Summary of Rick Steves's Rick Steves Portugal

Everest Media

Description

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.
Sample Book Insights:
#1 Portugal is a hidden gem in Western Europe that is less touristed than other countries. Its traditional culture is preserved in the fishing town of Porto and the culturally rich capital of Lisbon. While it has experienced some economic success due to its membership in the European Union, it is still a good budget option compared to the tourist-mobbed destinations of Northern Europe.
#2 Portugal and Spain use the 24-hour clock for schedules. For anything over 12, subtract 12 and add p. m. (14:00 is 2:00 p. ). When giving opening times, include both peak season and off-season hours.
#3 Portugal: Past and Present gives you a quick overview of Portugal, from its prehistoric beginnings to the issues it faces today. The appendix is a traveler’s tool kit, with telephone tips, useful phone numbers, transportation basics, recommended books and films, a festival list, a climate chart, and Portuguese survival phrases.
#4 A smart trip is a puzzle that is doable and worthwhile. It is a fun and worthwhile challenge. It is worth mixing intense and relaxed periods in your itinerary. Assume you will return.

Sujets

• Europe

Informations

• Publié par: Everest Media LLC
• Date de parution: 10 avril 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781669383888
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Insights on Rick Steves's Rick Steves Portugal
Contents Insights from Chapter 1
Insights from Chapter 1

#1

Portugal is a hidden gem in Western Europe that is less touristed than other countries. Its traditional culture is preserved in the fishing town of Porto and the culturally rich capital of Lisbon. While it has experienced some economic success due to its membership in the European Union, it is still a good budget option compared to the tourist-mobbed destinations of Northern Europe.

#2

Portugal and Spain use the 24-hour clock for schedules. For anything over 12, subtract 12 and add p. m. (14:00 is 2:00 p. ). When giving opening times, include both peak season and off-season hours.

#3

Portugal: Past and Present gives you a quick overview of Portugal, from its prehistoric beginnings to the issues it faces today. The appendix is a traveler’s tool kit, with telephone tips, useful phone numbers, transportation basics, recommended books and films, a festival list, a climate chart, and Portuguese survival phrases.

#4

A smart trip is a puzzle that is doable and worthwhile. It is a fun and worthwhile challenge. It is worth mixing intense and relaxed periods in your itinerary. Assume you will return.

#5

Try to avoid being in Lisbon on a Monday, when many major sights are closed. If you end up in Lisbon on a Monday, take a walking tour, a trolley ride, or any of my self-guided neighborhood walks.

#6

The five components of your trip costs are airfare, surface transportation, room and board, sightseeing and entertainment, and shopping and miscellany. You can thrive in Portugal on $100 a day per person for room and board.

#7

Sightseeing and entertainment is about $6-8 per major sight, $4-5 for minor ones, and $30 for splurge experiences. Don't skimp here. After all, this is the driving force behind your trip.

#8

In peak season, May through September, sightseeing attractions are open. In the off-season, October through April, expect shorter hours, more lunchtime breaks at sights, and fewer activities.

#9

You should plan your trip well in advance. Check the list of things to arrange while you're still at home. You need a passport, but no visa or shots, to travel in Portugal.

#10

In Portugal, dial 112 for police or medical emergencies. If you get sick, do as the Portuguese do and go to a pharmacist for advice. Or ask at your hotel for help.

#11

Bring a credit card and a debit card. You'll use the debit card to withdraw local cash for most purchases, and the credit card to pay for larger items. As an emergency reserve, bring several hundred dollars in hard cash in easy-to-exchange $20 bills.

#12

Cash is just as desirable in Europe as it is at home. Small businesses (hotels, restaurants, shops, and so on) prefer that you pay your bills in cash. Some vendors will charge you extra for using a credit card, and some won’t take credit cards at all.

#13

Before your trip, contact the company that issued your debit or credit cards and confirm that your card will work overseas. Ask about transaction fees. If your card’s fees seem high, consider getting a different card just for your trip.

#14

If a merchant offers to convert your purchase price into dollars, refuse this service. You'll pay even more in fees for the expensive convenience of seeing your charge in dollars.

#15

If you lose your credit, debit, or ATM card, you can stop people from using it by reporting the loss immediately to the respective global customer-assistance centers. You can receive a temporary card within two or three business days in Europe.

#16

Tipping in Portugal is not as automatic and generous as it is in the US, but it is still appreciated if not expected. For special service, tips are appreciated, but not required.

#17

The Value-Added Tax, or IVA, is a tax on the added value in your purchased souvenirs. You can get most of that tax back if you purchase more than €60 worth of goods at a store that participates in the VAT-refund scheme.

#18

When planning your trip, make sure to include a visit to a must-see sight. You never know when a place will close unexpectedly for a holiday, strike, or restoration.

#19

Museums and churches are usually the most interesting sights to visit. They may have special exhibits that are included in the entry price, or they may charge an extra fee.

#20

Portugal offers some of the best accommodations values in Western Europe. I prefer accommodations and restaurants that are close to my sightseeing activities. I do not list lodgings scattered throughout a city, but rather recommend two or three favorite neighborhoods and the best accommodations there.

#21

The Sleep Code is a set of guidelines that will help you determine which type of accommodation you should get. The accommodations in this book follow the Sleep Code.

#22

Hotel rooms are generally pleasant by American standards. Don’t judge hotels by their bleak and dirty entranceways. Landlords are usually stuck with rent control, which means they cannot easily change the appearance of their buildings.

#23

To reserve a room, simply type in your preferred dates and the website will automatically display a list of available rooms and prices. It’s best to make reservations several weeks in advance, or as soon as you’ve pinned down your travel dates, particularly for Lisbon.

#24

To call Portugal from the US or Canada, dial 011-351-local number. The 011 is Portugal’s international access code, and 351 is its country code. To call Portugal from another European country, dial 00-351-local number.

#25

You'll find locals who've opened up a spare room to make a little money on the side in touristy areas. These rooms are usually as private as hotel rooms, and they may be in small, apartment-type buildings.

#26

Portugal has plenty of youth hostels and campgrounds, but considering the great bargains on other accommodations, I don't think they're worth the trouble and barely cover them in this book. Instead, I prefer simple, family-run hotels.

#27

The Portuguese meal schedule is slightly later than in the US. Lunch is the big meal, served between 12:30 and 14:00, while supper is from about 19:30 to 21:30. You will eat well in mom-and-pop restaurants for €10.

#28

Portugal is the world’s seventh-largest wine producer, and its wines are cheap, decent, and distinctively fruity. Vinho verde is light, refreshing, and white. It is usually slightly fizzy and slightly bitter, but great with meals.

#29

The Dão region also produces fine red wines, mostly from the Mondego Valley between Coimbra, Guarda, and Viseu. The Alentejo region is known for its high-quality red.

#30

Traveling to Europe will reveal to you the differences between the European and American cultures. While the Portuguese may look bemused at some of your American excesses, they will always treat you with warmth.

#31

Travel is intensified living – maximum thrills per minute. It’s freedom. It’s recess, and we need it. Traveling helps us understand and appreciate other cultures.

#32

Portugal is a great country to visit if you want to experience European culture without the crowds. The country has a long history of being separate from Spain, and the people are friendly and welcoming.

#33

Portugal is a country in Europe. The Portuguese are a mix of Mediterranean and African roots, with a few Eastern Europeans. The country has 350 miles of coastline, and it’s rectangular, with a 325-mile long north and a 125-mile wide south.

#34

Portugal was a naval superpower for a century, but the wealth that flowed into the country led to an explosion of the arts back home. The country endured the repressive regime of António de Oliveira Salazar and his successor Marcello Caetano, from 1932-1974.

#35

Lisbon is a charming mix of now and then. It is the capital of Portugal, and it was once a rich city due to its connections with Africa and India. But the earthquake in 1755 devastated the city, and it was rebuilt on a progressive grid plan.

#36

Lisbon has plenty to offer for a two-week tour. If you have an extra day, consider visiting Sintra to tour the Pena Palace and explore the ruined Moorish castle.

#37

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, and it is a beautiful city that has been preserved well from the Age of Discovery. The three main neighborhoods that line the downtown harborfront are the Bairro Alto, the Alfama, and the Baixa.

#38

Lisbon has several tourist offices, and additional information kiosks sprout up around town late each spring. The main TIs are: on Praça dos Restauradores at Palacio Foz; on Praça do Comércio at the Ask Me Lisbon center; and at the airport.

#39

Lisbon’s Portela Airport is easy to access, and there are three options for getting downtown: taxis, shuttle buses, or the Metro. The AeroBus is the cheapest option, costing just €3. 50. Buy a reloadable Viva Viagem card at the ticket machine; you can get a 24-hour pass and have Lisbon by the tail for just €5.

#40

Lisbon has four primary train stations: Santa Apolónia, Oriente, Rossio, and Cais do Sodré. All cover international trains and nearly all of Portugal.

#41

Lisbon's efficient Sete Rios bus station is in the modern part of the city, several miles inland from the harbor. It has ATMs, a rack of schedules, and two information offices: one for buses within Portugal, the other for international routes.

#42

Lisbon's port is the busiest in Europe, and most cruise ships dock at either Alcântara or Santa Apolónia terminals. The taxis that wait at either terminal are notorious for being dishonest. For a fair metered rate, you might have better luck walking across the big street and hailing one as it drives by.

#43

It makes no sense to drive in Lisbon. If you're starting your trip in Lisbon, don't rent a car until you're on your way