KimKim/Across Portugal provide great travel planning services
Portugal
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Jun 14 - Jun 22, 2024
I was a little skeptical about using kimkim at first-- but it proved to be a thoroughly convenient and helpful service in planning our trip(s) to Portugal and Morocco. The travel planning services provided by Pedro at Across Portugal were excellent! He and his team were always responsive to our questions and the 9 day custom trip they planned for us through Lisbon (including trips to Sintra and Belem), Algarve and Cascais was exactly what we hoped for. We particularly appreciated the thoughtful welcome gift upon arrival at our Lisbon hotel and Pedro's responsiveness when our hotel in the Algarve, Cascade Wellness Resort, did not meet our (admittedly) high standards. Our driver, Andre, was one of the highlights of our trip. He was great with our kids and we really enjoyed our conversations with him.
Hotel Reviews
We have admittedly high standards when it comes to our resort hotels. Unfortunately, despite what appeared to be their best efforts Cascade Wellness just didn't meet the mark. Our first apartment (#511) was very disappointing-- a not insignificant walk to the main dining areas/pools with a view of the roundabout, combined with worn/dirty furnishings, dirty linens and black mildew rampant in the shower areas. We were disappointed enough that for only the 2nd time in my life, we requested a room change. The second apartment (#1111) was an improvement in terms of cleanliness/pool access. Overall, however, this resort needs refurbishment. The carpets/couches/draperies in both apartments need to be deep cleaned to remove stains and the furniture is noticeably dented and scratched. In the three days we spent poolside, the pool bar by the 'sand' pool never opened (we were there in mid-June and the pool was in use by many people). Landscaping does not appear to be watered regularly and walkways between buildings were in need of repair. We only ate at the hotel once after being unimpressed with our lunch, preferring either to go out and order in via UberEats. The front desk, however, did try to be helpful, providing good restaurant recommendations and, after moving us, checking to see if the new apartment was an improvement. Bottom line, this is not a 5 star, or even a 4 star, resort.
Great location, well appointed, clean rooms (the port in the rooms is a nice touch).
Great location, beautiful ocean views with a balcony. Large rooms (our adjoining rooms had dressing room area(s) larger than many hotel rooms). Only stayed one night so can't speak to the pool and other services.
Activity Reviews
Sintra is a can't miss stop on your visit to Portugal and, at the suggestion of our driver, Andre, we combined our visit to Pena Palace with a visit to Quinta Da Regaleira and a quick lunch in the old town area-- which made for a perfect day trip from Lisbon.
Lovely private boat tour along with coast. Knowledgeable, pleasant guide and appreciated the mid-ride port sampling and that our son got to help drive the boat. Would have liked the option to jump in the water at some point, but recognize that was not part of the itinerary.
Hey Jennifer,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
It was a pleasure to assist you and ensure your travel plans met your expectations.
Your appreciation of the welcome gift and our responsiveness to your concerns at the Algarve hotel means a lot. We strive to make every detail perfect for our travelers, and it's great to know we could address your needs promptly. Thank you for trusting us with your travel plans.
Your friend in Portugal - Pedro