Should we stay in Lisbon or Cascais?

If you intend using public transport being based on central Lisbon is advisable as transport links radiate out from the centre of Lisbon.

If you have a car, then being based in Estoril or Cascais is not really a problem, except if you want to travel at peak times to places such as Estremoz when the Lisbon traffic can be heavy.

A good option might be to stay somewhere like the Best Western Riviera in Carcavelos. This is half way between Lisbon and Cascais and there is good access to the Lisbon motorway, the linha de Cascais Rail Service and the Marginal Coastal road.

Visit to the Sta. Clara area, Alentejo, Portugal

We shall be visiting the Sta. Clara da Saboia region of the Alentejo, Portugal, this week-end.

Some friends of ours stayed at Quinta da Barranco da Estrada, 8kms from Stª. Clara last week and we have decided that needing a break after Dance Algarve 2009, we will spend the week-end there this week-end.

We know the region well, and from what we hear and see from their website, http://www.paradise-in-portugal.com/, Quinta da Barranco da Estrada appears a quality guest house situated in a delightful setting.

Will post more comments on our stay next week.

Porto to Castelo Branco

Your requirements are very tight.

Bus is the only feasible option.

There are no buses direct from Porto Airport to Castelo Branco.

You will need to take the metro into Porto and then walk to the bus station. See this link on my blog for more information:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/bus-from-porto-to-castelo-branco.html

There is a bus leaving the Porto Bus Station daily as follows:

Dept Porto: 16:30 Arr: Castelo Branco 21:10
Change bus in COIMBRA

There is a direct bus as follows:

Dept Porto: 18:15 Arr: Castelo Branco 22:55

One Way Car Hire - Spain / Algarve, Portugal

From 1st April, 2009 ( this is not an April Fool's joke btw) Spanish Car Hire operator Auriga Crown
( http://www.aurigacrown.com ) have opened a desk at Faro Airport in the Algarve, Portugal

I talked with the ladies on the Auriga Crown desk at Faro Airport last week and they advised me that the company is offering one - way Spain to Faro, Algarve, Portugal drop-offs and vice-versa for only a € 30.00 premium.

In principle, this means you could pick up one of their cars at any of their offices in Spain and drop it of at Faro Airport and vice versa.

Train Tickets - Algarve Line

Where the stations are not manned on the Algarve Line, the collectors carry ticket machines and you can buy tickets on board.

I'm not sure about your comments on parking at Faro. There is often some parking the other side of the railway line. Turn right at the Faro Theatre roundabout, left after crossing the railway line, and continue down the end.

Is it possible to drive a moped from Seville to Lagos?

Seville to Lagos by is circa 260 kms. The sections between Seville and Huelva, Castro Marim and Faro and Lagoa - Lagos are very hilly. Likely transit time using the non-motoway roads about six hours dependent on posterior burn. Also be aware that as we head into summer the daytime temperature will also result in other types of burn and discomfort.

I remember many years ago riding a Honda 185cc Trail from Johannesburg to Beitbridge on a summer day and that was not recommended.

I also think that licensing and insurance restrictions between Spain and Portugal may preclude taking a moped into the other country.

Bus Travel in the Algarve

You will need to state your destination.

You will need to pay the driver.

Exact Change should always be used wherever possible.

For bus information in the Algarve see:

1) Cubsur's very useful site -

http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/

2) Website of local bus operator - EVA

http://www.eva-bus.com/home.php?lang=UK

Faro to Cadiz by car

According to Google Maps, about 319 km – about 3 hours 10 mins. Allowing for rest time, 3:hrs 45 mins.

From: Faro/St. Barbara Nexe,Portugal

Take A22 Via de Infante in diretion of Spain.
Enter Spain
Merger onto A-49 near Huelva
At Seville take exit 0B to merge onto SE-30/E-803/Ronda de Circunvalación SE-30 toward Cádiz/Granada/Coria del Río/A-92/A-4/E-5
Take exit 9A to merge onto E-5/A-4 toward Cádiz
Partial toll road
Continue on AP-4 Toll road
N-443 (signs for Cádiz/N-443)
Cadiz

Lagos to Almeira

1) Frao Airport is about 8km from Faro Station. You will either need to get a bus (infrequent) or a cab to Faro Station.

2) The easiest route from Lagos to Almeira would be as follows:

a) DAMAS/EVA bus from Lagos to Seville

http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/001.htm

b) Seville to Almeira - I have uploaded the alsa.es timetable here:

http://www.scribd.com/share/upload/10765936/eicrue3bioiiujw30o1

Some buses route via Malaga so you might want to lay over.

Lagos - Young family entertainment

Easter Monday is not a public holiday in Portugal.

In Lagos, try the Lagos zoo. http://www.zoolagos.com/entrada.html

A bit out of town, 25kms distant there is a water park "Slide & Splash", http://www.slidesplash.com/ and of course, Zoomarine. http://www.zoomarine.pt/

Pamplona, Spain to Lagos, Portugal

There is no direct bus service from Pamplona to Lagos.

Rail

There is a train leaving Pamplona at 19.40 arriving Vitoria-Gastiez at 20.45

There is a daily overnight train (Sud Express) leaving Vitoria-Gastiez at 00.15 arriving at Gare Oriente, Lisbon, Portugal the next day at 10:54.

There is a train at 13:20 from Gare Oriente, Lisbon, Portugal arriving Tunes Junction at 16:49. There is a connecting train arriving Lagos at 17:01.

Bus

This would involve a Bus or Train from Pamplona to Madrid Est. Sur, then a bus/train to Seville and then the twice daily DAMAS/EVA bus from Seville to Lagos.

For train times see the site of Spanish railways www.renfe.es and Portuguese railways www.cp.pt.

For bus from Seville to Lagos see:

http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/001.htm

You may find some of the links on the right hand side of my blog useful.

See:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/

Albufeira to Marbella

By public transport, the best and fastest way will be by long distant coach via Seville.

There are twice daily direct coach services from Albufeira to Seville. See the following sites for more information:

http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/001.htm

Get the 07:35 from Albufeira Bus Station arriving Seville Plaza da Armas at 13:00 Spanish Time.

From Seville you can get buses to Marbella direct operated by the bus company "Los Amarillos".

There is a departure from Seville at 16:00 arriving Marbella at 19:00.

It makes a long day but it is the most direct and fastest.

Motorway Toll Penalty

Unfortunately the answer is no!

All Toll exits on Portuguese Toll Motorways always have at least one toll booth manned, with a green arrow indicating it.

Many people have been in the situation that you have described and have pass through the electronic Via Verde toll booths. The toll operators show no mercy, on the basis that if you are driving in a country you are not familiar with, it is up to the driver to familiarise themselves with the rules of the road in that country before driving.