Kimkim Trip Reviews for Portugal

Dear Kim Kim team.
Thank you very much for your arrangments during our trip and being immadiately reachable at every moment when we have needed your assistance.
We are very much delighted with our trip and arranging this trip over Kim Kim. Thank you.

The itinerary that Paty Marques created for our group of 8 was awesome! We will not soon forget the time we spent exploring Lisbon, Porto and Lagos. Most of us had never heard of kimkim. A friend of one of our travelers had a good experience with the company, and suggested we consider using it. The takeaway from my very first phone conversation with Paty was that she’s highly confident in her ability to create itineraries consistent with the travel objectives of her clients. She listened closely to what we wanted to see and delivered a travel experience that was truly memorable. The contrast between the three areas that we visited added immeasurably to our time in Portugal. Each of the guides that Paty utilized was excellent, but Claudia in Lisbon and Lucia in Porto definitely are superstars. The Douro Valley wine tour that Lucia led was fabulous and will not soon be forgotten, in large part due to the relationships that she has forged with the families that own the two wineries that we toured. We were treated like longtime friends at both places. The lunch at Maos e Irmaos was very special. The food served was delicious and authentic to the region. All of the transfers were handled without issue. The drivers were on time and highly professional. Safe transport was clearly a top priority. Our sincere thanks to Vasco and the others.

In summary, Paty Marques is the travel coordinator that you should use if you are considering a trip to the region. You will not regret the choice.

Marisa was incredible to work with! We really appreciated how thoughtfully and intentionally she planned our stays at three different hotels across the island. She recommended delicious restaurants and beautiful hotels. Also, she quickly rescheduled one of our excursions at the last minute due to my screw-up. Marisa and her team sent a bottle of champagne and dessert to our hotel room after dinner on our anniversary! I couldn't recommend her more. Thank you so much, Marisa!

Hotel Reviews

Caloura Hotel Resort

The front desk staff was not friendly or welcoming, and the hotel was very hot, humid, and outdated. However, the views were beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Octant Ponta Delgada

Ponta Delgada

I LOVED this hotel! Beautiful modern interiors, Class A amenities, friendly staff, gorgeous views, large and comfortable rooms, delicious food and wine, etc. We enjoyed getting drinks at the rooftop bar by the pool and had a great experience at the luxury spa. 12/10 would recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Terra Nostra Garden Hotel

Furnas

Authenticity & Character

Location

The hotel backs up to the Parque Terra Nostra and all hotel guests have free access to visit the park and hot springs. It was beautiful!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

To Eat Suggestion: Santa Barbara Eco Resort

Portugal

The food was phenomenal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

To Eat Suggestion: Tã Gente

Portugal

Good food and fun drinks with outdoor seating downtown.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Exploring the Majesty of the Seas on a Group Whale Watching Experience

Portugal

So glad we booked a whale watching trip! We saw dolphins, orcas, and 3 giant Sei whales. So cool!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trip was amazing . Our guide in Marrakech took excellent care of us in our tour and during our short visit to the clinic.

A few suggestions:
1. Find a better hotel in Casablanca. There was black mold in the shower, light bulbs out in the room, a broken lamp , no towels , drinking glasses or Kleenex tissue. We asked twice for these items . We got towels and 2 glasses the first night; nothing the 2nd night.
2. Our route should have been planned better and I should have caught this error. We should have gone to Madrid LAST and then flew direct to Marrakech instead of being in Granada and then having to take 2 flights to get to Marrakech.
Avoid Iberia Airlines and go with Air Arabia. They are friendly, accommodating and have much better service and planes. The Iberia jets don't have seats that move. They are in a permanent position. They never offered us anything after a 2 hr delay, gate and plane change. Upon asking them what they were going to do to compensate the passengers for this delay they stated , "this is Iberia airlines ". My response was : "and your point is? They are an international airline." We got nothing !!

The guide in Madrid for the walking tour was so so. When he finished with us he didn't return us to our starting point. We had to figure out where we were and how to get back to the hotel.

We highly recommend the Barcelona Hotel Catedral for Barcelona. Excellent breakfast , room, location and a free happy hour daily.

The other hotels, guides, transfers were excellent.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Odyssee Center

Casablanca

Black mold in the shower ; light bulbs burned out ; a broken lamp; no towels or water glasses. Nice location but the room wasn't good

Authenticity & Character

Location

Read what I wrote

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Attention to details

Petit Palace Posada del Peine

Madrid

Great location. Small but pretty room

Authenticity & Character

Location , breakfast

Location

Not far from the main square and shop

Staff

Friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean!!

Petit Palace Puerta de Triana

Seville

Great location Great breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Boutique hotel

Location

Close to the sights. Easy walking distance to most of the sights

Staff

Friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Palais Sebban

Marrakech

Beautiful venue Older but authentic feeling It is down a few alleys and without a guide we couldn't find our way out

Authenticity & Character

Authentic. It felt Moroccan

Location

Street signs !!!

Staff

Friendly and accommodating. Extremely helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean!

Hotel NH Collection Granada Victoria

Granada

Clean and good breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Pretty

Location

Far from the sights. We walked a lot of miles. Street signs. It well marked

Staff

Very friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean!

Hotel Barcelona Catedral

Barcelona

Excellent location and breakfast. Room was very clean and comfortable. Love the free happy hour

Authenticity & Character

Comfortable

Location

Easy access

Staff

Friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Excellent room

Hotel Regina

Barcelona

Very expensive for a bare bones "superior" room Breakfast was very good

Authenticity & Character

Hang a picture; Make the room feel warm with some color

Location

Staff

Friwndly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean

Activity Reviews

Explore Casablanca

Casablanca

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Highlights of Madrid Walk

Madrid

Only 1 hour. Saw the cathedral and palace from a distance. should have walked to it

Quality of Experience

A different guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Flamenco Experience

Spain

1 hour show. No explanation as to how, why they did what they did.

Quality of Experience

Tapas Walk in Barcelona

Barcelona

Excellent tour!!

Quality of Experience

Specific for the area

Food

A large variety

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit of Barcelona

Barcelona

Guide was very knowledgeable and thorough

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Privately Guided Tour of Hassan II Mosque

Casablanca

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Privately Guided Visit of Marrakech & Bahia Palace

Marrakesh

We walked through the market after the palace. The market repeated itself over and over again. We didn't need to see every corner of the market. Lots and lots of walking

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit: Alhambra & Generalife Gardens

Granada

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Excursion to Ronda & White Villages

Seville

Good your company

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Excursion to Cádiz - Europe's Oldest City

Portugal

Lovely tour and stop at. Local winery. Lots of knowledge and information.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Claudia, Lucia and Carla were terrific! They each brought their knowledge and passion to our tours. We enjoyed all our time with them and would highly recommend them for other travelers. The transportation arrangements were excellent. The drivers were punctual, friendly and helpful. The vehicles were spotless and comfortable.

Two recommendations if I may: 1) Depending on where the pickup spot is for the walking tour of Lisbon, I would offer transportation back from the farthest point. The last 20 minutes or so of walking back was a lot for us older travelers. 😀. 2) If a train is available with good seating, it might be more time effective from Porto to Faro. At least offer the option.

Patricia was fantastic, responsive and attentive!

Hotel Review

Cascade Wellness

Lagos

The location was lovely, the spa was terrific. Our experience at the Bistropub was mixed since no reservations are available. The wait was long and the service was very slow.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the boardwalk/ cliffs. Quiet, natural surroundings and beauty.

Staff

Extremely attentive to all our concerns. Special kudos to the spa therapists who were excellent.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The apartments are very clean, however the appliances including the wash machine/dryer and iron did not work properly. Only one hair dryer was provided for two rooms/bathrooms.

Activity Reviews

Private Sailing Experience in the Algarve Coast

Portugal

The sailing was fantastic- the boat was terrific with a very friendly and capable crew. I would highly recommend this experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Douro Valley Tour

Portugal

Our guide Lucia made the trip even more special by sharing her family winery estate with us. We were thrilled to see the entire Douro valley from the top point of the mountain. We also loved having a family style lunch at the other local winery.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lucia was excellent. We also loved Alda and Lionel, our drivers.

Transport

Transfer from Lisbon to Porto stopping in Obidos & Aveiro

Portugal

Claudia chose beautiful spots to enjoy the transfer between the two cities; Obidos and Navare. She consistently chose authentic Portuguese goods and cuisine at terrific stores that we would not have been able to discern.

Quality of Experience

The restaurant in Navare, Pangeia, was outstanding. The food was superb and we had a beautiful view of the coast. I highly recommend the restaurant.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vasco, our driver, was such a kind man. He gave my husband a gift for his birthday! Claudia brought candles and arranged for a special dessert for my husband. They could not have been nicer.

Transport

Comfortable, clean and timely.

Well organized and very professional,
Patricia was very responsive.
transportation vehicles were first class as were the drivers.. Claudia was a great guide in Lisbon. Lucia in Porto and Carla in Lagos also, we’re fantastic.
1st class trip

Our contact and specialist on the team was Catarina Cotrim.
From the initial contact our trip was designed with our personal preferences and specific choices in mind. We gave Catarina our absolute must see list and she offered other possibilities as well. She put together a trip that had the perfect balance of "tour time" and "our free time."
All our hotels were wonderful and perfectly located for our visits.
Our drivers and tour guides were exceptional, their knowledge of the history of the area was so very much appreciated, not to mention the amazing restaurants they recommended.
The communication with Catarina before and during our trip was one of the aspects of this trip that made it stress free, affording us the maximum amount of enjoyment during our visit to Portugal.
If we were asked to pick a favorite place during our journey, well, we can't. Each city, town, and site we visited had its own charm and beauty. We can easily recommend The Host Portugal to create an amazing trip.

Activity Reviews

Dinner & Fado Show in Lisbon

Portugal

The music was wonderful, the food was not as good as other restaurants we ate at in Lisbon.

Quality of Experience

Food

Difficult to say, we were very tired and I don't remember any of it, apologies.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was the one who made our first few days in Portugal stress free. Leonardo was easy to talk to and ask questions. He was confident, yet soft spoken. He made us feel safe and at ease in a new city and country

Transport

The vehicles from this company were exceptional comfortable, pristine clean and the bottle of water in the vehicles was very much appreciated.

Best of Lisbon on foot

Lisbon

Our guide, Guilherme was marvelous, he took us through Lisbon and showed us short cuts for getting up to either side of the city, ie Chiado. As we walked he gave us the history of Lisbon, pointing out events that left its mark on the city, for example the earthquake and subsequent tsunami, which destroyed the city and who was responsible for it being rebuilt. We stopped along the way to sample cod cakes and beer, he showed us where to get the best bifana as we walked over to the Alfama section with its quiet narrow streets. We ended our tour in commerce square and under the archway to the city. By taking us up one side of the city and then across to the other side we enjoyed amazing vistas of the city. I was a bit sad when our tour was done, it was an amazing morning.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guilherme was not just knowledgeable in the history of Lisbon. His guided walk was like being shown the city by a friend, he was so natural and friendly, he didn't just dole out facts, he told a story and we listened wanting to hear it all.

FD Tour to Batalha, Nazaré & Óbidos

Portugal

This was a marvelous day. We visited Fatima and Batalha in the morning, had lunch in Nazare and drove up above to some amazing vistas, wandering through fun street vendors (The ladies with all the skirts!). On our way back to Lisbon we stopped for a brief stroll through Obidos. The religious art and architecture of both Fatima and Batalha were stunning. Fatima was populated by the faithful, as a mass was about to start in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and we watched the procession bringing a statue of Mary from her chapel to the modern cathedral. In contrast was Batalha, which was quiet and frozen in time, home to the faithful of Monarchs of the past, the architecture was impressive even with the unfinished section being weathered by time and the elements. Nazare is not a large beach community and the day we were there the surf was very calm, but the restaurant we ate at played the surfing competitions on large screens showing a very different surf at Nazare. I can honestly say I ate the best seared tuna there I have ever eaten in my life. It was served with sautéed turnip greens and new potatoes. Absolutely delicious! After lunch we drove up to the part of the beach community on the top of the cliffs, the view was spectacular as it was a perfectly clear day. Our guide led us thru the street vendors to a small chapel that was completely done in tile and told us the story of how this chapel came to be on the cliff. Finally on our way back we stopped in the little historic town of Obidos and slowly wandered as our guide told of the history.

Quality of Experience

Firstly the areas themselves, secondly Sandra our tour guide added to each location with history and local stories.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sandra our guide was exceptional in how and when she gave information always leaving us with time to just absorb our surroundings in silence. She was also quite brilliant in having bathroom breaks and coffee breaks, both essential for us. Lunch was our drivers recommendation so Leonardo gets all the credit there and Sandra did say she believed the drivers new all the best places to eat. Leonardo was an amazing driver, very competent and knowledge in all the areas he drove us to.

Transport

The vehicles used by this company, clean and comfortable.

Transfer from Lisbon to Sintra

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had the same driver, Leonardo and guide Sandra. We knew we were in good hands!

Transport

FD Tour of Sintra

Portugal

This day we explored Pena Palace and Regaleira. Both of these places are not like anything I have ever seen before, both uniquely stunning and beautiful, rich in history. We both appreciated having sufficient time to take everything in. The tour of Pena had time slots, which was a brilliant way to ensure that the palace was not just swamped with visitors. The palace is meticulously maintained and just a marvel to see as well as the vistas it affords. Regaleira is an architectural masterpiece in both the structures and gardens and while there were plenty of visitors, the grounds have a quality of peaceful solitude.

Quality of Experience

It was all stunning

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sandra was our guide and Leonardo our driver. I don't know if having the same driver and guide is the norm, but we felt very lucky.

Transport

HD Tour in Sintra - Moorish Castle & Monserrate Palace

Sintra

Walking up to and through the Moorish Castle there was fog rolling up the mountain, which just cleared as we hit the highest parts. It was very breezy making the flags on the battlements flutter. Mother nature was helping us appreciate the ruins with dramatic mystery! From the top you can see Pena Palace which is a stark contrast in time and history. Afterwards we explored Monserrate Palace whose gardens were a tremendous achievement, aside from being beautiful. There was the fern forest, the desert garden filled with cactus, a small lake right in front of the house and a few perfect specimens of immense trees from different continents. Out through the back of the palace were patio areas with pergolas dripping with wisterias all in bloom. The palace itself has no more furnishings, but the architecture is uniquely awe inspiring.

Quality of Experience

Mother nature helped make the day magical, but even without it both places are Portuguese treasures.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had Sandra only for half a day, but when we said goodbye she left us with two other palace/villas to visit if we chose. We did visit one Biester palace which was from more recent history and had been kept in private hands until recently, the majority of the furnishings are still there and wonderfully maintained.

Transport

Delicious TukTuk Tour

Portugal

There was some overlap between food we tasted in the morning on our walking tour and the Delicious TukTuk tour. We did visit a small restaurant that was thru a very Moorish patio garden which was very beautiful, there we sample three different dishes all of which were tasty. The best thing about the tour was the little restaurant and sitting still for a bit. I am glad we took the TukTuk tour because it was a memorable experience bouncing along the tram tracks , an unusual way to see the city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our TukTuk driver was very friendly and his choice of the little restaurant was excellent

Transport

I don't think there is any improvement to a TukTuk, it is what it is, a TukTuk.

Our travel agent Rita did a fabulous job helping us plan our trip with a good balance of culture, history and experiences.
We arrived in Lisbon in the morning and had an afternoon Walking food tour with our guide Daniel. What a great way to get familiar with the city, the foods from the area and to quickly get set to local time. We spent a full day tour traveling to Sintra and surrounding areas. Our guide Paulo was fabulous! The history as well as his personal experiences growing up in Portugal was great. We also got the opportunity to eat at his wife's restaurant in Sintra. The food was really great. Loved the cod dish! In the Algarve, our guide Roy took us up the mountain to experience the rural area. You could tell Roy really loved sharing his stories about growing up in the area. The accommodations were perfect! I highly recommend working with Rita and team!

Our itinerary provided us with a good overview of Portugal. The cities that we visited were all interesting. The guides did a nice job of explaining the history of the country.

We provided Pedro with the name of a driver and guide that we particularly enjoyed. However, I wish to especially praise Pedro for the service that he provided to us. When we needed help, he was instantly there. He gets 6 stars from us.

What an incredible journey for the four of us exploring Lisbon and Porto! We indulged in private history and culinary tours, embarked on exciting day trips, and even delved into a delightful cooking class. Our stay at a charming waterfront hotel in Porto added an extra touch of magic to our experience. Catarina and her team were readily available and instrumental in crafting an unforgettable trip for us!

Hotel Review

Smy Lisboa

Lisboa

Despite the fantastic rooftop bar, the attentive staff, and the convenient location, we found the rooms to be a bit worn out, and it felt like the hotel caters primarily to large bus tours.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

HD Private Tour in Lisbon

Portugal

Wonderful history tour with Alexandra (guide) and João (driver) with a Jerónimos Monastery visit, Belem tower, Pastel de nata tasting and more

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Delicious TukTuk Tour

Portugal

a tuktuk with Hugo! All over the city with a focus in old town and view points and stops to try more food and drinks

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

FD Tour in Sintra with Visit to San Michel Winery

Lisbon

we were picked up by Vanessa (guide) and Samir (driver) and taken to the eclectic Pena Palace, where every texture and design and style and culture meet. Then a dive into the winding streets of Sintra for shopping and lunch where Vanessa also surprised us with a birthday treat for mom! Followed up with a trip to the beach. Then a private tour of the family owned Quinta De San Michel winery

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Lisbon to Porto via Óbidos & Nazaré

Portugal

Manuel picked us up and drove us to Porto with long stops at the medieval Óbidos and coastal Nazaré. Phenomenal Seafood lunch with wine in Nazaré.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Porto City Tour

Porto

we met back up with Manuel again and met Tania (our guide for the morning). We had a whirlwind drive to see the coast and city center of Porto before crossing the Douro river to Gaia for a visit at Ferreira Port Caves for a tour and tasting. Then up to Miradouro da Serra do Pilar for a view of Porto and the wall. Back over the river for some additional driving views around the city

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Portuguese Seafood Cataplana & Cooking Class

Porto

What an amazing experience- getting to learn to make a delicious seafood dish in this delightful kitchen. Highly recommended for local and visiting friends!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private FullDay Tour to the Historic Douro

Portugal

Manuel picked us up for a drive to Douro valley to Quinta do Val Moreira. Wine tour and tasting followed by some amazing valley view finding then back to the winery for lunch. After that we had a boat tour before heading back to Porto via scenic valleys and hills.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great trip to Lisbon and Porto. Pedro was great at helping us plan and available for questions in advance of the trip. 5 star private group experience. We left time to explore on our own as well,

Tiago and his team were excellent guides and advisors about the best things to do in and around Lisbon. We recommend this team highly and will certainly make use of them on our next trip to Portugal. We loved the insider views of the Alfama district and the Fado evening was especially fantastic. We also appreciated the restaurant recommendations and amazing parking skills. Thanks everyone!

Hotel Review

Dom Carlos Liberty

Very comfortable, great staff and good location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Enjoy Dinner with Live Fado Music

Lisbon

A remarkable evening with a very authentic feel. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Food

Nothing--all part of the experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Restaurant staff were great. We didn't have a guide and took a taxi to the restaurant.

Lisbon Market, Food and Cultural Walk (morning)

Lisbon

This was a FANTASTIC food tour--possibly the best ever! It was great to visit a less touristy area and nibble the day away.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Tour of Lisbon

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cascais & Sintra Guided Visit

Portugal

Very crowded. Had to leave to meet our guide before we got inside.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We love the approach KimKim takes of surveying interests and travel styles and creating a custom trip that fits. The local guides were top-notch, and the activities aligned well with our interests. Especially the cooking class we took and the dinner we had in someone’s home. It was a nice change from a restaurant to be able to have a relaxing meal in a
“homey” environment and get to know some new people.

The other positive of Helena (our trip lanner) was the regular communication about trip details both before and while we were away, as well as that from the tour guides. There was very little to fret over while we were on vacation – and we got updates throughout our tour.

The only bit of advice I have is that you should take time to research your destination fully. This was the 1st time I did not plan every aspect of our trip (book hotels, Viator tours, etc.), and I should have better researched Lisbon (and Porto) to fully appreciate what we did and what we missed. I felt a little disconnected following a plan that was built for me rather than one I built. This is nothing against KimKim – I 100% recommend them; just advice as you begin to plan your next destination.

We will definitely use KimKim when we plan our next trip!

The KimKim team, especially Pedro, made our trip to Portugal smooth, exciting, and fulfilling. We especially loved our walking tour guide in Porto (Bernardo - amazing) and our drivers (Miguel from Lisbon to Sintra + Porto & Pedro to the Douro Valley). Every location we saw was wonderful for its own reasons. Thank you for organizing a great trip with our group and making adjustments when we asked!

We are very glad that we used kimkim for our first time to Portugal! kimkim connected us to João, and kimkim's platform made it very easy to communicate with him as he assisted and advised on the itinerary for our trip. João was fantastic - very prompt in answering our many questions, provided options to accommodate our specific requests, and was all around super pleasant and friendly. We also didn't feel like he gave us any pressure, which was really appreciated.

After we decided to go with kimkim, we trusted João to arrange and book everything for us. He made everything super easy! While we were in the country, João set up a WhatsApp chat and sent daily check-ins with the plans for the next day. It was reassuring to know we always had a lifeline in case there were any issues (and there really weren't any - except for rare bad weather which is NOT in their control of course!). João's network of private transportation and guides were top notch - everyone was prompt, super friendly, knowledgeable, and very willing to share their personal/local experiences and opinions. That really made a huge difference in terms of our overall experience. Special shout out to our drivers - André, Ivo, Ricardo, and Fernando!

We loved our Portugal trip and went everywhere we wanted to go: Lisbon/Sintra, Porto, Douro Valley, and the Algarve. We highly recommend João and his team without hesitation!

A comment about the price - yes, you will probably pay more with kimkim than if you were to book everything on your own, but we felt it was worth it for the convenience, flexibility for 100% customization, level of service, and the high quality of the experiences.

João contacted both of us once or twice daily on Whats App. He sent a schedule for the next day on the prior evening. All communication was detailed and very helpful. Any questions we had were answered quickly. We were never without support, if we needed it. As it was, everyone in the schedule was on time, completed their roles very professionally and went above and beyond our expectations! "Pepe" picked us up from the airport and was our driver and tour guide for the first part of our trip. Ivo carried on with driving for the next couple days and finally Sandre (sp) drove us back to the airport. All drivers were excellent as they provided comprehensive information on each place that we passed or stopped at. Without their expertise we would be looking at places and have no real understanding of the history or what we were seeing and experiencing. A big thanks goes to all three!

We took walking tours with Margareta (sp), Bernardo and Daniel. We learned of history, architecture, culture, politics and social norms. All guides were very well educated and readily shared their knowledge and enthusiasm for their local areas. We came away inspired and awed by how much we had learned! We recommend that everyone who goes to Portugal tries to get a walking tour with one of these guides!

We had two winery tours and 3 tastings from which we learned a lot about the individual winery and we developed an appreciation for the excellent wines and ports in Portugal. Another truly wonderful experience!

Our hotels were all wonderful and unique in their styles and architecture. João picked excellent places to stay and recommended wonderful restaurants close by. Every detail was anticipated and planned for by João.

We rented a car for 3 days and both the pick up and return was smooth and had wonderful service. The vehicle was so much better than anything we expected to find as a rental! Thanks to Marta who was especially wonderful! Everyone assured us that driving in Portugal was easy and we found it to be true. Of course we did not challenge rush hour in Lisbon!

We hope that we did not miss thanking anyone for their excellent services for indeed everyone did an excellent job! The people of Portugal were kind, courteous and we highly recommend having João and the whole team set up your vacation experience! Thank you!

We had 3 nights in Lisbon, 3 in Porto, 2 in Evora and 1 in Cascais. We travelled to Sintra and toured the Pena Palace and Park, Obidos, and their walled medieval town, Nazare, Porto with a walking tour and a tour of Sandeman Winery, Douro Valley and Quinta da Pacheca (both restaurant and winery), Coimbra, Fatima, Evora (walking tour).

Pedro was, and is, an Excellent specialist for planning and executing our trip to Portugal. During the trip preparation phase, Pedro guided us through exploring what we like, our expectations, interests, time in country, budget considerations and personal preferences. From there, we conducted a series of reviews and revisions until we, and Pedro, were satisfied with our trip. Prior to our travel, Pedro made final coordination with us and answered any final questions we had. Additionally, Pedro walked us through our daily rhythm of communication with him via WhatApp. During execution of our vacation, the communication were smooth and Pedro took care of any issues that arose.
A couple of highlights and accolades;
Personal Guided Tours of Lisbon and Porto were interested and helped us understand the history and culture of Portugal. Day trips to Cintra (City of Palaces), and Obidos/Nazare were fascinating and we highly recommend these visits. If you like Wine: the Douro Valley Experience is a Must Do! However, been cognizant of the Port wine, it has a kick and they serve it like water ; >
One of our Favorite Parts of the visit: Algarve and Lagos. The scenery of the Southern Coast of Portugal is BreathTaking and the weather was beautiful (Sunny, Warm, and low Humidity). We highly recommend a boat tour of the Coast thru the Caves with Panoramic Views….it was wonderful. We could have stayed in the Algarve area another week and still would want more time!
A couple of shout outs:
Pepe: Our Driver for most of the Trip - Absolutely Outstanding - He took care of us and provided details of Portugal throughout our travels.
Evo: Our Driver in the Porto area - congenial, caring, and knowledgable. Evo would not quit until we were fully satisified
Margarida: Our walking tour guide in Lisbon. Fantastic! She set the standard for the right mix of history, stories and culture and took care of us through rainy weather.
Joao: Our tour guide and story teller in Evora was a delight;

Pedro: We haven’t been this satisfied since we had a whole lemon meringue pie to ourselves. Thank You Pedro!

Constructive Comments: There is a lot of walking, which we enjoyed, but be prepared. Hotels in which we stayed were First Rate, Five Star; however, anything short of two nights in one place became challenging and we felt rushed. We recommend to slow your pace and enjoy the Portugal culture.

Overall an Outstanding Trip and Experience from Planning thru Exectuion.

Hotel Reviews

Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa—A Leading Hotel of the World

Lisbon

We enjoyed our stay at Tivoli Avenida Liberdade. It was very nice and we experienced a great customer service. The only downside was having to wait for the check-in, but they let us use the spa before the check-in to compensate the waiting time.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Maison Albar Hotels Le Monumental Palace

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

M'ar de Ar Aqueduto

Évora

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cascade Wellness

Lagos

A Great Retreat with Breathtaking Views of the Southern Coast and Atlantic Ocean!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cascais Miragem

Cascais - Portugal

This hotel was the last one of our trip and it was very unique being right on the coast, the view was amazing. I highly recommend staying at least two nights to have time to recharge.

Activity Review

To Eat Suggestion: Baía do Peixe

Cascais

The boat tour on the coast of the Algarve was a pleasant activity to do to enjoy the views of the coasts. However, we couldn't enter the cave for safety due to weather conditions, which made the activity be shorter and less interesting.

Fantastic trip! Very easy process. A little pricey for the content but an overall great experience.

Guides:
- Marta in Porto was amazing. Incredibly knowledgeable and great interaction. Definitely our favorite!
- Pedro on the Duoro Valley tour was also fantastic. Appreciated his insights throughout the day. (Side note, the tour and tour guide at the second winery were not impressive. Although the meal was good.)
- Fabio was a wonderful driver. Really appreciated him accommodating the lunch stop at Nazare. (Side note, we had lunch at Maria do Mar in Nazare. Recommended by the hotel. Great seafood and great staff down a side laneway.)
- Last trip was with Roi. He probably had the most stress to deal with the timing and the crowds at the palace. But the best part of the tour was when he seemed to go 'off script' and walked with us down through the trees/vegetation and ponds. Really appreciated his willingness to show us that part of the area.

Activity Reviews

Historic Porto and Port wine lodges

Porto

Amazing! Great port and amazing lunch. Also appreciated the tour, as our first introduction to porto.

Day Trip to the Douro Valley & Rabelo Boat Ride

Porto

Great experience to see the valley via car and the short boat ride. Port and the tour were best at the first winery. Tour guide, wine and port were not great at the second.

Rita planned a fantastic trip for us to Portugal, including the amazing Azores. All the logistics worked perfectly, including internal flights, car rentals, and multiple guided day trips. The accommodations were fantastic, and we loved staying in unique hotels that we likely wouldn't have found on our own. All in all, it was a perfect trip.

We had a wonderful trip to Portugal!

Our guide Rita, in Lisbon, was one of the best guides I've ever had. She was so knowledgeable and warm, and made it somewhat easy to follow the history of the country.

Coimbra was a nice stop, as was Aveiro, with it's lovely canals .

Porto was my favorites city, so much going on and so lively. I hope you return!

Activity Reviews

FD Tour of Sintra

Portugal

Highly recommend this day trip - amazing houses and castles, and a lovely little town

FD Tour to Batalha, Nazaré & Óbidos

Portugal

Batalha Monastery was amazing, probably my favorite monastery we visited Nazare was warm and lovely, a fun little beach town And Obidos was really interesting. It was very crowded on the day we went, so avoid the Chocolate festival!