Arrived last night in Limoges, France. The trip from Estremoz took me via Portalegre, Marvão, Caceres in Spain, Salamanca, Vallodolid, Burgos to Bilbão. Took about 8 hours. The road between Caceres and Salamanca is being upgraded to dual carriageway and once open should knock and hour of the route.
From Bilbao tried to get into France by off-motorway routes but the Basque towns are a menace as are the first towns in France Bayonne and Biarittz. I managed however to get through that and made my way cross country via Dax and Bergerac to Limoges.
Staying at a Balladins cheap and cheerful. Euros 28 per night with free wifi.
More in the next few days.
Friday, 21 December 2007
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
En route Algarve - Brittany
I have left Lagos today by car after a mad few weeks and am now heading for Christmas in France. I am heading first to Limoges and then to Brittany. Total distance will be more than 5000 km before I get back to Lagos in 2 weeks.
Why this mad dash? Simple! The absolute paucity of low cost flights from the Iberian Peninsula to regional airports in France. By the time I took a train to Lisbon, got Easyjet to Paris and then train to my two destinations, its going to be cheaper driving.
I am using a diesel vehicle and am going to avoid toll roads.
Leaving Lagos this afternoon, I took the A22 Via de Infante to Albufeira, the old IP1 to Alcacer do Sal, then the cross country road road to Montemar de Novo and then the N4 to Estrmoz. Left Lagos at circa 13:45. Arrived Estremoz 18:10, having stopped at Mimosa for lunch. Total distance about 350km. Drive Time. (No Motorway) - 4 hrs.
Have found a free Internet Cafe offered by the Council and open from 14:00 to 20:00 7 days a week. No wifi but machines seem fine. Staying at the Pensão Café Alentejano Estremoz for Euro 25 night for one person. Clean rooms with shower toilet on suite. No website but can be called on +351 268 337 300.
Why this mad dash? Simple! The absolute paucity of low cost flights from the Iberian Peninsula to regional airports in France. By the time I took a train to Lisbon, got Easyjet to Paris and then train to my two destinations, its going to be cheaper driving.
I am using a diesel vehicle and am going to avoid toll roads.
Leaving Lagos this afternoon, I took the A22 Via de Infante to Albufeira, the old IP1 to Alcacer do Sal, then the cross country road road to Montemar de Novo and then the N4 to Estrmoz. Left Lagos at circa 13:45. Arrived Estremoz 18:10, having stopped at Mimosa for lunch. Total distance about 350km. Drive Time. (No Motorway) - 4 hrs.
Have found a free Internet Cafe offered by the Council and open from 14:00 to 20:00 7 days a week. No wifi but machines seem fine. Staying at the Pensão Café Alentejano Estremoz for Euro 25 night for one person. Clean rooms with shower toilet on suite. No website but can be called on +351 268 337 300.
Monday, 10 December 2007
Hotels in Lisbon
I would recommend the following hotels if available:
Ibis Barata Salgueiro -
http://www.ibishotel.com/ibis/fichehotel/gb/ibi/3137/fiche_hotel.shtml
This is just of Avenida Liberdade and half way between the Baixa and Marques de Pombal.
You may find however from the time of year that hotels in the centre are difficult.
If so try the following which are in easy walking distance of the Praça de Espanha Metro Stop.
Ibis Malhoa
http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/gb/ibi/1668/fiche_hotel.shtml
Novotel Malhoa
http://www.novotel.com/novotel/fichehotel/gb/nov/0784/fiche_hotel.shtml
(Check out cheap offers on the web)
I would suggest that you might want to take a two day trip at the beginning of you visit to either Coimbra or porto.
Both are easily accessible by train from Gare de Oriente 5 minutes by cab from Lisbon Airport. Porto is 3 hours by train from Lisbon and its river area is delightful. Coimbra is the home to one of the oldest Universities in Europe and although small full of Character.
Ibis Barata Salgueiro -
http://www.ibishotel.com/ibis/fichehotel/gb/ibi/3137/fiche_hotel.shtml
This is just of Avenida Liberdade and half way between the Baixa and Marques de Pombal.
You may find however from the time of year that hotels in the centre are difficult.
If so try the following which are in easy walking distance of the Praça de Espanha Metro Stop.
Ibis Malhoa
http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/gb/ibi/1668/fiche_hotel.shtml
Novotel Malhoa
http://www.novotel.com/novotel/fichehotel/gb/nov/0784/fiche_hotel.shtml
(Check out cheap offers on the web)
I would suggest that you might want to take a two day trip at the beginning of you visit to either Coimbra or porto.
Both are easily accessible by train from Gare de Oriente 5 minutes by cab from Lisbon Airport. Porto is 3 hours by train from Lisbon and its river area is delightful. Coimbra is the home to one of the oldest Universities in Europe and although small full of Character.
Sunday, 9 December 2007
Car Hire - Pick up Faro Drop Off Lisbon
For pick up in Faro and drop off in Lisbon, I would recommend:
Auto Jardim
see: http://www.carhireyes.com/autojardim/
or
Hertz.
see: http://www.carhireyes.com/hertz/
Most of the local Algarve Car Hire companies do not do Lisbon drop offs.
Auto Jardim
see: http://www.carhireyes.com/autojardim/
or
Hertz.
see: http://www.carhireyes.com/hertz/
Most of the local Algarve Car Hire companies do not do Lisbon drop offs.
Saturday, 1 December 2007
lagos to madrid via bus
1) Flights - It looks like Ryanair have pulled the plug permanently on this route. See this article on my blog.
http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/ryanair-faro-mardid-route.html
However, don't despair you do not need to go via Gatwick.
Vueling.com and Easyjet.com operate flights from Madrid to Lisbon. From Gare de Oriente, near the airport you can get a Renex Bus to Lagos for +- Euro 18.00 or a train t.o Lagos for not much more.
2) Buses from Madrid to Lagos. The cheapest route is probably to take a Socibus bus from Madrid to Seville and connect with the twice daily DAMAS/EVA service to Lagos. Note this operates only on weekdays in winter.
If you got the overnight Socibus service from Madrid at 22:00 arriving at 05:15 you could connect with the 07:30 DAMAS bus from Seville to Lagos arriving at 12:00.
Total cost should not be more than Euro 60.
It is possible to Madrid - Lisbon - Lagos via Lisbon Gare de Oriente but this route tends to be more expensive.
For more info, see http://cubsur's www.algarve-bus.info.
http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/ryanair-faro-mardid-route.html
However, don't despair you do not need to go via Gatwick.
Vueling.com and Easyjet.com operate flights from Madrid to Lisbon. From Gare de Oriente, near the airport you can get a Renex Bus to Lagos for +- Euro 18.00 or a train t.o Lagos for not much more.
2) Buses from Madrid to Lagos. The cheapest route is probably to take a Socibus bus from Madrid to Seville and connect with the twice daily DAMAS/EVA service to Lagos. Note this operates only on weekdays in winter.
If you got the overnight Socibus service from Madrid at 22:00 arriving at 05:15 you could connect with the 07:30 DAMAS bus from Seville to Lagos arriving at 12:00.
Total cost should not be more than Euro 60.
It is possible to Madrid - Lisbon - Lagos via Lisbon Gare de Oriente but this route tends to be more expensive.
For more info, see http://cubsur's www.algarve-bus.info.
Lisbon - Seville Vueling.com Route Cancellation
Following the comment by Anonymous posted on this blog on 24th November 2007, and following investigations by various blogs, including Sergio Bastos (Obrigado, Sergio) of http://www.lowcostportugal.net/, Vueling have finally confirmed that the Lisbon to Seville route that the airline intended to start operating from 1st November 2007 has been cancelled.
Apparently, those who have booked already have been offered their money back. It is interesting that another low-cost is showing signs of the "Ryanair syndrome". Announce or launch routes and then cancel them with a minimum or no publicity.
For more information see the following link: (in Portuguese)
http://www.lowcostportugal.net/editorial/anatomia-de-uma-noticia/2007/11/
Apparently, those who have booked already have been offered their money back. It is interesting that another low-cost is showing signs of the "Ryanair syndrome". Announce or launch routes and then cancel them with a minimum or no publicity.
For more information see the following link: (in Portuguese)
http://www.lowcostportugal.net/editorial/anatomia-de-uma-noticia/2007/11/
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
Ryanair - Faro - Madrid Route
It has now been confirmed via several sources that Ryanair suspended their service between Faro and Madrid last week. Once again Faro has no direct air links to a growing and important tourist market.
The company cited the fact that after only 10 months of operation they only were achieving a 48,6% load factor on the route. However, the reports quoting this statistic fail to point out that Ryanair, while initially operating 7 flights a week on the route, dropped the frequency to 4 a week in early summer. It would be interesting to know if the percentage figure quoted reflected this or was calculated on 7 flights a week.
It would be also interesting to know whether they considered dropping frequencies to 3 times a week - loadings then presumably would increase accordingly to in the order of 60%. Ryanair do operate thrice weekly services on other routes in Europe - Why not Faro?
After the debacle of the cancellation of their Girona - Faro route after 2 months of operation, one has to question Ryanair's strategy for entering the Spain to Faro market. They were receiving incentives from the authorities to operate a route which in the case of Madrid - Faro would have become profitable over time. I question their complete lack of apppropriate local marketing (e.g. billboards) in the Algarve and Coast da Luz (Huelva) areas. Many locals, especially from the expat communities in the Algarve, were simply unaware of the route because they don't read the local press. it appears that, as with its policies elswhere in Europe, unless it can make a quick buck, they will get out of a route as soon as they can with minimal public announcements etc. This also happened recently on their Dublin to Porto Service. As a result passengers who h ad already booked their flights were offered refunds or alternatives seats on flights from Faro (600km away.)
Let's hope the Algarve tourism authorities (RTA) can attract other airlines to routes such as Faro - Madrid, as well as Faro - Paris and Faro Milan.
However, hopefully, not Ryanair!
While I understand that low-cost airlines have to depend on turnover, they should not expect to receive incentives for a route and then drop it when they want to. They should also do proper market research beforehand to try ensure viability of a route or accept that it takes time for traffic to develop and "stay the course."
The company cited the fact that after only 10 months of operation they only were achieving a 48,6% load factor on the route. However, the reports quoting this statistic fail to point out that Ryanair, while initially operating 7 flights a week on the route, dropped the frequency to 4 a week in early summer. It would be interesting to know if the percentage figure quoted reflected this or was calculated on 7 flights a week.
It would be also interesting to know whether they considered dropping frequencies to 3 times a week - loadings then presumably would increase accordingly to in the order of 60%. Ryanair do operate thrice weekly services on other routes in Europe - Why not Faro?
After the debacle of the cancellation of their Girona - Faro route after 2 months of operation, one has to question Ryanair's strategy for entering the Spain to Faro market. They were receiving incentives from the authorities to operate a route which in the case of Madrid - Faro would have become profitable over time. I question their complete lack of apppropriate local marketing (e.g. billboards) in the Algarve and Coast da Luz (Huelva) areas. Many locals, especially from the expat communities in the Algarve, were simply unaware of the route because they don't read the local press. it appears that, as with its policies elswhere in Europe, unless it can make a quick buck, they will get out of a route as soon as they can with minimal public announcements etc. This also happened recently on their Dublin to Porto Service. As a result passengers who h ad already booked their flights were offered refunds or alternatives seats on flights from Faro (600km away.)
Let's hope the Algarve tourism authorities (RTA) can attract other airlines to routes such as Faro - Madrid, as well as Faro - Paris and Faro Milan.
However, hopefully, not Ryanair!
While I understand that low-cost airlines have to depend on turnover, they should not expect to receive incentives for a route and then drop it when they want to. They should also do proper market research beforehand to try ensure viability of a route or accept that it takes time for traffic to develop and "stay the course."
Monday, 26 November 2007
Late night Public transport between seville airport and ayamonte
Unfortunately, DAMAS.es the main bus operator on the Seville - Ayamonte route currently have their timetables off-line.
According to the TUSSAM site, there are buses from Seville Airport to Seville Sta. Justa station at 23:15,23:45,00:15 and 00:45. Sundays and Holidays last bus is at 23:45.
Once you get to Sta. Justa station you then have to get a local bus or taxi to the Plaza das Armas Bus Station. You will probably not arrive there till midnight at least.
From memory and a quick check of other websites, including Cubsur's www.algarvebus.info, there are no buses between Seville and Ayamonte between 00:00 and 04:00. The 04:00 departure is operated by Socibus and is the continuation of the Madrid Service. However, the Socibus site suggests that the service, while stopping in Seville does not pick up for Ayamonte.
Alsa.es has a departure at 23:59 to Ayamonte arriving 01:50.
You should check the availability of this service as it is an international service continuing to Faro in the Algarve and may be limited in winter. It will be a very tight connection unless you take a cab from Seville Airport to Plaza das Armas, which will cost +- € 30 methinks.
Their contact is:
ALSA Customer service
C/ Miguel Fleta, 4 - 2º
28037 - Madrid (Spain)
Telephone: 91 327 05 40
E-mail: alsa@alsa.es
Bus is the only way to get from Seville to Ayamonte by public transport. There is no train service.
My gut instinct is that such a connection will be very tight and that if your flight is delayed you will be in deep doggy-doo.
Better to overnight in Seville and take a bus the next morning from Plaza das Armas. Subject to DAMAS timetable revisions buses leave Seville for Ayamonte at:
0930, 1100, 1230, 1530, 1800 and 1900
According to the TUSSAM site, there are buses from Seville Airport to Seville Sta. Justa station at 23:15,23:45,00:15 and 00:45. Sundays and Holidays last bus is at 23:45.
Once you get to Sta. Justa station you then have to get a local bus or taxi to the Plaza das Armas Bus Station. You will probably not arrive there till midnight at least.
From memory and a quick check of other websites, including Cubsur's www.algarvebus.info, there are no buses between Seville and Ayamonte between 00:00 and 04:00. The 04:00 departure is operated by Socibus and is the continuation of the Madrid Service. However, the Socibus site suggests that the service, while stopping in Seville does not pick up for Ayamonte.
Alsa.es has a departure at 23:59 to Ayamonte arriving 01:50.
You should check the availability of this service as it is an international service continuing to Faro in the Algarve and may be limited in winter. It will be a very tight connection unless you take a cab from Seville Airport to Plaza das Armas, which will cost +- € 30 methinks.
Their contact is:
ALSA Customer service
C/ Miguel Fleta, 4 - 2º
28037 - Madrid (Spain)
Telephone: 91 327 05 40
E-mail: alsa@alsa.es
Bus is the only way to get from Seville to Ayamonte by public transport. There is no train service.
My gut instinct is that such a connection will be very tight and that if your flight is delayed you will be in deep doggy-doo.
Better to overnight in Seville and take a bus the next morning from Plaza das Armas. Subject to DAMAS timetable revisions buses leave Seville for Ayamonte at:
0930, 1100, 1230, 1530, 1800 and 1900
Saturday, 24 November 2007
Vueling - Lisbon to Seville
I am grateful to Anonymous, who unfortunately made a booking that was subsequently cancelled, for this news.
It appears that Vueling are not launching their promised Lisbon to Seville flights on 1 December 2007 as originally stated.
I apologise for the inconvienence you have suffered.
I try to ensure that information I post on this blog is correct at the time of posting.
What operators subsequently do, especially in the case of airlines such as Ryanair and in this case, Vueling, who do not announce publicly the ending of services or dropping of potential new services after being announced, it beyond my remit.
Again thanks for the info.
It appears that Vueling are not launching their promised Lisbon to Seville flights on 1 December 2007 as originally stated.
I apologise for the inconvienence you have suffered.
I try to ensure that information I post on this blog is correct at the time of posting.
What operators subsequently do, especially in the case of airlines such as Ryanair and in this case, Vueling, who do not announce publicly the ending of services or dropping of potential new services after being announced, it beyond my remit.
Again thanks for the info.
Friday, 16 November 2007
Portugal to Spain - Evora to Badajoz - Pt 2.
As regards trains, there definitely used to be a service years ago but it appears that passenger train services between Elvas and Badajoz have been discontinued. There are no timetables on the Portuguese Railways or Spanish Railways site and neither the Town Councils of Elvas and Badajoz have a mention of such a service. In fact they do not have any info on public transport between the 2 towns.
I am not aware of any cabs that run between the towns.
However, in most Portuguese towns like Evora and Elvas one will find a local cab. However, I suspect that they will try to charge an arm and a leg, even if you speak Portuguese...and even more so if you speak Spanish.
Have a look at the Badajoz Town Council Tourism site
http://www.turismobadajoz.es
You might want to email them for info.
Rede Expressos - A national Portuguese bus company are showing the following buses between Evora and Elvas at times that might be useful:
Evora: Partida: 13:45 h Arrive Elvas: 15:00 h
Evora: Partida: 17:00 h Arrive Elvas: 18:35 h
Preço: 9.50 €
As far as I can see most of the long distance trans frontier buses only operate at times that may be not useful to you i.e. early morning, lunchtime or late evening.
Eurolines have a bus leaving Evora at 11:15 arriving Badajoz at 13:45
You can find the Eurolines Spain Timetable in pdf format on my blog at:
http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/
>> Scroll down on the right until you come to the panel marked
"Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links"
Scroll down to the item marked:
Eurolines Spain - Spain Portug"al Timetable - Winter 2008"
I am not aware of any cabs that run between the towns.
However, in most Portuguese towns like Evora and Elvas one will find a local cab. However, I suspect that they will try to charge an arm and a leg, even if you speak Portuguese...and even more so if you speak Spanish.
Have a look at the Badajoz Town Council Tourism site
http://www.turismobadajoz.es
You might want to email them for info.
Rede Expressos - A national Portuguese bus company are showing the following buses between Evora and Elvas at times that might be useful:
Evora: Partida: 13:45 h Arrive Elvas: 15:00 h
Evora: Partida: 17:00 h Arrive Elvas: 18:35 h
Preço: 9.50 €
As far as I can see most of the long distance trans frontier buses only operate at times that may be not useful to you i.e. early morning, lunchtime or late evening.
Eurolines have a bus leaving Evora at 11:15 arriving Badajoz at 13:45
You can find the Eurolines Spain Timetable in pdf format on my blog at:
http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/
>> Scroll down on the right until you come to the panel marked
"Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links"
Scroll down to the item marked:
Eurolines Spain - Spain Portug"al Timetable - Winter 2008"
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