There is more to Portugal than the Algarve - visit Lisbon

Advantages: Easy to get around and different quirky places to visit, everyone speaks English
Disadvantages: The City seems a bit 'faded glory'- places uncared for and tired

...what we would see on the way going across the Serra do Caldeirao and which regions we would pass through and then as it was early she said she would be quiet until nearer Lisbon. As we approached Lisbon she told us about the toll on the A22 and the various industries approaching Lisbon and the fact that we would go into Lisbon over the April 25th Bridge and see the huge statue of Christo Rei which is a bit like the Corcovado in Rio and overlooks the city of Lisbon from a great height. This bridge was the first to cross the Tejo and was originally called Saladar Bridge until the coup overthrew the Fascist dictator Saladar in 1974 and Portugal became a democratic Republic. The Portuguese are justifiably proud of this bridge and liken it to the Golden Gate bridge of San Francisco which is does resemble to be fair. We drove over the bridge...

catsholiday 21.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Lisbon (Portugal)

  Portugal's Costa do Sol

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

...Estoril and its coastline has always been a favourite getaway for me especially when I worked in Lisbon and still to this day is somewhere I love to visit even though the area has changed a great deal with time. When I first visited Portugal's Cost do Sol over 20 years ago the area had what I can only describe as a 'Miss Faversham look.' It was run down and jaded around the edges. Beautiful villas had been left to decay when their owners fled during the Revolution. I remember walking through private lanes looking at these beautiful ornate buildings with windows broken, overgrown gardens and gates falling off their hinges. Gypsies had taken refuge in many a property, children playing in the streets while scrawny cats jumped into turned over bins. Even though there was a sadness to the area part of the resort had enormous charm and made...

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

Graceful Portugal

Advantages: Relaxing, hot, beautiful scenery
Disadvantages: very steep streets, mad drivers

...I went on my first holiday aboard in 20yrs last year, with my sister, her husband, and their family - to Portugal, we stayed in an apartment complex a few miles out of Lagos - We were only there for a week and had a day trip into Lagos - we caught the local bus, which was air conditioned, but was a bit rickerty, the journey took us about 40mins, through very narrow streets in places. At one point we thought the bus would not make it, but it limped and got us there. It cost us the equivalent of £2.00 each on the bus. Once there the main highway boarding along the coast and the marina is very wide and very busy, there are many crossing along the road, which you can us to cross safely and go into the town. We walked along the front, where you go to many little coves and swim in the sea - which is the most beautiful blue. One...

arnoldhenryrufus 17.07.2005 · Read review
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Review of Lagos (Portugal)

  The modern face of Air Portugal

Advantages: Got there in one piece
Disadvantages: Ohhh where to begin? Customer service, Cabin crew, food?

...~Introduction~ Transportes Aereos Portugueses or TAP Portugal was formed in 1945. The first planes were converted C-47's (or Dakota's) as used by Allied forces to drop troops on D-day and ferry in supplies. Most of the original TAP pilots were trained in England by BOAC, whilst others completed training with Iberia the Spanish national airline. The early routes were local, the first was Lisbon to Madrid, then the major Portuguese cities were added and finally international destinations. Step forward 50 years and we have the modern TAP Portugal with destinations to the major Portuguese cities, Europe, Africa and South America. In 2002 TAP carried over 5.5 million passengers on it's network, (Source: www.worldaviation.com). For this you get jet engine planes, grubby leather seats, sulky attendants, tasteless food and incompetent...

buzzard_cad 12.09.2005 · Read review
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Review of TAP Air Portugal

Portugal Revised

Advantages: see above
Disadvantages: see above

...After some helpful suggestions, I decided to do this opinion on the town in Portugal I went to, Lagos. Lagos is on the western end of the Algarve, about 100km from Faro, and it is one of the most historical places in Portugal. On the front, there is a huge statue of Henry the Navigator, possibly Portugal's biggest hero, but you can find a much stranger statue in the centre. It is supposed to resemble a spaceman, although it is actually a statue of a 15 year old king, and it is a very controversial statue, because this king led Portugal to a disastrous defeat in Morocco, but he made Lagos the capital of the Algarve, which earned him this statue. The town today is one of the least built up in the Algarve, probably because it does not actually have its own beach. To the west, there are alot of smaller beaches, and not much building...

Yeahmate 03.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of Lagos (Portugal)

Northern Portugal - Something A Bit Different

Advantages: Quieter less popular holiday venue for Brits
Disadvantages: Weather doesn't stand comparison with the Algarve

...I?ve tried a couple of times to get a more localised category put on Ciao, but since we have in fact ranged over a sizeable part of northern Portugal, I?ll file this under Portugal:General ******************************************************************** I?ve been to Portugal for a two-week holiday four times now over a six year period, the first three occasions, being, not surprisingly, to the Algarve region. This year, we felt like a change, so we head north to the Douro and Minho areas of the far north ? so far north in fact that it borders Galicia in north-western Spain. After all, an area that produces port and vinho verde can?t be all bad, can it? Well no IT can?t but the early August weather is another matter. Please don?t go there expecting the same fortnight of pool- or beach-side laziness that you can get away...

BNibbles 21.08.2004 (22.08.2004) · Read review
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Review of Portugal:General

Friendly Portugal

Advantages: Nice People, beaches and towns
Disadvantages: Not alot of shopping

...My parents moved to Portugal last year and invited my children and myself over for a three week holiday. I have to admit I was not keen to go as I have not long moved back to the UK from Spain. I was very surprised how friendly and caring the people were. They have a very laid back lifestyle but a very welcoming as well. My parents live in the Algarve in a sleepy little area near Montegordo called Villa Real. This is a 45 minute drive from Faro airport. It has lovely beaches that never seem to be over crowded, however they never seem to be empty either . There is very little English spoken but the locals do their best to try to understand you and always have a smile on their face. Montegordo itself is used to more tourists and there are a few English speaking bars. The town centre has a pedestrian only area and it is lovely to sit...

vichar68 21.02.2007 (24.02.2007) · Read review
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Review of Portugal:General

Get out of the Resort and see the real Portugal

Advantages: A lovely part of Portugal
Disadvantages: None

...My hubby and I grabbed a last minute deal to Portugal back in April of this year and found the Algarve area really relaxing and friendly. We stayed in Albufeira which was the largest resort and very popular with the tourists. It had an area known as the strip which to me was very much like Blackpool great to have a quick look around but not very relaxing because it was full of bars and overpriced tacky shops. The old town of Albufeira was a nicer place to visit with its beach front bars and winding streets filled with shops and tavernas. The square itself was full of different restaurants, there was plenty of choice but some were quite pricey, but I liked it here because there was always some sort of entertainment. We stopped for a beer one afternoon just to listen to the Pan Pipers and ended up staying for an hour or two, after...

rosiesmum 01.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Algarve (Portugal)

A surpisingly classy hotel in small-town Portugal

Advantages: Very stylish, surprisingly cheap
Disadvantages: Not a lot of reasons for most people to go there

...The last time I stayed in a hotel in small-town Portugal was nearly 20 years ago in the out-of-the-way north-eastern town of Braganca. It was a tiny hotel with a room so small you had to walk over the bed to get to the window and every evening the restaurant would fill up with men in blue overalls, drinking the local hooch, smoking cigarettes out of the corner of their mouths and waiting to see the latest Brazilian soap operas on the TV that was constantly on in the corner of the room. I loved it - the atmosphere, not the men in the overalls! So that was the image I had in my mind when I set off to Santo Tirso with a booking for the Hotel Cidnay. It was going to cost me around Euro70 for the night so I was expecting something pretty basic. I certainly didn't expect a stylish chic hotel that looked like it was straight out of the pages...

koshkha 20.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Hotel Cidnay, Sto Tirso, Portugal

Portugal vs. Germany 2-3

Advantages: A couple oif very good goals, good attacking intent
Disadvantages: Slack defending at times

...There was a massive build up to this match with critics, pundits, bookmakers and fans alike all debating whether Portugal's flare would triumph over Germany's big game experience. Would Ronaldo step up to the plate and overshadow Ballack? Who would triumph in midfield? Pepe or Lahm? All these questions were set to be answered in half an hour. Immediately it was clear that this match would be determined in midfield, and Germany lined up 4-5-1, with Podolski being pushed out to the left wing. Both teams started of clearly very wary of each other, struggling to penetrate each others defence. The first clear chances fell to Thomas Hitzlsperger, formerly of Aston Villa, who shot twice from distance, one hitting Deco and the other one from a tight angle found the side netting. However, the first good chance fell to Portugals Simao who...

mkkreuk 19.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Portugal vs Germany