|
|
|
|
Portugal: Grand and Glorious |
| Lisbon and Porto, Portugal |
 |
| Savor, Sip and Take Two Day Trips in Lisbon and Porto, Portugal (Europe) for Three Nights at H10 Duque de Loulé and Three Nights at Pestana Porto a Brasileira Hotel for Two, Including a Savoring Lisbon Food Tour, a Day Tour of Sintra, Porto Wine Tour and Tasting, a Day Trip to Guimaraes, Round Trip Hotel Transfers, and First Class Train Transportation Between Lisbon and Porto (Land Only) |
|
|
|
|
Pack your bags for Portugal, where you'll spend time in the charismatic cities of Lisbon, the country's stunning capital of cobbled alleyways and ancient ruins, and Porto, the ideal place to savor wines from the Douro Valley. Both destinations effortlessly blend ancient grandeur and traditional heritage with contemporary innovations, striking modernism and progressive thinking. Soak up as much as you can with your food and wine tours, as well as day trips to the neighboring cities of Sintra and Guimaraes.
Savor every moment of your three-hour food tour in Lisbon, led by a local chef or food writer, as you stroll the cobblestoned streets of the Chiado and Baixa neighborhoods in order to explore the city's culinary culture. From historic confeitarias offering the tastiest of sweets to modern restaurants with new interpretations of traditional food, the docent will weave a rich narrative of Lisbon's cuisine and how it fits into the greater culture of Portugal. You'll meet the owners of generations-old shops, taste artisanal products, and open your senses to the culinary traditions of this magnificent tiled city.
A half-hour away from Lisbon is the picturesque resort town of Sintra set amidst the pine-covered hills of the Serra de Sintra. Your half-day tour is the perfect way to appreciate the Romanticism style of architecture scattered throughout the town, enthralling tourist attractions, national monuments, extravagant palaces and ancient ruinous castles. Meet your docent at Lisbon's central Rossio Station and take the train out to Sintra together. For centuries, the charming town of Sintra has served as a relaxing summer retreat for the crème de la crème of Portuguese society, and gained international acclaim in the Romantic period as a source of inspiration for such writers as Lord Byron, who referred to Sintra as "glorious Eden." Nowadays, the cultural landscape of Sintra is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your exploration of this whimsical town includes a visit of Vila Palace and Quinta da Regaleira. You will have return tickets that can be used anytime if you choose to remain in Sintra a bit longer on your own.
Stay in comfort at the H10 Duque de Loulé, which opened in March 2015, and is an exclusive boutique hotel full of charm in the center of Lisbon. Superbly renovated, its beautiful typical 18th-century facade has been preserved, while its interior design is a fusion of traditional Portuguese inspiration and contemporary functional elements. This four-star superior hotel is set in a historical building, and features a delicious fusion of Portuguese and Spanish flavours in the Azul e Branco restaurant. Then relax over a coffee in the Equestre Bar or take in the fantastic city views from the hotel's Chill-Out Limão terrace.
One of the best ways to acquaint yourself with Porto is with wine - after all, the region is famed for the production of Port, which is still stored and matured in the vast cellars that stretch along the banks of the Douro River. And with its location just 37 miles away from the most well-known wine region in Portugal, the Douro Valley, it's the perfect place for a wine tour. Led by a wine producer or chef, this three-hour wine tour and tasting provides an in-depth tutorial in wine history, technique, and appreciation. The Porto wine tour and tasting introduces the basics of Portuguese wines, from Port wine to Vinho Verde (green wine) and even the country's lesser known appellations.
Next you'll visit Guimaraes, a charming city of gothic buildings, traditional houses and delightful plazas. You'll meet your docent at Porto's central train station before boarding the train to Guimaraes, and then get your tour started with a bit of background information about this UNESCO site. For centuries, Guimaraes has been at the forefront of Portuguese history, and its glorious past has been beautifully preserved. Situated in the old country (before Portugal was a country) it stands today as an exceptional example of how a medieval settlement dating back to the 10th century has evolved into a modern European town. In the company of a historian or architect, your tour will delve into the rich past of this foundation city as you visit the 1,000-year-old castle, the medieval town center, and a number of other historic treasures. You will have return tickets that can be used anytime if you choose to remain in Guimaraes a bit longer on your own.
Set in the heart of vibrant Porto, the Pestana Porto a Brasileira Hotel is located in the same historic building which housed Porto's famous A Brasileira Café with a 115 year history, and has been superbly renovated preserving the original architectural features. This luxury hotel puts you near the iconic Avenida dos Aliados and only 12 minutes from the historic Ribeira (River) district, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, with cafes, restaurants and bars. It boasts a restaurant serving traditional Portuguese cuisine, gymnasium and a French patio featuring a natural vertical garden. |
|
Your trip for two includes:
• 3 nights accommodations at H10 Duque de Loulé in Lisbon
• 3 nights accommodations at Pestana Porto a Brasileira Hotel in Porto
• Daily breakfast
• Sintra day tour from Lisbon
• Savoring Lisbon Food tour
• Porto wine tour and tasting
• Day trip to Guimaraes
• Roundtrip hotel transfers
• First Class train travel between Lisbon and Porto
• All room-related taxes (including VAT)
• Free concierge reservation service |
|
| TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Travel package is non-refundable and subject to availability. Certificates/gift cards cannot be replaced. Passport required for travel outside the U.S. Hotels may be substituted with equal or similar accommodations. Lisbon and Porto city taxes are the responsibility of the passenger and required to be paid directly to hotel upon check out. Travel is valid through 03/31/2020. A minimum 30 day advance reservation is required. |
|
|
|
Destinations of Excellence® Catalog - Sample Trips 
