Wednesday 29 May 2013

Portugal - Sintra to Fatima


Sintra to Fatima is about 160km as indicated above.
For full info on public transport links between Lisbon and Fatima, see:http://bit.ly/VrhsON
The best option would probably be to get a train from Sintra to Lisbon Sete Rios train station. There are four to five an hour, See ww.cp.pt.
At Sete Rios, wander over to the Lisbon Sete Rios bus station next door and get a bus for Fatima.
For example, there is a 7h55 train from Sintra arriving at Lisbon Sete Rios at 8h33.
There is a 09:15 Rede Expressos bus from Sete Rios Bus Station, arriving Fatima Bus Station at 10:45.
The return trip is as easy with frequent services throughout the day..

Monday 27 May 2013

Pestana Group assumes management of Hotel in Cuba

It is reported today that the Portuguese Pestana Group has assumed management responsibility for the Cayo Coco Beach Resort in Cuba.

See: (in Portuguese) http://bit.ly/Zoh2L3

Pestana operates hotels in 14 countries

Wednesday 22 May 2013

Norwegian _ Opening base at Tenerife Sul (Canárias) Airport October 2013

Norwegian Airlines have announced that they are to open a base at Tenerife Sul Airport as from October 2013. Flights will service the UK, Scandanavia and German destinations.

More here (in Portruguese)

Norwegian abre base no aeroporto Tenerife Sul (Canárias) em outubro 2013

Monday 20 May 2013

Sunday 19 May 2013

A very humorous and worrying view of facebook!!!

Toilet in EVA bus from Lagos to Seville?


I have used EVA/DAMAS from Lagos to Seville many times!
There are NO onboard toilets!!!!
As regards drivers, on the EVA buses from Lagos to Seville to Lagos, there is usually a driver change at Albufeira or Faro Bus Station. One can usually request the driver to let one have a brief toilet stop at Faro or Tavira. The EVA buses also stop for up to 20 minutes at the Cartaya Service Area about 20 kms before Huelva.
On the DAMAS buses, one driver usually takes the bus from Estacion Autobus Plaza das Armas in Seville to the Bus station in Huelva and from Lagos to Huelva on the return where there is a driver change-over. There is usually a 20 minute layover in Huelva. Again one can usually ask the driver to wait for a quick toilet stop at Tavira, Faro and Albufeira Bus Stations..

Bus from Lisbon to Madrid


Long distance bus travel on the Iberian Peninsula is very reasonably priced, comfortable and safe.
avanzabus.com operate three daily services between Lisbon Airport, Lisbon Gare Oriente bus station and Madrid Estacion Sur bus station. Transit time is just over 8 hours allowing for the one hour change to Spanish (CET) time.
alsa.es also operate between Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station and Madrid but it is an overnight service,
anibal.es also operate from Lisbon Gare Oriente to Madrid but their website does not currently provide clear details of frequencies.

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Porto, Portugal to Cascais, Portugal by Public Transport


To travel from Porto to Cascais by public transport one needs to route via Lisbon.

Between Lisbon and Cascais, the main (and practically only) means of public transport is the suburban train line "Linha da Cascais" which operates every 15 minutes or so between Lisbon Cais de Sodre Station and Cascais.

There are two main means of land-based public transport between Porto and Lisbon - Train and Long-distance coach.

Train: http://www.cp.pt

There are +- 19 trains per day between Porto Campanha Station and Lisbon Oriente Station. Most of these continue on to the terminus at Lisbon Stª. Apolonia , although there are two trains daily where one has to change to a local train at Lisbon Oriente to connect to  Lisbon Stª. Apolonia.

To travel to Cascais, one has two options:

1) Disembark from the Porto to Lisbon train at Lisbon Gare Oriente Station:

Go down one level and find the CP ticket office who should be able to assist you with the purchase of a ticket that will allow you to use the Metro and suburban train from Lisbon Cais de Sodre Station to Cascais.

Descend into the bowels of the earth to Lisbon Gare Oriente Metro station.

Take the Red Line (Linha Vermelha) in the direction of São Sebastião.

Descend at Alameda Station and change to the Green Line (Linha Verde) in the direction of Cais de Sodre.

On arriving at Cais de Sodre exit the Metro Station Up two floors and you will be in the Suburban Station.

Take the train to Cascais.  

2) Disembark from the Porto to Lisbon train at Lisbon Stª. Apolonia Station:

Exit the Station and take the Nº. 728 bus (every 15 minutes or so) in the direction of Restelo.

Descend at Cais de Sodre and follow the previous instructions.

Download Timetable here: http://bit.ly/14mAoOP

Bus:

There are two main bus companies operating long-distance bus services between Porto and Lisbon.

1) renex.pt

Renex buses depart from Porto Campo dos Martires and arrive at Lisbon Gare Oriente Bus Station (next to the rail station of the same name.)

Walk over to the railway station.

Descend into the bowels of the earth to Lisbon Gare Oriente Metro station.

Take the Red Line (Linha Vermelha) in the direction of São Sebastião.

Descend at Alameda Station and change to the Green Line (Linha Verde) in the direction of Cais de Sodre.

On arriving at Cais de Sodre exit the Metro Station Up two floors and you will be in the Suburban Station.

Take the train to Cascais.

2) www.rede-expressos.pt/

rede-expressos.pt operates +- 19 daily services between Porto GARAGEM ATLANTICO, RUA ALEXANDRE HERCULANO Nº366, 4000 PORTO and Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station.

On exiting Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station cross over to the rail station and descend into Metro. Take the Blue line (Linha Azul) in the direction of Stª. Aplonia and descend at Baixa Chiado. Cross to the Green Line (Linha Verde) and then continue to Cais de Sodre and follow the previous instructions above.

TAP - Air Portugal also operates several daily flights between Porto and Lisbon.

Monday 13 May 2013

Direct Train between Porto and Vigo - Summer 2014

Excellent news! Otimo Notícias!

Comboio direto liga Porto e Vigo a partir do verão - JN

Following today's summit between the Portuguese and Spanish Governments' it has been confirmed that as from summer timetables 2014 there will be one direct through train daily between Porto and Vigo!

Thursday 2 May 2013

Cafe Restaurant Algarve - New Bedford

Mais uma "Casa Portuguesa" nos Estados Unidos!

Yet another Portuguese hostelry Stateside!

Cafe Restaurant Algarve offers authentic taste of Portugal

The Bacalhau and "Chourico a Bombeiro" sounds great!




Montenegro sees air passenger growth of 8% in 2012

An interesting article in Anna.aero about the expansion of low-cost operators into Montenegro and the evolution of that nation's emerging Tourism sector.

Montenegro sees air passenger growth of 8% in 2012; Ryanair announces first flights to Podgorica will start in June