We spent 2 weeks in Portugal. It was great, but our trip would've been way better if we'd avoided these 6 mistakes.
From spending too long in Lisbon to making packing, planning, and transportation mistakes, here's what I wish we did differently on our Portugal trip.
Our two-week trip to Portugal was fantastic overall, but there were a few missteps that could have made the journey even better. Timothy Moore recounts several lessons learned from their experience.
Firstly, Tim and Trent arrived in Portugal later in the day, specifically at 9:45 a.m. Unfortunately, their flight had them heading straight to Porto without a rental car. Since they were staying in an apartment with no front desk and inflexible check-in times, they had to carry their luggage for hours before housekeepers could store it. This meant they couldn't relax until nearly dinner time.
Secondly, the couple spent too long in Lisbon, a city they enjoyed but felt had too many obligatory tourist sights. A couple of nights in Lisbon was more than enough, as they found the crowded streets filled with tourists shuffling from landmark to landmark. Additionally, they encountered random drug offers in crowded areas and experienced several museums being closed for restoration, which was an unfortunate timing issue.
The duo missed out on some of Portugal's best attractions due to their packing and planning mistakes. The Douro Valley, the Algarve, and nearby small towns were highlights they wished they had spent more time exploring. Specifically, they regretted not dedicating more time to hiking. While they did walk parts of the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, they missed out on the stunning Peneda-Gerês National Park, known for its lush forests, cascading waterfalls, and rolling mountains.
They also made a rookie mistake by booking a car for the final leg of their journey in the Algarve. Although rideshares were reliable and affordable, the couple canceled the car reservation due to concerns about driving in Portugal, which is considered one of the most dangerous countries for driving. They found Ubering around the Algarve to be more convenient and cost-effective, saving money on fuel and avoiding the stress of potential driving mishaps.
Lastly, Tim and Trent packed too many fancy outfits, taking up valuable space in their luggage. This forced them to do laundry twice during the trip, as they had to carry excess clothing. Additionally, they forgot to pack American cold medicine, a lesson they learned from a previous international trip, but completely overlooked this time around. Their medication was more expensive in Portugal and less effective than what they were used to at home.
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