Hi from Boston,
We are traveling to Portugal- arriving to Lisbon... a few days here but the bulk of the trip will be in a home in Tavira to relax. It looks like the travel from Lisbon to Tavira by train/bus is quite long and about half that to drive. Driving would also offer the ability to stop along the way and enjoy the ride.
Here's my question- I know one can do a one way car rental, if the car is dropped in a different location within the same car rental company. Is anyone aware of this situation; starting in Lisbon and leaving the car in Tavira (much smaller and does not look like it has the major car companies they have in Lisbon)? I thought I'd ask before doing this extensive look!
Thank you in advance,
Betty
Posted by
3031 posts
Look to return car at Faro airport. Renting at Lisbon airport and returning to Faro Airport I would think would be much more doable cost wise and availability wise than returning to Travira. I looked quickly and looks like bus from airport to Travira or you could take an uber or bolt.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks, yes that is what I found... Faro is the place to return car to- that makes sense. Thanks for your help!
Posted by
Wengen
2913 posts
Is this just about getting to Tavira? Or do you want to use the car once you are there? And how are you getting back to the airport?
Otherwise just take a train to Tavira, and a taxi from there would work. Train Lisbon - Tavira is between 4 34 and 4 1/2 hours. Car will not be much faster if you include the time needed to pick it up and drop it off.
So maybe your assumptions on how hard it is to get to Tavira are wrong.
Posted by
Schwerin
3719 posts
Typically tourists at Algarve rent a car to get around. Therefore mentioned Faro airport is the main place to handle pick-ups and returns. Some smaller villages have also local car rentals for renting a car 1-3 days or so for day trips.
Posted by
Wengen
2913 posts
I can understand getting a car to get around. Renting one locally has the advantage that you are not limited to the big change, and if you are not going to do big distances you can usually get away with getting a smaller car, which is cheaper and easier to find parking for :-)
But renting a car to get around is one thing, renting one way just to get from on town to another, dropping it of immediately at the other end is not something that is commonly done in Europe.
So I wonder what made the OP conclude that it is complicated to get to the Algarve by train from Lisbon. It is not, so I wonder if they perhaps have not yet found the site of the Portuguese Railways yet: www.cp.pt
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you all... Yes, I am used to taking trains in Europe, but this seemed lengthy. And yes, after a few days in Lisbon we are just wanting to GET to Tavira, and then we'll be mostly staying put and relaxing. So reversing directions I think taking the train to get there is the best bet. Once there, I'm not thinking we will need a car, but if we do, I can rent a local one for shorter trips.
Thank you for your responses.
Cheers,
Betty
Posted by
Wengen
2913 posts
but this seemed lengthy.
And that is what is puzzling me. The train from Lisbon to Faro is a fast train, and connects with a train to Tavira. Which results in comparable trip times for car versus train. What are your information sources?