Kimkim Trip Reviews for Portugal

Another amazing KimKim adventure in Portugal!

This is my third time using KimKim to book travel for myself and my 7 year old son who has Autism. We’ve done Colombia, India and now Portugal!

Our trip specialist for Portugal Carmen helped put together an incredible itinerary for us covering Porto, Douro Valley, Coimbra, Lisbon & Lagos. We saw a lot in a short amount of time but the the pace of the trip flowed well and we never felt rushed. We also appreciated some of the special kid-friendly activities suggested by Carmen including tile painting in Porto and the Hippo bus in Lisbon! Secret Algarve kayaking at Benegil Cave was also amazing! There were a few things about our itinerary that we needed to modify in real time and Carmen was able to help us seamlessly manage it all. The guides were wonderful, and the drivers very courteous and safe as well. Will definitely book with KimKim again, so convenient and so worth it every time! Can’t wait for the next one!

Activity Reviews

Create Your Own Tiles

Porto

This was phenomenal, the lady who ran it has amazing energy and was so wonderful with my son who was feeling a bit off from jet lag! She also personally delivered our tiles to our hotel to help us out which was much appreciated.

Lisbon Hippo Tour

Portugal

This was so fun!!! Even as an adult there is novelty to it when you go splashing into the water, plus the guides are hilarious!

An Excursion to Sintra for Young Explorers

Portugal

Our driver/guide was really nice and took us to a few different extra sights which was much appreciated. Knowledge level for guiding was lower, perhaps he was just a driver? If so he went way above and beyond as a driver, but for this one would have appreciated more of a guide especially at Sintra. I thought this was going to be a “kid” tour, definitely wasn’t tailored to kids, but we still enjoyed it.

Douro Valley Highlights: Olive Oil, Wine, & River Cruise

Porto

Driver/guide and car excellent! Might have preferred a smaller boat ride (with less people) if that was an option, but still enjoyed. Winery was awesome to allow my 7 year old to come with me.

Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coimbra

Portugal

One of my favorite stops on the trip! Our driver made amazing recommendations for kids and gave us extra time than originally planned so we could do everything we wanted !

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Excellent guide who tailored a fabulous itinerary for us! Great info and selection of stops to see. Enjoyed personalization of tour.

Marisa planned an amazing, perfectly balanced itinerary for our family's 12 days in Portugal. She took into account our preferences and delivered. From the initial pick up/transfer, everything went smoothly. Marisa was always available and checking in on us.

Our family of 4 visited Portugal for 9 days to celebrate my husband and I 20th wedding anniversary and our advisor Joao planned THE MOST INCREDIBLE AND MAGICAL trip for us!
They customized our trip to for our family, the thoughtfulness and attention to detail was above and beyond! We felt like royalty with the amount of care, communication and thoughtfulness! Joao checked in with us a few times a day, he had our itinerary printed and sent to us via WhatsApp, he left a welcome gift at our first hotel with all things special to Portugal!

Activity Reviews

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

This place was magical! Joao had us visit in the morning, and he had suggestions to visit in Sintra! I would t change a thing about this day!

Quality of Experience

Our driver Rui was an added bonus

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cannot say enough great things about our driver Rui! He was knowledgeable and stayed with us to make sure we were settled before he left us to explore!

Transport

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Lisbon

This was an amazing tour! Our guide Rita was so incredibly knowledgeable and shared so much of the history culture and food. She took us all over and we learned so much! Definitely a highlight of our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Our guide Sara was amazing! She taught us so much about the history of this city, the cathedrals, the past conflicts of the kings! She taught us about the food and took us to a few of her favorite places! Highly recommend Sara!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Two-Hour Private Cruise in the Picturesque city of Porto

Porto

This was an incredible night! The staff were so helpful, kind, and knowledgeable! They pointed out interesting and popular areas in Porto! And treated us to amazing wine!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bike Tour in the Douro Valley

Portugal

This was an amazing adventure! Pictures won't do this place justice! We rode all the way to the top to a small little village where we were able to get refreshments and ice cream which was perfect for the hot day! The Douro valley is magical!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Douro Valley Vineyard Delights - A Lunch Experience

Portugal

Magical Magical Magical!! Reta, the owner and her staff were amazing! This 200year old vineyard/ farm was so charming and special! The lunch was amazing and delicious and the wines we got to sample were also amazing! We ate lunch in the wine cellar and it was so intimate and special! They gave us a private tour of the vineyard and explained how the wine is made from vine to finish We cannot say enough great things about this day trip and experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exclusive Panoramic Boat Tour to the Ponta da Piedade Caves

Portugal

Perfect day to see the Algarves from the ocean!

Quality of Experience

The guides were hilarious and knowledgeable and made the experiment so fun!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were so fun!

Transport

Marisa did a wonderful job of planning my 8-day trip to Portugal, making sure to include my must-sees, and adding in a few stops/activities I didn’t know I wanted to do, but in the end am so glad I did! No idea where to start with highlights, as everything was great. My drivers (from Porto to Douro Valley, Douro Valley to Lisbon via Aveiro and Nazaré, Lisbon to Sintra) all felt like guides - super knowledgeable about the region I was visiting, and wry engaging. It was like hanging out with a good friend. They all also offered recommendations for places to visit, eat, etc., and offered to/in some cases did make reservations for me. Above and beyond what I expected! And the guides for my walking tours in Porto and Lisbon were fantastic, too. I learned about the history (plus some hidden secrets) and culture in Porto and Lisbon. Hotel selections were great … very centrally located, safe areas for a solo female traveler, close to everything. I absolutely loved the day in Douro Valley - from the tour, tasting and lunch with pairings at Quinta da Pacheca to the Vintage House hotel! And the day in Sintra (Peña Palace and gardens) plus the drive and stops along the coastline on the way back were perfection! I will visit Portugal again, and hope to use KimKim and Across Portugal to help with the planning!

Hotel Reviews

Porto Royal Bridges Hotel

Porto

Great location, perfectly situated between the river and city. My room was beautiful, and staff was friendly.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel was more modern than I thought it would be. That said, the lobby was comfortable and welcoming.

Location

Easy walking distance to the river or into the city to see the market, Santa Catarina chapel and Santa Catarina Street shopping.

Staff

Everyone I met was friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Vintage House

Pinhão

I loved the idea of staying in a former winery! The location was great - really nice view of the river and vineyards from my room. I had dinner at the hotel and the food was great. If I had had more time, I would have spent some time at the pool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lisboa Plaza

Lisbon

A great location I’m Lisbon, especially if you’re looking to shop. It’s also close to a couple Metro stations, and not a far walk from the the plazas throughout Lisbon.

Authenticity & Character

A more modern hotel in the inside, but the Library Bar was a charming place to have a drink while deciding what to do next in Lisbon!

Location

Metro and train stations nearby, close to good, local restaurants. As a solo traveler I felt very safe walking to and from this hotel by myself at night.

Staff

Everyone was so friendly, but Erica at the front desk was particularly helpful. She made dinner recommendations and helped get reservations at cool places on a busy summer weekend!

Cleanliness & Comfort

My bed was super comfy.

Activity Reviews

Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service

Portugal

The drive from Porto to Douro Valley was beautiful … every time I would say “wow, this is gorgeous,” my driver, would say, “wait, it gets better,” and it did! Miguel was incredible - very knowledgeable about the region, the wine and port, and recommended a great extra stop (Amarante) because we had plenty of time before my winery tour and lunch.

Quality of Experience

Douro Valley is beautiful. Even if you’re only a causal wine or port drinker, it’s worth the time!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Miguel went the extra mile to make sure I enjoyed the day, with an extra short stop in Amarante to see an old cathedral and try pastries at a local cafe.

Transport

Car was very comfortable.

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

My guide (Bernardo) shared so much about the history and culture of Porto. I loved every minute!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Flavors of Port Wine - Sip & Discover

Porto

Interesting tour of the cellars. And great tasting. Mine was the only o e paired with a cheese plate, so that was a little awkward (I sat at a table by myself). But enjoyed the experience overall.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Indulge in Elegance on a Guided Winery Tour Infused with Tastings and a Delicious Lunch

Portugal

Interesting tour; good info about Quinta da Pacheco and how it’s different from the other wineries in the area. And for the tasting, they didn’t hold back - offered two reserve wines, and 30 yr port and a vintage port. Very impressive! The lunch with wine/port pairings was also great. Food was amazing, and the view of the property was spectacular!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My driver, Miguel, was very knowledgeable and fun. And the winery guide offered a lot of great facts about the winery.

Transport

Scenic Voyage along the Douro River aboard an Exclusive Boat

Portugal

A nice boat ride, but there was no one talking/sharing info about what we were seeing. As a solo traveler, it was a little boring and awkward (though still got to see some beautiful wine country so not all terrible).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Lisbon

My guide, Pedro, not only provided a great tour of the city and its history and culture, it shared really great tips for how to navigate the seven hills of Lisbon via elevators and cables cars! Felt like I was hanging out with a good friend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Unveil the Fairytale Villa of Sintra with a Private Driver Service

Portugal

I absolutely loved this day trip. My guide (Pepe) didn’t give me a time limit, so I spent close to three hours exploring Peña Palace and gardens, and then visited the Sintra National Palace and had lunch on the main square in Sintra (recommendation from my guide for a great restaurant - Cafe Paris.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My guide even stopped on the side of the ride so I could see a cork tree up close. He also didn’t mind - was actually surprised - that our dat ended an hour and a half late. We saw so much and he seemed genuinely happy to show me.

Transport

We were overwhelmed with planning our trip to Portugal for 3 couples for 2 weeks, but luckily we found Kimkim, who made it so easy. They connected us to a wonderful local agency, Across Portugal, who worked with us to create a customized trip within our budget. Our trip included private transportation when needed, private tours, and some time on our own with a rental van for 5 days. We visited Lisbon, Sintra, Porto and the Douro Valley, Serra da Estrela, and the Algarve. The hotels were beautiful and tours were top notch.

Our trip to Portugal was fantastic. It was expertly custom planned by Pedro and we could not have asked for more. Beginning with Kim Kim’s platform which is so simple and efficient to all the detail provided before we left to the constant contact we received from Pedro on a daily basis while we were there, it was amazing. We also had to make changes last minute due to our incoming flight being cancelled and Pedro handled the modifications without issue. Every detail was looked after - the drivers picked us up in Mercedes and were very professional, the tours were personalized for us alone, I would not hesitate to use Kim Kim again.

Marisa and the whole team of "Across Portugal" made our Portugal experience very memorable. The planning, communication and efficiency was on point. No mistakes at all..You all made our vacation very special. We liked the special treatment and the details involved in everything Marisa did for us. Ines and Sara (our guides) where very well informed and knowledgeable. Overall, everything Marisa and the team did for us was above and beyond. Thank you for making our vacation stress free, organized and memorable. Obrigado to the whole team!!!

What a fantastic experience from start to finish! Bea planned a perfectly paced trip for our family of three and was incredibly responsive to questions, suggested itinerary changes etc. We got to experience so much while still having plenty of down time to wander.
The guides she arranged were excellent- friendly and so knowledgeable. Tiago provided an unforgettable day in Sintra and Emanuel was the perfect guide for the national park.
Bea (and when she was away her colleague Helena) were very helpful and flexible when I had an unexpected medical issue, which changed our itinerary a bit.
All in all a fabulous trip!

All of the guides were prompt and very knowledgeable. We learned a lot about each city. Pedro was very responsive and answered all of our questions and even made some changes we requested once we arrived.

Hotel Reviews

Heritage Avenida Liberdade

Lisboa

Great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Hotel Porto Jardim

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location was not ideal.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Sintra Centro Hotel

Sintra

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were a bit hot.

Activity Reviews

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Seamless Discovery - The Ultimate Douro Valley Experience with Private Driver Service

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scenic Voyage along the Douro River aboard an Exclusive Boat

Portugal

It was not a traditional boat and no descriptions of what we were seeing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Walking Tour to Sintra + Tickets to the Pena Palace

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing visit to Portugal with our 80+ year old parents in early June 2023. We contacted a local specialist via KimKim to tailor a 7-day tour of Lisbon with a private car/guide and minimal walking, since our parents have mobility issues. Diogo and Tiago prepared a perfect itinerary for us, which included visits to Lisbon old town, Belem, the seaside town of Cascais and Cabo da Roca cape, the historical village of Sintra, the UNESCO World heritage site of Evora, as well as Mafra and Ericeira. The pace of the tour was perfect and Diogo was a very informative and amusing guide. He was able to tell us a out the history of each place, as well as show us the best places to eat. We enjoyed our first time in Portugal very much and are planning to visit again!!

Booking the trip seemed almost too easy, yet the itinerary (Azores 6 days)was just about perfect for our family. The best parts were dinner with a host family on our day of arrival and the fabulous guides we had (Ruis, Deni, Diego) who took great care of us and taught us so much about the region. The scenery is spectacular, but they made us appreciate it on a deeper level. Each day was a new adventure, with different activities from the day before, and we enjoyed it all. Also loved our hotel (San Miguel Park), with great views of the city and easy walk to downtown.

Amazing and unforgettable time in Portugal!
It was our first time working with KimKim qnd can’t say enough about the experience. From the beginning, we were impressed at the level of responsiveness and the travel “quiz” to help build a memorable trip that was aligned with our level and activity and budget. We hit the jackpot with working with Karenina! She built a picture perfect trip- from beginning to finish. She included amazing excursions that we would have never experienced or known about without her. She coordinated everything from excursions to private transfers. Each guide was wonderful, kind, knowledgeable and you can tell really enjoyed sharing the amazing culture, history and oftentimes - food with us! Karenina reached out two weeks ahead of time to confirm everything and provide helpful hints and she was there via the app throughout our time-
If we had any questions and just to check in with us. Can’t say enough about our experience and working with her. Friends have asked “how did you build such a great trip” and I simply answer- Karenina! We will certainly work with her again on our next trip to Portugal and hopefully other locations. Many thanks to Karenina and the KimKim team!

Hotel Reviews

Lagos Avenida Hotel

Lagos

Authenticity & Character

Location

Across from the beautiful marina!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Wonderful hotel, amazing decor -right next to airport!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

PortoBay Marquês

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Steps away from the subway station/Metro and at a great location to walk and explore on the way towards the downtown area

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Fátima Pilgrimage Guided Visit

Portugal

A moving and memorable experience. Our private guide Paulo was superb. It was over an hour drive each way and yet he allowed as much time as we need at Fatima. We attended Mass, lit candles and he even ensured our statues/artifacts purchased were blessed by a priest. He went above and beyond and we are so grateful!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Paulo is amazing. A wonderful person, guide and now friend!

Transport

Lisbon Roots: A Food & Cultural Walk

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alex was amazing- customized the pace to our needs and enjoyed seeing things in and off the beaten path— an especially understanding the history more

Discover Rural Algarve on a 4WD

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marisa went well beyond what we expected, especially since we had to change our itinerary several times. We originally scheduled a Douro River cruise (outside Kim Kim) and then had Marisa plan a week in Portugal before the cruise. We spent 3 days in Lisbon, which has now become one of our favorite cities, The tours which Marisa arranged were a real highlight and we can't say enough good things about the Ivens Hotel and their bar and restaurants. The location was ideal. The tuk-tuk tour to Belem was also a highlight. She then arranged for a rental car which we drove to Coimbra where we stayed for two nights in another wonderful hotel outside town in Lousa, the Octant. Thanks to the car we were able to visit places like Nazare where we had a great seafood lunch, Aveiro where we took a boat tour and had another good lunch, the Roman ruins outside Coimbra. the Knights Templar castle and much more. We eventually finished in Porto where we stayed in another nice hotel, the Royal Bridges, just a block or two from the train station. It too was in a great location, especially with all of the ongoing construction..
Anytime we had a question Marisa was available to help out and we were not bashful about contacting her as she was a great resource. Overall we had one of our best European trips ever and we are already talking about returning to spend more time in Lisbon and to see Southern Portugal. When we return we will again use Marisa and Kim Kim.

Hotel Reviews

Octant Hotels Palácio da Lousã

Lousã

The staff was friendly and very helpful, Our room was amazing with wonderful views. The restaurant also served good food. We could not have asked for more. While this hotel is still know by the locals as the Palacio, it has apparently been acquired by Octant and is now going by that name.

Authenticity & Character

The sitting rooms made you feel like you were part of the family.

Location

Easy to get around.

Staff

Everyone was helpful and courteous.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Porto Royal Bridges Hotel

Porto

A modern, well-located hotel with a courteous and helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Rooms, while on the smaller side were well appointed.

Location

Staff

Friendly and helpful. They kept our bags for half a day until we met our river cruise at 6pm.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Other than the smallish room everything was clean and comfortable.

Activity Reviews

To Eat Suggestion: By the Wine

Lisbon

One of the best restaurants we ate at. The black pork was delightful and the wine was so good that we took a couple of bottles with us.

Quality of Experience

It was well done all around

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All of the drivers were very helpful and helped make our trip stress free.

Transport

We were not certain about renting a car, but Marisa assured us there would be no problems and she was right.

Lisbon's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Lisbon

Our guide was great. She even showed us how to use the subway, which was a breeze. Her knowlege and love of Lisbon was apparent.

Quality of Experience

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

The dinner was amazing, the performance not so much. They took a break after 3 songs at which time most of the restaurant cleared out.

Discovering Belém's Charm on a Tuk-Tuk Ride

Lisbon

The first tuk tuk broke down, but a replacement was immediately sent. Our driver was amazing and knowledgeable. The only negative is that we did not know that we should have purchased tickets before hand to visit the cathedral. Because of the long line we missed touring it.

Private Transfer

Portugal

Driver was great and very helpful.

Marina did a fantastic job on our entire trip and we loved all of the planned activities and outings

The wine trip and private cooking class were fantastic!

All transportation services were on time a so nice.

Marina provided personal customized service and even helped me get my sunglasses that were left at the hotel in Porto shipped to our next hotel. Her service is excellent

Hotel Reviews

Porto Charming Hotel

Porto

Breakfast was nice every day. The hotel staff was nice and the property was very clean. Also the location was convenient to everything

Authenticity & Character

Location

3 blocks from the main area

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dear Lisbon Bordalo House

Lisboa

Excellent location. Rooms were generous and we had a double balcony view of our area

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tivoli Lagos

Lagos

This was a resort property that was very nice. Breakfast was yummy every day. The staff were very helpful

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Be Poet Baixa Hotel

Lisbon

Only there for 1 night. It is close the the main city area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day Excursion to Douro Valley: Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Porto

Wow! Is all I can say. An absolute must do! Our guide was fantastic!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Foodie Experience in Porto

Porto

Our guide was great and the stops were fantastic. We got a great overview of the food and wine of Portugal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hands-On Cooking Class with a Local Chef

Porto

What a great activity! Our chef was fantastic and we had a great time

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Transfer {{start_location}} to {{end_location}} via Coimbra

Portugal

Our driver was great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Soul of Lisbon: Fado Dinner Experience

Portugal

Very nice dinner and Fado. Room was a little warm

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

A bit quick and could have been a little more time seeing sights. It was a good overview of the old city but could have been a little more in depth.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Catamaran Boat to Benagil Caves

Portugal

The trip was great and views amazing. Crew of catamaran was super nice. Had drinks and snacks available and provided water activity equipment as well

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

4X4 Algarve Sunset Experience

Portugal

This was the perfect end to our trip! Site’s beautiful and our guide great

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in portugal. We had knowledgeable guides who spoke good English and enriched our knowledge of their country's history.
Our tour was well organised by Pedro who kept in constant contact with us every step along the way
The highlight of my trip was the Fado evening, a "must see" experience.

Hotel Review

Porto Royal Bridges Hotel

Porto

Staff were friendly, clean, good selection of food for breakfast, well positioned for sight seeing the area by foot.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Accessable by foot to most sightseeing places in Porto.

Staff

All were friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed was comfy

Activity Review

Porto's Historic Odyssey on a Private Walking Tour

Porto

Andre was an excellent guide with a great deal of knowledge of the history of Porto and especially the history of the jewish people. His english was excellent. I would like to suggest that a breal for a coffee or suchlike in the middle of the 3 hour walkabout would have been nice for us older people.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They interacted with us in a friendly way

Transport

It was roomy nicely air conditioned and had water available

Guides were fabulous! All very knowledgeable, timely, and came from a diverse background and perspectives. There was the architect, the accountant, the economist.... Every one of them loves their country and showed us things we would not have noticed on our own.
So why not 5 stars? There were a few things where we informed our specialist, Pedro, of our preference, but got overruled... We don't drink alcohol, and yet Pedro sent a gift bag with a bottle of port. Several guides were caught off guard and had to change the agenda on the fly because they were not informed. They were great, and able to make those changes. It was awkward.
The trip was too ambitious: we went from top to bottom in 12 days. Even though it was an independent schedule, it felt like a tour, instead of an exploration. We usually stay in one place, and take our time... but, shame on us for not insisting on longer stays per location.
Portugal is beautiful. It's so popular as a destination that there are more tourists than residents. Yet, the locals don't seem to resent us! So many helpful, nice people made our trip fun.
Shout out to BlueFleet in Lagos: We had a great time touring the caves and laughed, a lot. So nice! Except for the guy who sang "Baby Shark" right as we were leaving the dock... yeah, that stuck in our heads for days!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Britania Art Deco

Lisbon

If old elegance is your jam, this hotel is for you. Recently renovated, it's maintained its art deco feel -- even has time-capsule vignettes. The staff is lovely. They have port, tea, coffee and snacks available at no charge, from afternoon to evening. And by "snacks" I mean pastries. Yum. Our room was large, with a foyer, high ceilings and tile floor. A bottle of port is kept refilled, daily, and if you don't (like me) drink, they provide juice or sparkling water or whatever you'd prefer, instead. The staff moved furniture, the first housekeeping day, to better accommodate our two-suitcase-living. On our departure day, after joking with the breakfast staff that I was going to steal the whole tray of pastiche de nate, they arrived at our table with a container packed with a dozen of them! So nice! We loved this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Art Deco with service of yester-year.

Location

Just steps away from the grand avenue, quiet street, with good restaurants.

Staff

Everyone was so helpful and friendly. They anticipated needs we didn't know we had, and accommodated all those that we did.

Cleanliness & Comfort

NH Hotel Porto Jardim

Porto

Great location: easy walk to the waterfront, bridge and city center. This hotel, the "newest in Porto" suffers from new construction quality... the bathroom door handle fell off, the shower drain is incorrectly vented, so the room smelled like sewer if the bathroom door was left open. On the bright side, the windows opened. Mostly clean: nail clipping behind the bathroom door --not ours: pet peeve! The restaurant breakfast buffet has lots to offer and was tasty. Dinner was disappointing as the meat and fish were overcooked. Waitstaff was friendly and helpful. Front desk was efficient.

Authenticity & Character

It's fine! just not a "wow"

Location

Easy access to the bridge and waterfront

Staff

Front desk friendliness--smiles would help.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds are rock hard. Corners need cleaning.

Lagos Avenida Hotel

Lagos

Awesome view! Efficient design. Helpful staff. Great breakfast. Nice, small, outdoor seating on room deck. Rooftop pool. No bathroom privacy as it's just a glass partition. Only stay with people who know you poop, and don't care if they hear or smell the process.... Very efficient layout.

Authenticity & Character

Modern and beautiful

Location

Overlooks the harbor, walking distance to most everything you want to do in Lagos "proper"

Staff

Helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

A real wall and door for the toilet.

M'AR De AR Muralhas

Evora

If you have a large crowd you are travelling with, this would be great. Our travel agent booked us into a huge suite: big outdoor deck, large living room, large bedroom, 2nd balcony, huge foyer. Too big for the two of us, but made me want to come back with more people. It did allow us to have plenty of space to hang our laundry. Lots of spaces to gather and hang out at this hotel. The decor is an odd combination of antiques-style and Ikea.

Authenticity & Character

less Ikea...

Location

Easy to get to, onsite parking garage.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Large suite: floors were clean, but spider webs and grime on upper surfaces.

Hotel Baia

Cascais

Fabulous view, great staff, and comfortable space. Balcony overlooking the harbor is where we spent our last day in Portugal. No need to go anywhere else with a view like that!

Authenticity & Character

Modern, clean, comfortable

Location

Beach front, walkable to shopping and restaurants.

Staff

Bartender was funny and attentive while we played cards overlooking the harbor at the rooftop bar.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

We were skeptical going into this, because the Fado we'd heard on TV was not enjoyable. These performers were amazing! At least the 2 we got to hear. It starts late (10:30) and some of the performers were late arriving. We had an early start, the next day, so left at midnight while they were still waiting for the next act to arrive. The dinner is a fixed menu and was disappointing. Entrees were cold, and overcooked.... The highlight were the starters: little taste sensations that were all delicious! The singers set up in front of the exit doors. Don't plan on leaving, mid-performance!

Quality of Experience

The food.

Food

It's hard to serve ~60 or so people at once: cold entrees that are overcooked

Transport

We walked to the event. It's quite the journey! Medeival roads, lots of switchbacks, tiny allies and a few drug deals on the way (witnessed, not executed!) We cabbed back. Very easy, lots of taxies come past this restaurant.

Where do I start to describe our amazing trip in Portugal! We landed in Portugal and did a quick walking food tour. In hindsight we need to remember not to book nothing. The jet lag got to us because we had an overnight flight and couldn’t get into our room before the tour. Our mistake! The Pestana Pousada, Lisboa hotel was beautiful, great breakfast and our room overlooked the square and Ocean and was close to everything! Our driver Max was prompt ant drove us to Porto via Obidos and Nazare. Our hotel was Pestana Vintage, Porto. Again, great breakfasts, a great location, for a walking tour, antique car ride and port tasting at Ramos Pinto across the river. Off to Douro valley for an amazing lunch, wine tasting and a Douro River cruise with another great driver. Next stop, driving ourselves on to Evora in a car arranged for us. Our amazing hotel for the next few days was Convento do Espinheiro hotel and spa. What an amazing history this place has. Also, great breakfasts, has indoor and outdoor pools and hot tub. The walled town of Evora is a great place to buy souvenirs, is quaint and has great restaurants…Pipa Rosa is where we ate! On our way to the Algarve, a wonderful lunch and wine tasting was planned for us outdoors at a farm/vineyard. During 3 days in our timeshare in Vilamoura we did an all day tour around the Algarve to the 2 highest pints of the regions for amazing views and lessons on cork farming and manufacturing and a great lunch at a local venue. We self drove back to Lisbon for 3 more days doing our own thing and a final tour to the Peña Palace and town of Sintra. Another amazing tour! We really felt we got the best of every region we visited, met many wonderful guides, drivers and the locals who were always glad to have us enjoying their amazing country! Thank you again Kimkim for another amazing vacation plan. Looking forward to our next one in Ireland in the fall!

Pedro took great care of us in Portugal. His attention to detail in every part of our trip meant we felt welcome and well looked after. Our local guides, Andre in Porto and Ricardo in Lisbon, both had excellent English and were interesting and fun.

Activity Review

Immerse Yourself in the Portuguese Culture by Experiencing a Fado Dinner

Lisbon

What a wonderful night of fabulous food and fado we had. This was an unexpected highlight of our Lisbon tour. Food and wine were excellent and the fado performance was outstanding, gave us goosebumps.

Quality of Experience

The fado singers were all different. Even the locals joined us to enjoy the music - a genuine, quality evening.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Carmen was an outstanding specialist! The activities she planned, hotels she booked, and recommendations she provided were terrific. We ended up having some complications during our trip that were entirely unrelated to Carmen's planning, and she went above and beyond to help us navigate a difficult situation.

I highly recommend Carmen and kimkim!

Hotel Reviews

PortoBay Marquês

Lisbon

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Editory House Ribeira

Porto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The air conditioning didn't work, and it was very hot.

Hotel Virxe da Cerca by Pousadas de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

One Shot Tabakalera House

San Sebastian

This hotel is a distance from the old town. The staff were not very knowledgeable or helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel España Ramblas

Barcelona

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Palacio de Luces

Luces

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Flavors of Lisbon: Market, Food & Culture Walk

Lisbon

We did a cooking class instead of this. It was fun, but it was a Michelin secret's course. We didn't actually cook that much. Something more traditional would have been better.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Soul of Lisbon: Fado Dinner Experience

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Excursion to Douro Valley: Wine Tasting & River Cruise

Porto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Sebastian Pintxo Experience

San Sebastián

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The overall tour experience and planning were impeccable! Could not have asked for a better Portugal experience!

Hotel Reviews

The Pine Cliffs Resort

Apartado, Albufeira

Beautiful family friendly large resort directly on the beach

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

H10 Duque de Loule

Lisboa

Beautiful hotel. A 20 minute or so walk from the main tourist areas.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Balthazar

Lisbon

Really nice and unique hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Get to Know Lisbon with a Local

Lisbon

Excellent pace and tour breadth

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lisbon Roots: A Food & Cultural Walk

Portugal

One of the best food tours I’ve ever been on!!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Benagil Cave Boat & Algarve Coastline: Private Experience

Portugal

Perfect day on the water

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wine Tasting & Lunch at a Portuguese Quinta

Portugal

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The Soul of Lisbon: Fado Dinner Experience

Portugal

Very cool experience and the food was 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍. Very intimated and well done

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff