Trip Review for Portugal and Spain, 2025

We were extremely happy with our recent trip to Portugal and Spain. To assist us in planning it we consulted with Joana, and we found her to be very informative and responsive. We had a general idea of the places we wanted to see, and she was great in suggesting some sightseeing and experiences we hadn’t considered. She booked us into lovely hotels, some in historical buildings, and chose some great tours with local guides and drivers, who were both knowledgeable and personable.

In Porto, we booked a daylong trip to the Douro Valley in a private van, as well as a boat cruise on the Douro River, followed by lunch. We were accompanied by our daughter, whom we had met up with in Porto. We were thrilled to discover our “boat” was a private luxury yacht, complete with a friendly hostess who served us coffee and samples of port as she told us about the region. Our lunch was at a local vineyard where we first were given a tour of their cellars, and we then enjoyed an exquisite chef-prepared meal with wine pairings. We sat on a covered patio overlooking the Douro River, and it was a day to remember!

We highly recommend a daytrip to Cordoba from Seville, in order to visit the stunning Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba.

We especially loved several hotels we stayed at: the Pousada de Lisboa in Lisbon; the Mercer Plaza Sevilla in Seville; and the Hotel Totem in Madrid.

The only caveats we’d mention: Our hotel in Porto (Pousada do Porto) had very little storage area for clothing or suitcases. This was no problem for us as we travel light, but anyone with several large suitcases would be tripping over them in the room. Also the construction by the Villa Oniria, our hotel in Granada, was an unwelcome surprise to everyone. Our room was nice there, but the breakfast they offered was not of the standard we experienced at our other hotels

We would say the Fado concert in Lisbon at the underground Reservatorio da Patriarcal was the most unexpected treat we did not anticipate enjoying so much! In fact, we were very tired after our long and uncomfortable rebooked flights from the USA to Lisbon, and we debated whether we wanted to go or not. We are so glad we did! It was beautiful, and the setting was magical.

Our evening tapas and flamenco walking tour in Seville were also unexpected delights. Our tour guide, Pilar, really made it special! She took us to small local tapas establishments, and the flamenco show in the Teatro Flamenco Triana was as authentic as you get. We even met several of the performers ahead of time at the first tapas establishment near the theater in the historic Triana district.

We find mid-September into October a great time to travel as it is not so hot. It has become more popular, though, and we were afraid we might not get tickets or hotels that were in high demand. This is where we were so happy with our trip planners, as they used their connections to ensure us the experiences we hoped for. The Alhambra tickets especially were a challenge due to our late planning (they sell out months in advance), but Joana and her team were able to secure them, and we had a wonderful tour with a great guide.

We also found thoughtful local gifts waiting for us in several of our hotels from our plannin team: artisan olive oil, local pastries, and cherry liqueur greeted us in Lisbon; a gorgeous hand-painted tile and a Fado LP were in our room in Porto; and a bottle of wine and some gourmet nuts to snack on were a lovely treat in Madrid.

Our trip planners were also invaluable when our trip did not go as planned:

-We arrived in Portugal one day late after airplane mechanical problems and delays, and having to rebook our flights. We were still met at Lisbon airport by our driver, and our hotel (having been notified by Joana) upgraded our room to a beautiful one overlooking the plaza.

– We missed our train from Madrid to Seville after our flight was delayed leaving Porto. Our driver from the airport tried his best to make it and even escorted us into the station, but we missed it by about 4 minutes. Joana immediately booked us on the next train. Our driver met us at the train station upon our later arrival and took us to our hotel.

– Our hotel in Granada was experiencing major street construction right in front, which we discovered when we arrived. Joana had not been informed of this by the hotel, and when we alerted her, she immediately contacted the hotel to change our room from the front to the back for our second night there. Even though we declined the offer, it was reassuring to feel her support for us.

We could not have had the trip we hoped for without the expert assistance of Joana. She provided the consistently high level of support and service we’ve come to expect from engaging other Wendy Perrin-recommended trip planners in the past. Even when faced with an unimaginable crisis she made sure we were always taken care of (explanation: during our trip her mother unexpectedly became seriously ill and eventually succumbed to her illness. Her colleague took over for her while she was away, and ensured that our trip continued smoothly. Like Joana, she was always available and responsive, and we felt secure in her care as well. It turns out that Joana kept abreast of everything with our trip throughout her absence. It was clear that she truly cares about her clients and will go to any length to make sure they have the trip they hope for. We highly recommend her to be added to your list of recommended trip planners.

A trip highlight: traveler Mary Herne hiked part of the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail with family.

Sept 12 – October 31st, 2025
As refugees from the Palisades fires, my husband and I decided to make lemonade out of lemons and go on a three-month adventure taking us, well-seasoned travelers as we are, outside of our comfort zone.

The three-month trip involved a large and complicated itinerary through France, Spain and Portugal and was fashioned, in part, around home stays with friends in France and Spain.

Part of the challenge for Joana and her team was the short turnaround time to plan this extensive trip involving numerous hotels, tours, flights, trains, car rentals and restaurant suggestions. We began the planning process on July 1st with a departure date to France of August 27th. They made the deadline and wrapped it all up with a beautifully packaged book including all details.

A major challenge was the pacing of this trip, allowing for a positive rhythm of 1, 2 and 3 night stays, along with a much appreciated two-week extended stay in Masana Algarve, a gorgeous apartment/hotel in Albufeira, Portugal, during which time our family came to visit us.

Another strength of Joana’s team was their flexibility when our needs changed, their ability to reset quickly when required and rescue us in a pinch. They proved to be a life-saver when we had a car accident towards the end of our trip in Portugal and needed their help the most. They really bent over backwards to ensure that we had an exceptional experience.

I will also add that our guides were consistently excellent…knowledgable and personable. Also of note is the time of year. Avoiding the summer heat and crowds, fall proved to be a perfect time to travel to these destinations.

I will add that we drove through all of Portugal. This gave us lots of flexibility but negotiating the very narrow roads in northern Portugal was stressful and not for the faint of heart!

CHOICE OF DESTINATIONS

We had been to Lisbon, Porto and Evora in Portugal and Barcelona and Madrid in Spain previously, so our goal was to visit some of the towns that were lesser known to us. We could never have seen as much as we did and been so satisfied with those choices without Joana’s guidance.

Portugal:

Our first stop in Portugal was the fabulous Douro Valley at the exquisite Six Senses Hotel. The wine tasting, private boat ride and grandeur of the valley itself was fabulous. To add to the perfection, the Six Senses Hotel does everything right…from the decor, to the restaurants, service, and magnificent spa. If that weren’t enough, when we left they washed our car!

Another highlight was our visit to Coimbra, and the UNESCO recognized Coimbra University. Observing the great tradition of black robe adorned students and the Baroque Joanina Biblioteca, considered one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, was an unexpected stunner.

Our pace was sometimes aggressive so when we arrived for a three night stay at Quinta do Paral in Alentejo, we were thrilled to find this tranquil oasis of a hotel in the middle of vineyards.
We hardly budged except for an exceptional visit to the tiny and utterly charming hilltop village of Reguengos de Monsaraz. A true delight.

Having seen documentaries of Nazaré, we were excited to visit this home of the 100 foot-wave and legendary surfers. Our timing did not deliver the thrill we were hoping to witness, but it was a cool place to go nevertheless.

Spain:

The biggest highlight for us in northern Spain was our visit to Santiago de Compostela… the culmination of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, dating back to the 9th century and Europe’s greatest hiking trail. The massive and elaborate cathedral dates back to the 9th century. The grand plaza is full of hikers, cyclists, pilgrims and just folks by day…and strikingly empty at night, allowing the grandeur of the Cathedral and Plaza to dominate. We also did a roof top tour of the Cathedral giving us great views of the town. But don’t do it if you are fearful of heights!

In all my years of travel, I don’t know how I never had southern Spain in my sites. Glorious Andalusia knocked my socks off! The beauty and majesty of Cordoba’s Mosque-Cathedral brought tears to my eyes. Granada’s Alhambra is another Moorish originated palace with stunning gardens and spaces. The Plaza de Espana is one of Seville’s great centerpieces. We spent hours strolling through this spectacular landmark, stopping to watch young flamenco dancers before moving on to explore medieval passageways.

Last but not least was Valencia….the paella capital of Spain. This is the city we must come back to further explore. We loved wandering through the old town and Central Market…the largest market of fresh produce in Europe and listed as one of the most beautiful markets in the world. As a lover of oysters….these were so large they were intimidating. And they shuck them for you right at the stall for your immediate consumption!

The City of Arts and Sciences: This Calatrava created complex is the size of 200 football fields, and home to multiple breathtaking architectural structures dedicated to, as the title suggests, the arts and sciences. The Opera House, the Planetarium, The Concert Hall, the largest aquarium in Europe to name a few of these awe-inspiring creations. It might be the most spectacular commitment from a city in terms of dedicating space and architectural imagination to the cultural richness of a city.

Lastly, several very special experiences! All in the Algarve and an easy drive from where we stayed in Albufeira. I would call them WOW experiences:

1. A visit to Sagres, Portugal…the furthest point west in Europe and back in the day considered to be the ‘end of the world’. It was a last-minute decision to go for an overnight to celebrate Dave’s birthday. We stayed at Memmo Baleeira Hotel overlooking a working commercial fishing harbor with fabulous natural light. A visit to the 15th century Sagres Fortress delivered dramatic views of the beaches and cliffs.

2. When our family came to visit us in the Algarve, we took a day trip to hike part of the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail along the Algarve coast in Lagoa. Starting at Praia da Marinha, we marveled at the most amazing seascapes…coves, arches, beaches…oh my!

3. Third, but not least, Joana arranged for us to go kayaking to the grotto of Porta da Piedade in Lagos. Fantastic. Followed by a lunch of wine and fish in the harbor. Another great day!

So, if you don’t have three months to ‘take it all in’…these are the places that we loved the most!!!

Travelers Keith and Peggy Cooley on a walking tour of Porto.

Historic Portugal, September 20-28. The trip included 3 days in Porto, 3 days in Lisbon and two days traveling between the two cities visiting towns along the way. The story of the kings and queens who ruled through Portugal’s rise and eventual decline, their assassination, a fascist regime, to the current thriving democracy is a fascinating story that is best told by visiting the historical buildings and monuments, seeing the architecture and art while hearing the story told by some of the best tour guides in the world. The heart of the trip was the personal guided tours of Porto and Lisbon. The half-day walking tours of Porto and Lisbon were informative and presented with both engaging detail and wit. Our Lisbon guide also took us to Sintra to see the royal palace and the beautiful coastline and resort of Cascais.

We are a retired couple who remain physically active. Porto and Lisbon are hilly cities, and the walking tours are strenuous. But having our own guide allowed us to control the pace. The tour planner was easy to work with and tried to accommodate all our requests, such as a cooking class.