Portugal's Costa do Sol

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

...which isn't too far from Estoril and made the first literary reference to the introduction of windmills into Europe. This Arab poet is remembered by a single monument near the windmills on the road to the Autodrome. Palacio Hotel ~~~~~~~~ Estoril is known for its hotels and my favourite hotel is the Hotel Palacio which has been welcoming guests since the 1930's. This famous hotel became the home of King Umberto of Italy when he was deposed and it was also used as a centre for espionage during World War II. German and Allied secret agents are said to have met for discussions at the bar here and Jewish refugees, for whom neutral Portugal was the final staging post before fleeing to America, were obliged to pay their hotel bill by handing over their family treasures. Now, the hotel is a modern symbol of luxury and comfort in...

Praski 06.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Cascais-Estoril (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

LUXURY AND CLASSIC!!

Advantages: Location, decoration and design, service, etc.
Disadvantages: none...

...I was thinking of the review to write in this Christmas period and this 5-star hotel came to my mind... It reminded me of one of the greatest hotel I've ever stayed with. To be more frank, I've been supported by EC-ASEAN to join a 2-week training in Portugal. So, the arrangement and cost are covered by them. I stayed in this hotel for 2 nights. GENERAL INFO Their own description about their hotel is: 'A glamorous five star hotel in the grand tradition of a golden era - come for the distinction and the elegance of the Estoril coast, its shops, entertainment and restaurants; the sun and the beach; our own golf course and the best casino in Europe.' However, my description is shorter: 'LUXURY AND CLASSIC!!' Located just opposite of the gorgeous beach of Estoril, Lisbon, the hotel has been decorated to create smart...

py106 31.12.2008 (24.12.2008) · Read review
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Review of Palacio Hotel, Estoril

Albufeira (Portugal) 4 Star Self Catering Hotel

Advantages: Near all amenities. Good central Location.
Disadvantages: You cannot book the sun (pity)

...Flights: The nearest airport is Faro in Portugal. BA flies there as do the main cheapos. Ryan Air flies from Stanstead whilst Easy Jet flies from Gatwick, Luton and Stanstead. The earlier the flight is booked the cheaper the cost. Faro Airport: A smallish airport. Quite quick once landed but not too funny when flying back, as once you're through security, the shops and eating area is quite small. Expect long and slow queues when trying to eat or drink. Taxi's: Are available from the airport but I dont know their cost. If you're with a tour operator they will usually supply transport. If you've booked with the hotel direct, they can arrange an air-conditioned taxi for a fee of about 30 Euro's. Travelling time to Albufeira is about 40 mins. Albufeira: Imagine a road about 1 mile long, with a few roundabouts dotted along...

martinwi 17.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Brisa Sol Hotel Apartmento, Albufeira

Kitschy Castle

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

...cleared up or at least the public don´t know. Estoril is the noblest and richest seaside resort with a famous casino (an ugly concrete box in a nice park just opposite the train station) and many stately villas, also called the Beverly Hills of Portugal. Well . . . Cascais is completely touristy but a nice little town nevertheless, the centre is a pedestrian precint with narrow streets, all paved with small square stones in light and dark grey arranged in wide swinging waves which made me dizzy when I looked down but I had to look down because here - just like in Lisbon - stones were missing and I was afraid of stumbling. We walked down to the small beach and looked at the fishing boats that give the place an air of authenticity, the first tourists from Northern Europe were already in the water! We had been in Cascais when we visited...

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

Hotel in Portugal's Paris-Hint of Hercule Poirot

Advantages: Friendly Staff, Great location
Disadvantages: Doesn't have all the mod cons

...The Hotel Astoria is situated in Coimbra, one of the four major cities of Portugal. The other three are Lisbon, Oporto and Braga, and the Portuguese (bless them!) have a little ditty to describe all four. They say, in between mouthfuls of roast suckling pig, that 'Braga prays, Oporto works, Coimbra studies and Lisbon plays'. From that you can probably guess that Coimbra is the principal university town, their version of Oxbridge. It is, in my opinion the best-looking and friendliest major city in Portugal. The bulk of the city and the campus areas are on and around a dome like hill and is the usual Portuguese mix of white marble and redbrick squalor. The residential and commercial centre however is on the banks of a wide meandering river, the River Mondego. It is here that you will find the Hotel Astoria, overlooking the river and close...

bigush 03.01.2007 · Read review
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Review of Astoria Hotel Coimbra

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)

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)

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