Portugal

Coastal hotels, especially those in the
Algarve, are required to grant off-season
(Nov–Feb) visitors a 15% discount. To
attract more off-season business, a number
of establishments offer this discount from
mid-October through March.
PRICES & RATINGS IN
THIS GUIDE
Unless otherwise indicated, prices in this
guide include service and taxes. Breakfast
might or might not be included; individual
write-ups reflect various hotel policies
about breakfast. All references in Portugal
to “including breakfast” refer to continental
breakfast of juice, coffee or tea, croissants,
butter, and jam. If you stay at a hotel
and order bacon and eggs or other extras,
you’ll likely be billed for them as a la carte
items. Parking rates are per day.
POUSADAS
When traveling through the countryside,
plot your trips so you’ll stop over at the
government-owned pousadas (tourist
inns). The Portuguese government has
established these inns in historic buildings,
such as convents, palaces, and castles.
Often they occupy beautiful physical settings.
Generally (but not always), the
pousadas are in regions that don’t have
many suitable hotels—everywhere from
Henry the Navigator’s Sagres to a feudal
castle in the walled city of Óbidos. The
rates are not low but, for the quality and
services offered, are moderate. A guest
can’t stay more than 5 days because there’s
usually a waiting list. Special terms are
granted to honeymoon couples. For our
recommendations, see “The Best Pousadas,”
in chapter 1.
Travel agents can make reservations at
pousadas, or you can contact Pousadas de
Portugal, Av. Sta. Joana Princesa 10, 1749
Lisboa (& 21/844-20-01; www.pousadas.
pt).
COUNTRY HOMES
Far more exciting—at least to us—than
the pousadas is the chain of farm estates,
country homes, and restored manor
houses that have opened to the public
here. These properties are the most highly
recommended in this guide, and they offer
grand comfort and lots of charm, often in
a historic setting.
The best and most extensive network is
in the region of Viana do Castelo, where
you can sometimes board with the poor
but proud Portuguese aristocracy. Many of
these manors and farms are called quintas.
The association Turismo de Habitação
(Country House Tourism), which mostly
operates in the north, has been formed to
publicize and link these unique accommodations.
In recent years, areas such as
the Beiras and Alentejo have been
included. Local tourist offices provide
directories that include color photographs
and maps with directions. All of these
properties are privately run, and breakfast
is always included. Praça da República,
4990 Ponte de Lima (& 25/874-28-27;
www.solaresdeportugal.pt).
OTHER SPECIAL
ACCOMMODATIONS
Tourist inns not run by the government
are known as estalagens. Often these offer
some of the finest accommodations in
Portugal; many are decorated in the traditional
Portuguese, or típico, style and represent
top-notch bargains.
The residência is a form of boardinghouse,
without board. These establishments
offer a room and breakfast only.
The pensão is a boardinghouse that charges
the lowest rates in the country. The
“deluxe” pensão is a misnomer; the term
simply means that the pensão enjoys the
highest rating in its category. The accommodations
are decidedly not luxurious. A
“luxury” pensão is generally the equivalent
63
PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO PORTUGAL 3
TIPS ON ACCOMMODATIONS