions of the wee creatures swarmed about like a scene from Hitchcock's The Birds. The poor helmsman was the only one unable to abandon post, and his post-bat pallor spoke volumes on how he felt about the whole incident.

We found the little buggers everywhere for days, nestled under canvas shrouds and other hiding places.

Enjoy your trip.

[NoxqcsMotosport]

Go to the Azores, it's off the coast about 80 miles. I was Born in San Miguel and it's a very sleepy town with great views all around. Great to just chill and do nothing on the beaches, good waves on the north part of the island

[Garnet Canuck]

Thanks for the tips guys. I sure am looking forward to this trip as it will be my first time to Europe.

[Garnet Canuck]

I am less than two weeks away from going to Portugal and am getting pretty excited. My trip includes a rental car and am thinking about doing a road trip to Venice. It's about a 22 hour drive to from where I am staying to Venice, according to Mapquest.

Has anyone driven in Portugal, Spain, France and Italy that can give me some tips and recommendations. What is the driving styles like over there? Will I need to have lots of cash on hand for tolls?

Any insight would be appreciated.