Portugal tour from Porto to the Algarve..
Portugal | May 20 - Jun 1, 2024

D
Dennis S.
Canada | Reviewed on Jun 08, 2024

Overall our trip was great. The hotels were located centrally in the cities they were in and the rooms were nice. Our biggest disappointment were some of the tours. When we went to the vineyards in the Douro valley we expected to go
to 2 or 3 vineyards wine tasting white and red wines not a port house since we visited those in Porto. We did stop at one
to taste white port that was included but would have rather have had a wine tasting of all their wines. Our driver fortunately did ask and we were able to taste some of their wines but this was not part of the trip. The port winery we did
visit was beautiful but again would have preferred a regular wine tasting since we tasted port in Porto. On the tour to Belem I thought we would visit the Jeronimos Monastery but when we got there the guide told us of long lineups and there wouldn't be enough time to see it. If I had known that I would have done our own tour to Belem. The Sintra trip I thought we were visiting Pena Palace as well the way the description of tour was presented. The bike tour in the Algarve also didn't come as advertised as anticipated most of the tour to be along the cliffs overlooking the ocean but that part of the tour wasn't that long. I also wished we had the Evora tour earlier in the day as some of the tips the guide gave us were of no use since we were leaving the next morning. We would have done a wine tasting in the afternoon then. Overall our guides and drivers were very good .

Hotel Reviews
The Editory House Ribeira
Porto

Rooms were small but the setting was fantastic and their breakfast was first class. The only thing missing was a fitness centre

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
NH Collection Lisboa Liberdade
Lisbon

Great location and nice rooms. The fitness centre could have better equipment.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Cleanliness & Comfort
Évora Olive Hotel
Evora

Nice rooms and great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Short walk to the centre of the city
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Tivoli Lagos
Lagos

Good location with nice views of the city.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
H10 Duque de Loule
Lisboa

Beautiful rooms with great beds. Nice rooftop bar but no fitness centre

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Foodie Experience in Porto
Foodie Experience in Porto
Porto

Overall the places we went to were good except maybe for the last stop for desert. The guide was great.

Quality of Experience
Food
Sampling of different foods and wines
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise
Day Excursion to Douro Valley, Wine Tasting & River Cruise
Porto

We expected we were going to vineyards for wine tastings not port tastings since we did this in Porto The cruise was a little disappointing as well as i didn't realize we were doing a circle instead of going from one stop to another

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The driver and guide compensated for what was a poorly described tour
Transport
Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coimbra
Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coimbra
Portugal

We didn't get to visit the library in Coimbra as we should have gotten advance tickets. We didn't realize how popular the tours were . Since it was a stop I would have coordinated a tour with the driver so we would gotten there at a scheduled time,

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Get to Know Lisbon with a Local
Get to Know Lisbon with a Local
Lisbon

A nice walking tour of Lisbon explaining some of the history

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Go West to Belém TukTuk Tour
Go West to Belém TukTuk Tour
Lisbon

Different and nice way of visiting Belem but not enough time to see the sights,

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Portugal

Great visit to Quinta Regaleira Sintra and Cascais

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Privately Guided Visit of Évora
Privately Guided Visit of Évora
Portugal

Guide was very knowledgeable and had some great tips

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}}, Wine Tasting & Lunch at a Quinta
Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}}, Wine Tasting & Lunch at a Quinta
Portugal

Great visit to the vineyard where we got to taste good quality wines and food.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Lagos & Ponta da Piedade Bike Tour
Lagos & Ponta da Piedade Bike Tour
Portugal

We wanted more of a bike ride along the cliffs and not so much time in the city

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4X4 Algarve Sunset Experience
4X4 Algarve Sunset Experience
Portugal

Our guide took us some great spots along the way and we watched the sunset in a great spot.

Quality of Experience
The spot of the sunset
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver was very funny and entertaining
Transport
Catamaran Excursion to Benagil Caves & Carvoeiro Beach
Catamaran Excursion to Benagil Caves & Carvoeiro Beach
Portugal

Great visit to the caves.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Karin Eckhard
Raquel
Raquel Aceituno
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Jun 14, 2024
Hi Dennis,
Thank you for taking the time to share the feedback about your trip to Portugal.
I am happy to hear that your overall trip was great and that you liked your hotels and locations and your local guides!
I would like to address your comments below;
As described in the activity, the Douro Valley experience includes just a wine tasting with winery visit river cruise. The local wines offered, especially in northern Portugal are mostly Port. If you were interested in other red and white...
Read more

Hi Dennis,
Thank you for taking the time to share the feedback about your trip to Portugal.
I am happy to hear that your overall trip was great and that you liked your hotels and locations and your local guides!

I would like to address your comments below;
As described in the activity, the Douro Valley experience includes just a wine tasting with winery visit river cruise. The local wines offered, especially in northern Portugal are mostly Port. If you were interested in other red and white wines you could have informed us during the planning of your trip and we would have happily provided you options.

The tuk-tuk tour of Belem is a ride through some of Lisbon´s neighbourhoods, however does not include the entrance to any attractions. Unfortunately, there are many visitors in Portugal these months and to be able to enter a monument like Jeronimo’s you had to get the tickets in advance. If you had let us know, we would have purchased it for you.

The Sintra tour description in your travel documentation specifies that you were going to visit Quinta de Regaleira, Sintra surroundings and Cascais, which by your comments you did visit it.
The Bike tour in Lagos has a good balance of exploring the old town and sea cliffs, as described in the activity.

I wish you and your family all the best,
Raquel