Questions and Answers
If you have a question about our trip, email me at Sandy@52Best.com or phone me at 972-702-0000.
Question: Have a Question? I would love to find the Answer for you.
Answer: And the Answer (without your name) would show up here so that Fellow Travelers can benefit from it.
Question: From Dallas (DFW) to Lisbon (LIS) and Porto (OPO) to DFW what flights are most people taking?
Answer: We each purchase our airline tickets. My quote today February 20th from American Airlines was $1,008 for round trip tickets leaving Dallas (DFW) on October 29th at 2:55 pm on AA 808 changing planes in Philadelphia to AA 258 and arriving 12 1/2 hours later the next morning into Lisbon (LIS) at 8:30 am. The returning November 6th AA 8684 flight leaves Porto (ORO) at 12:30 pm, changes planes in Madrid to AA 157 and arrives 13 hours later into DFW the same evening at 8:20 pm. For step-by-step details CLICK HERE.
Question: Does Portugal require a visa?
Answer: No. For American travelers, we do not need a visa to Portugal since it is a member of the EU. As with all international travel, a passport is necessary with an expiration date more than six months from the day that we are to return from the trip.
Question: What about any special shots or vaccinations?
Answer: What I understand is that Portugal is a pretty clean place and that our State Department does not say any special shots are vaccinations are required. However, as with any statement related to health, be sure and check this out yourself as well consult with your physician as well as Dr. Google.
Question: What is the temperature like in Portugal in the latter part of October?
Answer: During the latter part of October and the first week in November Weather.com reports that the temperature in Lisbon averages during the day 73 degrees which is 7 degrees cooler than in Dallas in October. Nights average 59 degrees which is 1-degree cooler than Dallas during the evening. This is a good time of year to enjoy Portugal.
Question: What about rain?
Answer: Google says that Lisbon averages 8 days of rain in October which is a mix of sunny and partly rainy days that become more common towards the end of the month. In October, in Portugal it is best to dress in layers.
Question: What is the Private Coach that we will be traveling in like?
Answer: We are traveling with a large tour operator. The Private Coaches are “luxury styled” and nearly brand new with recliner “lounge” seating that is extremely comfortable.
Question: What is in the bus such as WiFi etc?
Answer: The majority of the buses are ‘new age’ with internet connectivity, WiFi, and USB ports to charge our devices along with excellent sound systems.
Question: Will there be a necessity for a dressy outfit for dinner?
Answer: Not at all. Bring your special Hawaiin shirt and enjoy. The dress is casual.
Question: What about the number and cost of our meals?
Answer: While we are in Portugal we will be having 24 meals of which 10 are included with the trip.
Question: What should I budget for the other 14 meals?
Answer: Food in Portugal is excellent and reasonably priced. We should easily eat tasty and exciting meals for an average of $10.00 each for lunches and from $12 to $24 for dinners depending on 2 or 4 star and the number of drinks ordered.
Question: What is the approximate tip allowance for our guides/coach driver? Our 2019 trip was about $95 each if I recall.
Answer: This is up to each of us, but your estimate is reasonably in line. In our trip packet which we will receive a month before we leave will give additional information.
Question: I am an insulin-dependent diabetic and I use insulin pens. Will the hotels have refrigerators in the rooms?
Answer: Nine out of ten of the hotels will have mini-refrigerators in the rooms. If not, arrangements can be made to have a mini-refrigerator brought to the room, a cool place provided in the kitchen, or ice available to the room.