Lisbon in general > Reviews

Advantages: Nowhere better in Europe for a city break
Disadvantages: Hides its problems almost too well

Lisbon is a city of contradictions. It is both modern and rustic, welcoming yet impenetrable, but quintessentialy Iberian. With the advent of budget flights (I recommend Go! from Stansted), Portugal's capital is a mere hop away, and an affordable one at that. The city centre is typical of Lisbon, or Lisboa as it known by the locals. Shunning western boutiques to a large degree, it is a mish-mash of pavement cafes, street artists and over-priced ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent way of examinig Portugese way of Life
Disadvantages: Some may be Tourist traps

Portugal and Lisbon and it's surrounding towns has one of the original cafe cultures. At any given time during the day you will find Lisbon cafes full of office workers on extended ciggerete breaks or just simply full of those watching the world and life go by. The cafes serve a wide variety of drinks the normal cokes and pepsis can always be bought however there are also other drinks such as the Portugese fruit drink Sumol (actuallly the Portugese ... Read review

Advantages: Massive range of bars, wide choice and cheap choice of drinks,good atmosphere
Disadvantages: some of the darker streets and smaller bars are at times quite dodgy

...as unique especially some in Lisbon have to be some of the best in Europe. The growth in a more independent youth in Portugal and mainly Lisbon over the last 10 years has meant that the youth have been catching up very quickly with their contempories in London and New York. Many bars in Portugal will now have top resident DJ and the dress code will normally be cool or trendy rather than formal, unlike the bars in London and New York whatever they ... Read review

Advantages: Getting better, relativel cheap
Disadvantages: Not big enough to fit the infrastrucure

...tardy at best. However since Lisbon hosted expo 99 there can be noo doubt that there has been a drastic improvement in the public transport system in the city. Lisbon has four modes of transport these are taxis, buses, trams and an underground train system. The taxis in the city are plentiful, and relatively inexpensive in comparison to those in other major cities in Europe. As Lisbon is not the biggest of cities there will be no problems for the ... Read review

Advantages: Still Innocent - hardly any english
Disadvantages: The portuguese are not very friendly

Monte Gordo - The Algarve. Ten years ago I chose the hotel Eurotel Altura in Altura/Tavira with the family. This year I took my one remaining teenager and husband back to the Eurotel, which had grown but hardly changed. From Monte Gorda it's a short bus ride or 'road train' to Villa Real de Santo Antonio, where you can hop on the ferry across to Spain. No problem with currency - they willingly take Escudos in Ayamante. This is a lovely border town ... Read review