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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Portugal [/quote]

How is Portugal underrated [/quote]

Just got back from Portugal.

Portugal has less "tourist attractions" than most other Western European countries. Portugal's food is not nearly renowned as it's neighbor, Spain. It's top beach region, the Algarve, is said to be populated by trashy Brits on package holiday. There are not stunning mountain areas for hiking, like the Alps. Portugal is a poor country, and appears a bit shabby in places. In some places, like Porto and the Azores, you can't flush your toilet paper.

I somehow found RT tickets to Portugal from IAD for late June for under $500 on multiple airlines (it was under $400 on one of them), so despite never having given a though of going to Portugal, snapped up the tickets and planned a vacation.

And you know what? It far exceeded expectations. We discovered that less "tourist attractions" means less tourist traps. For that reason, Lisbon was a gem. The food was good enough, and it was cheap. The Algarve had it's fair share of Brits, but we were selective in where we stayed and went. The shabbiness didn't bother us...we're used to it....the people were super friendly and it was safe. That matters much more than shabbiness. Sure, we didn't get a spectacular hike in, but the hikes in the Algarve and Sao Miguel were nice. And as long as you have a bidet and a god shower, the toilet paper thing doesn't matter.

Two of the three of us are begging to go back there next year.[/quote]

Could you tell me more of your itinerary? I'm thinking of a very similar trip for next summer: Lisbon, Algarve, Sao Miguel. [/quote]

Flew To Lisbon, missed our connection and had to spend the day in Madrid, got to Lisbon very late.
Four nights Lisbon, day trip to Sintra. We found Sintra overcrowded and too touristy...but understand how some people would love it. Mostly just roamed the city in Lisbon and ate and drank. Stayed at Airbnb in Principe Real.
Flew to Sao Miguel, Four nights Sao Miguel, Airbnb in Ribiera Grande. Hiking, hot springs, surfing, tea plantation, pineapple plantation. Rental car of course.
Flew back To Lisbon, picked up rental car and drove to Lagos. Four nights at Airbnb in Lagos. Lovely town, everything walkable. Though we did drive one day to do the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail. Favorite beach: Marinha Beach.
Drove back to Lisbon, last nitght at a hotel in Lisbon.
Flew home. Didn't miss connecting flight.

If I had to do it again, I might substitute Madeira for  Sao Miguel. Nothing wrong with Sao Miguel, but Madeira looks to have more rugged scenery and Sao Miguel to me was more of a one and done place.. And somehow fit Porto in next time.[/quote]

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