Portugal's Costa do Sol

Advantages: A Stretch of Coastline with Villas and Architecture from a Ggolden Era
Disadvantages: None

...me feel nostalgic for the times when Estoril had been glorious. Fortunately, investors have dug deep down into their bank accounts and restored Estoril and its coastline to its former glory. You might think that after living in the Algarve why would I bother to visit Estoril. Yes, the Algarve has wonderful beaches but there is just something special about the Portuguese Riveira which it was called in the early 19th century. The main resorts, Estoril and Cascais are shelterd from the Atlantic winds and due to a microclimate with Mediterranean features, the Estoril coast has mild winters and an ideal summer temperature which never gets too hot; the autumn is ideal and is like a second spring. Once the haunt of exiled kings and the international jet set, is now a very prosperous suburb of Lisbon and has retained much of its old world...

Praski 06.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Cascais-Estoril (Portugal)

Kitschy Castle

Advantages: easy to reach from Lisbon, nice for a day out
Disadvantages: we didn't find any

...When we had seen the most important sights of Lisbon during our stay at Easter last year we decided to discover a bit of the hinterland. We went to the train station Cais do Sodré and took the local train to Cascais (pronounced: Cash-ca-ee-sh, stress on the second syllable), it´s not necessary to know the timetable beforehand, one doesn´t have to wait long for a train. A return ticket costs 2.50 Euro. It´s a pleasant ride of 35 minutes with the river Tejo on the left, many kilometres wide here at its mouth, and houses, gardens, parks on the right, it´s nearly impossible to find out where one village or town ends and the next begins. Although Cascais is situated on the Atlantic, the vegetation is Mediterranean with palm trees, cacti, agaves and umbrella acacias, if we didn´t know better we´d feel like travelling in the South...

MALU 31.05.2006 (01.06.2006) · Read review
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Review of Cascais-Estoril (Portugal)

The Lisbon Coast's Hidden Gem

Advantages: Relaxing, friendly, not over developed
Disadvantages: Cooler weather than the Algarve

...Estoril and Cascais are adjoined resorts on the Lisbon Coast of Portugal. Less popular than the famed Algarve, the Lisbon Coast is less developed and remains a popular destination for the Portuguese themselves though seems overlooked by British Tourists. I discovered Estoril many years ago when I visited the Portuguese Grand Prix. After my first visit I feel in love with the area and returned year on year and though there is no Formula One Grand Prix held there any more it is an area I am hoping to return to as soon as the bank account allows!! GETTING THERE As I said above Estoril and Cascais are fishing towns on the Lisbon Coast, about 20 miles west of Lisbon. Estoril and Cascais mould into one another but retain very different characteristics and feelings which I'll describe later. By Air: There are regular direct...

BizzyBek 01.10.2001 · Read review
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Review of Cascais-Estoril (Portugal)

A nice hotel subject to noise at night

Advantages: Clean good sized rooms. Efficient staff. The cold buffet breakfast
Disadvantages: The hot breakfast dishes and noise from the bar opposite

......

Whites 17.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of Vila Gale Village Cascais, Cascais

A romantic Hotel for a romantic place

Advantages: Location, old design!
Disadvantages: Foggy during most winter.

...Seteais is part of the amazing set of the Serra de Sintra (Sintra Mountain, in English), not more than 30 km from Lisbon. For those who don't now this area, Sintra is a very special place. Is the highest mountain (300 m only) near Lisbon and at the same time it's close to Cascais and the beautiful Atlantic Ocean coast. This proximity to the ocean gives to Sintra its only microclimate, foggy and wet, with a mystic touch, no matter what. That's why Sintra is such an exuberant place, where everything is green and fresh throughout the year. That was also the main reason why Sintra became the place where most nobles and even the Portuguese royal family build their summer houses. Seteais is on the low part of the mountain, but has an amazing view to the Palácio da Pena on the top, and to all surroundings. Before talking of the hotel...

R_A_C 15.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of Hotel Tivoli Palacio de Seteais, Sintra

A beautiful Tower by the river!

Advantages: A beautiful Tower in a beautiful place!
Disadvantages: none

...The "Torre de Belém" (or "Belém Tower" in English), was built in1514, by decision of the Portuguese King D. Joao II. The construction was finished 6 years later, in1520 and that new facility was immediately used for controlling and defending the entrance of Lisbon through the river. The initial plan was to build 3 towers similar to this, one at the opposite side of the Tagus river and another one on the same side but a little closer to the Atlantic Ocean (closer to Cascais), allowing a powerful cross fire that would eventually avoid any attempt of an assault to the city and its surroundings. As the other 2 towers never got to be built, small fortifications were made to replace them, although neither of them can be compared with the size or the beauty of the "Torre de Belém". The main reason for this change of plans was probably the time...

R_A_C 23.07.2006 · Read review
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Review of Torre de Belém

Mega Service From Megatur

Advantages: Efficient, Polite, Clean, Cheap,
Disadvantages: Only In Portugal

..., Burgau, Salema, Sagres, Évora, Lisbon, Cascais, Estoril, Fatima and Oporto." My Opinion I wouldn't hesitate to book my transfers through transfers4u.com again or Megatur as an independent service, should I return to Portugal. In addition to transfers the Megatur website also offers excursions, golf, car rental, accommodation and information on the Algarve. The payment facilities on the Megatur website offer Visa, Mastercard and Paypal. http://www.megatur.pt/megatur/transfers/default.asp...

carysb 12.05.2008 · Read review
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Review of Megatur Airport Transfers

Portugal - a (fairly) perfect place for Expats

Advantages: Family friendly, generally sunny, laid back
Disadvantages: Dogs!

..., and I bought my first "Talk Portuguese" language learning set before I was even offered the job! FIRST IMPRESSIONS My workplace is situated in the town of Carcavelos,about halfway between Lisbon and the upmarket resort town of Cascais. I now live a stone's throw from the beautiful beach, which has several restaurant / bars offering the usual fare of drinks and meat / fish dishes you would expect to find anywhere in this part of the world. There is a small shopping centre and square with bars and restaurants just behind the beach area. The pace of life is definitely slower than in the UK - don't expect to have a quick drink or bite to eat if there is waiter service, as the Portuguese believe that these things simply can't be rushed! PEOPLE I have been bowled over by the friendliness of the Portuguese I have come across in all aspects...

scala333 04.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of Member Advice on Foreign Cultures

Lisbon - Capital City On A Human Scale

Advantages: Plenty to see, good food, the trams, nice people
Disadvantages: Can't think of any, unless you count having a really odd-sounding language!

...?s when your driver remembers to turn the meter on that is! One of ours didn?t but we gave him ?5 for his honesty. However, the Lisboncard (Lisboacarte) does also give access to longer national rail journeys too. For instance we also took the train to Estoril and Cascais, two well-known resorts to the west of Lisbon. This is like buying a London Travelcard and finding that it includes Southend or even Brighton. The Lisboacarte is a ?touch-card? like London?s Oyster, and to initiate it, you just use it, writing the time and date on it, in case it comes in for any ?non-automatic? inspection. To navigate the metro, you just have to know the colour of line and the end stop of your direction of travel, like in Paris. Probably the most useful metro station is Baixa-Chiado (pronounced B-eye-shah Shah-doo) which is not only firmly ?downtown?, but...

BNibbles 14.07.2007 (29.07.2007) · Read review
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Review of Lisbon (Portugal)

Lisbon - vibrant and relaxing

Advantages: Pretty easy to get to from UK
Disadvantages: Lots to see not enough time!

...! Entry was a mere 3 Euros each and was well worth paying even if only for the tremendous views over the city and across the River Tagus. Castelo de Belem This is a strange castle, jutting out over the River Tagus. It was built apparently as a defence against anyone who had the idea that they could just mosey on up the Tagus and attack the city. Must have been quite effective as it?s in pretty good shape. Entry here was also 3 Euros per person. Expo ?98 The site built for Expo ?98 still attracts a lot of visitors and we enjoyed a great day and evening there. This site housed one of only 2 shopping malls we saw on holiday. The other being in Cascais (nearby town). There?s a huge sea-life centre ? apparently the largest in Europe, larger than 4 football pitches space wise, the brochure informs the visitor. Unfortunately we...

John1958 25.02.2005 · Read review
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Review of Lisbon (Portugal)