Amazing Vacation in Portugal
Portugal | Apr 10 - Apr 18, 2023

stacy
stacy G.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Apr 19, 2023

WOW. We had a wonderful trip.
Pedro paid attention to every detail. The hotels in Lisbon and Porto were terrific, good rooms , great locations and the staff was polite , attentive and helpful. The Hotel Heritage de Liberdade was funky with a cozy , not crowded lobby. There was a delightful breakfast and snacks water and port always available.
In Porto Hotel Pestana was in a perfect location and had a wonderful breakfast we enjoyed a dinner at their Rib dining room. In Cascais our hotel was in a good location, the staff was not at all friendly or welcoming, fortunately it was only a one night stay.
The walking tours were intimate and and provided many varied facts. We learned so much !
In Lisbon Margarita was upbeat and a font of knowledge . Margarita was friendly and helpful with all our questions (and we had many ☺️).
In Porto Andre’ was our guide. Andre has a deep connection with Porto and he was able to share details in the history and in present day Porto. As Andre found out more about us, he was able to personalize the tour leaning into our interests. Andre was especially patient with the many questions we asked throughout the tour.
Pedro planned things well , but as wonderful as everything was, the drivers were the most outstanding individuals.
Duarte picked us up from the airport He was warm and welcoming and able to give us some good information.
Eduardo was A m a z I n g. Eduardo drove us to Sintra and was warm kind and helpful. He answered many questions and we felt that we formed a nice relationship. After Sintra Eduardo took us to a great restaurant where we shared a lovely lunch.
Nelson had the job of driving us to Porto. He was warm and welcoming. Nelson is a gracious and patient man. He was informative about our stops along the route and polite when anyone asked questions of any sort.
Jao was also welcoming and kind He took us to the Duro Valley. When we saw that there was a boat approaching the locks , Jao offered to stop for us to observe. It was pretty cool.
We were delighted to see Eduardo when he appeared to drive us from Porto to Cascais. Eduardo made the trip and our interim stops a delight. It was sad to say goodbye to him.

We had an amazing trip. Pedro planned so many great and varied activities from Fado to port tasting, Sintra to The Duro Valley, boat rides and walking tours.
We have Pedro to thank for an extraordinary vacation! Thank you KimKim

Hotel Reviews
Heritage Avenida Liberdade
Lisboa

This hotel in the middle of Lisbon is a gem It is a funky and intimate hotel with lovely rooms and great service. Breakfast is provided daily as our snacks, port and other beverages. We had a wonderful stay. We would absolutely go back next time we are in Lisbon.

Authenticity & Character
Warm and funky. Rooms have large windows that allow you to close off or make you feel almost part of the city
Location
In the heart of Lisbon. Easy to get almost anywhere in the city by foot.
Staff
Helpful and friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Everything was clean and neat.
Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel & World Heritage Site
Porto

Hotel is in a great location. Staff is friendly and attentive. There is a lovely dining room where they serve an extensive inclusive breakfast. Nice hotel bar

Authenticity & Character
Nice not particularly interesting
Location
Walking distance from all over Porto and Gaia
Staff
Great welcoming and attentive
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms always well cleaned
Hotel Baia
Cascais

We checked in and the staff could barely be bothered to check us in. No greeting and certainly no attempt at being fr Or helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Open and pretty but no real character
Location
Great view of the beach
Staff
Attention to the guest , beginning at check in
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service
Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service
Portugal

EDUARDO made the trip interesting both during the ride and at each point that we stopped. "

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Eduardo was friendly engaged and engaging. He was great at trying to answer our questions.
Transport
Eduardo
Scenic Voyage along the Douro River aboard an Exclusive Boat
Scenic Voyage along the Douro River aboard an Exclusive Boat
Portugal

This was a relaxed time. We were lucky to have a beautiful day our boat “captain “ was a delight. Diogo explained how all of the harvesting is done by hand. They need many people to help. People come from all over to help. Diogo made this a boat trip worth taking !

Quality of Experience
Diogo our guide/captain
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Diogo
Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour
Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour
Porto

Our guide Andre was extremely knowledgeable and had a strong connection to Porto. Andre did not make us feel rushed , he answered our questions and personalized parts based on our interests. He was outstanding.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Friendly and interactive
Transport
Grenada We were fortunate to have had great drivers I wrote about the drivers in my review
Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner
Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner
Lisbon

Dinner was a good basic meal. Tasty not fancy, certainly enjoyable. Fado guitarist were outstanding. Vocalist give you the feel for what was being sung, even with no understanding of Portuguese. Excellent evening.

Quality of Experience
Food
The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover
The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover
Porto

We went to Sandeman We are four of us. We’re giving a private tour. We asked a lot of questions most of which were answered and gave us insight into the port making process. Our guide was helpful and informative and patient with all of our questions.

Quality of Experience
The wine tasting was a beautiful presentation of cheese, port, and complementary condiment
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was knowledgeable, and in process of completing a masters program in winetasting and tourism
Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch
Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch
Portugal

The winery was as beautiful as the valley around it. We had a short tour, but the most outstanding part of this experience was the luncheon. The food was wonderful, and the presentation was a feast for the eyes.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Our driver Jao
Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service from Porto
Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service from Porto
Portugal

Beautiful drive. Duro Valley is magnificent

Quality of Experience
Our driver Jao and his willingness to go “off script”
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Pedro Luis
Pedro
Pedro Luis
Local specialist in Lisbon | Replied on Apr 19, 2023

Hello Stacy,
I truly appreciate the confidence you and Pam showed in me during the entire process - super happy to receive your kinds words. I will make sure to share your review with all our partners and staff. Your message is super detailed and it really helps us a lot!
You have made my day :)
Your friend in Portugal - Pedro