Any advice from those of you that have done these 2 tours? Where to start? Where did you spend extra days? Thinking of April or May. Your preference? Why? Any tips appreciated.
Posted by
Sapulpa, OK, USA
6698 posts
We did these two tours in 2023. I don't have my notes handy, but we arrived in Lisbon about 3 days before the Portugal tour started, and stayed in Porto another 3 days or so after the tour ended.
Our Basque Country tour started another 3 or 4 days later, which we spent in Bordeaux. After the Basque tour, we stayed another few days in Bilbao, then spent about 10 days or so, maybe two weeks, in Lyon, Paris, and Leiden.
Yes, it was long, but what a wonderful trip!
I'll be glad to answer more questions; I do have good notes, but not right at hand. Oh, we loved both tours. If we were forced to choose a favorite, it would have been Portugal, at the time. Looking back, though, they were equally great.
Posted by
Arizona, USA
109 posts
We took the RS Portugal tour last year, late August through early September; and are booked for the Basque tour in early June of this year. For Portugal we had booked an extra night in Sintra before the tour, but due to airline problems missed out on that. We did stay an extra night in Porto after the tour and really enjoyed strolling parts of the town not covered by the tour, eg the World of Wine facility way up high. Our friends on the tour went up to Braga after the tour and said they could live there. For the Basque tour we are flying into Bordeaux before the tour for two nights, then training down to Bayonne. Go on you tube to research Biarritz and St Jean du luz, both beach towns, nearby Bayonne. We prefer warmer weather, but not blazing hot, which is why we pick the times stated. I think April is too cool but mid to late May excellent. Hope this helps.
Posted by
OP
Vancouver Island
22 posts
Thank you both for the tips. Planning to book both tours for 2026.