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Portugal Holidays, Flights & Travel Guide
Portugal travel guide - Portugal
holidays, holiday packages & Portugal hotels.
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Search & Compare Discount on Portugal Hotels
and Holiday Packages to Portugal
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Top destination guides for Portugal
holidays;
Lisbon Holidays
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Portugal Holidays, Portugal Holiday
Packages Overview
Portugal shares the Iberian
Peninsula with Spain, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the
west and south. Its long, varied coastline, sunny climate, and the
relaxed lifestyle of the inhabitants of its charming towns and
villages have made it a sought after holiday destination. The
delight of Portugal is that, although it is undeniably part of
modern Europe, it retains some rural enclaves where time has stood
still and traditions flourish. In the southern province of the
Algarve, modern high-rise resorts line the coast and buzz with all
the trappings of a package tour destination; the capital city,
Lisbon, on the west coast, is a bright, busy, crowded metropolis
surrounded by bustling tourist resorts. Travel a few miles north or
east, however, and discover a largely undeveloped picturesque
countryside full of medieval villages and towns where life has
changed little over several centuries. The
Portuguese have a close affinity to the sea; for centuries their
famed mariners led the way in the exploration of Africa and the
Americas, and opened trade routes to the East. The country became a
strong colonial power, and remained so until the mid-20th century,
resulting in distinctive foreign influences on the local culture
and architecture. From Africa, for example, was imported the now
traditional, sentimental fado music, which is one of the country's
unique experiences for visitors, particularly in the cafés of
Lisbon. In recent years Portugal, long
overlooked on the list of the world's top vacation stations, has
been investing time, money and effort into ensuring it is
discovered by the world's travellers, just as once it was the
Portuguese who discovered the world. This new age of discovery is
paying off, as increasing numbers of visitors arrive each year and
hotel and resort construction has exploded. From the visitor's
point of view the compactness of the country makes it easy to take
in all the best elements: sandy beaches, scenery, history,
wonderful cuisine, lively entertainment, charming handcrafts,
thrilling nightlife, country fairs, excellent sporting facilities
and warm, friendly people. From the cobbled
winding streets of Lisbon's medieval citadel to the cork forests in
Alentejo, and from fishermen mending their nets on remote beaches
to the shopping malls and sophisticated glitzy resorts, Portugal is
a country well worth discovering.
Tourist Offices - Institute of Portugal Tourism, Lisbon:
+351 211 205 050 or www.visitportugal.com
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Entry Requirements
for Portugal Holidays & Portugal Travel
All visitors must hold tickets and/or
documents for their return or onward journey, and at least EUR74.82
plus EUR39.90 per day of stay, unless holding proof of paid
accommodation (equivalent in convertible currency accepted). The
borderless region known as the Schengen area includes the following
countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal, Spain and Sweden. All these countries issue a standard
Schengen visa that allows the holder, in principal, to travel
freely within the borders of all.
- For Australians -
Australian nationals do not require a visa for a stay
of up to 90 days.
- New Zealand nationals do not require a visa for a stay
of up to 90 days.
- US nationals do not require a visa for a stay of up to
90 days.
- US nationals do not require a visa for a stay of up to
90 days.
- British citizens do not require a visa for a stay of
up to 90 days.
Portugal Holidays - Currency of Portugal
Portugal is a member of the European Union and its
official currency is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100
cents. There are numerous banks, bureaux de change and ATMs
available in main cities and tourist destinations. Foreign currency
can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and automatic currency
exchange machines. Banking hours are generally 8.30am to 3pm Monday
to Friday. Major credit cards are widely accepted, as are
travellers cheques.
Portugal
Telephone Access Codes and Communications
The international access code for Portugal
is +351. There are no area or city codes required. The outgoing
code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the
United Kingdom). Portugal is well covered by three GSM mobile phone
networks. Internet cafes are available in most towns and
resorts.
Portugal
Duty Free Allowances & Restrictions
Travellers over 17 years arriving from non-EU
countries do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 100
cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g smoking tobacco, or a proportional
mix of these products; 1 litre spirits with alcohol volume higher
than 22%, or 2 litres spirits or aperitifs made of wine less than
22%, or sparkling wines or liqueurs, or a proportionate mix of
these, and 2 litres of wine; perfume up to 50g and 250ml eau de
toilette. Travellers over 15 years do not have to pay duty on 500g
coffee (provided purchased in a tax-free shop); 100g tea or 40g of
tea extract (provided purchased in a tax-free shop); medicines for
personal use and gifts or souvenirs to the value of EUR175 for
adults and EUR90 for children under 15 years.
Portugal
Holidays & Packages- Tipping Information
Service charges are usually added to hotel and
restaurant bills, but it is customary to leave an additional 10%.
Bar staff and taxi drivers also expect tips, which are usually the
rounding up of the bill to the nearest Euro.
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