Portugal  is a small country nestled between Spain and the Atlantic Ocean at the westernmost point of continental Europe.  It was once a powerful seafaring kingdom that controlled many of the routes to Africa, South America, and Asia.  The home of world famous football player,  Cristiano Ronaldo, is filled with lush landscapes and striking scenery. Though not as well known as some of its neighbors, it is a country rich with culture, interesting architecture, and fairytale castles. The laid-back vibe combined with great food and cheap wine makes this a must-visit destination.   Here is the cost breakdown of our trip to Portugal to help you plan yours:

• Time Cost
  • Total Days In Portugal: 8 days + 1 layover day in London
  • Total Days Off From Work: 5 days
• Monetary Cost
  • Hotel: $1100 + 8,000 Hilton Points + 7,000 SPG points
  • Flights: $815 pp +13,000 Avios
  • Transportation: $90 pp ($110 for car, $35 pp for train)
  • Admission fees: $80 pp
  • Food: $45 pp per day
  • Total Per Person: $1,800+ 4,000 Hilton Points + 3,500 SPG points + 6,500 Avios

If you’ve been following along with our blog you’ll know that we usually try to maximize our travel days and minimize our costs.  This usually happens when we find a good flight deal with availability around the holidays.  This system has allowed us to travel more frequently to many amazing places around the world. Admittedly, this did not happen on this trip.  A series of mistakes cost us time, energy, and money in the form of unused hotel rooms and additional flights – read about our mishaps here. Even with all the disasters, our trip was very memorable for all the right reasons.

There are a variety of things to do and see in Portugal, whatever your interests and tastes may be.  Visit the northern city of Porto and sample the famous port wine.  Zip over to Belem and indulge in the egg tarts.  Wander through picturesque castles hidden in the rolling hills of Sintra and feel like you’ve stepped into a Disney movie.  See the busy city from the rickety tram, and fall in love with the architecture of Lisbon.  Eat and drink until you are completely sated without breaking the bank.  To read more about our trip to Portugal, click on the links below:

• Read about all our rookie mistakes that we made on this trip
• Alternative accommodation option with AirBnB

Porto

• Cheap wine and good food is a winning combination
• A helpful self-guided walking tour to help you navigate the city
• Visit these 6 must do things in Porto
• Want to see the city from a different vantage point? Head up to the miradouros

Lisbon

• When in Lisbon, you must try the  famous Pasteis de Nata among other delectable
• There are so many things to see and places to visit, here is a list to help you plan
• The city of seven hills also have a lot of good lookout places

Sintra

• Step into the a story book and visit real life fairytale castles
• Venture to the ‘edge of the world’

Check back next to read about our trip to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.