I have just been introduced to the above site which certainly seems to give an excellent aggregation/summary of offers from hotels world-wide.
It is a clean site and the search facility is rapid.
I got excellent results on tests for hotels in Lagos, Lisbon and Rimin, Italy.
It is certainly worth a try if one needs to do a rapid survey of available hotels.
http://www.hotelscombined.com
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Flights from Copenhagen to Faro
Norwegian Air Shuttle who already operate Oslo to Faro are launch a service from Copenhagen to Faro following the demise of Sterling Airlines. The weekly service is due to start operation on 4th April 2009.
See:
http://www.norwegian.no/
See:
http://www.norwegian.no/
Lisbon Airport - Buses to the Centre
I passed through Lisbon Airport this weekend en route to Lagos and as I had some time decided to check again the bus services from the airport.
What I was not aware of was that as well as the Aerobus service linking the airport with the Centre at Rossio and Cais de Sodre station, Carris, the Lisbon bus operator have been operating another service for the past few months that links the Airport with the Rede Expressos Bus Station and the Railway/Metro Station at Sete Rios/Jardim Zoologico. The bus continues to run up Avda. José Malhoa to service the many hotels there, (e.g. Ibis Malhoa) and on past S. Sebastião and Parque Metro Stations. The Service is called Aeroshuttle and costs Euro 3.00. This ticket also allows 24 hour travel on buses on the Carris network.
The actual stops at Sete Rios/Jardim Zoologico are under the motorway in front of the entrance to the Zoo about 150 metres from the bus/rail station.
I decided to use this service which takes between 20 and 40 minutes to travel from Lisbon Airport to Sete Rios/Jardim Zoologico. It enabled me to easily connect with the EVA Transportes departure from Sete Rios Bus Station to Lagos, which costs Euro 19.00 one way and takes 3 hrs 45 mins which is 45 quicker than the other bus operator RENEX.
More information can be found here:
http://www.carris.pt/en/index.php?area=servicos&subarea=servicos_tur_aerobus
What I was not aware of was that as well as the Aerobus service linking the airport with the Centre at Rossio and Cais de Sodre station, Carris, the Lisbon bus operator have been operating another service for the past few months that links the Airport with the Rede Expressos Bus Station and the Railway/Metro Station at Sete Rios/Jardim Zoologico. The bus continues to run up Avda. José Malhoa to service the many hotels there, (e.g. Ibis Malhoa) and on past S. Sebastião and Parque Metro Stations. The Service is called Aeroshuttle and costs Euro 3.00. This ticket also allows 24 hour travel on buses on the Carris network.
The actual stops at Sete Rios/Jardim Zoologico are under the motorway in front of the entrance to the Zoo about 150 metres from the bus/rail station.
I decided to use this service which takes between 20 and 40 minutes to travel from Lisbon Airport to Sete Rios/Jardim Zoologico. It enabled me to easily connect with the EVA Transportes departure from Sete Rios Bus Station to Lagos, which costs Euro 19.00 one way and takes 3 hrs 45 mins which is 45 quicker than the other bus operator RENEX.
More information can be found here:
http://www.carris.pt/en/index.php?area=servicos&subarea=servicos_tur_aerobus
Travel from Seville to Lisbon
You can take a train from Faro to Lisbon but there is also a bus service operated by alsa.es linking Seville at Lisbon.
The current timetable shows the following service:
Departure schedules (03/01/2009): SEVILLA - LISBOA SETE RIOS
Dept: SEVILLA 15:00
Arr: LISBON Sete Rios 21:15
These tickets should be purchasable in advance at the Bus Station in Seville or online.
If you want to travel in the morning, DAMAS/EVA operate the following bus service via Faro:
Dept: Sevilla 07:30
Arr: Faro 10:10
Dept: Faro 11:00
Arr: Lisbon Sete Rios 14:15
Tickets for the Faro to Lisbon sector may be purchasable in advance at Seville Plaza das Armas Bus Station as this was being advertised as a direct route on posters in the above bus station when I was there last week.
The current timetable shows the following service:
Departure schedules (03/01/2009): SEVILLA - LISBOA SETE RIOS
Dept: SEVILLA 15:00
Arr: LISBON Sete Rios 21:15
These tickets should be purchasable in advance at the Bus Station in Seville or online.
If you want to travel in the morning, DAMAS/EVA operate the following bus service via Faro:
Dept: Sevilla 07:30
Arr: Faro 10:10
Dept: Faro 11:00
Arr: Lisbon Sete Rios 14:15
Tickets for the Faro to Lisbon sector may be purchasable in advance at Seville Plaza das Armas Bus Station as this was being advertised as a direct route on posters in the above bus station when I was there last week.
Sanctuary at Fatima - Contact Details
If you are trying to visit Fatima at any time the followinng may be of use:
Santuário de Fátima
Information
Ap. 31 2496 908
Fátima
Portugal
Tel. 249 539 623
Fax: 249 539 609
E-mail: info@fatima.pt
web: http://www.santuario-fatima.pt
Santuário de Fátima
Information
Ap. 31 2496 908
Fátima
Portugal
Tel. 249 539 623
Fax: 249 539 609
E-mail: info@fatima.pt
web: http://www.santuario-fatima.pt
Faro at this time of the year
Faro is the administrative capital of the Algarve and while you will find plenty of shopping there, both in town and in the Algarve Forum Shopping Centre it is not exactly what I would call a holiday destination.
It is a ways from the coast...the local beach is about 8km away at Praia de Faro.
Don't know where you got the idea that most places will be closed! Faro is the one place in the Algarve where most shops and restaurants will be open at this time of year.
It is a ways from the coast...the local beach is about 8km away at Praia de Faro.
Don't know where you got the idea that most places will be closed! Faro is the one place in the Algarve where most shops and restaurants will be open at this time of year.
Friday, 5 December 2008
Christmas 2008 - Lagos to Faro Buses
There is no direct bus or train from Lagos to Faro Airport.
You will have to get a bus or train to Faro and then another bus or taxi to the Airport.
As regards trains, the official CP timetable is clear. Year round there are two trains that operate daily that will meet your requirements:
Dept Lagos: Arr Faro:
06:11 07:51
08:19 10:03
There is also a departure at 09:46 arriving Faro at 11:27 which does not operate on Sundays or Public Holidays. Boxing Day is not a holiday in Portugal so it will probably run.
As regards buses, EVA Transportes has two buses that will meet your needs:
Lagos: 07:00 Faro: 09:00 Weekdays
Lagos: 08:30 Faro: 10:35 Daily year round.
From Faro Train/Bus Station you will either need to take a taxi or bus.
The following buses (16 or 14) run daily from in front of Faro Bus Station to the Airport:
0800, 0830, 0905, 1010, 1115,
You will have to get a bus or train to Faro and then another bus or taxi to the Airport.
As regards trains, the official CP timetable is clear. Year round there are two trains that operate daily that will meet your requirements:
Dept Lagos: Arr Faro:
06:11 07:51
08:19 10:03
There is also a departure at 09:46 arriving Faro at 11:27 which does not operate on Sundays or Public Holidays. Boxing Day is not a holiday in Portugal so it will probably run.
As regards buses, EVA Transportes has two buses that will meet your needs:
Lagos: 07:00 Faro: 09:00 Weekdays
Lagos: 08:30 Faro: 10:35 Daily year round.
From Faro Train/Bus Station you will either need to take a taxi or bus.
The following buses (16 or 14) run daily from in front of Faro Bus Station to the Airport:
0800, 0830, 0905, 1010, 1115,
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Seville to Lisbon and Porto
Sorry for the delay. Iḿ currently in Italy.
There is currently no direct bus service from Seville to Lisbon.
www.alsa.es have a daily service that operates via Faro in the Algarve.
Dept:SEVILLA 15:00
Arr: LISBOA ORIENTE. 21:00
www.eva-bus.com also offer a service via their Faro hub to Lisbon Sete Rios bus station as follows:
Sevilla Faro 07:30 10:10 Daily
Faro Lisboa 11:00 14:15 Daily
or
Sevilla Faro 16:15 18:55 Daily
Faro Lisboa 19:00 22:15 Daily
Please note that these services are for Winter 08/09.
It is HIGHLY likely that these times will change for Summer 09. Please check in May or June on the respective websites.
As regards Lisbon to Porto, you can travel by bus or train.
If you visit my blog at:
http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com
and scroll down on the right until you come to the panel entitled
"Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links"
You will find links to Portuguese Railways, Renex Buses and Rede Expressos buses which will offer you a variety of options for the Lisbon to Porto Sector.
There is currently no direct bus service from Seville to Lisbon.
www.alsa.es have a daily service that operates via Faro in the Algarve.
Dept:SEVILLA 15:00
Arr: LISBOA ORIENTE. 21:00
www.eva-bus.com also offer a service via their Faro hub to Lisbon Sete Rios bus station as follows:
Sevilla Faro 07:30 10:10 Daily
Faro Lisboa 11:00 14:15 Daily
or
Sevilla Faro 16:15 18:55 Daily
Faro Lisboa 19:00 22:15 Daily
Please note that these services are for Winter 08/09.
It is HIGHLY likely that these times will change for Summer 09. Please check in May or June on the respective websites.
As regards Lisbon to Porto, you can travel by bus or train.
If you visit my blog at:
http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com
and scroll down on the right until you come to the panel entitled
"Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links"
You will find links to Portuguese Railways, Renex Buses and Rede Expressos buses which will offer you a variety of options for the Lisbon to Porto Sector.
Granada - Seville - Lagos - Madrid
You cannot book tickets for the DAMAS/EVA Transportes Service between Seville and Lagos online.
However, there are two services a day, every day and I am sure you will have no problem arriving at Estacion Plaza das Armas in Seville and buying a ticket there are then.
I used the 08:20 bus last Friday from Faro to Seville, and it was only about 20% full.
Have a look at Cubsur's page here for more info:
http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/001.htm
You are going to have great difficult getting back to Madrid Airport on time if your flight is early morning on December 22nd. You do not say what time your flight is. Be aware that Madrid Barajas Airport is a way out of town. You may need to sit the night at the Airport.
Your best bet would be to take an EVA Transportes Bus from Lagos to Lisbon Sete Rios, early on 21st December, 2008 and then connect with one of the buses operated by alsa.es for Madrid. Be aware that Estacion Sur Bus Station is on the South side of Madrid and you will then need to use the Metro to get to the Airport.
Timetable:
Lagos to Lisbon (Eva Transportes)
Lagos Lisbon
05:45 09:30 Weekdays
07:45 11:30 Daily
10:15 14:00 Daily
12:45 16:30 Weekdays and Sundays
15:30 19:15 Daily
18:15 22:00 Daily
Lisbon Sete Rios to Madrid (Click to enlarge)- www.alsa.es
However, there are two services a day, every day and I am sure you will have no problem arriving at Estacion Plaza das Armas in Seville and buying a ticket there are then.
I used the 08:20 bus last Friday from Faro to Seville, and it was only about 20% full.
Have a look at Cubsur's page here for more info:
http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/001.htm
You are going to have great difficult getting back to Madrid Airport on time if your flight is early morning on December 22nd. You do not say what time your flight is. Be aware that Madrid Barajas Airport is a way out of town. You may need to sit the night at the Airport.
Your best bet would be to take an EVA Transportes Bus from Lagos to Lisbon Sete Rios, early on 21st December, 2008 and then connect with one of the buses operated by alsa.es for Madrid. Be aware that Estacion Sur Bus Station is on the South side of Madrid and you will then need to use the Metro to get to the Airport.
Timetable:
Lagos to Lisbon (Eva Transportes)
Lagos Lisbon
05:45 09:30 Weekdays
07:45 11:30 Daily
10:15 14:00 Daily
12:45 16:30 Weekdays and Sundays
15:30 19:15 Daily
18:15 22:00 Daily
Lisbon Sete Rios to Madrid (Click to enlarge)- www.alsa.es
Rimini to San Marino
Rimini regretably is a shadow of what it probably once was.
Today its beach front with dirty sand beaches and run down hotels and pensions brings to mind the old British resorts of Hastings and Blackpool years ago.
Yesterday, we took the bus from across the road from the station to San Marino, which is the third small country in the world in terms of size. Measuring no more than 6km x 6km, it is a perfect example of the imaginary mini-statelet imagined in many movies such as "the Mouse that roared".
However, it is one of the oldest independent countries in the world with history allegedly dating back to AD 300.
The main town (San Marino) is situated on top of a rocky outcrop 750m above the nearby Adriatic Coastal plain. There are spectacular views from the top over the surround countryside,
Access is easiest by bus from Rimini. The bus takes 45 minutes and costs Euro 7.40 return. There are several services each day. These leave from in front of Rimini Train Station.
Current Timetable as follows: (Click on Image to enlarge)
Today its beach front with dirty sand beaches and run down hotels and pensions brings to mind the old British resorts of Hastings and Blackpool years ago.
Yesterday, we took the bus from across the road from the station to San Marino, which is the third small country in the world in terms of size. Measuring no more than 6km x 6km, it is a perfect example of the imaginary mini-statelet imagined in many movies such as "the Mouse that roared".
However, it is one of the oldest independent countries in the world with history allegedly dating back to AD 300.
The main town (San Marino) is situated on top of a rocky outcrop 750m above the nearby Adriatic Coastal plain. There are spectacular views from the top over the surround countryside,
Access is easiest by bus from Rimini. The bus takes 45 minutes and costs Euro 7.40 return. There are several services each day. These leave from in front of Rimini Train Station.
Current Timetable as follows: (Click on Image to enlarge)
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