Portugal 2008

I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to Portugal on a Familiarization Trip (FAM) in November 2008. I had been to Portugal many years ago and always wanted to return so when the opportunity to go on this escorted FAM presented itself I didn’t hesitate to join and it was well worth the trip. Portugal is one of the most affordable places in Western Europe to visit. Portugal shares borders in the north and the east with Spain and to the south and west there is the Atlantic Ocean. Portugal is divided into provinces and I had the opportunity to visit a few of them. We flew into Faro, the capital of the Algarve province, from where we started our trip.

The Algarve province runs along the south coast and looks out onto the Atlantic on two sides. It is one of the most popular resort areas with wide sandy beaches and attractive bays. I would not recommend visiting the Algarve during the summer months as it is very crowded with European tourists. The spectacular beaches are wide and long and you can walk for hours. The Algarve has a long summer, March to October, and is very warm with very little rain except in early spring and autumn. While I was there in November many people were walking and lying on the beaches. It was cool in the evening and mornings but I found the daytime temperature perfect approximately 20 degrees Fahrenheit and at night time temperatures a little cooler at approximately 10 degrees Fahrenheit. In the mornings and evenings I wore a light jacket or sweater but by 9 a.m. it was too warm for heavier cloths. January and February are the coldest months with temperatures approximately 7 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 3 degrees at night. The Algarve has many hotels, apartments, resorts, world class golf courses and restaurants from which to choose. I had the opportunity to inspect a lot of the accommodations that are available and I would be happy to share this information with you.

We traveled through the Algarve from west to east and then headed north to Alentejo province. We had a tour of the Herdade de Esporao winery and had a chance to sample and purchase the local wine which was excellent.

We were very fortunate to stay in a couple of Pousadas during our travels. The Pousadas de Portugal is a chain of over 40 exclusive hotels located throughout the country which and was set up in the 1940’s.
There are four types of Pousadas:
Historic Pousadas – These are located in historical buildings, castles, convents, fortresses and palaces.
Historic Design Pousadas – This unique group consists of historical pousadas whose architecture and interiors have been altered by distinguished architects.
Charm Pousadas – These are pousadas where three is special charm in every detail.
Nature Pousadas – From village to village, from the sea to the mountains, these pousadas invite us to take time to absorb some of Portugal’s fabulous natural beauty.

I stayed at Pousada Beja and Vila Vicosa both converted convents and I would highly recommend staying in Pousadas they were very comfortable and unique with excellent restaurants.

We proceeded northwest and stayed in Lisbon before departing for home. Lisbon is a vibrant and beautiful city with many historical sites, great shopping and wonderful restaurants.

Portugal is a great place to rent a car and visit the many sites it has to offer. It is also a great country for a beach or a walking holiday both of which you can do throughout the winter months.

Currency-Euro Electricity-220
Time Difference-5 hours from Eastern Standard Time Zone