Hi everyone,

We’re thinking of spending a week in the Algarve in April or May.

I was planning to stay 3 days in Faro and 4 days in Lagos, and explore the surrounding areas. Do you think that’s a good idea?

All tips and advice are welcome.

Thanks

Just back from a week in the Algarve. The goal was to get some fresh air, take it easy with walks, and catch up with friends.

Hi everyone,

It’s all in the title—we’re planning to travel with three of us: my wife, our 2-year-old baby, and myself for Christmas in Portugal. Is this a good idea? We don’t have much time to figure out everything we can do or visit. We were thinking of flying into Porto, staying there for 2 or 3 days, and then traveling by train to either Lisbon or Faro—I’m not sure yet. Book 2 nights for the arrival and then decide the rest once we’re there. Will we manage without a car? I’d love all your tips! 🙂

Richard

Hi everyone, I’m planning a week-long trip to southern Portugal with my two teens. I’m looking for accommodation ideally located near Faro. What do you think of the towns of Lagos and Albufeira? Is it easy to get around these places using public transport, or is it better to rent a car to make the most of our stay? If you have any accommodation recommendations (hotel, campsite, Airbnb, or other), I’d love to hear them. Thanks so much in advance for your tips and valuable feedback! Hélène

Hi! I’m looking for ideas, tips, and great deals for a 15-day road trip around Portugal starting and ending in Faro. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

We're thinking of visiting Portugal, either in November or next April. We'd rent a camper van for 4 weeks and try to see as much of this beautiful country as possible! Any tips or ideas?? Thanks :)

Hi, My trip to the Algarve, which was postponed, is now taking shape. On October 13th, I’m leaving for 2 weeks. When I arrive, I’ll be staying in Lisbon for 3 nights. So, I’d love to find somewhere affordable and well-located to stay—any suggestions would be great! After that, I’ll head to Faro, where I plan to rent a car. Would it be best to rent directly from the airport? I can’t seem to find any agencies in Faro city where I could pick up the car and drop it off at the airport at the end of my stay. Is it possible to return a car at 6 AM at the airport? Can I get the Portuguese motorway pass in France? Thanks so much for your help! Jofra

Hi there, We’re spending a week in Porto this summer and plan to explore the surrounding area. A visit to the Douro seems unavoidable! We’ll be discovering a lot once we’re there, but we’re still looking for recommendations on where to stay... Could you help us out? We’ve read that spending a night in a quinta would be great, but it seems way out of our budget. Or is it? We’ve set a max budget of around 150 €. Otherwise, we’re looking for charming little villages with nice restaurants to end the day on a high note. We’re open to all suggestions—thanks in advance for your help! Delphine and Fred

Hi everyone,

It’s been ages since I last dropped by here... maybe simply because, apart from Nepal, I haven’t really had the chance to hit the road lately. 😉

This year, I’d love to spend a few days in Lisbon, probably in late May or early June. But with my budget being what it is, I’m looking for great tips to avoid wasting time once I’m there and risk missing out on hidden gems or unusual culinary specialties and/or quirky activities! I’m hoping to find a room in a local’s home where I can stay in a quiet neighborhood near the center, so I can get around without relying too much on public transport—my walking shoes are my best travel buddies. I’d love all your recommendations, especially for parks, small neighborhood markets, casual eateries for a quick bite, your favorite viewpoints to soak in the scenery (I’m bringing my travel journal to sketch my getaway in watercolors), events around traditional art and crafts, and so on. All your advice will definitely help me travel peacefully and come back with my head full of vibrant memories! Thanks in advance, everyone! Isabelle

Hello 😊 If you're planning 10 days in Madeira and feeling unsure about the itinerary, my first tip would be: don’t try to “tick everything off.” The island is compact, but the roads are winding and hikes take time. For 10 days, I’d structure the trip into 3 zones:

East (Ponta de São Lourenço + Pico do Arieiro) for spectacular volcanic landscapes

Central (levadas + Fanal forests) for hiking

West (Porto Moniz, cliffs, sunsets) for raw panoramas And save Funchal for early mornings or late afternoons.

A car is essential, and checking the weather ahead is key—it changes quickly with altitude. I’ve broken all this down (optimized route, travel times, parking spots, hike difficulty, what to do based on weather, mistakes to avoid…) in this post: 👉 https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.com/visiter-madere-1-semaine/ Even though it’s built for a week, it adapts easily to 10 days by adding more hikes or slowing the pace. If you’re looking for a balance between breathtaking nature, hiking, and quieter moments, Madeira is a real safe bet.

Hello fellow travelers!!😉 My flight tickets are booked—off to Porto for a 4-day weekend! I was thinking of spending 2 days in the Douro (from my early Saturday morning arrival (!!) until Sunday evening) and 2 days in Porto (from Sunday evening to Tuesday evening). Does that sound reasonable to you? I plan to rent a car for the first two days so I can be free to move around without being tied to train or bus schedules. What are your favorite spots? Any village recommendations to visit and spend the night (Saturday night)? Has anyone done this kind of weekend before? Thanks in advance for all your great tips, and have a wonderful day! Manou

Tuesday, September 12 We had to get up early that day to leave our house at 3:30 AM, as our flight from Lyon Saint-Exupéry was scheduled for 6:35 AM. In the end, our Transavia flight took off with a delay.



I’d found a round-trip flight from Lyon to Porto on the Transavia website for 58 € per person, including only a carry-on bag.



Before landing at Porto Airport, we flew over the Douro River and the famous bridge between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia.



The Douro flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

From the airport, we took the metro, which starts above ground before diving into Porto’s underground.



Once we’d dropped off our bags at the hotel, we set off to explore Porto.







You can’t go to Portugal without riding a tram—it’s a must! So we took an old tram (Line 1) to the beach.







The Guindais Funicular connects Praça da Batalha, high up in the city, to Ribeira in the historic center near the quays.



We didn’t take it—going down the stairs was fine. A one-way ticket costs 2.5 €.





The Dom Luís I Bridge is one of the city’s icons. Built between 1881 and 1886 by engineer Théophile Seyrig, a disciple of Gustave Eiffel,





The historic Ribeira district, once run-down, is undergoing an urban revival. Porto is gradually regaining its former splendor.



Old mansions with crests are being restored, splendid façades adorned with azulejos, Baroque-style churches, yellow trams, ancient shops, trendy restaurants, hip bars, boutiques, and design hotels!

Hi everyone

We’re thinking of a getaway to Lisbon in October—how much time should we plan? Any great tips or must-see spots?

Thanks!

Hi there, I’m starting a little European road trip where I want to explore the capitals of our continent. I’m currently in Rome, and my next destination is Lisbon!

If you’ve got any restaurant, bar, or place recommendations, I’d love to hear them!

Thanks in advance! 😊

hi everyone,

we’re a group of 10 adults who hike together every year, and we’re looking for our next destination for October. Our main criterion is avoiding crowds, even if it means not being at the most wow-worthy spot. Is there still a chance to find some solitude in Madeira, or has it become difficult? Would Cape Verde be a better bet if we pick the right islands?

I know it’s a very personal opinion—super subjective depending on how much company you can tolerate—but it’s really our top priority.

Thanks for any recent insights; it seems like tourism in Madeira is really booming!

have a great day,

Sandra

Hi there!

Looking for one or more friendly people to share a sunny vacation with!

Available around mid-October for 3-4 weeks of vacation. Open to destinations (Greece, Morocco, Portugal/Spain, Colombia, Argentina, or others).

45 years old, from the Quebec City area, French/English speaker.

What I'm looking for: -Outdoor activities (hiking, snorkeling, horseback riding, etc.) -Cultural visits (museums, shows, fairs, etc.) -Gastronomic experiences (from street food to nice restaurants) -Relaxation time (beach, hot springs, spa, etc.)

Accommodation options: guesthouses, Airbnb, or the occasional hotel room.

I’ve traveled through every Canadian province, lived in the Yukon for several years, visited a few Latin American countries, explored Europe once (Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Germany), road-tripped 22,000 km across the USA in two months, and participated in a youth volunteer program in Sri Lanka.

If this speaks to you, let’s chat in DMs!

Hi there,

We’re traveling in our camper van from Haute-Savoie.

We’ve got 2 weeks in April and want to explore northern Portugal.

We’re thinking of:

- Peneda-Gerês National Park - the Douro Valley - Porto

We love nature, hiking, and culture (and also good food and wine).😉

Do you have an itinerary to suggest?

Thanks in advance for your replies

Hi, Like every summer, I’m looking for a (not too distant) destination to cycle with my family for about 3 weeks. I’m drawn to the EuroVelo 1 route in Portugal. Do any of you have information to share? Are there sections that are more or less difficult? Routes that are more or less safe? I’ve heard that Portuguese drivers aren’t very cautious on the road, especially around cyclists. Thanks for your feedback and experiences!

Hi, We're heading to Portugal for two weeks in July (arriving at Porto Airport) with two kids (4 and 6 years old). I don’t want to rent car seats from the rental companies because it’s way too expensive, and on top of that, they only offer backless boosters. I’d like to buy some locally instead. Do you know if there are any stores near the airport? Thanks in advance

Following a question I was asked in a private message, here are some personal photos of Porto in October.

Looking for a travel partner to visit the Azores for 2 to 3 weeks starting around September 14th. Simple hotels or even better, staying with locals, and a rental car to get around freely. Sharing costs, of course. A few easy hikes. Itinerary to be decided together—plenty of room for spontaneity. Good vibes guaranteed!

Hi, I’m Jérémy, 28 years old. Originally from Brittany, I’ve always loved traveling, especially to natural spots—whether by the sea or in the mountains.

I’m a huge sports fan, particularly outdoor sports (surfing, snowboarding, hiking, climbing, etc.) :D

Not long ago, I bought a nice converted van, and I’ve just left home for a very long road trip across Europe.

Right now, I’m heading down the west coast of France. Then, around February 6-7, I’ll turn toward the Northern Alps before heading back down to the Southern Alps. After that, my plan is to head toward the Pyrenees, then loop around Spain and Portugal (to catch some great waves) before passing back through France and continuing into Northern Italy and the Balkans. Basically, the idea is to cover all of Southern Europe if possible.

I’ve traveled solo and with friends before, and I’ve realized I prefer traveling with people. Just sharing experiences together feels amazing :)

If you’d like to join me—whether for a few days or several weeks/months—I’d be happy to host you (after getting to know each other first, of course)! That said, I can only travel with one person or, at most, two at a time since my van has three front seats (though if we’re three, one person would need to sleep in a tent next to the van since there are only two spots inside).

If you’re traveling in a van too, I’m also open to us traveling together with our two vans—it’d let us be a bigger group.

Feel free to message me on Instagram @jeremy.tex

Have a great day!

Jérémy

HELLO, here’s a little review of my cruise on the CELEBRITY EQUINOX 9-night / 10-day cruise CONCIERGE CLASS BALCONY CABIN at 1170 € per person EMBARKATION We arrived around 11:30 AM and were taken care of right away. Priority boarding is now only for suites, but it’s not really necessary since everyone boards quickly. In less than 15 minutes, we were on board. The best part? We could head straight to our muster station for the lifeboat drill—done in no time! AZAMARA, if you’re listening : ) Disembarkations at ports were also very smooth, with a little stand offering wet towels and refreshing drinks. THE CABIN CONCIERGE BALCONY 2108 Perfectly located, with a huge balcony, on the same deck as the pools, just below the buffet, and close to the elevators that took us straight to the restaurant or reception. Concierge class doesn’t come with many perks—we only went to the concierge desk once. We got a small plate of canapés in the cabin every day and access to a few invitations we declined, lol. What really stood out was the location and the large balcony. DINING The buffet is always great, with tons of choices—the best buffet of any cruise line, in my opinion, even if PRINCESS isn’t bad either. It was sometimes crowded, but the island layout meant we never had to queue, except for the last two days when we couldn’t serve ourselves due to a GASTRO outbreak... The only downside was the desserts, which weren’t as good as before. Is it the chef? Or a budget cut? The last day’s FAREWELL BUFFET was amazing. At the restaurant, we noticed a drop in quality, especially with the starters—mostly veggies or soup, basically cheap stuff :( . Though the escargots were still available and just as good. Also, we often got the pager because no tables were free, and service was sometimes really slow. We went to the specialty restaurant « LE MURANO » for around $50 per person. The menu is always the same, but it’s still delicious, with attentive service and the chef flambéing the lobster right in front of you. We loved it! THE PORTS OF CALL BARCELONA / AT SEA / LISBON (2 DAYS) / PORTO / AT SEA / TANGIER / CADIZ / AT SEA A great itinerary with 3 sea days in total. We had mostly great weather, even really nice weather during the 3 sea days. It was less sunny and warm in PORTO and CADIZ. We did everything on our own, except for the first day in Lisbon, where we took a guided TUK TUK tour with Filipe—it was AMAZING! He was really interesting, and we learned so many fun facts. Loved it! In PORTO, everything costs money, which was a bit disappointing. The churches and cathedrals are expensive :( TANGIER was a great discovery. Too bad no mosques are open to visitors, but it’s still a pleasant stop. We’d already visited CADIZ and love this city.

ENTERTAINMENT DURING THE DAY It’s always quiet during the day. You can play mini-golf or pétanque on the grass, and we didn’t hesitate to do laps around the deck. Of course, we also enjoyed the fantastic adults-only pool in the solarium, though sometimes we went to the outdoor pools too. This adults-only pool is still incredible—big and heated, except for 2 days when I complained because the water was suddenly cold. I don’t know why! Of course, some parents try to bring their kids in at the start of the cruise, but not on my watch, lol. After 2 or 3 days, they give up—the outdoor pools were well-heated anyway, so there was no reason to. Apparently, some people didn’t know CELEBRITY—they must’ve realized it’s not a cruise line for kids, pff. IN THE EVENING Apart from the comedian, we saw all the shows. Some were really beautiful, others just okay, but overall, it was a success. The dance nights, though, were pretty average, except for the ABBA night, which always delivers.

CONCLUSION CELEBRITY is still a pleasant cruise line, even if the quality has dropped a little. We still love that fabulous heated adults-only pool, the calm atmosphere on board, the few kids, no Italians, and the zen vibe. The ship is showing its age a bit, but nothing major. We had a great cruise with good value for money. Can’t wait for the next one on the CELEBRITY INFINITY in February! Thanks for reading 😉 PS: Some photos to come

Sunday, April 21 Everything starts with a slightly delayed boarding (due to a broken seat requiring immediate repair). Then comes takeoff—everything goes smoothly.

1:35 PM, finally in Porto with beautiful sunshine.

The journey from the airport to the youth hostel is really cheap compared to the Rhône Express (2.60 € vs. 21.40 € round trip...). I settle into my room, which is only with girls—really friendly ones (plus a private bathroom and a small balcony).

I decide to check out a restaurant for that same evening (a 2-minute walk away) for 12.90 €, specializing in Portuguese tripe.

The night is pretty restless because I’m not used to the time difference.

Monday

I had planned to do World of Discovery but ended up skipping it. Since the youth hostel is near Trindade metro station, I walk down to Ribeira (same for the six bridges cruise—given the price, it wasn’t worth it...). I also pass by Aliados. São Bento train station is magnificent. (I’ll post the photos a bit later...)

After wandering around, I find a pretty cheap restaurant (6 €) (A Poco), but I’m still a bit hungry. I grab some churros (the vendor spoke French), and I got attacked by seagulls—it was pretty funny, though. Then I decide to walk up slowly to Graham’s cellars—it’s doable on foot.

A tour in French with a simple tasting (17 €).

The return trip is by bus (2 €). I finally get back to the youth hostel and want to try a second restaurant that isn’t listed in the *Guide du Routard* (the place is called Sai Cao). Well, I’m not disappointed at all! The waiter, who spoke English, advised me to get soup, and the owner recommended the meat. It was excellent, and the value for money was incredible (9 € total...).

Back to the youth hostel.

Tuesday—terrible weather (rain, changing conditions...).

I decide to head to the ocean anyway, but given the uncertain weather, I prefer to come back to the city. The Sé Cathedral (3 €) is magnificent and really cheap.

Then I had booked on Booking.com for the bookstore (better to buy the ticket yourself)—not disappointed either.

I finally decide to visit the Clérigos Tower—I go all the way to the top, but bad luck, it starts raining (seriously, not my day...). I walk back and take a good break.

In the evening, last restaurant at the same place as Monday, and honestly, the owner gives me a special price for my last night (5 €—yes, really...).

There was so much more to do, but with only 2 days (1 with rain...), I couldn’t do everything.

Even the language barrier wasn’t an issue. The Portuguese are incredibly kind.

PS: Photos will come later.

Flight anecdote on the way there: I thought my eardrums were going to burst...

It’s Wednesday, 9:47 AM—I won’t be long before heading to the metro for the airport...

Hi everyone,

I’m Aurélie and I’m new to the forum. I’m planning a little trip with a friend to Spain (Seville) and Portugal (Porto) soon... unless Covid decides to ruin the fun! My friend and I are big fans of cool rooftop bars with a great view. By any chance, do you have any recommendations? I’ve done some searching and heard about Portobello, but if you’ve got any suggestions, I’d love to hear them.

Thanks, and happy travels!

Hi there!!

We’re planning a bike trip down the Douro from the Spanish border to Porto in May 2025. We’re looking for any info on possible routes and trails, as well as camping options and/or homestays. Thanks so much!!

Hi everyone, I rented a car through Klaus Wagen, picking it up in downtown Porto and returning it in downtown Lisbon. After paying, I read some pretty negative reviews about them. So, can anyone reassure me with positive experiences they’ve had with them? Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, Who might have a good apartment address for two people in Porto: arriving on 5/8, leaving on 5/10 Lisbon: arriving on 5/14, leaving on 5/17 Well-located/walkable in both cities With kitchen facilities 1 bedroom for 2 people with private bathroom Thanks in advance

Hi there, we’re going on a cruise and I’d like to know what time the shows are at the theater so we can pick our dinner times. Thanks for your help

Hello, We’re going on a cruise on the Renaissance With CFC Cruises from August 5 to 16, 2025. We have a stopover in Lisbon, and I’d like some info on transportation for visiting the Alfama and Belém neighborhoods. Can we buy single transport tickets? Are there any other travelers doing this cruise? Thanks for your help