DNYUZ
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Television
    • Theater
    • Gaming
    • Sports
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
DNYUZ
No Result
View All Result
Home News

I visited Portugal for the first time. I had a great vacation, but these 3 things would’ve made my trip even better.

May 12, 2025
in News
I visited Portugal for the first time. I had a great vacation, but these 3 things would’ve made my trip even better.
498
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
The author sits in a rooftop pool, wearing a black bathing suit and sunglasses. Behind her are the tops of buildings and a church.
Although I enjoyed my trip to Portugal, a few things would’ve made it even better.

Rebecca Strassberg

Last year, it felt like everyone I knew was visiting Portugal — which makes sense, considering the country saw a record-breaking number of tourists between January and June 2024.

So, I was excited to see what all the fuss was about when my boyfriend and I finally made our way there last summer.

I hadn’t put much effort into our last vacation together, so I was determined to make this trip different.

After weeks of patient monitoring, I found great flights, my spreadsheet was magnificently organized with activities, and I booked awesome accommodations.

But even with the most diligent planning skills and luxe accommodations, no vacation is perfect. If I were to do it all over again, here are a few things I’d do differently.

I would make more dinner reservations in advance.

A sausage ring cut into pieces with a pickle in the middle in a black pot. Off to the side, there is a black dish filled with toasted slices of bread.
After our first night in Porto, we started making lunch and dinner reservations at breakfast.

Rebecca Strassberg

Despite staying right outside the Ribeira and Baixa neighborhoods, where restaurant choices abound, we still found dinner reservations difficult to come by if we waited too long.

On our first night in Porto, we gave up a reservation at The Door, a trendy tapas spot. But we didn’t realize that the restaurant would be booked for the rest of our time in the city.

We settled for wherever would feed us at 9 p.m. and eventually started making lunch and dinner reservations over breakfast.

Staying in a more central part of Lagos would’ve made that leg of the trip more relaxing.

The author and her boyfriend pose on a beach in front of a large rock.
It only took us 25 minutes to walk to the beach, but it felt much longer.

Rebecca Strassberg

When planning our trip, I didn’t have a preference where we ended up in the Faro District, Portugal’s southernmost region. I just wanted a beach, and Lagos was familiar.

I agonized over where we would stay in Lagos — but for the wrong reasons. I was so concentrated on stars and reviews that I neglected one of the biggest factors: location.

The Airbnb I booked was wonderful. As a New Yorker, I wasn’t even intimidated by Google Maps’ projected 12-minute walk to Old Town Lagos and 25-minute walk to the beach.

What I didn’t account for, however, was how incredibly steep Lagos is and how sore my calves would be.

Porto had been hilly and full of 15,000-step days, historic churches, and museums — and Lisbon would be more of the same — so I banked on Lagos being the relaxing stint of the trip.

Unfortunately, I never did get that break I was hoping for. A mile-long walk to the beach on vacation feels like five. And climbing up a hill after dinner makes it feel like a mountain.

However, we had a much better time at our accommodation in Porto, Casa da Companhia, Vignette Collection. This five-star IHG hotel offered complimentary breakfast and was located in a central location that made exploring the area simple.

I’d prioritize seeing more of the things that make Portugal special.

Human bones and skulls line the walls of a church, with a cross off to the side.
I wish I had made time to visit Capela dos Ossos.

saiko3p/Shutterstock

It can feel intimidating to dedicate an entire day to just one thing, specifically on a multicity trip. However, I wish I’d prioritized the things that make Portugal special.

For example, I’ve wanted to visit Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones) in Évora for years. It was only an hour and a half drive from Lisbon, but we didn’t end up going.

And even though Porto is world-famous for its production of port (fortified Portuguese wine), we skipped a day trip to the Douro Valley. Although we drank port and toured a few distilleries in the city itself, an excursion would have cemented that leg of the trip.

After all, at the end of the day, a short car ride is nothing compared to an eight-hour flight.

This story was originally published on October 4, 2024, and most recently updated on May 12, 2025

The post I visited Portugal for the first time. I had a great vacation, but these 3 things would’ve made my trip even better. appeared first on Business Insider.

Tags: advertisementawesome accommodationbeachbreakfastcapela do ossosdaydinner reservationfirst timegreat vacationlagosportoPortugalrebecca strassbergthingtrip
Share199Tweet125Share
Marlow: Eight Reasons I Called for the Prosecution of Letitia James for Conspiracy Against Trump’s Civil Rights Ahead of DOJ Bombshell
News

Marlow: Eight Reasons I Called for the Prosecution of Letitia James for Conspiracy Against Trump’s Civil Rights Ahead of DOJ Bombshell

by Breitbart
August 9, 2025

In Breaking the Law, my book on the lawfare against Donald Trump and his supporters, which was released this week, ...

Read more
News

GOP Millionaire Tries in Vain to Hide Secret Helicopter

August 9, 2025
News

2 Los Angeles protesters charged with assaulting federal officers at immigration rally

August 9, 2025
News

Bill Maher confronts Dr. Phil on joining Trump admin’s ‘unpopular’ ICE raids

August 9, 2025
News

Cincinnati viral beating bodycam shows cops at scene of brutal fight as six arrested face new charges

August 9, 2025
ICE Deported Him. His Father Heard Nothing for Months. Then, a Call.

ICE Deported Him. His Father Heard Nothing for Months. Then, a Call.

August 9, 2025
How Ali Sethi Spends His Day Getting Ready for a Music Tour

How Ali Sethi Spends His Day Getting Ready for a Music Tour

August 9, 2025
LAX travelers potentially exposed to positive measles case

LAX travelers potentially exposed to positive measles case

August 9, 2025

Copyright © 2025.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Gaming
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Sports
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel

Copyright © 2025.