Portugal Hotels

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Top Portugal hotels

Albufeira Hotels: 360 Reviews - 664 Photos
Lisbon Hotels: 5119 Reviews - 12617 Photos
Funchal Hotels: 500 Reviews - 1020 Photos
Alvor Hotels: 126 Reviews - 363 Photos
Porto Hotels: 991 Reviews - 2484 Photos
Faro Hotels: 230 Reviews - 766 Photos
Cascais Hotels: 449 Reviews - 2294 Photos
Lagos Hotels: 244 Reviews - 621 Photos
Ponta Delgada Hotels: 117 Reviews - 310 Photos
Tavira Hotels: 194 Reviews - 385 Photos
Estoril Hotels: 61 Reviews - 351 Photos
Portimão Hotels: 66 Reviews - 241 Photos
Quarteira Hotels: 24 Reviews - 62 Photos
Pinhão Hotels: 56 Reviews - 190 Photos
Praia da Rocha Hotels: 31 Reviews - 70 Photos

Portugal Tourist Traps

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Most Viewed Tourist Traps in Portugal

Street crime Lisbon

10 Reviews It's true Lisbon can be dangerous at night (especially certain areas) mainly the downtown, but a lot of it is exagerated. I've been to Rossio many times at night (not alone obviously) and have never...

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Taxi rip-offs Lisbon

8 Reviews I don't like to speak about this but some of them have shown us the entire city (which is not so big) trying to get one more euro... or even less I haven't complained about it as I had to recognise...

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Restaurant rip-offs Lisbon

11 Reviews This is the worst eating experience I ever had. The vegetarian dish tasted like nothing, after complaining, the waiter showed us the desserts card. Thinking it would be free, we ordered a pudding, but...

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Fado clubs Lisbon

8 Reviews Fado is definately an aquired taste as far as musical style, but its hard to find a house where true Fado exists. We had companions who went to an outing and liked it, but said the food was horrible...

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Elevadores Lisbon

5 Reviews The Santa Justa Elevator starts from Rua de Santa Justa and finishes 45 metres up, skywards. Much as i found its "architecture" interesting, I felt no interest in taking that lift. Officially, on top...

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Couvert

by solopes

Couvert was the reason for a strong controversy in Portugal, forcing the government to publish specific regulation, but it keeps originating some confusion. A few months ago someone alerted in VT for the risks of being charged "couvert" and another VTer showed her surprise, because "we are supposed to pay what we eat". Let´s clarify it:Many years ago, some restaurants decided to offer their costumers small dishes with starters, to calm the client while the ordered meal was prepared. Those starters where not listed and not charged (of course, the meal's price would largely cover it). That "gentleness" was well received, and the use spread, even to restaurants whose price policy couldn't allow "the offer" and they started to charge it.That was the beginning of the controversy: "Why should I pay something I didn't order?" But things got worse, with restaurants charging "couvert" for......

No baggage fee in airport taxis!

by berenices

This happened to me in Lisbon, but it is a tip that might just as well apply in other airports in Portugal. I'm ashamed to say that in Lisbon, my own city, in the place where I've been in countless times (airport), and in the service I've used many times in the past, I or rather, we (as I was with my husband when it happened) could still fall victim to an airport taxi driver's ruse. We had just arrived at the airport from a longish trip, it was quite dark and we were just plain tired, so instead of the airport bus, we decided to take an airport taxi. It was going to be just a very short ride, around 5 minutes, as we just wanted to get to the Roma/Areeiro train station which is very close. From previous taxi rides to the station, I knew that the bill would be between 6 to 7 euros. The driver was a young man, quite enthusiastic, his taxi was a new Mercedes, nice-smelling inside with a GPS...

Nazare.

by cachaseiro

Nazare has a nice beach, so if that is what you want then i guess the place is ok.Apart from that i don´t find it very nice at all.It used to have a lot of charm because you had the fishermen pulling the boats up on the beach in the afternoon after a day at sea and the place had a real portugese feel to it.Today it has just become a place that lives on former glory and it´s one of the only places in Portugal where i have seen the waiters cheat the tourists real bad.That goes especially for the beach front restaurants.I have been there several times as a tour guide with groups and the company i work for has now decided to skip Nazare in the future cause the experience is always ruined by some waiter who rips someone from the group off.This could be a really nice place if it wasen´t for the greed of the people who serve the tourists, so i hope that will change soon. Stay away from the...

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Evora.

by Maurizioago

Evora is a white town located in the Alentejo region.I think the only interesting thing in this town is the Cathedral and its museum.Accomodations in Evora are not cheap. After having visited the Cathedral and done some shopping you could head for Evoramonte. It is a village with a circular castle. Within its walls there are some white houses with high chimneys. This part of the village is very nice.

Information Offices

by ant1606

In Portugal, at times we tried to follow signs reading "Oficina de Turismo" - Tourist Information Office - over and over without finding any. In some cases, when we finally found it, it was off the opening hours. The point is that we never knew what are the opening hours, which may change from place to place.In small towns we gave up chasing such offices under a scorching sun, good thing we had detailed maps and enough information in our pockets prepared before the trip.If and when an open office is found, the people are kind and the available information is satisfactory to proceed on your own. If you look for accommodation, lists of hotels may be offered but no calling or reservation is made by the office personnel. Search the net for information along the way before reaching the next place to be visited. True, it can also be difficult to find web access but a good number of cybercafes...

Car rental Lisbon Airport

by colares

When you take over your rental car at Lisbon airport be aware of the following: The whole process takes time! Make sure that every scratch at the car is registred and marked in the papers. Very often the antenna is missing (sometimes hidden some where in the car).Make sure that the safety vest is on board - it is mandatory! Mostly fuel is only 9/10 full, although the fuel gage looks as if it would be 10/10.Recently we refueld the car 10 km before reaching the airport and the rental company "Drive" made us pay EURO 12,50 for a pretend missing amount of fuel! Could not really finalise the discussion with them as we had to catch our flight. Thus plan enough time - also for the return of your car!

Travellers Cheques

by nursesweet

Don't even attempt to cash in your travellers cheques at the various banks.....the charge a commission upwards of 12-15 %! The various small currency exchange booths offer a much more reasonable rate. Don't bring travellers cheques at all. I found them to be more of a nuisance than anything. A credit card is all you really need. There are atm's throughout Lisbon as well as many other places.

Fado

by nursesweet

While in Lisbon most want to get a feel for Fado, which is the music of Lisbon, literally meaning "fate". If you can find the right place I've been told it can be one of the greatest experiences you will have in Lisbon.....however beware as MANY Fado places are tourist traps where they slap you with a hefty cover charge and over-priced dinners which leave you broke by the end of your evening. Best tip is to go where the locals go to listen to fado....this was easier said then done for me! By a fado cd.....it will last a lot longer and you can enjoy beautiful fado for a fraction of the price.

Brits abroad and time share apartments.

by blint

If you want to avoid the above don't go toAlbufeira and many other places along the Algarve. These places have become tourist resorts like the Costa del Sol in Spain. You'll mainly find Brits here! British restaurants, food, adverts etc. This is not real Portugal there are better places to go. Travel around as much as you can. Try to speak portugese words to them even if they speak English to you. Try to find typical Portugese restaurants. Sintra or the provinces of Alentejo with their walled fortress towns and beautiful countryside.If you want sea try Tavira (one of the least touristy places on the Algarve), or further up north. Portugal has a long coastline! I am told that Olhao on the Algarve is not very touristy at all.

fado - do not go to comercial one

by yanate

there are many posibilities to see fado, you really don't need to pay a lot and eat when the 'profesional' singer is singing just because of money don't expect too much go to barrio alto in lisbon at night and for shure you would find a bar with fado night, there u could enjoy amater singers singing for free - it's really a great experience

Top 3 Hotels in Portugal

Four Seasons Hotel The Ritz Lisbon Lisbon

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Tiara Park Atlantic Porto Porto

2 Reviews and 188 Opinions The Meridien Park Atlantic is a very nice hotel, with all the comforts that you would expect for 5...

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Hotel Calheta Beach Madeira Island

1 Review and 108 Opinions Calheta has a marvelous marina and have the only beach of yellow sand. It´s situated in the West...

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