PORTUGAL PLANNING!

I am preparing for my trip to Portugal in less than two weeks. I started off buying my plan ticket the end of June because I was searching for a new adventure. I have heard wonderful things regarding Portugal as a whole, but because I only have eight actual days in the country my plan is to spend several in days Lisbon, at least a day trip to Sintra, and a few days in Porto.

My plan so far is to say at hostels because they are very affordable and in my opinion offer more than most hotels for the money. When I book at hostels I usually get a private room either single or double this way I have my own space similar to a hotel, however I also get to be around fellow travelers who I can share stories of our adventure and get great advice. Many of these hostels are rated very high and even offer bonus things like free breakfast, and laundry facilities on-site. While I can say it can be fun to have an adventure searching out one in a foreign country it can also be nice to spend that time searching for something great to eat or see. Hostels often offer tours similar to hotels as well or know where you can go to obtain one.

I always do a lot of research on what are the places to see and things to do, but I always find fantastic secrets and hidden gems when I travel. In my opinion it is a good idea to figure out what you would like to see and then do a basic itinerary. Things can change and that is okay, but having a game plan makes the adventures manageable. For instance I will in Lisbon the first part of my journey and at first the weather said it would be cloudy but not rain. Well wouldn’t you know the weather is unpredictable and now it says rain for the first four days I am on my trip. Well my plan will change a little but I will pack a jacket with a hood and an umbrella, but the show must go on. My point is having a plan is the start not the end, but it allows you to think of what you may want to do and then if you change your mind then you can do plan B.

As I stated above the tentative plan is the first three day in Portugal will be spent in Lisbon. I plan to visit a number of sites, and hope to have some dry time to take some fantastic scenic photos of the city. I plan to take a lot of the trams around as my mobility will limit the amount of walking I can do, but I am sure I will still get plenty of exercise. I am also hoping to have a dry day so I can take a day trip to Sintra. I hear it is a wonderland and should not be missed. I will let everyone know how the adventure goes.

After the first three days in Lisbon I am taking train to the city of Porto and will be there for two days. I am excited for many reasons to visit Porto. Yes I plan to indulge in some Port wine, and seafood, but there is also a few leather shops I am intending on visiting. Portugal is know for their master craftsman for their leather working. I hope to find a nice pair of dress shoes. Once the two days expire I will return to Lisbon for my last two days. I am hoping if I was unable to visit Sintra the first three days I can do so during the last two.

A nice surprise at the end of my trip that I purposely added in was an extended layover. I had the option to either leave Portugal and get home that same day late in the evening or have an longer layover and come home the next day. The second option was twenty four hours in Dublin Ireland. If you have never been you really should put it on your travel list. To learn about my adventure in this beautiful country just click on the Dublin Ireland tile. Truly one of my favorite places. Well I will keep everyone posted on how it goes when I return or if there is down time I will post in the Portugal section.