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50th Birthday Backpack thru Portugal - Itinerary and Accommodations Input

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First trip to Portugal; comfortable traveling in Europe. First solo trip to Europe; travel solo in US and Mexico. Objective: be in Douro Valley on my birthday, meander on my own to explore between Porto and Lisbon, while I want to experience a beach ... that's not a focus as I beach in Mexico w frequency.

Day 1: Land in Lisbon around 9am, transport to train station, high speed train to Porto, relaxing stroll in Porto, early dinner, recover jet lag.
Day 2: Explore Porto (seek out a walking tour)
Day 3 (50th birthday!!): Small group Douro Valley day trip w lunch & river cruise (whoever gets me in their group for the day will be forced to celebrate my birthday ... but I'm fun and kind and not obnoxious). Suggestions for an excellent birthday dinner in Porto????
Day 4: Explore Porto
Day 5: Rent car and head out to explore. Aviero, Nazare, Alcobaca
Day 6: Explore Raina, Obidos, Mafra Palace ... end in Cascais and return rental car
Day 7: Day trip to Sintra - take a Bolt to and from, not driving/parking myself - explore without a guide, get first entrance of day at Pena gardens and go from there
Day 8: Enjoy Cascais and then train to Lisbon
Day 9-10: Explore Lisbon - walking tours and on my own
Day 11: Noonish flight back to US

Accommodations (luxury but not over the top ... it is my 50th birthday afterall): Casa da Companhia (Porto, 4 nights), Storyteller's Palace (Alcobaca, 1 night), Farol Hotel (Cascais, 2 nights), AlmaLusa Alfama (Lisbon, 3 nights).

I asked a travel agent friend of mine for suggestions and she came back with private guides, private drivers for the entire trip ... sounded so lonely and not what I want at all. I want to fold into small group tours here and there ... and also have the solitude of exploring on my own some days, but really on my own, not with a private driver to escort me around.

Note: I am intentionally avoiding Coimbra. I know it is a highlight ... I just have my own reason to avoid it.

I have the Rick Steves Portugal book and have scoured this site so I feel like I have a good handle on what to see in each of the towns.

Posted by
6 posts

My apologies ... I didn't explicitly say in my post: I am looking for feedback on the itinerary and the hotels from those who have explored Portugal.

I'm questioning Days 5-6 on my itinerary - If I focused on Alcobaca, Raina, Obidos - could I adequately explore those three spots and end up in Cascais at the end of that day? Then, add an extra day in Lisbon at the end of the trip. And, would those three stops give me a sufficient feel of the smaller spots in Portugal? I'm just wondering if stacking all those stops as I now have planned for Days 5-6 ... would it begin to feel redundant, and it's a lot of bouncing around.

With regard to hotels, even if you are not familiar with the spots I have chosen above, feel free to throw out your favorites in Porto, Lisbon and in between. I have chosen hotels with spas for a quick sauna here and there (I don't think I'll spend time getting a spa treatment) and with pools for the relaxation after a day of exploring.

Posted by
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Trying to see Alcobaca, Caldas da Rainha and Obidos in one day seems a bit much to me. Of course, it depends on how fast you move. Alcobaca would take at least two hours, the same with Obidos. Caldas da Rainha might be a good place for lunch. Don't rush lunch, wherever you stop. Long leisurely lunches are one of the things I love about Portugal.
As far as giving you a feel for small town Portugal, Obidos is really too touristy for that. Caldas da Rainha comes closer. FYI - it has a quite large American expat community.

The Farol in Cascais is quite nice with killer views right on the water. I’ve only been in the lobby and terrace so can’t speak to the rooms. It’s close enough to walk into town and along the walk from town to Boca do Inferno and Casa da Guia. You should make time for both of these while in Cascais.

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