", Our tour of Portugal was wonderful. Strenuous walking: 28 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. The people,food and fellow travelers were lots of fun. We learned so much about the history, country, people and culture from our guide Fatima as well as each local guide we met. Venturing far from the tourist crowd, this tour has a real "Europe in the old days" feel to it. "Probably the cork farm, learning how cork is made. This is my fourth tour and farm tours are always the highlight as you have an opportunity to visit, interact and understand the people who live there. "Cork farm tour and the Vintage Hotel in Pinhao.". . Similar experience at the cork farm. This was our first tour, and we were surprised at how easily we fell into the group tour family. The group was fun. The whole tour was wonderful and I feel excited to plan another one for next year. She helped my parents out after the tour ended. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | She knew her stuff, and explained everything clearly. Enjoyable.
Questions about Portugal Trip - Rick Steves Travel Forum Fellow travelers were great. We appreciate the ability of the company to find us replacement Tour Guides after Margaret had a family emergency - 3 guides with 5 days showed quite the diversity of the Rick Steves staff. it was very enjoyable. Except for a few days of rain (which did not stop uswe just used our raincoats and umbrellas ) it was a wonderful tour with beautiful weather, a very knowledgeable and personable tour guide who guided us on the best of Portugal tastes, sights, sounds. It was my first trip to Portugal and I feel like I learned a great deal about the country and got a good look at the major cities. The tour was wonderful. The location of our central hotel with so much to see and do just outside the entrance, including the wonderful trolleys was a great choice. The tour was fast paced and full of wonderful sights, sounds and tastes, as always! "Douro Valley (we stayed in Pinhao)--pictures of this area can't do it justice.". "The spectacular scenery of the Douro Valley.". He has an extraordinary ability to share his passion for his country and its people in a way that is engaging, informative and enjoyable. Well paced tour from Lisbon to Porto. Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks) and up stairways to reach your hotel, then up several flights of stairs to reach your room. Both families opened their doors to us and we learned so much about those two products that sustain the country. ", This is my third RS tour, so I had high expectations. It was classic Rick Steves. What a bonding time with my fellow travelers. I loved talking with them because i could really get a feel for life in Portugal. Fly out of Porto or return to Lisbon by train for your flight out. Christina, our tour guide was enthusiastic, very well informed, added to our enjoyment and understanding of our Portugal experience. Well organized, very good location guides, and a passionate tour guide (Cristina). "My favorite was our wonderful tour mates. On our tour we never used public transportation and my wife and I (both in our mid 70's) were very tired some nights. . It was a busy tour, but well-paced so we had down time to explore on our own and also to take a relaxing moment at a pool, cafe, or to just soak in the ambience. We got a lot done in a short period of time. The hotels ranged from fair to wonderful. This made seeing a beautiful, culture rich and vibrant country thoroughly enjoyable. Our guide Maria was outstanding. Roberta and Gabriella were excellent guides. Wonderful tour with a good balance of cities and countryside. Rick Steves Audio Tours are leaving the podcast space. As usual, we end up being a well bonded group by the end, thanks to our fearless leader. Winery visit was a close second. Arrived during mass, toured the original cathedral during the mass, circled the pavilion as the mass completed, was able to send time at the shrine . :) Our tour guide, Javier was wonderful. I learned so much about the process of cork production as well as the farm's sustainable practices harvesting pine nuts, grapes, wild game, olive oil, and cattle.To top of the visit we were served a tasty lunch that included some of the wine that the farm produces.". Group sightseeing events subject to change. And that day was capped by an overnight stay at a fabulous resort-style hotel with a gorgeous view of that valley. (19:00), Lisbon's Colorful Neighborhoods All staff that we were in contact with were congenial, friendly and helpful. We did have free time but for me, there was too much planned in some of the days. Before that I had a great time meeting the group, enjoying the first group dinner, and a nice Lisbon walk on the second day of the tour. the sites we visited were interesting. I tested positive for Covid on the second day of the tour. Too many wows to include. Our guide encouraged everyone to get a small taste, but it wasn't for me. Everything about the trip was excellent! Wine, food, people!". I could of spent a week there alone as the hills with wine grapes cut into each hillside at different angles looks like a patchwork quilt. Parts of it were very good. June 28, 2018 "Gulbenkian museum in Lisbon and the visit to the cork farm - lunch was spectacular.". "Probably the "Oaks, Olives,and Obidos day." He sang the "Ave Maria" and I was in tears. We loved Portugal!!! Bus: 2 hours. Then we'll wander through their forest of cork oaks, learning how the bark is harvested and how it's being regulated today. 2,979 likes, 33 comments - Rick Steves' Europe (@ricksteveseurope) on Instagram: "Porto (POR-too)--the capital of the north and Portugal's second city--is fiercely proud of what." Rick Steves' Europe on Instagram: "Porto (POR-too)--the capital of the north and Portugal's second city--is fiercely proud of what distinguishes it from its . Maria, our guide, was fantastic. Christina was an exceptional source of information, and very well organized. It competes with our day on the cork farm.". It was an amazing experience and one that I never thought I would ever have.". "Well, the cork farm (above), and the food tour with Miguel. The insights our guide brought to us about the history, culture and people of Portugal brought the country to life! My greatest uncertainty turned out to be the greatest positive - traveling with 20+ other people for 10 days. Claudia was an amazing tour guide. Rick's picks for sights, eating, sleeping. Later their teenage son sat with us. I just sat out on our patio for several hours relaxing and taking it all in.". "We loved the cork farm visit and lunch, in the gorgeous Alentejo region of Portugal. The overall experience was excellent. Our main tour guide, Cristina, was outstanding. She made sure we were well informed about the areas we visited and was very prompt posting daily schedules so we could easily plan our days. Disappointed that most dinners in small restaurants even when weather was perfection. Also loved the family run cork farm tour and the incredible lunch.". Great people and enjoyed the activities and food - especially the trip to the cork farm! Rent a car for flexibility and ability to stop when and where you want. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Our guide, Maria, was exceptional and made an extra effort to add her touch to the tour with local treats and suggestions. (PDF Download) Rick Steves Portugal (2023 Travel Guide) By Rick Steves Ebook PDF Rick Steves Portugal (2023 Travel Guide) | EBOOK ONLINE DOWNLOAD If you want to download free Ebook, you are in the . I had a great time and enjoyed all of our tour group members.
Sade! After our visit, the afternoon is yours to make your own discoveries in Coimbra. We made the best of the situation and after the quarantine period made it to Porto, where we explored on our own for several days. philosophy and sign-up process effectively encourages a compatible grouping of tour members. The port wine was delicious! Very interesting. Too small, bed and pillows were terrible, no chair to sit on in the room, bathroom too small. "Fatima. "Many, many extraordinary vistas of Portugal.". If so, I agree with Jennifer that spending your time in Lisbon and Sintra makes the most sense. In Obidos we all had so much fun dancing and having a party together.". "I really enjoyed our visit to the Alentejo and the working cork farm. Wonderful. Fatima was key to creating this experience with her warmth, humor, knowledge and networking skills in each destination. I was very impressed with the city guides who did a wonderful job of explaining the history and culture. Rick Steves' does such a good job of combining tours of the expected sites and personal experiences with local people. A very close second was the visit to the family owned vineyard in the Douro Valley -- lots to see and appreciate about how port wine grapes are are grown, the wine is produced produced followed by another excellent home cooked meal. The food was terrific and our mix of travelers was the best! Tour guide was exceptional, areas covered were extraordinary. We ate well, stayed in interesting comfortable hotels, and laughed often as we enjoyed our fellow travelers and the wonderfully warm, kind, and helpful people of Portugal. I enjoyed the depth of planned activities on the tour. Wonderful from start to end. A nice variety of experiences and nicely paced. Our fellow group members were a great bunch to travel and be with. What a blessing! Family owned pottery company. I really enjoyed this tour--our guide was great and all the events and activities were well-organized. It was everything I have come to expect from a Rick Steves tour - fantastic and extremely enthusiastic & passionate guide (Fatima), comfortable bus with an excellent driver, interesting walking tours and lots of free time to explore on our own. "I loved both the Cork/Wine Farm and the Wine/Port visits were special. "The two 'Wow' moments that stand out are the Cork excursion, and the port wine event.
While in Evora I had planned to take the half day and visit cromlech and the dolmen the burial tomb. It was a beautiful scene!". . She provided so much information about the places we visited. Tour was well organized, and showed a great smattering of Portugal, making me want to explore more on my own, knowing I can do so without language concern. Understanding the history of the area, the products of the farm, the journey families like theirs have been on to put back together what was taken from them, and sharing a meal - perfect!". We went to places and saw things that we never would have found or known about on our own. Javier was a fabulous guide. "The Cork farm tour near Evora was amazing! Visits to a vineyard/ winery, cork farm and ceramics factory were much needed variety. Enjoy all of Rick Steves' TV shows on DVD, Travel as a Political Act as an 8-CD audio book, music from Rick Steves' European Christmas on CD, and special DVD/book gift sets! Many details and interesting facts were given and discussed. All in all a good experience. The Portuguese people were wonderful, the food so delicious, the culture and history rich. Rick Steves tours take the stress out of traveling and add such rich unique moments and insights - I'll never travel alone again! Also really enjoyed Fado music". "Seeing the Douro Valley and Fatima's surprise evening in Obidos.". We enjoyed making connections with our group too. "Several "wow" moments for me. The people were very friendly and accommodating, and the food and lodging were excellent! The dedication and commitment of this family to the ecosystem and the generational inheritance of this farm was mind-blowing. This was especially true of April 30 when the Coimbra city tour scheduled for the next day was added to the day's activities probably because May 1 was a holiday. Any time between April and June and from September through October are good times to visit Portugal. This article was adapted from his new book, For the Love of . I was on the tour where 11 people out of 28 got Covid so it was an interesting experience. Our guide, Maria, was outstanding. The food tour was very delicious and informative, giving me a wonderful sense of Porto and Portugal culture currently. Was the most walking on cobblestones we have done on any trip (some by our own choice during free time) so the label of "strenuous" was accurate. He explained very clearly how cork was harvested from the trees. You get to see the real Portugal while also visiting so many wonderful sites. December 30, 2020 at 6:24 p.m. As we've had to postpone our travels because of the pandemic, I believe a weekly dose of travel dreaming can be good medicine. and a pastel de natas!!! We ate at The Hole in the Wall restaurant. Roman Temple in Evora, and Douro Valley.". Pictures can't do the area justice -- it must be seen in person. Portugal is truly its own country. "The tour of the cork farm exceeded all my expectations. His singing was so beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes.". First RS tour since pandemic, 8th overall.
Rick Steves' Europe: Portugal's sunny Salema - The Virginian-Pilot It was so wonderful having the planning done for us and being able to experience things we couldn't have found on our own. Just to name a few", Another wonderful tour with Rick Steves (our 12th! "This is my 5th tour, and by now I know there may be dancing and I loved her surprise dinner and dancing in Obisdos. The cityscape is amazingly well-preserved. Heart of Portugal is a very challenging tour but the most rewarding. Our guide Fatima kept us active with our planned schedule and many added activities of her own. The tour keeps the participants busy but in a constructive way. Tour Lisbon's cobbled lanes and grand squares, reminders of Portugal's seafaring glory days. "The tour of the Cork Farm. Moderate walking: 26 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. After several tastings, Port wine is a must-have in my tiny liquor cabinet. Loved the tours of the cork farm and the winery with an excellent lunch provided by both. Bus: 2 hours. Our leader and guides were OUTSTANDING. "The beauty of Douro Valley, the significance of Fatima, the charm of Porto and the impressiveness of the Monastery of Jeronimos were just a sampling of the WOW moments. A rare chance nearly missed.".
Rick Steves' Europe: Portugal's sunny Salema - Orlando Sentinel All in all a very good time. Amazing tour guides, wonderful cultural experiences, connection with people. He was not only knowledgeable but you can feel the passion for his art thru his stories. However, an effort was made to provide alternatives for my wife and me. Being able to wander through the site, and touch the stones, I could feel the connectiveness of the earth, running throughout all of the Universe's spirit. Our stress-free Portugal vacations package together small groups, great guides, central hotels, all sightseeing and memories to last a lifetime. We loved the tour and loved meeting her and sharing in her pride and enthusiasm for her country! It was the highlight of the tour for me.". Great trip with like minded adventurous people. Algarve Portugal's sunny southern coast, strung with the simple fishing village of Salema, the historic "end of the road" of Cape Sagres, the beach-party town of Lagos, and friendly Tavira. This was the best tour we have ever experiencedanywhere. His mission: to empower Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. Claudia explain to us what was going on during the mass and it was quite a spiritual moment. Saw charming small towns, cork farm and vineyards. Everything they tell you about Portuguese pastries in true.". The cork farm and walking the wall of the medieval village were my favorite as was the activity of Porto. "(Only one??! "Wow moment was our guide Fatima. "I think my wow moment would be our visit to Fatima on a Sunday during mass. Magical!". "Cork! On arrival in this rustic Portuguese San Francisco, a savvy guide will show us how to explore the city through our taste buds with a sampling of delicious local cuisine, teaching us about history, architecture, and culture along the way. "The cork farm was an unexpected high point for me.". There was only one group dinner outside in open air. This was an exceptional trip from start to finish. We were not disappointed. The trip to the cork farm outside of Evore. Loved Portugal and its rich history. "The fado shows in Lisbon were pretty special. Every day was perfect.". The reverence that Claudia showed while explaining the events happening was emotional, and created a sense of awe for me. Our tour guide was from Portugal and was very knowledgeable of the history which helped the travel story flow. But my favorite experience on this trip was dining at Momentos (Claudia's recommendation) in Evora. Bus: 5 hours. The bus and driver were excellent, too. Also, the Gulbenkian museum was spectacular!". We joined a very companionable group with our excellent guide who was caring, energetic, and a fountain of fascinating current and historic information. The lunch and wine with this lovely family may have been the best we had during the entire trip.". Our guide, Claudia was outstanding, and made the entire trip enjoyable for everyone involved. "The "Cork Farm" was one of the most unusual visits we've had on numerous RS tours. "Both days spent on the farms - the cork farm and the vineyards in the Douro Valley!". "Standing on the cliff above Nazare looking out over the beach and the gorgeous ocean. From the moment of meeting our fellow travelers, along with Fatima, it was a delight. Later we'll enjoy some fun in the sun in the old coastal fishing village of Nazar. George got a hug when we left. Great overall especially our guide Claudia. Having time on our own was always enjoyable as you had so many choices of things to do with your time. You've got to have lots of patience. She loved to surprise us and to be honest, each surprise got better! Cristina was fabulous! ", Fabulous. Rick Steves' Europe is an American travel documentary television program created and hosted by Rick Steves. no surprises, everyday well scheduled, well planned, thoroughly packed with exposure to Portuguese culture. Very educational and enriching tour. No bus. Second place was the Cork farm, but also loved the winery visit - very personal experiences shared by local families - priceless.".
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