The next trip your made to Portugal is this Golf Holiday Algarve

Lately, I researched and got interested into getting a golf holiday Portugal and Algarve golf in particular. I never expect doing research into Portugal and surround European countries such as Great Britain, Italy and their beautiful cities like London, Paris etc, can actually arose my interest in visiting these European cities for my holiday.

I was almost (literally) book a ticket to Algarve Portugal when I wrote my blog on golf holiday Algarve and did several researches in Algarve and cities around Portugal like Lisbon, Madrid, Oporto and Vigo these major cities where the International trains ply along.

One of the major concern when I travel abroad like European countries like Portugal for the first time on my own is getting around Portugal. Yes, I am not new to travelling but I never been to European countries. This research unveil some important information for sharing.

By Bus / trams

Once in in Portugal cities, can have a choice to take a bus or a tram. By using a bus or a tram, you get to be with the locals and perhaps tourist from other countries too. If you are people oriented, start to communicate with the local and get information about the cities you are visiting . As for the bus fare, you pay the driver a flat fare in most case. Whereas, in Lisbon and Oporto, special tourist tickets are available for sale at Carris (Lisbon) and the Lisbon Underground or STCP (Oporto) information kiosks. These kiosks operating hours open form 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Taxi

If you prefer some privacy, then taking a cap or a taxi is the most convenient transportation to take you around. There are plentiful of taxi around and and cheap. To identify the taxi from other private vehicle, they are usually painted in green and black vehicle body but some of these these taxi colors are gradually changed to beige. Look out the roof of such color vehicle to confirm them with an illuminated taxi sign at the rooftop.

For taxi fare, they charge a standard meter fare in the cities; and for outside the city’s limits, the taxi fare is charge at rate per kilometre and they are entitled to charge for the return fare. You better confirm with the driver whether  he want to charge a return fare and the amount. In cities, if you travel with luggage and to use the taxi booth, there is additional surcharge. Again, check the surcharge rate. Further additional surcharge for travel time from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. is about 20%. And for these cities, you ought to tip 10% of the fare to the taxi driver.

Train

Fro long distance travel between portugal cities, there are Express trains travel from Lisbon through Coimbra to Oporto (Alfa trains) and there are also regional trains (Inter-cidades and Inter-regionais) connecting the different areas of Portugal. If you are more adventurous, try the regional trains, you ought to have plenty of chances to meet with the locals.

Here are some useful information about the train fares. There are first and second class fare are available except for local and suburban trains. If you are a tourist, special tickets include tourist tickets (valid for 7, 14 or 21 days) are available.

Look at this, there are even special rates on “Blue Days” offering return tickets with discount for trips over 100 km. For people over 65 are entitled to have special discounts.

To ensure a seat for international, long and medium distance travel, it’s advisable to make reservations ahead of time. Train timetables are available from information desks at stations and tourism offices.  Portuguese Railroads

Travel information above are interpreted from the Portugal Tourism website. Please do your confirmation with the authority to avoid surprises.