Most Inspirational Moment
The scenery is so beautiful!! The people of Portugal are kind and helpful.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Rita Caetano was a good Leader and her partner Denis was helpful and well organized. We received a briefing at the end of every day so we had an idea what to expect for the next day's ride. Thank you. A guide is needed on this trip as we do have to go away from the coast at times and it would be confusing to know where to go without a guide. Denis was our shuttle service and he also prepared our 2 picnic lunches and they were delicious!!! Thank you.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take at least 3 days to visit Porto before the cycle trip, and take two days in Lisbon at the end. During the trip, include everyone to meet up at the restaurants for dinners/ evenings. Your leader can make reservations for all of you. From Lisbon, you can take a train to the Algarve. Take the time to visit this area and enjoy the beautiful beaches and the coastline. Spectacular scenery. Take a boat ride along the coast!!
Suggestions
The cost of the trip for Canadians is very expensive $$$. It was disappointing that only hotels and breakfasts were included. Not one dinner or lunch!! Not even a welcome dinner or last evening dinner!! Last May we did a guided tour of Ireland on a coach bus with Royal Irish Tours flying out of Toronto. Flights, a guide on the bus, all hotels, breakfasts, 7 dinners out of 10, 3 lunches, all passes to museums, entrance tickets... included, and the price was the same as this cycle trip. The last hotel in Obidos is ok to visit however not to stay. The Library hotel smells musty as soon as you enter. If you are placed on the second floor, there is no elevator and the walk to the second floor rooms involves several flights of stairs and several turns. Ridiculous!!! There was a long cycle on a board walk that had several areas that were a high risk for injury. Boards broken, parts of boards missing, holes... Not safe!!! I would also recommend that the cycling start in Gaia. Cycling out of Porto on the cobblestone streets, cars passing right beside you.... best to have the group place their bags and luggage in the van and leave the Naya hotel and walk over the bridge and start cycling in Gaia.