We are planning a trip from around November 7 to December 15. The first two weeks will be in Portugal, then we go to Provence to meet some friends who are staying near Avignon and from there we travel with them to Barcelona, Madrid and Andalucia. Do we book round trip tickets to Lisbon? Or should we fly into Lisbon then home to Chicago from Madrid? And what is the best way to get from Portugal to Provence? Looks like flying to Marseille then bus or train. We do plan to rent a car for parts of Spain and Portugal. If anyone has insight into this convoluted itinerary I would appreciate it! Tickets to Europe are pretty cheap right now so I hope to book soon.
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2557 posts
Get a multi city ticket (open jaw) - fly into Lisbon and out of Madrid (if that's your end point) to Chicago.
Ryanair and TAP fly from Lisbon to Marseille, then train to Avignon.
Posted by
7881 posts
Why don't you have your friends meet you in Barcelona instead of your going out of your way to Provence?
Assuming that you won't change your plans, you should book open jaw flights into Lisbon and out of your last city in Spain, either Madrid or in Andalusia.
I have been to all these places and you will have a great time. Apparently, you have five weeks to visit these places.
For Portugal, spend 4-5 days in Lisbon, taking two day trips while there, to Evora and Sintra. Then rent a car and drive to Porto, stopping in Obidos and some other places in route. Spend three nights in Porto. Suggest taking the train up the Douro River Valley or a short cruise. You could do a day trip or two from Porto. Santiago de Compestela is one place to see.
Provence is great and you may not have enough time to see it will, but the Arles area is great. Also, visit Avignon. Monaco and Nice are possibilities. My favorite small city is St. Paul de Venice.
If you spend a week in Provence, you will only have two more weeks left. Barcelona can be seen in three nights.
Madrid, I would plan on visiting Toledo and Segovia on day trips, so plan on five days there. Seville is wonderful and 3 nights is recommended. A short stop in Cordoba then on to Granada for a couple of nights. Malaga is on the Med and there are some beaches nearby, but I have never been that impressed with them.
Enjoy your trip.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
Fly from Portugal to just about anywhere, but especially Provence.
Posted by
OP
Wisconsin
9 posts
So after some thought we have decided to skip Provence and meet our friends in Barcelona. That will give us about 2 1/2 weeks in Portugal and the same in Spain. We speak Portuguese (Brazilian) and would like to explore the country a bit rather than just a whirlwind tour. Time to work on an itinerary! Ideas welcome!
Posted by
73 posts
Muito bem!!
I did fine with my Brasilian Portugues in Portugal