I was so grateful for all of the tips & hotel/restaurant suggestions for our trip to Lisbon, Coimbra & Porto with day trips to nearby beaches & sites.
I can't recommend the following hotels enough. all were spotless, reasonable for our dates (near or under 200/night for my husband & I) and perfectly located for our first time visit, meaning central & easy to access transportation.
In Lisbon, we adored Brown's Boutique Hotel. Steps from the Baixa/Chaido station, we actually loved that the streets all around this very touristy dining area were closed off to cars and always had block long tables with fire heaters and plenty of activity into the evening. We felt safe and the hotel itself is like a comfy den...
We took the AP train, booked on the CP app, right to Porto. Spent 6 nights at the incomparable Vincci Ponte de Ferro on the Gaia side of the Dom Luis Bridge. This location is breathtaking and gives access to both the upper and lower walkways of the bridge, an amazing perk. The views were amazing and our dates were very reasonable. Highly recommended when in Porto.
Took the IC local train from Porto to Coimbra-B, if the hi speed AP train is not that much more, it was less much crowded and less of a commotion to board. Also, seniors 65+ are 1/2 price, they do ask for your ID to confirm (it is also entered when you by the ticket)
In Coimbra, we were thrilled with the CBR Boutique Hotel right in the center of the main square. This little hotel is the essence of Boutique..the rooms are decorated to resemble a library in ode to the University of Coimbra's historic Joanina Library. The walls are covered with rows of marble carved to resemble great works of fiction. There was a charming rooftop with nice views and wonderful breakfast that was included. 2 nights were 226 Euro, more than fair.
It's no joke about good, sturdy (non slip) footwear. We walked 20-35 K steps daily, much of that on an incline. I have no idea how folks do this in running shoes. I think better foot & ankle support is essential. I purchased a pair of low Oboz non slip low shoes and brought my Blundstone boots. My feet/ankles/back/knees never hurt at all. You can absolutely buy anything needed there...an umbrella, poncho, heavier jacket, shampoo etc. It is all very accessible so do not stress about what should I pack in case. prices are fair. I even purchased a trendy pair of Adidas sneakers (I am 61 but they had so many colors !!)
The only thing relatively pricey was sunscreen, esp at their Pharmacies. They tended to be high end brands.
Before we left I traded in my Amex for a no fee Visa (from Costco) and a Schwab checking account, also no fees, on recommendation of this site. They were both perfect, although I did tend to use cash...I know, that is not typical. But I really felt less control over tapping my card. Twice after the bill was settled and paid, there wound up being a conversion fee.
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