Traveling around Portugal by car can be very exciting, the main thing is to prepare well and learn all the nuances. This section will answer the necessary questions and help you prepare for the trip.
Speed \u200b\u200bLimit
Passenger cars without a trailer:
- 50 km / h in settlements;
- 90 km / h outside the village;
- 100 km / h on roads;
- 120 km / h on the motorway;
Gasoline in Portugal
Gasolina sem chumbo 95 - 95 octane gasoline
Gasolina sem chumbo 98 - gasoline with an octane rating of 98
Diesel / gasóleo - diesel fuel
GPL - gas
In addition, in Portugal there are many places for charging electric vehicles. And in Lisbon, they are in almost every parking lot.
The cost of gasoline in Portugal
The cost of gasoline depends on the cost of oil. In January 2016, at a low oil price, the price of 95th gasoline dropped to 1.2 euros per liter. In Madeira and the Azores, fuel costs are lower than on the continent.
You can find out the current average prices for gasoline, diesel fuel and gas at
The table has prices in all European countries.
You can see that in Portugal, gas prices are higher than in neighboring Spain and France. That is why many locals living near the Spanish border, go to refuel with their neighbors in Spain.
Portugal Road Map and Navigation
It makes sense to connect yourself to the Internet and use Google maps. He well calculates the route and time of the trip. I had no complaints, I use it constantly. The map is current and does not require updates. Now it’s possible to download Google map in advance and use it without an internet connection, but the accuracy of determining your location will be lower.
- Reflective vest (in the absence of a fine from 60 to 300 euros);
- Warning triangle;
- Identity document with photo;
- Valid insurance
The driver must have a driver's license of international standard. The ideal option is to get an international driver’s license.
This is not necessary, since Portugal, like the Russian Federation, has signed the Vienna Convention, in particular, appendix 6, which relates to driver’s licenses. But maybe it’s worth it to play it safe and issue an additional international certificate? Since in the new “pink” rights, the translation into French of the words: “Driver's license” has disappeared.
International Driving License
This is a little book where national driver's licenses are translated into different languages \u200b\u200bof the world. In principle, if you don’t have it, then the usual rights are suitable for both renting and checking documents. But they must necessarily have transcription and translation. These rights are an application and are not valid without the usual “plastic rights”.
Getting them presents no problem. It is enough to pay the fee, fill out an application and bring a photo. You can sign up through the Gosuslug website.
But all this is for reinsurers. Most likely, you will need rights in Portugal only once - when renting a car.
The use of studded rubber is prohibited.
Use of seat belts required for the driver and all passengers in vehicles in which the belts are provided for by construction. The driver is not required to monitor adult passengers, as everyone pays a fine for himself. In case of transportation of children - the driver is responsible. The fine is from 120 to 600 euros.
The use of radar detectors is prohibited. The fine for this violation is from 500 to 2500 euros.
Rules for transporting children in a car in Portugal
Children under 12 years old and shorter than 1.35 must ride in the backseat in a child seat appropriate for their height and weight. Exceptions are vehicles not equipped with seat belts.
Actions in the event of an accident or car breakdown
First of all, before you get out of the car, you should put on a vest and only then put out the emergency triangle.
The use of a reflective vest and emergency triangle is a must. This is very important, because for these violations high fines. Moreover, they are summed up if you have not fulfilled both requirements.
You will be fined for lack of a vest and for a sign. For each of these violations, a fine of 120 to 600 euros is imposed, respectively, you will pay from 240 to 1200 euros. Moreover, if the violation is committed on the freeway, the amount of the fine will be maximum!
Emergency numbers
Emergency Number 112
I want to draw attention to the fact that in Portugal it is forbidden to talk on the phone while driving, unless you have a speakerphone or headphone. Stopping at a traffic light or in front of a stop sign is no exception.
There were cases when drivers were fined when they spoke on the phone, stopping at the side of the road. Fine from 120 to 600 euros.
Here we highlighted the main points you need to know to travel around Portugal by car. Have a nice trip!
Portugal is a country where there weren’t any of these famous artists, sculptors, directors, musicians, writers ... You don’t have to run headlong through museums, monasteries, castles and cemeteries. There are generally only two cities throughout the country. And and ...
To Portugal by car. Part 1: Moscow-Algarve
Caravanning, Travel Report to Germany; Spain, Lleida (Lleida); Spain, Toledo; Portugal, Algarve; France, Orange; Poland; Belarus
Portugal is a country where there weren’t any of these famous artists, sculptors, directors, musicians, writers ... You don’t have to run headlong through museums, monasteries, castles and cemeteries. There are generally only two cities throughout the country. And that's why you need to relax there!
Something like that, briefly and succinctly, my friend Vasya advised me to go where the apartments had already been purchased, and where I should have been in a couple of months. Of course, I wanted to be there for a reason, I sat in a Boeing in Sharik, sucked a glass and was already there. Not. The big goal was to drive a car, diagonally cross Europe, take a selfie on Cape of Rock, stare and touch the ocean, and the rest is how it goes.
When planning a trip by car, you always determine some milestones on your way and scroll through the route in your head. At 4:30 got up. Coffee. Teeth. Cigarette. Read the news on the toilet. You can still have coffee. Another cigarette. We sat down on the track. And here he is the long-awaited moment - the key is in the lock, the headlights are turned on, the motor has begun. Moscow traffic lights that have not awakened blink yellow, and the taillights are no longer rare at the beginning of the sixth morning, random travel companions are reflected in the asphalt wet from the sprinklers. MKAD. M1 ... The road is not boring. Provincial cities. The woods. Fields. Rivers and streams. Dnieper. In the Smolensk region, the terrain is changing, small hills begin. The eye has something to cling to and time flies unnoticed. Belarus Very high average speed, but it will be deadly boring and minutes will last for hours. Fighting sleep. Border, Bug. Warsaw, Wisla. Ample, cheap, rotten dinner. New day. Early rise. Another 500 sad kilometers in Poland and cross the Oder. Germany! The ritual Sashin bokvyurst at the first gas station and peppy traffic to the Rhine. I would like to quickly cross it in Manheim-Ludwigshafen and enter France, but we will go south. We cross the Rhine in the south of the Black Forest. And now on the second day of travel, France. With any luck, there will be a good dinner in Alsace. Day Three Again we rise neither light nor dawn. Ron. Cotes du Rhone. We make wine. We roll through the Pyrenees and in a couple of days we are waiting for a meeting with the ocean. That's how it all seemed. Realities came out a little different. About this in the report.
Plan
A trip to Portugal was the third point in my summer traveller’s plan. In February, we sat in our kitchen with friends and wondered where to go. A month earlier, Natasha refused to run to the Campaign with the wording “a very long ride, get tired” and bought tickets to Naples. In this situation, I was ready to agree to the traditional (for me) Arkhangelsk region. But somehow it happened that in half an hour we were convinced that Portugal was not that far and that I would have a feasible budget and leave at 3.5 weeks with standard two.
The general understanding of the rest is to rent a house for 2 weeks in the beach-bathing region, Algarve province, indulge in laziness, fun and drunkenness, in breaks culturally enriched by one-day outings somewhere. Mandatory points of the program were Lisbon, Sintra and Cape Roca, optionally the Tomar Templar Castle.
From the very beginning, we planned the south coast of Portugal west of Faro, a month earlier Sasha went there on a business trip. But in the end, the choice fell on the southern part of the western. And as subsequent experience showed, it was true and expectations were 100% fulfilled. On the coastal area of \u200b\u200b250 km, several zones can be distinguished:
Faro and east. Swimming in the ocean. Well-off citizens come here to observe flamingos and other birds. When they are already fed up with everything - probably a great option. Specific and expensive.
Faro - Albufeira. Great beaches to swim and sunbathe. Villas and golf courses nearby, usually included. Expensive.
Portimao and its surroundings. By nature and weather, it is similar to the previous one, but there are a lot of people and shit. Gelendzhik.
Lagos (Lagos). It is a cultural place. Without the pathos of Faro Albufeira. There is no wave. Heat (as on the entire south coast)
South west coast. Great wave. The ocean is slightly colder than the south coast. It’s so hot that they don’t even have air conditioners in their houses. A few people. And the price tag is good. Paradise, in general, a corner.
We booked a separate house with a pool in the area of \u200b\u200bthe village of Aljezur, a kilometer from the ocean. With machines and a 0.5 ppm rule, this was more than fine with us.
The family's trip to Italy fell very well on the train to Portugal. The road to the ocean for my wife and son was more than halved due to the Naples – Barcelona flight, and I was guaranteed to get there without hearing “Dad, are we coming soon?”. True, we had to make a detour of several hundred kilometers. The shortest path along the distance lies through Hanover, Cologne, Paris.
The total length of the one-way route is approximately 5,000 km. It is clear that in three days this is basically insurmountable (we are not talking about shift taxiing without spending the night). For four, of course, it is possible, but the docking in Barcelona on the way there and the reluctance to drive back determined our speed of movement - five days in each direction. In this mode, it will be possible to make a short pause, to get up on some day not at 5, but at 7 in the morning, to see the cities. Sasha took over the development of the plan and the search for hotels.
Total, the road there: 2 long stretches of Moscow-Warsaw and Warsaw-Belfort (Belfort, a small town in Alsace), on the third day, buying wine in France and the finish in Barca, where I meet my family and, possibly, some kind of walk around the city. Gaudi and all that jazz. The fourth day - a short drive to Toledo, a walk around the city. Fifth day - finish in Aljezur.
The return trip: Aljezur-Salamanca in a relaxed mode, we look a little at the city, Salamanca-Digouin (Degoin, outback in the heart of France) with the purchase of wine somewhere in Bordeaux. On the third day, a short, but fast drive to Nuremberg, plans for "shopping". The last two days we are going home as quickly as possible. Overnight in Biala Podlaska to get to the border early and lose as little time as possible.
We and our transport
We went to Portugal with two cars, two families. I, my wife Natasha, son Anton. Sasha Nikolaev with his wife Tanya and son Sergei. This was the first joint trip. Seryoga already has rights and they will change periodically, if necessary he can replace me. As it turned out, we had a very appropriate technique for traveling around Europe. If you do not take into account the autobahns of Germany, VW Touran 2.TDI 110 hp It was ideal for a combination of characteristics: a comfortable fit, a spacious lounge, a roomy trunk, a fairly economical diesel engine. My son’s bike got into the trunk, only one of the seats had to be moved 5 cm. At the same time, the back row remained free and one could even lie down. Sasha Skoda Superb Combi 1.8T 152 h.p. with Koni suspension, of course, it was more beautiful in Germany, but because of the great Seryoga, I had to fold ⅓ seats, and he consumed 20-25% more fuel for the money. However, both Skoda and Turan pleased their owners with efficiency.
There
A little late, somewhere at 6:30 we left the Moscow Ring Road. They quickly drove to the last Russian gas station, where at the same time they had a bite of home supplies. Serega moved to me to interfere with my sleep, and in ordinary chatter, having fun reading the settlements that were funny to the Russian eye (Arekhavka, Alshanka, etc.), we quietly drove to the last Belarusian gas station. Before Brest on the right is Belneftekhim. According to the experience of knowledgeable people, DT in this network is quite decent, they are fatherless. Cayenne ate and was not sick. The cost of fuel is only a little, 10 percent, higher than ours.
Border. We are boring passing Russian border guards, Polish customs officers and border guards. Nobody rummaged in the trunk, they didn’t snatch sausage from their mouth, they only asked about cigarettes.
From the border weaving along the population, staring at life and the device of lords. Everything is decorous, noble, with an eye on the Germans, but in the Polish manner. Between villages and towns it decently stinks of some chemical manure. Maybe they add something to it, maybe the cows are already spoiling from compound feeds, I don’t know, but it’s better to go with the windows closed.
We stumbled around Warsaw - all in repairs and detours. It probably took us an hour to cross it. As a result, we got to the Rest Hotel (29 euro double room without breakfast). A place to stay. Its main advantage on the way to Europe is only the autobahn ahead. The rest of the Polish hemorrhoids passed the first day. The food is tasteless, but cheap and plentiful, haha. There is local beer (a little more beautiful than ours, very hard water) and bison (excellent vodka) on the menu.
Total per day: 1,255 km from MKAD. Consumption ~ 5.8 liters per 100 km.
Again an early rise, we drink coffee and move forward. Polish autobahn fresh, newly built, smooth and fast. The limit is 140 km / h. But an incredibly boring landscape, even in Belarus it will be more fun. Because fuel in Poland is still somewhat cheaper than in Europe, we refuel the tanks in front of the Oder. We have a bite at the first German gas station with a bokvürst and drive out to the ban with its very dynamic movement, requiring regular rebuilding. A dream that flew in Poznan was lifted as if by hand.
German freeways are an interesting topic. The first thing that catches your eye is that the roads are very busy. There are many reasons: lack of fare, high population density (there is nothing in the geodery, but there are many more), probably the largest number of cars per 1000 people. among European countries, and then it is still a country with a car history. But despite this, the whole motley army of motorists is moving very fast. Each road user is a cell of a single organism. All rebuilding, acts of politeness or, on the contrary, rejection, are subject to a certain meaning and are sharpened to ensure a high speed of safe movement from point A to point B. I have learned the action of several rules (they are also written in our traffic rules, but only spelled out):
1. Overtaking is done only on the left. The foundation of the entire line of behavior on the road and the guarantee of trouble-free flow movement. Consequently:
- Familiar only by hearsay “don't take the left row” works. Cars move in the right lane as much as possible. Overtake, cleaned to the right.
- On the right you can’t even get ahead. That is, if, when driving in the first row, you catch up with the rider in the second row, you must go to the third, overtake and return to the first. Yes, this is inconvenient, yes, the person being overtaken is wrong or just thought (which is the same thing), but you can’t disturb the order.
2. Do not force, unless absolutely necessary, other road users to press the brake. A general rule that helps maintain a high average flow rate:
- The Germans always leave in the second row before the congress on their way from another ban in advance. Even if there are two upper bands.
- If you see that in the right lane the car that you are going to overtake, in turn, catches up with another car, go to the third row if possible. Well, etc., a lot of situations!
Guided by simple rules, the Germans are polite and expect reciprocity. If before repairing the bathhouse in advance, as soon as the flows begin to form, begin to rebuild in the left row (when repairing the canvas in one direction there is a narrowing from three to two lanes), they always miss. An attempt to get into an already formed stream is stopped in the bud. For boors, idiots and just gape attitude is about the same.
Special attention also deserves the canvas, which is now paved roads. Something very similar to concrete, quickly draining water and reducing interest by 10-15%! Compensated by increasing speed. I could not accelerate more than 190km / h in speedometer. At the same time, my main rivals have always been Mercedes Sprinter minibuses :) This is the fastest car on the autobahn! Another quick one was the Porsche Panamera with Moscow numbers. He finally walked around Thuringia on the ninth road. With MKAD we moved out at the same time :)
It would seem that, driving through Germany, one cannot help but sip beer. So no, you can! For Nuremberg, we moved to the town of Ansbach and did not find this German drink in two supermarkets. Those. there was Ottinger, Franciscaner and other rubbish, but there was no beer.
Some Taiwanese navigator with the function of receiving traffic information in the FM band helped a lot. Absolutely necessary thing. Before Heilbronn they went to Stuttgart, thus avoiding a large number of congestion on the 100-kilometer stretch to Karlsruhe.
It was already quite late to arrive in Belfort in Premiere Classe Belfort (37 euro double room without breakfast). This is not a hotel, rather a close stall, but clean. Plus one - the price tag. There is no catering, so we dined with a beer and a bison and went to bed. To get up early again tomorrow, in 3-4 hours you have to be in Barcelona.
Total per day: 1,434 km. Consumption ~ 6.1 liters per 100 km.
At 4:30 we got up, at 4:45 Sanya already asked when Seryoga and I would go down to the cars. Very quick fees and then we already drove to the nearest gas station in the hope of drinking at least coffee and gobbling a croissant.
Roads are paid, there are few cars and we drive fast. In Leon, we get into a small cork. The French are already admitting deviations from the German “concepts," all of this is a bit like homeland. On the “Route du Soleil” (“The Road of the Sun”, along which the whole northern, densely populated Europe brings holidays to the Mediterranean Sea), it’s quite crowded, but we successfully avoid traffic jams and drive off the motorway to the Cotes du Rhone vineyards in the region Châteauneuf du Pape (Chateauneuf du Pape, a village in which one of the papal residences was supposed to be built during the so-called “Avignon captivity of the popes”).
Vineyards Chateauneuf du Pape
We turn to the nearest “chateau”. We try 5, then 10, then 20 euros per bottle. It's not tasty. Those. completely tasteless. The landlady says that this fault (which is 20 each) needs to stand a little longer. Not necessary. Orevoire, Madame. We drive a couple of kilometers to Domain de Saint Siffrein. Mistress southerner, more chatty and much more affectionate than the previous one. They have 20 hectares of vineyards, of which 15 are under the “premium” AOC Chateauneuf du Pape. We try. 10 is excellent, 19 is excellent. We take a trip to Moscow plus take a package of 10 liters for 37 euros in the hope that we will take another 10 somewhere in Languedoc.
Why did the neighbor not have such good wine? Madame explained this as follows: households specialize in various categories of consumers. She, or rather her son, adherents of the old school of winemaking, and neighbors make wine for young people. There are also winemakers who are guided by the American market and other horrors. That's how complicated it turns out. Madame gladly told Tanya about her fault and answered all the questions.
Naturally, wine has a very special attitude here. Perhaps wine is even the basis for self-identification in France.
“Dinner without wine, that day without the Sun”
Finally we stopped in another chateau. The stone house was more like a dilapidated barn. We were met by a couple of Labradors (although thoroughbred dogs are more rare here than the norm, unlike Russia), then for about three minutes we called at least someone. To our question, the question “does he have cheap wine”, the owner of a half-sleep and a lightweight hangover, drawn from the darkness of a closet, stated that in HIS institution a price tag of 40 euros. But everything is very nice. The bonus for the 10 minutes spent was his view and the view of his household.
A visit to the winemaker is not only useful for the wallet, but also very exciting. Not only that, at the minimum (!) Price you take your favorite (!) Wine. You can still bargain, and French speakers can also fly in this beautiful language with the villagers. If you're lucky, you can meet a local grandfather or a peasant who takes out a bucket and asks the owner to pour him directly from the barrel. Or look at the townspeople who came to replenish their reserves for the year ahead.
Moving on. Time is running out, the plane from Naples flies exactly according to the schedule, which means that we pass 10 liters of wine. Closer to the border, elegant young ladies in uniform put speed-boats; offenders are received at the next payment point. And here is Barcelona. The city, which was visited by a huge number of my friends, about which there was a lot of enthusiasm in the reviews, where there is Sograda Familia, some kind of Ramble, etc. But we drove up from the other side and the first thing we met was a natural favela on the outskirts of Barca! We find a hotel and while the guys are checking in, I rush to the airport. The plane landed about an hour ago. Round trip, terminal search, parking and meeting took no more than an hour. Upon our return, a surprise awaited us all: the hotel in which we planned to spend the night at Center Esplai Alberque turned out to be a hostel with all the consequences. Dirt, poor air conditioning, uncomfortable beds, etc. We decided to leave the city. Sasha and Serge found a hotel in Lleida, Jardins del Segria (69 euros for a family with a good breakfast). This is for the better, tomorrow will be more time on Toledo.
The asshole from the Barcelona hostel could not immediately return the money (paid at the reception before they saw the number) to the card. Refunds were held after about a month. And then, probably only because of letters of promise to inform booking.com
We drove to Lleida by the free motorway. Unlike France, Spain can drive along free roads, but in some places, for example, to cross the Pyrenees, only toll highways or paths passing through settlements are available. On the road we share our impressions in a month and a half and look at the landscapes outside the window. The hotel turned out to be quite decent, visited by the local population. We relaxed a bit, tomorrow the drive is a little more than 500 km, you can not rush to the rise. Rioja is still a very good wine.
Total per day: ~ 1178 km. Consumption ~ 6.1 liters per 100 km.
The morning of the fourth day turned out to be gloomy. Charge the rain. First, small, then intensified.
Outside the window there are very nice pictures up to Sigüenza, passes ~ 1000 meters, then to Guadalajara a flat plateau on which fields are divided. All of Spain is quite high above sea level, and Madrid is generally the most “high mountain” capital in Europe. And also in Spain, the cheapest fuel on the European part of our route. And if on DT the difference with France is not so great, then on gasoline ~ 15%. This must be borne in mind when planning a trip. Below are the pictures taken on the go from the car:
We arrived in Toledo in the afternoon. The hotel is located in the heart of the so-called "historic city of Toledo", Hotel Conquista de Toledo (69 euros per family without breakfast). Meters in 200-300, a little higher, opposite the Alcazar, there is an underground parking. 20 euros per night, after all, a UNESCO World Heritage Site :)
Throwing things, we go on an excursion. The city itself (historical city) is located on a decent hill and at one time was the capital of Castile, until the king moved it to Madrid. For a very long time it was a defensive fortification. At first the Visigoths defended themselves against the Visigoths, then the Moors from the Castilians, then the Castilians from the Moors, and finally Franco's supporters from the Republicans. On the one hand, Toledo is surrounded by a fortress wall, on the other, it is naturally protected by the Tagus River (the Tagus itself, which will be called Tagus in Lisbon) and the abyss.
The city has a large number of attractions. Hordes of tourists from all over the world go on clear routes: you have just been in the crowd and suddenly find yourself alone on the whole street. Many buildings look unnaturally fresh. All this together gives the feeling that in Toledo there are no locals at all. But this is not true, they are:
In a gallop across Europe, we went around the whole city. Fortunately, there is an escalator, a gift from King Juan Carlos. Because it is absolutely free.
On the narrow streets of Toledo:
In April-May 2016 we were on vacation in Portugal. But, when planning the route, it became clear that traveling to Portugal is several times cheaper via Spain (that is, flying to Madrid, renting a car there and traveling to Spain via the floor of Spain). Renting a car at Madrid airport was also 3 times cheaper than taking it at Lisbon or Porto airport.
Thus, it was decided to go through Spain and at the same time visit Andalusia. We rent a car (click on the link): choose a city, dates and requirements for a car and compare prices. The main requirements that you should pay attention to are included mileage, where a car is provided (for example, right at the airport, or someone will pick you up and take you to the office), what insurance is included, automatic or manual gearbox, number of people, number doors. Everything else is highly variable, especially the brand of the selected car. It will almost never correspond to the ordered)))
And we look at the best tickets to Madrid according to this wonderful calendar (of course, the most pleasant prices, by the way, in January, in Seville, it’s very comfortable for the weather):
So, the main points of our route:
1. Arrive at Madrid. Immediately take the car and go to the hotel, located along the path of our journey. This is not the first time we have been staying in the Getafe area. Generally, in this area decent hotels at a very economical price. This time we stop at Holiday Inn Express Madrid-Getafeand we get a decent room for 50 euros / night with breakfast, free parking and Carrefour hypermarket around the corner. By the way, here is a good shopping center Getafe The Style Outlets, which is inhabited only by locals. We, too, either buy something we need, such as T-shirts or socks for every day, and be sure to use a SIM card in Orange with unlimited Internet access throughout Spain and 2 GB in Europe (Mundo tariff).
Since this is Spain, it is necessary to purchase firstly baby supplies and food, and secondly, water and snacks. This is not the first time we travel and understand that with their siesta and real days off (even hypermarkets do not work on Sunday and Monday or Saturday, in different ways), it is easy to stay hungry.
2. We call in Toledo. We were already in this city and to our misfortune we tried the local marzipans and macaroons. And now, nowhere, anywhere in the world can we eat them, except Toledo. Therefore, we call in of course for delicious treats.
Snacks are sold in the Old Town, in a Mazapan store (link to Google maps). It is also worth a walk in the Old Town - there is an incredible beauty and incredible size Cathedral
It is one of the largest in Spain. It contains many masterpieces - from paintings by El Greco, Caravaggio, Titian and other famous artists to outstanding examples of medieval jewelry
3. We go to Cordoba and stay there for a couple of nights. We chose a hotel in the center, from the windows the room could almost touch the walls of Mesquita - Hotel mezquita.
A hotel with simple rooms, but the hall does not look more modest than the halls of the Hermitage or the Vatican Museum.
But along with the proximity to history - noisy festivities under the windows of the watch until 3 at night, inability to drive to the hotel (in a couple of places, while we were driving on Google’s navigator, we touched the walls of the houses with WV Polo with both ears), it seems, we got into the camera and waiting for a fine. Accordingly, public paid expensive parking is a 10-15 minute walk from the hotel with suitcases.
Cordoba is an incredible city and we really liked it. Here are obligatory to visit: Mesquita, Alcazar, Roman bridge (which has been standing for 2100 years), the Old Town. We were on the eve of the Courtyard Festival, which takes place in May, so the whole city was charmingly decorated.
Not far from Cordoba (27 km) there is a very beautiful Spanish castle - Almodovar (Castillo de Almodovar del Rio). By reference, its location on Google maps.
4. On the way to Seville, we call in the town Setenil (Setenil de Las Bodegas).This is a town built in the mountains, more precisely right in the rocks. There are several famous photos on the Internet where the roofs of the houses are stones. That's where we went. The town is charming. It took us 2-3 hours to completely get around it (taking into account the ascent and descent in the rocks). But, in principle, you can stay there for the night:
5. Ronda - also passing through. Although this city is worth staying overnight. True, with budget hotels there is not a lot. The city, hovering over a hollow in the mountains, built at an altitude of 740 meters above sea level, is very popular among tourists. The most famous and worthwhile sights:
One of the oldest and largest bullfighting stadiums Plaza de toros
Puente Nuevo - an 18th-century bridge with a height of 98 m across the Guadalevin River, dividing the city into 2 parts, Old and New.
Arab baths (Baños Árabes) - a monument of the Moorish period in Ronda, which never belonged to the Moors. This is a Romanesque building that imitated Arabic architecture.
6. Seville - here we stay for 2 days. Although the city is already large, tourist and even dirty. We check into the Pasarela Hotel across the street from the charming Plaza de España. Parking is free, breakfast is included. And in the square you can walk on warm Spanish evenings:
Also worth a visit in Seville:
Seville Cathedral and Alcazar. In Alcazar (Real Alcázar de Sevilla) filmed the famous Game of Thrones. And on the dates of our stay in the city, they just started showing the new season. Twice we tried to get into the territory of the gardens of Alcazar, but the lines are unbearable. I am very sorry that we did not get there:
Concrete and wood construction knocked out of the general environment Metropol Parasol ( Metropol parasol) or Seville Mushrooms. At the bottom of this building is a museum with Roman and Moorish remains discovered during the construction of the facility. And on the top (4th floor) - a panoramic platform with an overview of the whole of Seville:
7. Huelva) is a historical city almost on the very border with Portugal. He is notable for the fact that it was from here that Christopher Columbus went to America. Here is the Columbus Museum (Muelle de las Carabelas) with a huge park, monastery, all kinds of entertainment. But on Mondays the museum is closed, we only managed to photograph prototypes of the legendary sailboats from afar. I was surprised how small they really are:
Well, that’s all, we call on the long bridge to Portugal. The measured Spanish rhythm of life is replaced by the bustle, similar to Russian. Roads are significantly worse, therefore paid. Fuel is 25% more expensive than in Spain (30 euro cents). But open supermarkets are almost always food establishments. This is the cry of the soul of a starving tourist in Spain.
The south of Portugal is, above all, the incredible beauty of the beaches. We drove along the coast, and most of all we liked Portimão and Lagos for the rest. And for access to beautiful pictures, and for service in these cities
8. Portimao -here we lived a couple of days and rode along the coast. Along the beach there are many hotels and apartments. There is more interesting, but what is on booking.com is quite average in terms of service (it very much resembles Soviet sanatoriums), but at an affordable price. We lived in apartments in the first line, with windows overlooking the ocean, with parking for 5000 rubles for two days. Most often, Moldavians, or Russians, or Ukrainians own these offers. A lot of Russian speech. The locals are welcoming and friendly. And these are the pictures from the window:
The beaches are wide, in May the ocean is cool, but you can swim. A large number of sports fields and, in principle, sports people stand out. Again, it is in very contrast with Spain, which is hooked on almost round-the-clock fast food.
And these areas are more expensive, but there are many delicious restaurants. Russian-speaking service again. Almost at home, only portions of dishes such that one in life can’t eat:
9. We walk around Lagos and neighboring beaches. Clean, neat city:
Beaches nearby:
10. Then we go to Lisbon -a city that everyone falls in love with. The Old Town is interesting here, where you can walk for hours, zigzag walking around every quarter. There are a lot of tourists. There are many hotels for every taste, color and budget. We lived right at the Bridge on April 25th - in this area it is simpler with parking and it is easier to travel further to the north of Portugal.
In Lisbon, it’s worth staying for 3-4 days. We visited not a lot. We just walked around the city, despite the rain.
With children, you should definitely visit the Lisbon Oceanarium in the Park of Nations. There are a lot of great reviews about the Lisbon Zoo, but we didn’t have time there.
11. We are going to Sintra. This city is also a must to visit. Also required to stay in it for 2-3 days. Our mistake - we were passing through.
On the way to Cape Roca we pass very windy beaches and real Atlantic dunes:
Cape of Doom - a significant place - the westernmost point of Europe. But according to the picture, in our Russian easternmost places the same thing is direct, only the transport and souvenir infrastructure is worse.
We hung out for 2-3 hours in the Masson Monteiro palace park of Quinta da Regaleira. Here an interesting neo-Gothic palace was built, a Catholic chapel and a huge park with fountains, grottoes, lakes. All sorts of riddles and Masonic symbols are scattered throughout the park.
I have a well-known photo of the well now. Here you need to go through the grotto and rise through this well from "Hell to Paradise". But for some reason, Russian guides lead the Russians on the contrary from top to bottom, interfering with the oncoming flow:
The famous Pena Palace, which we didn’t have time to, because we walked in the park of Masons:
Also worth a visit Castle of the Moors Castelo dos Mouros,built in the 9th century.
12. We are going to Aveiro (Aveiro), where we stay for the night. And in the morning we walk through a very interesting city with mosaic houses:
This is the Portuguese Venice, on which you can also ride on a gondola. But after lunch, because in the mornings there is no water in the canals.
Place of residence - an excellent hotel Hotel Aveiro Palace overlooking the canal and gondolas and a beautiful interior in a cozy English style:
Staying in Aveiro, you can not stop by in Praia da costa nova- This is a place with such cute striped houses. Initially, fishermen painted their homes like that. Later, this corporate identity was supported by all the houses of the town:
And we are leaving Portugal. Few? Yes. But enough to get to know the country.
What I collected in Portugal, but could not visit, I attach links to Google maps to make it easier to include these points in your routes:
- Évora - the city is interesting for its architecture. Here is the Catholic Cathedral, and the preserved columns of the Roman temple. There is also a Chapel of Bones, the inner walls of which are covered with human bones and skulls. In principle, through Evora you can get a route from Madrid to Lisbon.
Small towns Estoril and Cascais - located 25 km from Lisbon. The party does not stop here: good sandy beaches, cafes, restaurants (there are Michelin ones), casinos, shopping. We drove them past. Pleasant towns. This is the Portuguese Riviera - many wealthy Europeans have villas and mansions here.
Also not far from Sintra (30 km) and just a must visit - the city of Mafra and Mafra National Palace. This is a monastery, the largest palace and altar of the Portuguese kings. Near the palace there is a nature reserve and a royal garden. They are also worth a visit.
Ericeira International Wildlife Sanctuary with the top ten best beaches for this sport. They say Ericeira is second only to Malibu.
Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitoria ( Mosteiro da batalha) - Dominican monastery in the Gothic style, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The village of Monsanto (Monsanto) - in which the inhabitants of recent centuries live in houses built in boulders. Walls or roofs are stones. Like in Setenil in Spain. We really wanted to capture this point in our route. But they did not fit into a standard two-week vacation.
- Porto - does not require my description. Many say that this city is much more interesting than Lisbon. I think that we will definitely get into it.
- or stone house, which is present in all ratings of the most unusual houses. It was built from two boulders in 1974. It is located in the north of Portugal, you need to go there on purpose, because there is nothing interesting nearby. The house is two-story, inside there is stone furniture. Residents left him, because the idea of \u200b\u200bliving in solitude did not materialize - curious tourists were constantly breaking into the house.
And we cross the border with Spain, we dodge in line for refueling with fuel at 25% cheaper. And in closed cafes and shops. There’s nowhere to even buy coffee. Oh, relaxed Portugal.
13. We come to Salamanca. It is the highest capital of the Spanish provinces, located at an altitude of 1128 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by a fortress wall erected in the XI-XIV centuries on the site of Roman and Arab fortifications. The length of the wall is 2.5 km. And inside the Old Town with the Cathedral, churches, cozy restaurants and cafes
15. We are going to MadridWe spend the night and fly home the next day. This time we rented a hotel in the city center. And they realized that this is stupid. Doubtful service, dirty rooms, festivities and noise under the windows all night, expensive parking (35 euros per day, barely found for 18 euros) a 10-minute walk with suitcases and a stroller from the hotel. I do not like Madrid. We are already old for him and are not ready to hang out, as young people do. For us, this is exclusively the point of beginning or end of our route.
In total, the entire route was 2365 km, 13 days of travel, visited 22 cities and plunged into 2 such different countries.
The north of Portugal (from Porto and to the north) we think is compatible with a trip to the north of Spain. Andalusia is also a separate trip: Malaga, Cadiz, Granada and Almeria, with a visit to Gibraltar and, possibly, a trip to Morocco by ferry. By the way, do you know that there are Spanish cities in Morocco? Directly, the territory of the EU in Africa is Melilla and Ceuta. I'd like to visit.
Many links about Spain
The accidental purchase of one ticket overgrown with new ideas and plans, and the “thread” of the route was formed, bordering an adventure, which resulted in 50 days of travel, 15 airplanes, 7,000 kilometers driving four cars, hiking with a tent, traveling by train, electric train, ships of all stripes and even on yachts. These are travel entries from our diary about what he saw on the road, about people, places and impressions.
Having again found themselves behind the wheel after a two-day break, they could not rejoice at the fact that it was still comfortable and convenient to drive your own wheels, stop wherever you wanted, and not carry luggage. As it turned out, the dependence on the schedule of public transport and the link to its routes, as well as the purchase of some travel cards, were quite nervous. Give freedom of movement!
At about 10 a.m., we headed from Seville to Portugal. They did not immediately decide to join the neighbor of Spain to the route, as there were simply no rumors of high-profile sights “with a name”. Surface excavations of the Internet immediately dazzled: there is port! Oh well. They dug up another - Lisbon with trams and Cape Roca swam out. And then it went and went: the Masons, the Templars, the Manueline carving, the fantastic Sintra, the harsh Tomar, the wine stores of Porto, and of course - Obidos. It was the photographs of the blue-yellow-white Obidush that became the last straw and put an end to doubts whether to go or not. Of course, go!
On this journey, the plans were to drive "a little further" to Eurasia from almost the easternmost point to the westernmost. The idea of \u200b\u200bthis route was conceived after a trip in 2011, when we drove from the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan to the North Sea in the Netherlands and Belgium. In the same year, they advanced to the Atlantic Ocean at Cape Roca in Portugal. So, everything in order.
Portugal ... It's almost like Spain. Almost all of Spain, only Portugal. That was exactly my knowledge, or rather, misconceptions about this country. We went there, not expecting to see any striking differences between this small state and our older neighbor - neither ethnic, nor, especially, climatic. Still, sometimes it’s so nice to make a mistake.
And an idea was born. With a beer, on the fence at my native school, I came, I don’t even remember anyone, in my head. Writing in the sun on New Years. And where can I drown on a wheelbarrow? If in Asia, then the winters are just as cold, and it’s far away to go to the heat in India or something. In Sochi any - it rains, also not varick. If to Europe - it can be warm only closer to Africa. Here Portugal - it should be warm, sunny, there is an ocean, and the westernmost point of the continent is Cabo da Roca. None of us have ever been this far, much less by car. Roads seem to be good, we'll get there.
We arrived at the lakes early in the morning, and there was fog. Do not forget to check the weather in Sete Cidades before leaving :) Having walked along the shore of a green lake, we found some nice places for picnics, fed ducks and, when the fog cleared, we admired the views.
He gave birth to the second part in six months :). And it's time to write a new report on the current trip to the Crimea (2014), by the way. I plan to make a report with an overview of ALL Crimean attractions. I think this year it will be very relevant. Nowadays, foreign reports on the Drome have been reduced. They began to develop their homeland :). That's right, and this year we are planning a ride around the country.
The idea to rush to Europe by car came up every time after reading the next report on this site, at first it seemed fantastic to me, but after buying Toyota funcargo from auction 4 points and a rally from Krasnoyarsk to the Black Sea, I believed in the possibility of a multi-day road trip. For many months, the cunning plans for conquering the Alps and other interesting places of the old woman of Europe ripened. Gradually, the approximate route clearly began to take shape in my head, I decided not to use the guides, they quickly become obsolete and expensive, got information on Google and Wikipedia, wrote out all the places of interest to us with coordinates, and there’s not enough life to see everything in Europe and it’s open-air museum. My wife and other close people were spinning at the temple while voicing my plans, but I couldn’t stop, because life without the realization of a dream is not life. Everything is decided, let's go. Since it is not realistic to persuade friends on such a trip, everyone has their own life and plans, and most people associate with lying on the beach and drinking strong drinks, we go alone with my beloved wife, my daughter is still too small and will stay with her grandmother.
When preparing for the winter holidays of 2012-2013 in the Baltic states, we faced one problem: not buying a ticket, making a visa to Perm is almost impossible. Hearing the next: “We do not make visas to the Baltic states”, we turned to the same friend who made us visas to Romania. - Why do you need an Estonian visa? asked Paul. - Do Spanish, they give without problems immediately for six months. We were not going to Europe, planning to spend May holidays in the Emirates, but why not?
A team of five drove the route Barcelona - Tarragona - Granada - Cordoba - El Rompido - Vilamoura - Lagos - Lisbon - Porto - Lerma - Lleida - Barcelona.
We drove in two cars.
Travel time is two weeks, from August 25 to September 8, 2007.
The distance traveled is about 5.5 thousand km. On one machine and 4.4 thousand km on another.
The goal is to relax according to the option that we successfully tested last year and now get impressions from the South of Spain and Portugal.
Preparation of the route and cities of reservation.
Estimated the route and the city overnight. According to past experience, we decided to make two nights in one for every two nights in a new hotel. As a result, we got the desired route in 11 hotels 2 ... 4 * for 13 nights.
I figured out the flight options and tried to look for options on a visa.
I did not want to go to the embassy for a visa - the capital is not close to us.
We started with the carrier (L-Flight), if you take a ticket, they have a visa service indicated on the website. It was difficult for them to get through if they got through - they switched us to a boy on visas - after a sigh he agreed to listen to us and seemed to be, in principle, ready to help ... But on the Internet there was little good about them. Discarded. Fearfully.
We decided not to take risks and turn to the option already tested last year through Marco Polo Moscow. We entrusted them with hotels, flights and visas. Olga Romanova worked with us - absolutely all wishes were fulfilled regarding the flight, the cities where we wanted to spend the night, and also the options “something between ... and between ..., within ... euro / person” were selected, and also some scope was added, by which, we initially lacked the spirit.
The cost of travel. We did it taking into account all the costs, including and on the spot - about 1350 euros per one.
What made up the cost: determining was the desire to save on hotels and flights, leaving money for a more decent car, museums and provincial restaurants. Proceeding from this, the airports of Lisbon, Porto, Madrid and Malaga were dropped and stopped in Barcelona, \u200b\u200bwhere charters from the capital are carried cheaply. They asked the travel agency to buy us a charter - for a flight to Barcelona with a charter (round trip for one) - they paid 340 euros.
Everyone knows about charters - this is a lottery over time. And, since we are from Novocherkassk and Krasnodar, because of this lottery the expenses exceeded the planned amount for different members of our team from 85 to 362 euros. This is the payment of an extra night in the capital and the purchase of new tickets due to the delay in arrival on the way back.
For 13 nights in hotels 2 ... 4 * paid an average of 500 euros / person. 14 days of car rental cost three euros for a three (Peugeot 407 2.0NDI) 657 euros and for two (the guys went with us to Opel Corsa) 527 euros. For 5,500 km (Peugeot), diesel fuel was burned at 330 euros and for 4,000 km (Opel) at 225 euros. Diesel fuel from 0.85 (Andorra) to 1.10 (Portugal) euros per liter.
For paid parking - about 35 euros / car.
Entrances to museums and castles, doublebacker excursions - about 45 euros / person.
Lunches / dinners / breakfasts + wine / beer / cola / chips cost from 8 to 35 euros per day on the nose.
Car rental.
We booked with Europcar via the Internet on their Spanish website - they only offered Alfa159, and we really liked it. Now I'm sure you can book through the Russian site Europcar.ru.
At Barcelona Airport (BCN) there are also Hertz, Avis, Atesa and Sol-Mar offices - all have approximately the same prices.
We were lucky with the choice of Europcar - due to the delay of the aircraft (charter!) We arrived at the counter at 01-30 instead of the planned 22-00. After midnight, only the Europcar office worked - all the rest were closed until 07-00. The Europcar counter at Barcelona Airport was found next to the other Rent-a-Car at Terminal B, and parking was there, across the road.
At registration, they forgot (from the frustration that they didn’t give Alpha, and also the night, they were tired ...) at the counter the main paper on which we were given a car. We discovered it a couple of days later and contacted the Europcar office in Huelva, in the south of Spain - we were restored without any problems. They also found out that it is possible to change the car (if you suddenly do not like it or something) to another without any problems in any office. The main thing is to call in advance and find out the availability. If it comes to this - we were recommended by the airport offices - there are always a lot of different things.
Money from the card for renting a car with us was withdrawn twice. The first time 100% advance + 200 euros (deductible) - on the day you receive the car, then it was completely returned. The second time they took off on the day the car was delivered - 100% of the amount upon rental. Upon returning home for some time, about a week, we had before our eyes an extract where both amounts were taken, which caused a lot of excitement.
About MVU I wrote earlier last year - be sure to make yourself in the local traffic police MVU (international driver's license). On it they give a car. They can give ours too. And, if the police do not stop, there will be no problems. But if he stops, they have changed the rules there since 2006. I did not hear anything about Spain (there we saw the police last year a couple of times over 4,500 km ...). But in Italy there were problems and very serious ones. In addition, if before the trip the rights for any sin were replaced with a “temporary house”, they won’t give you a car there.
Credit Card Required. Better two from two different banks. We have one of the cards "not authorized" at the europcar counter. After it worked as it should, but there was a glitch. Fortunately, our guys had a card and funds on it, which allowed us to take two cars on one card.
Balance on the card - the amount of the lease plus a deductible of 100 ... 200 euros.
The first and last nights - in a reasonable proximity to Barcelona. We chose the first Tarragona 90 km and the last Lleida 86 km. Distances between nights from 80 to 790 km.
On the way back, we followed the signs for Aeroporto, and closer, following the signs for Rent-a-Car parking. It is impossible to get lost.
The car was parked, unloaded and handed over to a specially trained person with a badge. He examined, checked a full tank, glove compartment, trunk, signed in on paper and gave one sheet to us.
Our guys, who were traveling with us on Opel, slightly dented and scratched both right doors in a terribly cramped underground parking lot - it cost them 39 euros. The boy brought a cash register to them at the reception - they signed a check and a “buy”. The registration procedures, both at the start and at the finish, took no more than half an hour with the search for the rack and the search for the car in the parking lot.
Car class.
There were five of us. Three drove in one car, and two in the other.
Therefore, we ordered for three "AlfaRomeo 159 1.9 TDI or similar." In fact, they gave us “or similar” diesel Peugeot 407 2.0 НDI / 132 hp. Our comment that this doesn’t roll on “or similar” was not accepted. For three, however, the car is wonderful and left only positive emotions.
For two - Opel Corsa / Renault Clio. Dali Opel Corso 1.3 CDTI / 75 hp .. Nimble, comfortable. But, in comparison with the Peugeot 407, a little more noisy and stiff. When driving along highways, Peugeot was in no way inferior in speed (inferior in dynamics) and the guys never lagged behind us.
Driving on the roads of Spain and Portugal
Last year we traveled exclusively on maps / signs, and this year we decided to experience the wonders of progress. We used the Golgfish E-Ten 500 communicator, it has a GPS receiver, with Tot-Tom installed (router program) and a Spain-Portugal map. Tom-tom with cards bought for 150 rubles. in the cd store.
The thing is extremely nice. Allows you to get directions from your current location to the desired location both on your own map and on homework addresses. Both automobile and pedestrian. Searches for addresses. Shows parking, gas stations and other amenities. If you have passed the desired turn, he will reroute the route itself. Although more than once came across new roads, about which Tom-Tom did not know - apparently, we had old maps. There were also addresses of hotels that Tom-Tom did not know or they were written a little bit different in Tom-Tom. The Internet has helped. Before the trip, we visited the router sites and, according to the list of hotel addresses where we booked the lodging for the night, decided on their location and put them on the Tom-Tom list at home (they used http://www.guiacampsa.com, http: //www.viamichelin. com /, www.map24.com).
I’ll note that it’s more interesting to go in the old proven way — like we drove last year — using a map purchased at a gas station and printouts of hotel locations from routers. With Tom-Tom it’s boring - you immediately confidently get into place.
On the way, one of us was a navigator (in turn), who follows Tom-Tom and signs. At long high-speed junctions, they fell several times so that they turned right onto the ramp, ascended the road over the overpass and left to the left ...
The condition of the roads allows you to overcome up to 800 km “with an inspection of the beauties” without much stress.
Parking for the night at the hotels. Hotel parking except Granada, Cordoba and Porto is free and affordable. And in cities in most cases, which is simpler and cheaper - in underground parking lots. They are abundant in all historical places and old quarters.
The police were seen in Spain twice on the roads and at the entrance from Andorra (... how much alcohol are you taking? Is that all? Just for yourself! Adjes!), And in Portugal once at the exit from the city and upon leaving the country. We did not see a single stationary post, like last year, for 5500 km.
Gas stations, they are minimarkets with juices-cola-chips-road cards with normal prices. In all of Spain and Portugal, first refueling, then payment. Moreover, before paying, you can slowly comb through a minimarket - no one is in a hurry.
Often at the gas station - a restaurant with trays / handouts or with waiters and the menu of the day “menu del dia” with prices of 8-14 euros for a good lunch. In addition, sometimes the restaurant at the gas station is the only place where you can have a meal after school hours. And at such a time, we just wanted to have breakfast / lunch / dinner.
At gas stations there is also a self-service car wash, one euro is enough for the eyes to bring down dust and bird traces, as well as a free wheel-booster / topping station.
The roads.
I already wrote about roads last year. In the South and in Portugal everything is the same as in the North. Highways with a restriction of 120 permeate the country without race to the cities. Those. on highways you can move at a speed of 130-140 (the average goes 105 ... 115) without problems. And, based on this, calculate the route and time. Toll roads interspersed with toll free. I did not notice a particular pattern.
Sights.
As soon as we determined the places for spending the night, they took up the guides and made up a maximum program for each day. On the spot, based on the mood, we corrected it in a smaller direction. A set of cards / brochures for Spain - Portugal, which we received along with tickets / visas / passports, helped a lot in orienting among the beauties. The descriptions in the brochures complemented the beauty with the text to the place.
On different days passed from 200 to 750 km. The guys who were traveling with us on Opel rested without a car for three days, their total mileage was a little less - 4.4 thousand km.
In Barcelona, \u200b\u200bLisbon and Porto, those who wish from our team used double backers for sightseeing tours. In Barcelona there is even a Russian-speaking one.
If there was no information, we went into tourist information offices. So, at the entrance to Portugal, they scored English-language info about the whole south and drove further on this info. Absolutely all information, including roadmaps, in these offices is free.
What interested us:
Like last year, the usual set of "beauty of nature - castles - fortresses" and a little diluted with beaches on the Mediterranean and the ocean.
The beauties of nature are abundant. Mountain landscapes, gorgeous sandy beaches with dunes, steep cliffs with surf, rocky desert scorched by the sun ...
There are many fortresses. Stuck in them to slight nausea. Every day we stopped at two or three.
In museums, if they were not in the fortresses, did not enter.
The language of communication.
Spain is only Spanish. In places trodden by ours - Granada, Cordoba, Seville, the vicinity of Barcelona and Malaga, you can find a menu in Russian. Drive a little deeper into the “solo spanish”. At the reception in hotels they understand English. The restaurant menu is very rarely have an English version. They made a dictionary card for the restaurant, where the plate will contain Russian and Spanish spelling of dishes / products. For example: grilled pork, fried potatoes, soup, fried fish, octopus, cake and more. It helped great.
Portugal - it seems that everyone knows English. Although the restaurant also made a dictionary. Helped. Once, in a Chinese restaurant in Vilamoura, we were presented with a Russian-language menu.
Food.
There were no problems with the catering. Only sometimes, when after a hearty breakfast they remembered lunch after 16-00, was it not easy to find a working restaurant. They have lunch until 16, then open at 19.
Four hotels were with breakfast included, which allowed us not to think about lunch. Others paid for breakfast and drank tea with a boiler a couple of times. We dined a couple of times at gas stations (quite decently and decently), several times in provincial restaurants off the beaten track - there really were portions and once had a gala dinner for the city fiesta in Lerma. The leg of a lamb under dry red in the place where this wine is made is simply delicious.
Portuguese hotels differ for the worse from Spanish, including the quality of breakfast.
Overnight stay.
This time they didn’t get to the action with discounts on parades and booked ordinary hotels and apartments. Perhaps in vain. Last year’s impressions of the parades are very wonderful.
We spent the night (in order):
One night in Express Tarragona 3 * (DE LES CORTS CATALANES, 4
43005, Tarragona Capital, TARRAGONA, ES) - a clean, pleasant hotel with a good breakfast at the western end of the main street of the city. Parked for free on the street.
One night in Juan Miguel 3 * (ACERA DEL DARO 24 18005, Granada GRANADA, ES) - a good hotel in the center of Granada. Parking in the underground parking 11 euros.
One night in Alfaros 4 * (CALLE ALFAROS 18, 14001, Cordoba, CORDOBA, ES)
- a good hotel in the center, close to local beauties, with underground parking for 11 euros.
Two nights at Marismas Club Resort 4 * (CARTAYA - EL ROMPIDO, KM.7
21459, EL Rompido - Cartaya, CARTAYA, ES) - a golf complex from the hotel and the apartment building (room + bedroom + kitchen + bathroom), surrounded by green lawns of golf courses and ponds with herons. The complex has its own supermarket, free parking, a train on the ocean beach, several pools. A good buffet for breakfast (included in the price) and dinner - buffet for 15 euros per person. Left the most pleasant impressions on the route. It may be like a contrast after the ashes in Cordoba.
Two nights at Clube Hotel Apartamento do Algarve 3 *, (QUINTA DO ROMAO, 8125-301, Vilamoura, VILAMOURA, PT) - a three-story square-quarter, inside which there is a public garden with a pool, a bar and a lawn, and outside, around the square there are places for free parking. Nearby, five minutes on foot, a large sandy ocean beach. Very nice place.
One night in Via Don`Ana 3 * (URB. TORRALTINHA, ED. VIA DON´ANA R / C LOJA 4 APART 76, 8600-621, Lagos, LAGOS, PT) - significantly worse than the previous one both in location and in decor . Just a candle with a pool in a new area. The room has a stove, refrigerator, microwave, balcony and ocean view, but very pathetic inside, and the ocean is not close. We never saw the beach there, although we didn’t really want to.
Two nights in Dos Anjos 3 * (ANDRADE 16-18, 1170-015, Lisbon, LISBOA, PT) - a modest hotel, with free underground parking, almost in the center and next to the metro. Nice staff. Allowed to get an impression of the capital of Portugal.
One night in Pensao Aviz 2 * (RODRIGUES DE FREITAS 451, 4000-434, Porto
OPORTO, PT) - very poor. No elevator. Some individuals walk on creaking floors in the corridor all night. English-style windows rattle all night, taps loudly drip. Breakfast with acorns and Zuko scruff instead of orange juice.
One night in Alisa 3 * (MADRID - IRUN KM.202, 09340, Lerma, LERMA, ES) - an excellent hotel with spacious free parking, ten minutes walk from the center. For some reason, it was marked on our map of Tom-Tom as a parador. And the situation in it is fabulous. Apparently, recently, he was bred from the number of parades.
One night at AS LLeida 3 * (AP2 KM 142 (AREA LLEIDA), 25080, Alfes
LLEIDA, ES) - a very decent hotel in the direct line of sight of Lleida, located in the service area on the toll road. Nearby is a restaurant with distribution / trays, where they dined for 10 euros. Very hearty and delicious breakfast.
Riding in two cars.
The option we used when the whole second car hangs on the tail of the first one is very bad. A lot of attention that could be given to the beauties was given to the control of fellow travelers. Those who were following us were afraid to lose our stern, but we did not take our eyes off the mirror — were they behind? They lagged behind ... And more than once. And those who were ahead, part of the attention was paid to the tail - whether in place and not come off ...
As a result, everyone had a strain of 4.4 thousand km.
If you go in two, then get to the next hotel is better on their own without binding cars to each other. In general, a team of five people is better to go either in the same car. Travel impressions are better frayed in a tight team.
Differences between Spain and Portugal.
1. If they are not mixed in one trip, the differences may not be noticed.
2. In Portugal, absolutely everything, as it seemed to us, they know English well or very well. In Spain, this is a very rare exception.
3. Portugal is dirtier. Not much, but noticeable. It seemed not because of poverty, but from lifestyle.
4. At the intersections of traffic lights, wretched and poor people beg for alms, in places where parking is difficult there are grayish-looking individuals who offer gestures to park.
5. The roads are the same as in Spain, with absolutely clear and understandable markings. But the traffic on them is tougher, the rules are violated more often. You can beep at the back when there is a delay at the traffic light, they can be clipped. We watched on TV how the police caught and not always successfully, cars that travel at a speed of 245-285 km / h over the Vasco de Gama bridge in Lisbon. At the bus stop you can leave the car and no one will do anything, unlike Spain.
6. Diesel in Portugal at 1.10 euros. Gasoline and diesel fuel are 8..11% more expensive than in Spain.
7. At the border, Portuguese policemen or border guards watch who will take them apart, but we have not seen the Spanish. Or just didn’t get caught.
8. Hotels are poorer. The similarly-rated hotel in O’Castro 2 * in the Spanish O’Grove and the Pensao Aviz 2 * hotel in Porto are simply not comparable. The Portuguese Pensao Aviz 2 * in Porto is even more miserable than the Pension Del Claudio 1 * in Bilbao.
9. At breakfasts in hotels in Portugal, they are obviously hungry.
10. In Porto, choosing a position for the photo, they almost stepped on a black man sleeping under a bush. There is already a lot of this good. From Porto there was a desire to quickly get out.
11. Everything, even the most remote villages in Spain, gives the impression of well-groomed and inhabited residents with a happy life. In Portugal this is not so.
The rest of Portugal, like Spain, leaves a very good impression.
What we wouldn’t do or would not do now:
- it is better to fly on regular flights - S7, Aeroflot, Transaero, or, for money, the Spanish Iberia to the place where you start the journey. In our case, the start is in Granada. And fly away from where the path ended - Burgas. We did not succeed in saving on charters.
- exclude crossings of more than 450 km. On vacation, after all, and not on a business trip. Although 700 km in Spain - in high.
- the contrast between the coast and the coast. Granada, Cordoba and Seville - hell in comparison with Malaga and Cartaya. As a result, they did not stop in Seville because of traffic jams, they left for later. It may even be better to watch the beauty in big cities as a group on a bus.
- take the car shorter. A long car (Peugeot 407) does not park well, the guys on Corsa had much less problems.
Total
The trip turned out to be wonderful and it was very difficult to return to home weekdays.