Finding family fun in Portugal
Sintra, Portugal.
Tuesday November 10 2009
Myself, my husband, our five teens and nine-year-old have a holiday home for two weeks next summer near Lisbon. I know nothing about Portugal -- what will be entailed in getting us there and around, and approximately how much will eating out cost? Many thanks, TC
Portugal is a great destination for families and you'll find plenty to keep you occupied in and around Lisbon, including the fairytale city of Sintra and miles of fantastic beaches, many of which are accessible by public transport. The capital itself has lots to offer, from the astonishing monastery at Belém to the Castelo de Sao Jorge and atmospheric Alfama District. Old-fashioned trams rattle around -- take one to the Bairrio Alto for a fun evening's stroll.
If you are planning on a few days of packing in the sights, you could consider a Lisboa Card to keep costs down. This gives you free travel in the city, free admission to museums and monuments and discounts on other sights. Prices start at €13 and the card can be picked up from tourist offices.
With accommodation sorted, the only other big expense is flights. You can get direct flights to Lisbon from Dublin or Cork (the latter in summer only), but book well ahead. Start with Aer Lingus' website (aerlingus.com).
Another expense will be transport. This depends on how much you will be getting out and about. If you intend to spend a large portion of your holiday relaxing on the beach, use public transport. However, if you want to take day trips, it will make life easier to hire a car. To get a vehicle which fits you all in won't be cheap. I spotted nine-seater vehicles on Holiday Autos (holidayautos.com) in the region of €500 for a week's hire.
Portugal is regarded as a good-value destination and it shouldn't be hard to find reasonably priced meals. Expect to pay in the region of €4-€12 per dish in a mid-range restaurant in Lisbon. It's always worth finding places off the beaten track for the cheapest prices and best food; Alfama and Graça in Lisbon have plenty of small, traditional, family-run restaurants. It is also worth doing some self-catering. Portugal has an abundance of patisseries where you can grab cheap, delicious snacks. Look out for markets where you can find fresh local produce too.
- Tom Hall
Irish Independent
