Rita did a great job. She understood our need...
Portugal | Sep 28 - Oct 5, 2023

Dee
Dee C.
Phoenixville, PA | Reviewed on Oct 08, 2023

Rita did a great job. She understood our needs, she was very attentive and she was quick to respond. She crafted a great trip for us and made the whole planning process easy. We ended with a perfect fit.
Our guides, drivers and tours were outstanding. Everything went smoothly, drivers were on-time, pleasant and very informative. Dani (Taste of Lisbon), Sylvia (tuk-tuk), David, Anna, Pedro, Mauricio, Miguel (he was "new" - only 10 days with the company but really, really good) were wonderful. The highlight of our trip was our private luncheon and wine tasting in Cambres/Douro Valley with Manuela - owner/hostess and her son Antonio at their vineyard. It was the highlight of our trip!
The hotels were exactly as we wanted. They were comfortable, spotless, staff was very knowledgeable and helpful and the locations excellent. My Suite Lisbon, Pestana Pousadas Porto (elegant!), Hotel Mondego and Melia Lisboa Aeroporto all very good.
We've been back home two days and we're missing Portugal. It's a lovely country and the people are genuine and warm.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Mondego
Coimbra

Excellent location. Authentic facade/building (late 1880s) with very modern and super comfortable updates.

Authenticity & Character
Loved the modern interior design
Location
Everything within walking distance
Staff
Really informative. Walked us through ticketing process for the University and gave us the best suggestions for our self directed tour. Expalined details with map included!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Squeaky clean
Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto
Lisbon

Quick efficient check in and out. Very nice staff. A veritable feast for breakfast. Breakfast service started at 4:00 AM for early flights but refreshed regularly (we ate at 8:00 AM and it was delish) Convenient shuttle to the airport departure location.

Authenticity & Character
Squeaky clean
Location
Quiet hotel next to the airport.
Staff
Super pleasant
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pousada Porto—Rua das Flores
Porto

Elegant! Breakfast beyond compare. Really good location. Easy walk to restaurants and various sights. Super helpful and knowledgeable and patient staff. Very classy and the best in every way!

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful artwork, historic building that was remodeled and retained original bones/architecture, must see/use swimming pool/waterfall, great workout room
Location
Step outside the front to and walk to all of the historical sites, wonderful restaurants, and a lovely little square nearby with live music and nice people out to enjoy the evening.
Staff
Knowledgeable, patient, and kind.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Perfection. Fresh flowers, spotless
My Suite Lisbon
Lisbon

The hotels were exactly as we wanted. They were comfortable, spotless, staff was very knowledgeable and helpful and the locations excellent (all in historic areas which allowed for easy access to everything). My Suite Lisbon, Pestana Pousadas Porto (!!!), Hotel Mondego and Melia Lisboa Aeroporto all very good/excellent. Locations were ideal for touring important sites, staff were exceptional and I'm missing my breakfasts in Portugal. The only small bump was pick up at Lisbon Airport upon arrival. It was somewhat problematic. We've been back home two days and we're missing Portugal. It's a lovely country and the people are genuine and warm.

Authenticity & Character
Very spacious, very clean, charming garden
Location
Neighborhood filled with nice restaurants. Easy access to funicular and San Justa Elevator and all the places you wanted to see.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Yep. Squeaky clean and lots of space - multiple rooms.
Activity Reviews
Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Nazaré & Óbidos
Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Nazaré & Óbidos
Portugal

Anna did a marvelous job driving and as informative guide. She took us to Obidos and Nazare. We learned about big wave surfing sport in Nazare and we're eager to find the documentary on YouTube. We were offered the option to visit Fatima and we very pleased to have made to visit. It was an excellent option that was mentioned and it fit nicely into our travels for the day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Anna was charming and offered an option to visit Fatima. Really glad we made the stop during our travels for the day.
Transport
Car was very comfortable. (all of the cars were nice, clean higher end vehicles). Anna was a good driver and did a great job explaining the history to us while traveling.
Privately Guided Visit of Porto
Privately Guided Visit of Porto
Porto

Pedro did a superb job showing us the splendors of Porto. We enjoyed his guided tour and the fun facts he expanded on related to some of the sights. ex. Dom Luis bridge, a double decker crossing the Douro River between Porto and Gaia completed 1885 (vs. Dom Luis I bridge). Dom Luis I was king of Portugal at the time but he didn't come for the opening of the bridge so its simply called the Dom Luis by the locals. We found the time spent with Pedro to fly by quickly and his tour so interesting that we wished we had more time together.

Quality of Experience
Such a well spoken and knowledgeable guide.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Pedro was so well informed. Very pleasant and a warm personality too.
Transport
Very comfortable car. All the vehicles were spacious, clean, new upscale.
Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour
Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour
Portugal

Sylvia knew her way around the city and did a great job explaining the sights and historical importance.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very pleasant and knowledgeable.
Transport
The tuk-tuk was fun but temperatures were very high and the tuk-tuk top was transparent plastic so we were hot. Also, driver facing forward was hard to hear.
Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Portugal

Our tour with David was very good. We hit all of the highlights in the three cities but also included some great stops, Boca do Inferno and Cabo da Roca. Really impressive and so glad they were included. The natural wonders were a nice compliment to the city splendors.

Quality of Experience
Really enjoyed the tour and David did an amazing job with his explanations. He made a special stop so we could see cork trees and eucalyptus trees up close and personal. He understood our interests and took them into consideration making adjustments along the way.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
David was a super star driver/tour guide.
Transport
Very comfortable car.
 Lisbon Roots, Food & Cultural Walk
Lisbon Roots, Food & Cultural Walk
Portugal

The tour guide, Dani, was delightful. She was knowledgeable about the foods and their ethnic origins as she took us around to the various neighborhoods in historic Lisbon. Food/ginjinha/wine tasting was top shelf in each location and she was highly entertaining and fun - great sense of humor. As a small group tour, we all enjoyed the food very much as well as enjoying each other over some delicious foods. It was a very special afternoon. We would highly recommend this tour with Dani.

Quality of Experience
Dani explained the origins of foods. She personalized the tour. It was very fun and enjoyable in every way.
Food
Superb tasting sample. A great variety of foods from various locales.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The tour guide was fun and informative. She was warm and friendly and understood food.
Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise
Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise
Porto

Mauricio was our driver/guide in Duro Valley and the Duro Valley was awesome. We spent the day together and we didn't want the day to end. Mauricio was wonderful in every way and we learned so much about the wine region. We had a private luncheon and wine tasting in Cambres/Douro Valley with Manuela - owner/hostess and her son Antonio at their vineyard. - Quinta de Tourais. winery. She served the meal in her dining room and it was charming and delicious (five star meal) . It was the highlight of our trip! We've been back home several days and we're missing Portugal. It's a lovely country and the people are genuine and warm.

Quality of Experience
Simply a marvelous day in every way.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Mauricio was a phenom. It was a 7 hour day including the private wine tasting and 5 star meal at Quintas de Tourais and boat tour on the Douro River. Mauricio maintained interesting dialog and added relevant references to literature, nature, ect. throughout. I would look forward to spending the day with him again. One of our favorite pictures is Mauricio on the river boat holding up a wine glass filled with water from the Douro River. The water is sparkling clear.
Transport
The car was a high end model, new, clean and super comfortable.
Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Nov 09, 2023

Dear Dee & James, I'd like to thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your trip to Portugal. I will pass your comments on to our local guides, drivers, and hotel staff. They will be so happy to hear that you had such a great time exploring Portugal with them :) Hope that we will work together in the future. Again, thank you for choosing the family of Espíritu Travel! Warm regards, Rita