|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Portuguese holidays and short breaks in Portugal |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Portugal has long held a special place in the heart of the British - not just as a great holiday destination, but also as a trusted ally and friend. The relationship between the two nations goes back long before the advent of the beach holiday, back to 1386, when the two countries signed the Treaty of Windsor. The following year, the bonds were cemented when Philippa of Lancaster married João I of Portugal, a union that enabled stronger links between the two nations to flourish. 
The friendship that this treaty cemented has remained intact ever since, making it the longest standing alliance between sovereign nations the world has ever known. It is a surprise to most British to learn that drinking tea owes much of its popularity here to a Portuguese princess. The Queen consort of Charles II, Catherine of Bragança introduced tea to the lifestyle of the British by making it a fashionable and widely drunk beverage. 
Over the past two hundred years, Portugal has been a favourite haunt for British tourists. Since the middle of the 19th Century, many British visitors have been drawn to Madeira on the advice of their doctors due to the island's mild climate. The island was also a favourite haven of Winston Churchill and the suite in Reid's Hotel where Churchill stayed is now named after him. In the 1960's Portugal saw a boom in British holidaymakers, starting in the southern coastal region of the Algarve, followed closely by Lisboa, Madeira, Porto e Norte and the lesser known regions of Azores, Alentejo and Centro. Today, the bonds between the two nations remain strong - each year thousands of British tourists flock to Portugal, attracted by the friendliness of its people, the easy-going pace of life, its climate, its cities, its broad, white, sandy beaches and its famous golf courses. With such a long distinguished record of friendship, it's not surprising that British travellers feel so at home in Portugal. This website will introduce you to Portugal and its Tourist Regions and we trust that this will help you to better guide your clients in their journeys through Portugal. FactsAccommodationHotels are classified using the international one to five-star system; apartment hotels are graded two to five stars and guest houses from 1st to 3rd categories. Other choices include the network of Pousadas usually housed in castles, palaces or convents. There are also manor houses, farmhouse accommodation, youth hostels and camping/caravan sites throughout Portugal. Safety and SecurityThere are no special precautions - visitors should take the same care as in their own country, keeping a close eye on personal belongings in crowded areas and on transport and avoiding poorly lit streets by night. Do not leave objects on view in a parked car. When in Portugal make sure you carry your ID with you at all times (it is advisable to photocopy all important documents). When driving, always carry a valid driving licence and car documents to avoid paying a large fine. When driving on motorways, please be aware that you must stop at toll booths and make the appropriate payment. The 'Via Verde' lane - identified by a green V - is only for drivers with pre-paid cards. Please note that the PSP, the Portuguese Metropolitan Police, has a
department in Lisbon especially set up for victimised tourists to
which one can complain. This is a 24-hour service with
English-speaking officers. The department's details are: Keeping in touch
Major airports
TransfersLisbon (5 miles/8kms) - the Aerobus (15 mins) connects the Airport to the town centre. A taxi ride takes approximately 10 mins. Porto (9.5 miles/16kms) - the Airport is also connected to the town centre by Aerobus (35 mins). A taxi ride takes around 20 mins. At Faro (5 miles/8kms), the bus takes 15 mins, a taxi about 10 mins. The buses numbers 14 and 16 connect the Airport to the town centre. Ponta Delgada - the John Paul II Airport (Aeroporto João Paulo II) is located less than 3km from the city centre of Ponta Delgada. There is bus service on the avenue called the Avenida Marginal in Ponta Delgada, which passes about once every hour. There is also a taxi stand inside the airport perimeter, located outside the arrivals area. Madeira Airport is located near Santa Cruz, 16km away from Funchal. The main road to the airport is Via Rápida and it takes around 15 mins from the centre of Funchal to the Airport. The main public transportation is the bus and taxi. Aerobus is free of charge for TAP passengers going from the Airport to Funchal who present the flight ticket. It takes about 40 mins. All you need to know
Climate
Average day temperatures
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contact us | Site map | Disclaimer | More about Portugal | Portugal Office Portuguese holidays and short breaks in Portugal |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
