Portugal (9 Days)

The group leader on this Portugal group trip will be one of our U.S. or European based group leaders. His/her job is to ensure the safety and well being of everyone on the trip and, of course, to show everyone the most amazing time ever! While he/she will have a basic knowledge of the history, culture and customs of Portugal he/she may not be an expert in the matter.

A passport is required for this Portugal group travel trip. Your passport must have at least 6 months validity (from the time you leave Portugal) for entry. If you hold a U.S. passport you will not need a visa for entry to Portugal as long as you are not staying more than 90 days (during a 180 day period starting from the day of first entry). Please note that Portugal is a member of the Schengen area and, therefore, the 90/180 rule applies if you’ve visited other Schengen countries, too.

You will be staying in boutique, independently owned 3 star hotels for the duration of this Portugal group trip. The hotels are all clean, safe, and in central locations. In Porto you will stay in/next to the Baixa neighborhood, in Lisbon you still stay in the Baixa neighborhood, in Lagos you will stay right by the Marina and in Faro you will stay in the center of town.

Please note that European hotel rooms are often smaller than ones in the U.S. (with equivalent star ratings).

In order to budget properly please consider the following items which are not included in this Portugal group travel trip:

• Meals: You are responsible for 4 lunches and 5 dinners. Budget around 175€ for meals not included.
• Tipping
  • Local drivers, guides and restaurant staff: Tipping is not compulsory but can make a big difference to individuals in the local hospitality industry in Portugal. Therefore, we recommend budgeting around 75€ for these services.
  • Group leader: Tipping your group leader is completely discretionary. For outstanding service you may consider tipping your group leader ~$10/day.
• Transportation: Airport transfers are not included. If you plan on taking the metro please budget 3€ each way. If you plan on taking a taxi please budget about 25€ each way.
• Travel insurance: Travel insurance covering our minimum requirements ($100k+ in medical coverage including emergency evacuation) is compulsory for all participants. Budget anywhere from $50 to $130 for travel insurance (from a 3rd party) depending on your specific coverage inclusions.

The single room supplement on this Portugal group trip is $599. You will be able to select your preference for a single room supplement when filling out the application. If you are applying for this trip within 3 months of the departure please contact us for single room availability before applying.

Upon arrival in Porto you will take a taxi/metro directly to the hotel where your group leader will be waiting for you! After getting checked-in you will have free time until around 6pm upon which you will meet the group in the hotel lobby. Then you will walk to a nearby spot for drinks/dinner as you begin to get to know one another.

While you will not physically meet your group mates until the evening of the first day you will be in contact with everyone well ahead of time in the group WhatsApp chat and, in addition, we will provide you with everyone’s traveler bios so you’ll already know each other a little before physically meeting!

On day 7 (in Lagos) you will have the opportunity to tailor the trip to your style by selecting an optional excursion. You will be able to select the optional excursion during the application process and, after, you’ll be sent an invoice to pay.

Day 7 (Lagos):

• Benagil Caves Boat Tour: 45€
• Kayaking: 40€
• Surf Lesson: 80€

You can read more about the optional excursions here.

We recommend bringing a combination of cash and credit/ATM card (assuming your credit card does not have foreign transaction fees) for this Portugal group travel tour. You will be able to use a credit card (Visa or Mastercard) at many shops and restaurants in Portugal but it’s good to have a cash reserve as a backup in case the card machine is not working or if a restaurant is cash only. ATMs are readily available but withdrawal limits and transaction fees could occur.

You may bring any size luggage that you wish. Please note that you will need to carry your bag onto and off of the train.

Yes, you will have WiFi access at all the hotels and most restaurants.

In Lisbon and Porto you will have plenty of nightlife options: wine and cocktail bars, lounges, dives, and clubs. Lagos and Faro (in the Algarve) are smaller beach oriented towns and, as such, the vibe there is more laid back with the majority of the nightlife being bars. The decision to go out at night or not is completely up to you!

Upon arrival in Porto you will either take the metro or a taxi to the hotel. The metro is most cost effective as it’s only 2.45€; we will provide you with detailed instructions (via your trip documents) on how to take the metro. Alternatively, you can easily take a taxi as there are always taxis queued at the airport. Further, you could also share a taxi with other participants on your trip by coordinating through the group WhatsApp chat.