Portugal

My Husband and I have travelled throughout Portugal over the last few years because we love it so much and the Portuguese people are so friendly and welcoming, very much like the Irish. We have visited many areas from the Capital Lisbon to Porto and Sintra up north and the Algarve down south.

Lisbon is a historic capital, with a fusion of unusual character and charm. We stayed at the 4 star Avenida Palace which used to be a convent and was converted into a Hotel. The Hotel was full of grandeur and the staff extremely helpful. It is located on the Avenida da Liberdade in the centre of Lisbon, walking distance to shops, restaurants and nightlife. With the cobbled streets and small cafes with standing room only we enjoyed an espresso with the locals. We found out that Lisbon nightlife only starts at sunset and continues on till dawn. Sintra is a small town in the hills north of Lisbon, slightly cooler climate than the south but the views are spectacular. Palacio da Pena (Sintra Castle) is very much worth a visit, we took a tour bus from the centre of Sintra, and the castle is full of unique charm and a magical atmosphere. The town of Sintra itself is small and quaint and around the main square there are many little monuments, cafes, and shops. For pure fascination Sintra is worth a trip.

Porto to us is like the west of Ireland so much greener and much warmer. Our Hotel was the 4 star Pestana Porto in Pracada Ribeira, the historical centre of Porto. We took a trip on the Douro River and sampled the local port and cheese a journey not to be missed. This area has a real picturesque life style of Portugal with narrow streets and typical houses. I frequented the market are of Bolhao more than my Husband and also some great shopping areas for leather goods and Jewellery in downtown Baixa.

Cascais and Estoril are one of our favourite places in Portugal it is only 45 minutes from Lisbon. We found it romantic, cosmopolitan, and full of entertainment. We stayed at the Senhora da Guia on the coast a small but cosy hotel. The resort itself seems to have limited space but with great diversity in nature, culture and heritage. We spent an evening at the Casino de Estoril the largest in Europe, we enjoyed a fabulous meal and show, but we lost a few bob too! Along the coast are some exuberant beaches at Guincho and Carcavelas, smaller than the south of Portugal but totally unspoilt, in the evening time they have small market stalls selling handmade jewellery and crafts.

On another trip to Portugal we travelled to the Algarve and stayed in Carvoeiro about 40 minutes from Faro Airport. We stayed at the Tivoli Almansor Hotel, what a fabulous Hotel, sitting on a cliff face with its own private beach. Our room was sea view and the views were spectacular. The Hotel staff all speak English and are extremely helpful. The pool is quite large with ample sun loungers and many activities run by the hotel during the day for both children and adults. The Town of Carvoeiro is beautiful it has a small beach cove and it used to be an old fishing village, but has now become a popular tourist location due to its quaintness. There are numerous restaurants and bars in the area and plenty of nightlife.

We are definitely going back to Portugal again soon but to which part we haven't decided yet.