2016 Portugal: Porto, Lisbon & the Algarve + LISBON EXTENSION 9 D AY S 11 D A Y S W I T H E X T E N S I O N Tap into Portugal s sunny, seafaring spirit. Journey through the cities and coastal villages that were once home to some of the greatest explorers the world has ever known. Soak up the historic neighborhoods along the Douro River and sip port in the city it s named for. Coast from beaches to tranquil fishing towns in the Algarve, and end your stay in Portugal s colorful capital city.
2016 Overview PORTUGAL: PORTO, LISBON & THE ALGARVE Let us handle the details Expert Tour Director Local cuisine Handpicked hotels Sightseeing with local guides Private transportation Personalized flight options Your tour includes Your tour highlights 7 nights in handpicked hotels Breakfast daily, 3 three-course or buffet dinners with beer or wine Multilingual Tour Director Private deluxe motor coach Guided sightseeing and select entrance fees Évora s whitewashed homes and Roman roots Sampling port wine in the city its named for Discovering the home base of world explorers The Algarve s old fishing villages and golden-sand beaches Roaming through Coimbra, Europe s oldest university town The Old-World neighborhoods of Alfama and Ribeira Where you ll go OVERNIGHT STAYS 2 nights Porto 1 night Évora 2 nights Algarve Region 2 nights Lisbon Lisbon Coimbra Porto PORTUGAL Évora Cape St. Vincent Lagos Algarve Region 35 MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE FOR THIS TOUR With our Right Size Advantage, your group will never get in the way of your experience. ABOUT YOUR HOTELS Our 3- and 4-diamond accommodations are handpicked to ensure quality and comfort.
2016 Itinerary PORTUGAL: PORTO, LISBON & THE ALGARVE Overnight flight 1 night Days 1: Travel day Board your overnight flight to Porto today. Porto 2 nights Day 2: Arrival in Porto Included meals: welcome dinner Welcome to Portugal! Settle in to your hotel in the heart of this 2,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage-listed city. Later, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at a welcome dinner. Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Porto Get to know Porto like a true tripeiro (Porto resident) as you follow your local guide. Wander the medieval lanes of the Old-World Ribeira district and along the picturesque Douro riverfront Pass citywide icons, such as the Baroque-style Clérigos Tower, the Gothic São Francisco Church and the wrought-iron Dona Maria Pia Bridge Step inside the city s famed neoclassical Stock Exchange Palace Enjoy a free afternoon or add an excursion. + Port Wine Cellars & Douro River Cruise Évora 1 night Day 4: Évora via Coimbra Drive south, and stop to explore Coimbra on a guided walking tour of the city s chapel and the country s first university. Later, settle in to your hotel in Évora. Day 8: Free day in Lisbon, farewell dinner Spend a full free day exploring Lisbon on your own or add an excursion. + Sintra & the Portuguese Riviera Later, say goodbye to your group at a farewell dinner. Day 9: Departure (excluding early morning departures) Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or extend your stay in Lisbon. Post-tour extension Lisbon 2 nights Day 9: Free day in Lisbon Enjoy another free day in Lisbon or add an excursion. + Fatima: Shrines & Basilicas Day 10: Free day in Lisbon Spend the day exploring on your own or add an excursion. + Old World Portugal: Medieval Obidos & Nazare Day 11: Departure (excluding early morning departures) Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Extension is available on select departure dates. Space is limited. Minimum of 10 travelers is required. The Algarve Region 2 nights Day 5: Sightseeing tour of Évora, dinner Before making your way to the sun-soaked Algarve region, stroll through the streets of Évora, one of Europe s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Take in the region s whitewashed homes and intricate tilework Pass the remains of the Roman temple and enter the Chapel of Bones, part of the Church of St. Francis Day 6: Lagos & Cape St. Vincent Discover the white-sand beaches, dramatic coastline and small towns of the Algarve region, southern Portugal s resort living hot spot. Visit the seafaring towns of Lagos and Sagres, as well as Cape St. Vincent Admire stunning views of the sea from Sagres Fortress Lisbon 2 nights Day 7: Sightseeing tour of Lisbon Head back north to Lisbon, Portugal s capital city, and embark on a guided tour. Discover the city s maritime heritage at the Monument to the Discoveries and Belém Tower Enter the Jerónimos Monastery, built to honor voyagers Drive by the Moorish Alfama district in view of the Castle of São Jorge Enjoy a free evening or add an excursion. + Fado Dinner & Show
2016 POR16_1215 Customize your experience PORTUGAL: PORTO, LISBON & THE ALGARVE Create a more personal journey by adding optional excursions that speak to your interests. Excursions offered on the same day will occur at different times, so there s no need to choose you re free to do as much or as little as you d like. Save $10* when you book your excursion up to 3 days before your tour departs. Please note: Excursions that require advance reservation will only have this discounted price listed. Call to start customizing your tour: 1.617.338.1111 Day 3: Port Wine Cellars & Douro River Cruise $49/$59* (3.5 hours, departs in the afternoon) Float along the Douro, the Iberian Peninsula s thirdlongest river, and take in scenes of Porto s vibrant waterfront and historic Villa Nova de Gaia, home to the region s centuries-old port wine warehouses. As you cruise, you ll drift under five of the river s most iconic Old-World bridges, passing colorful hillside villas and traditional rabelos (flat-bottomed boats) along the way. Back on shore, pay visits to two of Porto s most prestigious port wine cellars: Offley and Sandeman. During guided tours, learn the long-standing history of port wine, as well as the ins and outs of port production and warehousing before being treated to a tasting of each cellar s world-famous labels. Day 7: Fado Dinner & Show $85/$95* (3 hours, evening with dinner) Spend your evening at Lisbon tavern listening to fado. Derived from the Latin word fatum meaning prophecy or fate fado is Portugal s national musical treasure. Fado s traditional theme is saudade, a word that doesn t quite translate to English but conveys a sense of both nostalgia and longing. Dinner is included during this memorable musical evening. Day 8: Sintra & the Portuguese Riviera $59/$69* (7 hours, departs in the morning) Journey to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Sintra and learn why the Poet Lord Byron once called it a glorious Eden. Having served as the stomping grounds for Portugal s kings and queens, Sintra is home to the only surviving royal palace from the Middle Ages, which you ll explore on a guided tour. Afterward, you ll have free time to stroll through Sintra, viewing its colorful villas, small shops and impeccably manicured gardens before finding a quiet eatery for lunch. On your way back to Lisbon, take in the coastal scenery of the Portuguese Riviera. Stop en route in the old fishing village of Cascais to discover the town s winding, narrow streets, pastel-colored buildings and bustling fish market before continuing back to Lisbon. Extension optional excursions Day 9: Fatima: Shrines & Basilicas $69/$79* (6 hours, departs in the morning) A local guide gives you a tour of this religiously significant town, most widely known for the story of three young cousins who saw apparitions of an angel in 1916. After that, the village became a pilgrimage site and has drawn Christians for decades. Highlights of the tour include two of the young cousins homes and the Basilica of Our Lady of Fátima. Later, enjoy free time to grab lunch and explore on your own. Day 10: Old World Portugal: Medieval Obidos & Nazare $99/$109* (8 hours, departs in the morning) Escape Lisbon s bustle and spend the day relaxing by the sea in the medieval villages of Óbidos and Nazaré. Picturesque cobblestone streets and color-trimmed buildings make up the romantic village of Óbidos, where you ll pay a visit to Santa Maria Church to admire the colorful ceiling paintings and 17th-century tiles. You ll also have the chance to view the medieval Óbidos castle, known as one of the seven wonders of Portugal. Next, journey to the fishing village of Nazaré for lunch and spectacular coastline views. Spend some time looking out on Nazaré s brightly colored fishing vessels before continuing to Batalha, where you ll enter the UNESCO World Heritage-listed monastery before making your way back to Lisbon. *Optional excursions may be purchased up to 3 days prior to departure or while on tour. Some select optional excursions require advance booking. Pre-purchased optional excursions cannot be canceled within 3 days prior to departure or while on tour. Go Ahead accepts payment by cash, Visa or MasterCard for optional excursions purchased on tour. Excursions require a minimum number of participants to operate. Details and prices are subject to change. Due to seasonal hours of operation and availability, some excursions may not operate. If this occurs, you will be refunded any payments made for that excursion post-tour. Please note: If you have received an optional excursion as a promotional offer and it was canceled during your tour, you will not be eligible for a refund, as promotional offers are not redeemable for cash.
PORTUGAL: Porto, Lisbon & the Algarve SAMPLE HOTELS Porto 2 nights Mercure Porto Centro Hotel 4-star centrally located The Mercure Porto Centro hotel is located in the heart of Porto, making it easy to see the city on foot and discover all the places that made the "undefeated city" a UNESCO World Heritage site: the Ribeira district, the Torre dos Clérigos bell tower and the famous Majestic cafe. Enjoy optimum comfort in one of its 149 rooms and first-rate services, including free Wi-Fi Internet access and paying parking, not to mention the four fully equipped meeting rooms. Eurostars Das Artes 4-star centrally located The Eurostars Das Artes, is surrounded by art and culture and just a few minutes away from the Livraria Lello, the Municipal Library and the majestic gardens of the Crystal Palace, the Soares dos Reis Museum and establishments for culture and entertainment like the Casa de Musica, the Rivoli Theatre or the Carlos Alberto Theatre. Evora 1 night M`AR De AR Muralhas 4-star centrally located Hotel M`AR De AR Muralhas is located right in the historic center of Évora, a 5 minutes walk from the famous Giraldo Square, hub of this magnificent city and capital of the kingdom during the first years of the XVI century. With this privileged location the hotel benefits from an ample garden framed by the historic city wall, which gives the area an atmosphere of remarkable beauty, in particular at sunset. The swimming pool also takes advantage of this unique scenario, as well as the bar esplanade where you can enjoy the peace of the Alentejo nights under the natural planetarium above your head. Algarve region 2 nights Holiday Inn Algarve 4-star Commanding a prime beachfront position with stunning panoramic views over the bay of the Algarvean village of Armação de Pêra, the hotel lies within strolling distance of shops, restaurants and entertainment. The Holiday Inn Algarve is one of the best located Armação de Pêra accommodations. It is also an excellent base from which to
explore the Algarve, with regular bus services to nearby towns and villages. From almost every angle guests enjoy breathtaking ocean views of the sparkling Atlantic. Direct access from the hotel leads straight on to the magnificent sandy beach, one of the longest in the Algarve. Lisbon 2 nights Hotel Sana Malhoa 4-star Located in the centre of Lisbon, in the heart of Avenida José Malhoa, SANA Malhoa Hotel stands out for its contemporary decoration and comfortable atmosphere, and provides relaxed and healthy accommodation in Lisbon. A few minutes walk from Praça de Espanha and El Corte Inglés, near various access routes and public transport connections and with a private car park, SANA Malhoa Hotel also offers added facilities for trips to business or pleasure trips to Lisbon: Health Club with gym, sauna, Turkish bath and Jacuzzi and 7 meeting and events rooms with a capacity for 700 people. Hotel Real Parque 4-star centrally located With a privileged location in the heart of Lisbon, the Hotel Real Parque has 153 rooms with free internet wi-fi access. Follow exciting national and international competitions in the Real Sports Bar, or discover the charms of Portuguese traditional cuisine in the Restaurant Real Cozinha. Whether with family, friends or at work, the Hotel Real Parque in Lisbon will guarantee an unforgettable stay.
2016 POR15_0315 Portugal: Porto, Lisbon & the Algarve PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TOUR Passport & visa requirements In order to enter Portugal, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport. The expiration date must extend at least six months beyond the date of your return home. No visa is required for U.S. or Canadian citizens. If you re not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, please contact the Portuguese consulate for your specific entry requirements. Baggage allowance Airlines have varying weight restrictions on luggage. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage; be advised that you are responsible for any such costs. Contact your airline for detailed information regarding luggage size and weight restrictions for your flight, but please note that Go Ahead travelers are restricted to one checked bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other internal transfers, which may include train connections or flights. One carry-on bag is also permitted, provided that it does not exceed 45 total inches (length + width + height). Make sure you label your baggage and carry valuables, medication and documents in your carry-on bag. Clothing & packing tips We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered. For sightseeing, we suggest bringing a sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers, as well as a lightweight jacket or rainwear. If you re planning a visit to a high-end restaurant or performance, you may also want to bring dressier attire. Also, please remember that it s preferable to avoid showing bare legs or shoulders during visits to churches or other religious sites (entrance may be denied on this basis). Health There are no major health risks associated with traveling to Portugal. However, be sure to check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates. Electricity Portugal operates on the European standard 220 volts. Time zones Portugal falls on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is five hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST). When it s noon in New York, it s 5pm in Lisbon. Currency The euro is the currency you ll use on tour. Better rates of exchange are usually available in your destination countries, although it s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive. We advise that you take a combination of bank/atm cards and credit cards, as needed. We suggest that you inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans, so that they won t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges. Tipping At the conclusion of your tour, it s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity. We recommend tipping in your tour country s currency, the equivalent of $3USD/CAD per person per day for your driver and $6USD/CAD to $9USD/CAD per person per day for your Tour Director. If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD/CAD per local guide. Tips can only be paid in cash. Please keep current local currency exchange rates in mind when tipping. Purchasing excursions on tour If you have not yet purchased your optional excursions, you may be able to do so while on your tour. Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa or MasterCard as payment for optional excursions. Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged. Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See the separate Optional Excursions sheet for more information. Cuisine Portuguese food is fresh, hearty and delicious, especially seafood. Try sardinhas asadas (grilled sardines), cataplana (a shellfish stew cooked in a sealed, shell-shaped copper pan) or the national dish, bacalhau (salted codfish). Other dishes worth sampling are feijoada, a fava bean and sausage stew, and caldo verde, a cabbage-based soup. Also note, a couvert, a simple plate of bread, butter and olives, is often served the minute you sit down. While it is free in many restaurants, some places will add a charge to your bill for it. Transportation Flights arrive in Porto and depart from Lisbon. Included transportation is by private motor coach. All of the cities and towns on this itinerary are accessible on foot, but you may want to break up periods of walking by using public transportation. Lisbon is a very walkable city, but you may want to try the city s trams, metro and buses. All-inclusive travel passes are available.