Eddie enjoying the Southwestern coastal region of Portugal.
1). Where did you go and what made you decide?
Southwestern coastal region of Portugal. We went on a self-guided hiking tour for 8 days in mid-May.
2). Was there anything that didn’t meet your expectations and why?
This was a tour that made all of your accommodations, and unfortunately, one hotel was not up to standards.
3). What was your favorite experience and what would you recommend?
On the other hand, we stayed at a place called Hotel Convento Sao Saturnino, and it was amazing. A French family bought the property, renovated it, filled it with antiques, and it was such a beautiful place to stay for two nights. Also staying there was a Swedish couple, a German couple, and a British couple, who we would all sit at the hotel dining room table together and have dinner. This was in a small town – and it would be worth going back just to stay at the hotel again.
4). Is there anything you’d wish you’d known prior to going?
I only wish there had been more hiking along the coast, and less in the forests. Though beautiful, after you’ve seen one Portuguese cork forest you’ve seen them all.
5). Would you go again and what is the one thing you’d do differently?
Because we were on a hiking schedule there wasn’t much time to absorb the next day’s destination. You arrived each day at your destination at around 3:00, took a power nap, got cleaned up and went to dinner, then to bed. The next morning you were back up and on the road by 9:00. So I would have preferred to lengthen the trip, and linger for a day in some of our destinations.
