I am tentatively planning a ~14-day trip for my husband and me starting in Lisbon and heading north to wrap up in Porto (or the reverse). I would like to have some spontaneity during the trip and not be tied to a schedule with pre-booked hotels (which is our usual practice). Aside from having the first and last few days in the cities booked, is it realistic that we will be able to easily find moderately-to-fairly nice rooms on short notice (as in, day of) during late September/early October in the smaller cities?
Posted by
Coquitlam
267 posts
The simple answer is maybe. Small towns often have limited accommodation and some may already start closing down at that time of year.
The compromise may be that you will need to start looking for a place earlier in the day. You may cover less ground each day, but will have more time to explore the towns.
Enjoy your trip.
Posted by
3384 posts
We were in Portugal last year in late October. It was much more crowded than we expected. We did not try what you are suggesting but would be hesitant to do so.
Posted by
Cascais, Portugal
1990 posts
As already stated, fall is not a quiet time in Portugal - not anymore. The crowds have gone down some and you might be able to do what you are suggesting, but I wouldn’t try it.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
8206 posts
Because we knew where we intended to visit before heading over there in September 2023 we made reservations in advance. I’m sure you could be spontaneous, but you may spend more time than you like looking for lodging once you arrive in a town. Keep in mind that hotels are often not easy to spot as many just have a small sign that isn’t lit up; no large lit up sign with the hotel name. Others are in pedestrian only areas. Trying to find them when you’ve never been in a town, where the roads may be narrow and street names almost impossible to locate, could be challenging.
Posted by
OP
147 posts
Well, it's unanimous--bad idea! We will definitely pre-book.
Thanks to everyone who responded so quickly. I appreciate the help and wisdom.
Posted by
South Carolina USA
1 posts
We are planning virtually this same trip and time frame in 2026. When looking for Lisbon hotels, many are already close to fully booked.