Portugal - Car Hire industry - Ongoing Complaints from Clients

Given the growing litany of complaints about the car hire industry in Portugal in forums on sites such as tripadvisor.com,  I am beginning to think that the time is coming to suggest a public online petition to the Portuguese Secretary of State for Tourism, ASAE (the Portuguese State Trading Standards Authority) and to the European Commission Directorate for Mobility and Transport suggesting that the car rental industry in Portugal (and possibly other EU member states) may require investigation as regards alleged possible anti-competitive behaviour and discrimination against clients from other EU nations.

I read a couple of days ago that:

"Today, Regulation (EU) No 181/2011 on bus and coach passenger rights becomes applicable, providing bus and coach travellers throughout the EU with new rights."

…europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/kallas/headl…

I think the time is coming when a similar regulation maybe needed for the Car Rental Industry across the EU including Portugal. Like mobile phone roaming, it might also address the high cost of cross-border one way car hires in the EU and issues about responsibility for provision of services for payment of motorway tolls etc..

There are now legally entrenched EU rights for Air Passengers and now Bus and Coach Travellers.

Why not for clients of the EU Car Hire Industry?

Portimão to Lisbon - 4 April, 2013 - Benfica/Newcastle

This refers to the Newcastle - Sporting Lisboa Benfica Match at Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica (Estádio do Luz). 

It is likely that this will be a well attended match. One should plan to arrive in plenty of time.

There is a train service (www.cp.pt) as follows:

Dept: Portimão 13h12
Change at Tunes Junction
Arrive: Lisboa Sete Rios 16h53

From Sete Rios(Metro Station - Jardim Zoologico - in same complex), take the Metro line "Linha Azul" in the direction of Amadora Este and descend at Metro station Colégio Militar/Luz. Then follow the crowds.  

It will be difficult to get back by public transport the same night! The only option is the 01:00 www.renex.pt bus departure from Lisbon Oriente Bus Station (Taxi from Éstádio de Luz) to Portimão arriving 04:45. I would suggest that it would be better to plan to return the next day.  

Sad happenings in Aljezur, Algarve

The Câmara Municipal de Aljezur ordered the demolition at 02:00 last night of the old landmark building on the corner of the EN120 where it crosses the bridge to Nova Igreja.

Despite legal efforts to prevent its demolition the building, which was admittedly in a bad state and a contribution to traffic problems, was a historic building in the town.

It is such a pity when other ways and finance cannot be found to prevent this type of event!

More information here: (in Portuguese)

 http://www.sulinformacao.pt/2013/03/demolicao-mercearia-ponte-aljezur/

New Street Wine Shop - London, UK - March 2013 - Portuguese Wine Month

New Street Wine shop in London UK has been hosting a Portuguese Wine Month during March 2013.

See: New Street Wine Shop - D&D London - Offers

For those of you living in the London sounds like a great place to taste and enjoy the best of Portuguese Wines which are among the world's best!!

Brazil and South Africa agree to provide collaboration to expand air routes

Brazil and South Africa agree to provide collaboration to expand air routes

Interesting article on developing direct co-operation between the BRIC nations leaving out the usual intermediaries of Europe and the USA! The medium and long term implications of such developments for US and European air transport operators and tourism are profound!

8 Reasons to Go to Portugal Now | Travel News from Fodor's Travel Guides

8 Reasons to Go to Portugal Now | Travel News from Fodor's Travel Guides

Excellent article! Incredibly, Portugal is getting more and more coverage as a travel destination in the foreign press!

We need to keep pushing this.

Seville - Bus Service between Airport and City

The following is the up-to-date current (March 2013) information on the bus service between Seville Airport (Aeropuerto da Seville (SVQ))


Sevilla - Tussam EA Airport Bus Service - Plaza das Armas - Avda. Carlos V(Jardines del Prado)/Prado San Sebastian - Nervion Plaza - Estacion FC Sta. Justa - Aeropuerto da Sevilla -

Timetable (March 2013): http://goo.gl/py4dE 

Service Brochure (March 2013): http://goo.gl/y12C7

Service Webpage: http://goo.gl/QqLUJ

Where to see Azulejos? (Traditional Portuguese Tiles)

In Lisbon visit:

Museu Nacional do Azulejo

Rua Madre Deus 4

1900-312 Lisboa,

Portugal

Tel:+351 218 100 340

Opening Hours:

Monday Closed

Tues: 10:00–18:00

Wed. 10:00–18:00

Thurs: 10:00–18:00

Fri: 10:00–18:00

Sat: 10:00–18:00

Sun 10:00–18:00

Website: http://mnazulejo.imc-ip.pt (Down this morning)

email: geral@mnazulejo.dgpc.

Public Transport Bus Access: Bus only! Lines CARRIS: 28 / 718 / 742 / 759 / 794

There are also several azulejo clad buildings in central downtown Porto.

Also have a look at:

…wikimedia.org/wiki/…Azulejos_in_Porto

And

…instituto-camoes.pt/azulejos/eng/index.html

And a wonderful gallery of azulejos in Porto and the area here:

http://bit.ly/10c5vMw

Travelling from Fatima to Salamanca, Spain

The best bet would be to take a bus from Fatima to Coimbra and then the daily train from Coimbra to Salamanca!

There is a daily rede-expressos.pt coach service leaving Fatima at 21:00 arriving Coimbra at 21:55

There is a 23:37 daily departure from Coimba-B Station arriving Salamanca at 04:36.

You would need to take a taxi the 1km from the bus station to Coimbra-B station

You should also buy tickets in advance. Online, these can be acquired via the spanish train operator renfe.es

Nah Nah Bah, Lagos, Algarve, Portugal - Opening 2013

Its happening!!!

Your favorite Lagos 5-star Burger bar and general party central is back for its 2013 season as from Friday, March 22 , 2013!

Selmo's been stateside this winter at The Croissanteria, 86th St. NYC, learning new tricks!

Barlaventoexpert is going to be in Madrid on 22 March, but all you fans of Nah Nah Bah get down to Lagos for what promises to be a fun evening!

Nah Nah Bah
Travessa do Forno 11  8600 Lagos, Portugal

Reviews: http://goo.gl/nyBPe

Recent Article on Tourism in Portugal - The Guardian

A fairly lengthy article on places to visit in Portugal was published in the Guardian on 15th March 2013.

An excellent starting point for researching vacation travel to Portugal. (Great comments are being posted at the end of the article with some excellent ideas for destinations in Portugal!)

See: http://goo.gl/b4mWa

Ryanair to buy 200 Boeings in $18bn order

Boeing will be relieved! After threatening to go to China for its next fleet acquisition, it is reported to day in the Irish Independent that Ryanair.com are to purchase a further 200 Boeing 737's.

More here: Ryanair to buy 200 Boeings in $18bn order

Thanks to Sergio Bastos of http://www.lowcostportugal.net  for the heads-up!

adoro morar em Cascais: Les français arrivent a Lisbonne

adoro morar em Cascais: Les français arrivent a Lisbonne:

http://www.journaux.fr/lofficiel-voyage_voyage-tourisme-nature_art-et-culture_102555.html

Une article dans la presse francaise sur Lisbonne!

Article in the French Press about Lisbon!

Madrid Barajas Airport to Seville & v.v.

www.socibus.es operate two buses daily from Madrid Barajas to Sevilla Plaza das Armas as follows:

 Dept: Madrid Barajas Airport: 21:15 Arrive Seville: 04:10
 Dept: Madrid Barajas Airport: 23:15 Arrive Seville: 06:10

 It also operates four daily services from Sevilla Plaza das Armas to Madrid Barajas as follows: 

Dept: Seville: 01:00 Arr: Barajas: 07:35 Till 14/06/13
Dept: Seville:08:00  Arr: Barajas: 15:15 Till 31/12/12
Dept: Seville:10:30  Arr: Barajas: 17:05 Till 31/12/12
Dept: Seville:14:30  Arr: Barajas: 21:45 Till 31/12/12

 Not expensive either: € 21:50. I have used this service in the past. Its a bit of a long journey, but it does avoid messing around with public transport in Madrid.

From Lagos, Portugal to New York - Croissanteria NYC

Our very own Selmo Ribeiro from Nah-Nah Bar and The Rising C_ck,Hostel in Lagos, Algarve, Portugal has spent the winter of 2012/13 working with Croissanteria NYC, 68 Ave A, New York, NY 10009 in the good old US of A!

Croissanteria Promo from Victoria Ng on Vimeo.

Looking for a daytime snack in New York, look no further! While we've been suffering from Nah-Nah Bar withdrawal symptoms in the off-season here in Lagos, The Big Apple has been benefiting from Selmo's presence! C'mon Dude!!!!

So, when you are Stateside visiting New York, drop into Croissanteria NYC and enjoy!

Catch them on Facebook also: https://www.facebook.com/Croissanteria

Portugal: Driving from Lisbon to Carveiro.

A couple of things to bear in mind.

1) When leaving the airport head north in the direction of the A1 motorway to Porto, then follow the signs for the Ponte Vasco da Gama, A2, Algarve. There is usually much less traffic on this crossing over the Tejo and it avoids getting tangled up on the various ring routes around Lisbonand over the 25 de Abril bridge.

2) There are normal pay tolls on the A2 South and A22 until you get to the Albufeira off-ramp. Thereafter the A22 turns into electronic toll land, with all that entails.

I would probably personally come off the A2 at Messines and follow the N124 to Silves, then the N124-1 to Lagoa and thence onto Carvoeiro. A lot less traffic on the route, albeit single lane each way. However, it avoids the tolls. Might take 15 minutes longer.

Small Business Inspiration - Singapore Backpackers Hostel

Great BBC Interview here with Malcolm Davis on opening and building a Backpackers business in Singapore!

See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21709877

Brilliant as well as to how he got free advertising on the BBC!!!

Website here: http://www.pow.com.sg/

Go for it, Malcolm! Woofs to Jessica!!

Monte Gordo/VRSA - Algarve - Highest Occupancy Rates

In an article this afternoon, Sul Informação has reported that in February 2013, the Eastern Algarve region of Monte Gordo/Vila Real Santo Antonio has again registered the highest level of  tourism room occupancy. (based on  figures available from hostelries open at the time of the research.)

See (in portuguese): http://www.sulinformacao.pt/2013/03/monte-gordovrsa-volta-a-ser-a-zona-com-maior-ocupacao-hoteleira-do-algarve-na-epoca-baixa/

This is of concern for other regions of the Algarve as it points to the fact that this region, albeit bordering an economically anemic Spanish Andaluzia, is picking up more business probably because travellers are able to cross the border and access the region without the hassle of the paying the electronic tolls applied to the A22 Via de Infante Algarve arterial highway.

What is good for one region is horribly bad for other regions with areas in the Western Algarve like Lagos seeing drastically lower occupancy rates.

Once again, the negative multiplier economic effect from the ridiculous administrative way in which the electronic tolls on the A22 Via de Infante were applied, is clear to see.

So if you are thinking of visiting the Algarve, consider the Eastern Algarve region.

Fly into Seville, spend a couple of days there, hire a car there, (benefiting the Spanish Economy), pay for slightly cheaper fuel  (benefiting the Spanish Economy), avoid the tolls  and visit the above centres as well as places like Alcoutim, Mertola, Castro Marim and even Beja and Serpa!

Algarve - Reduction in Off-Peak Period Flights

Given all the talk about "diversifying" the Algarve's markets and developing strategies to encourage winter touism, there is a very interesting recent article published (in Portuguese) on the Presstur website here:

http://www.presstur.com/site/news.asp?news=41279

Essentially, it confirms what I have been noticing the past few months in that several operators, including the largest by number of flights, ryanair.com have substantially reduced routes and frequencies serving Faro Airport in the winter period.  

This is a major problem for the Algarve, particularly in the face of Lisbon and Central Portugal seeing increasing number of visitors year round.

I am not sure how this problem can be overcome, but one thing is for certain, the Algarve is facing an increasing number of challenges in even maintaining its profile as a destination for European Tourists.

Portimão - Port improvements to handle larger cruise vessels

An article in today's Sul Informação reports that studies have been commissioned into the enlargement of the turning basin and dredging of the Arade estuary in Portimão to allow for larger vessels to be handled.

Article (in Portuguese) here: http://goo.gl/RmhWk

Rodotejo - Serviço Autocarro/Bus Service - Lisboa para/to Obídos - Caldas

As from 1 March 2013, there is a new express bus service being operated by Rodotejo linking Lisboa Campo Grande (Metro Campo Grande) and Bombarral, Obidos and Caldas da Rainha.

A partir de 1 Março de 2013, há um serviço novo de autocarro expresso operado por Rodotejo que vais ligar Lisboa Campo Grande (Metro Campo Grande) e Bombarral, Óbidos e Caldas da Rainha.

March 1 2013 -New Timetable - RodoTejo Bus Rapida Verde Lisboa Campo Grande/ Obidos/ Caldas da Rainha by

We Didn’t Domesticate Dogs. They Domesticated Us.

I don't often post about K9's but given that I am 50% hound and love the beasts dearly, I found this article in National Geographic interesting and amusing:

We Didn’t Domesticate Dogs. They Domesticated Us.

Transport Ferrovaire - Lisbonne à Alverca - Portugal

Il y a services direct avec le train entre Lisboa Entrecampos et Alverca.

 J'avais publier un extrait de l'horaire ici:

http://goo.gl/jhPVu

Monchique, Algarve, Portugal - New Tourism Promo Video

Monchique, situated in the hills of the Western Algarve inland from the famous Algarve coast, is a little known tourist destination only 20/30km from Portimão and Lagos.

A new video has been produced and was recently launched at the BTL 2013 Tourism Fair in Lisbon:

Enjoy:

Lisbon - "Linha de Cascais" - Beaches

Easily accessible from Lisbon by the "Linha de Cascais" urban rail service from Cais de Sodre Station are beaches at:

Oeiras

Estoril

Carcavelos (10 minute walk from the Station)

(and others)

See this page : (In Portuguese with photos)

portugalvirtual.pt/cascais-estoril/praias.php

Small Hotel or B & B Near Beach in Lagos,Algarve,Portugal

Look at the Dom Pedro on Meia Praia.

Literally over the road and railway line (50m) from 4km of sandy beach.

dompedro.com/DomPedro/OurHotels/MeiaPraiaBea…

Lagos, Algarve - March - Restaurant Suggestions

Practically all restaurants in Portugal are clean these days, owing to the implementation of EU hygiene, the omni-present ASAE and supposed anti-horsemeat standards!

In Lagos, I would recommend:

Bom Apetite - http://goo.gl/55twh

O Prato Cheio - http://goo.gl/sRPkB

O Portal do Infante (if open) - http://goo.gl/Za8UU

Ryanair to cut London Stansted Frequencies after Airport Fees Hike

Ryanair has just announced that it will cut up to 170 flights per week from London Stansted after Manchester Airport, the new owners of London Stansted Airport hiked airport fees by +- 6% from April 2013.

See:

Ferrovial/Baa Hikes Stansted Fees By 6% From April 2013 In A…