Priceless experience

Olivia Miwil may be fascinated by Portugal’s rich history and culture but it’s the beautiful hotels at Lisbon, Fatima, Oporto and Evora that make her trip so memorable.

KEY considerations that a traveller has to take into account when planning a holiday include the budget, facilities and location.

These are also the main criteria for Trafalgar Tour, which has been providing guided holidays to over 200 destinations worldwide since 1947, when designing its tour packages.

Its hand-picked hotels are centrally located with easy access for travellers to roam the destinations on their own and a comfortable place to go home to after a day of sightseeing.

On a eight-day Best of Portugal tour, I have the opportunity to check into stunning hotels at four beautiful cities — Lisbon, Fatima, Oporto and Evora.

LISBON

In Lisbon, we stay at the four-star Turim Avenida Hotel and the five-star Dom Pedro Palace Hotel. Both have their own characters and advantages.

Turim Avenida Hotel

Located within Avenida Liberdade, a designer shopping site in the city, the four-star hotel offers free WiFi and minibar. Its contemporary furnished rooms come with internet connection, TV and an adjoining bathroom with over-sized mirror.

Taking advantage of the strategic location, we spend time exploring the boulevard. Others opt for some sightseeing at the Eduardo VII park, north of Avenida da Liberdade or to check out the Marques De Pombal Metro station, two minutes’ walk from the hotel.

Turim Avenida Hotel
Avenue da Liberdade 247, 1250-143 Lisboa, Portugal. 
Tel: +351211589270
Website: www.turimavliberdade.com/en

Dom Pedro Palace Hotel

This skyscraper hotel offers a stunning view of Lisbon city including the Tagus river, some famous bridges and the castle of Sao Jorge. Being centrally-located means easy access to the city’s public transportation — buses, tram or underground. But what wins my heart is its sumptuous buffet breakfast.

Turim Avenida Hotel
Avenue da Liberdade 247, 1250-143 Lisboa, Portugal. 
Tel: +351211589270
Website: www.turimavliberdade.com/en

OPORTO

Oporto, also known as Porto, is Portugal’s second largest city. But as the oldest European centre, it is a historical site with Unesco World Heritage status.

Located along the Douro river estuary in northern Portugal, the city is famous for its naturally sweet, rich and fortified port wines.We have a crash course on the secrets and flavours of port and other types of wines at House of Sandeman at the waterfront of Vila Nova de Gaia which houses the cellars and its museum.

For the night, we stay at the four-star Vila Gale Porto hotel. It is hard to miss the hotel as it is the tallest building in Porto. We stayed two nights in this 20-storey building and enjoyed its gym facilities and indoor swimming pool. Its surrounding is also perfect and a safe place to jog.

Vila Gale Porto Hotel
Av. de Fernao de Magalhaes 7, 4300-190 Porto, Portugal
Tel: +351 225 191 800
Website: www.vilagale.com/pt

FATIMA

This year, the small town of Fatima, located 142km north of Lisbon, will play host to 1.2 million Catholic pilgrims, including Pope Francis, as they celebrate the centenary apparitions of Our Lady of Rosary.

This will be the fourth papal visit to Fatima after Paul VI in 1967, John Paul II (1982, 1991 and 2000) and Benedict XVI (2010).

The best place to stay is Fatima Hotel. It is usually fully booked throughout the year as it overlooks Our Lady of Fatima shrine.

Walk across the street to visit the Lady of Fatima shrine, the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity and the Chapel of Apparitions. The candlelight vigil procession is a breathtaking experience.

Fatima Hotel
R. Joao Paulo II, 2495-451 Fatima, Portugal
Tel: +351 249 530 760 / +351 932 533300
Website: www.hotelfatima.pt

Fatima hotel

Fatima Shrine

EVORA

Located in the southern region of Portugal, Evora is a World Heritage site. With two millennial of history, the well-preserved old town centre is still enclosed by medieval walls with a large number of monuments dating from the Romans and Moors before it was reconquered in September 1165.

The Romanesque-Gothic style Cathedral of Evora, at the highest spot in the city, resembles the Notre Dame de in Paris with its 12-apostles in the main portal.

I stay a little longer appreciating the details of the Lady of O statue at the central nave of the church as it is uncommon to see Our Lady with a bulging tummy, depicting her pregnancy with Jesus Christ.

Not far from the church is the Diana Roman Temple.

What makes it even more charming is our hotel for the night — the M’Ar De Ar Muralhas Hotel. This four-star hotel is located inside the walls of a Unesco world heritage site. Its large garden area framed by historic wall is stunning especially when it is all lit up at night. Meanwhile, the interior design gives a homely feel.

Roman Temple

M’Ar De Ar Muralhas Hotel
Travessa da Palmeira, 4/6, 7000-546 …vora, Portugal
Tel: +351 225 191 800
Website: www.mardearhotels.com

For details on the #bestofportugal trip, visit www.trafalgar.com/can/tours/best-of-portugal or contact Holiday Tours at 03-6286 6220.