Splendid Portugal Avis 

We loved the country and the people. The itinerary was very good, but I have a few comments. The excursions were noted in the trip plan but were stated so briefly we did not have detail of what would be expected. Would have preferred more detail description about the excursions. The Fado experience/ dinner was too long and sophisticated for Americans who don’t speak the language, a taste of a Fado experience would have been preferred, and if we weren’t enjoying it, we could leave. Prior to the Fado dinner we had been on a 3 hour food tasting walking tour.i enjoyed that tour, but we were tired and full and had to sit through a 3 1/2 hr Fado and multi course dinner. It was too much and too long. The 7th day in Lagos had us overbooked at the winery. We were there at 6 for 90 minute wine tasting and vineyard tour, then had to wait until 8 for the dinner that started with the tour we’d just seen and then dinner. Pick up for hotel return was scheduled for 9;45 so we were there almost 4 hrs for 2 similar events. The place was lovely, the people were wonderful, but I didn’t think the food was that great. The daily info about the drivers picking us up in Lisbon and Porto indicated the drivers name and a direct contact number, but Lagos the contact was the manager of the agency, and agency number. That was fine but not what we experienced prior and found it confusing as to who’d be picking us up, we didn’t know we were dealing with an agency and not driver directly. The hotels were all wonderful, the tours and guides we had were great. We were always in a small tour groups so we appreciated that. The transfer were all very good drivers and professional and conversational. We enjoyed our free time and loved the shopping.

From start to finish we had a wonderful trip. It began months in advance with Nuno developing a complete itinerary after listening to our interests and focus of the trip. Splendid Portugal arranged and coordinated all of our tours almost all private, hotels and transportation. Once we arrived in Portugal everything was taken care of with daily updates and answers to any and all questions. Sofia and the Splendid team was very helpful and responsive. Their 1st priority was to make sure our vacation was everything we wanted. It was 14 days with a full itinerary but never were we rushed. There was a perfect combination of activities and downtime. I highly recommend a trip to Portugal coordinated with Splendid Portugal

Cesar and his team at Splendid Portugal planned a wonderful 2 1/2 week trip for my husband and myself. Cesar understood what we were looking for in terms of a mix of guided tours and time to explore on our own, a mix of history and nature, urban settings and natural beauty, having experiences we wouldn’t find in tour books. Cesar and his team member Sofia always responded promptly to any questions, both during the planning process and during the trip. We were updated each day with the itinerary for the following day, including contact information for drivers if applicable. Transitions were smooth. Unfortunately we had to cut our trip short by 2 days due to a death in our family. Cesar and Sofia took care of all of the required changes and cancellations. But as important as taking care of the details and changes, what stood out the most to us at that moment and throughout the trip was how caring and kind and responsive the team was before and throughout the trip. They were genuinely invested in us enjoying their beautiful country of Portugal and in offering us activities and opportunities we would not have found on our own.

One of the best decisions we made early on regarding our Portugal trip was to hire Splendid Portugal to plan our itinerary. They turned into our local, like minded friends that left no stones unturned to ensure that our stay is comfortable, fun and just the way we like it. They were so easy to work with, so empathetic, accommodating yet very responsive and professional. They asked the right questions and tailored our itinerary to meet all our expectations. It was the right balance of touristy experiences and some family free time to do what we wished. They picked the best locations for our stays, and experiences for us - all of them had a special personal, cultural touch.

When it came to their service, they stayed in touch with us to prep us for the trip and during our stay there.They took note of my son’s dietary allergy and instructed all hotels, tour guides to prepare something special for him. It was these kind of thoughtful gestures that made our 7-day portuguese vacation to Lisbon and Algarve memorable and truly splendid!! Nuno, Diogo and Sofia were the representatives we worked with, but I am confident the whole team is splendid!

Communication with tour operators was really good and the website was always updated. We had a wonderful trip for the most part. A few glitches and disappointments with the food at two of our stays. Majority of the time everything was fabulous and the guides were always extremely kind and helpful. We will (God willing) be back soon to enjoy more of Portugal and its stunning scenery.
Thank-you for curating this trip for us Patricia and team!

From my very first conversation with Cesar-I knew that I had made the right decision to choose Travel Local for my trip to the Azores. I provided details on what my dream trip to the Azores looked like (providing a list of activities I wanted to do) and he and his team made all the arrangements to the very last detail. The hotel selections were amazing and exactly the experience I wanted in terms of accommodations. My planned activities and excursions were all wonderful-with dedicated and professional guides. All the companies used were top notch and professional. The daily communication with Diogo and Laura was amazing-receiving a daily text with my itinerary details was so great and appreciated. I felt well supported throughout my solo trip in the Azores! I would highly recommend using travel local for your trip to Portugal/Azores. I was able to travel worry free and loved not having to do research on hotels and tour companies. I will be telling all my friends and family about travel local and without a doubt use them for my future travels to Portugal and other locales!

I can confidently say working with Splendid Portugal was the BEST experience I have ever had working with a travel agency. Cesar and Diogo were amazing! They both paid attention to our desires and planned outstanding experiences for all of our 9 travelers! Cesar and Diogo answered all my questions and provided a perfect balance of experiences! My entire group felt exactly I like do about Splendid Portugal!!! Outstanding service!!!

I can’t stress enough the level of service received from Splendid Portugal. Cesar even arranged a doctor to come to my hotel when I became ill early in the trip.

If you want the BEST Portugal vacation, choose Splendid Portugal!!! You will LOVE it!!!

Everything ran very smoothly according to our planned itinerary. Hotel locations were well located and the excursions were somewhat unique and definitely very private.

We spent 3 glorious weeks in Portugal over the year end holidays. It was interesting to experience another country’s culture and customs over Christmas - an important holiday in Portugal, as well as enjoy the festivities and fireworks in Porto on New Year’s Eve. Everything was well planned and executed by the Splendid Portugal team and their respective partners - from the accommodation, transportation, tours and suggestions of restaurants/ places to visit during our free days. There was no rush and the trip was stress free as everything was professionally and efficiently handled by the team. Both Diogo and Nuno kept us updated of any issues in a timely manner and it was easy to contact them for help as required. We got to see a lot of Portugal in an unhurried manner - with a mix of small group and private tours. As my friend had a birthday during the trip - the team arranged a special surprise birthday dinner for us. Made the experience special and a truly memorable one. Overall - a trip to remember for many years. We would recommend Splendid Portugal for their personalised service as they listen to your requests and endeavour to ensure your trip is a memorable one!

The trip was well planned and executed. The guides were knowledgable and a joy to spend time with. The drivers shepherding us on the tours were also incredibly informative, helpful and a joy to spend time with.
At each stop there was an activity or destination that we said "let's make sure we do that" and it was already part of their plan. They allowed for some surprises as part of the experience which added a playful element to the trip/experience.

Our 1 week small yoga group adventure, to the Duoro and Porto, from initial inquiry to completion was a resounding success. Inez took time to understand our interests and needs and designed a well timed and diverse itinerary connecting us with friendly and local hosts. Communication before with Inez and during with Gabriella was impressive. I have no hesitation in recommending and confirming that Splendid Portugal is a company that lives up to its name. Obrigada

This trip was absolutely perfect and I would/have recommended it to anyone who is either going to Portugal for the first time and/or wants an easy trip with the planning done for them. Thinking back to the trip there isn’t a single thing that I would change. We got a text every few days about what was on the itinerary and when the driver would pick us up at our hotel. It made the whole trip super easy and relaxing having our tours planned out for us and even ensuring every restaurant would accommodate dietary preferences. I cannot recommend enough this experience and program

The team at Splendid Portugal planned a flawless trip to Azores and throughout Portugal. All of our reservations for hotels, cars, guides and drivers were perfect. I would highly recommend them for your trip to Portugal.

Our group of 4 adults toured parts of Portugal for 2 weeks, including Porto, Douro Valley, Coimbra, Evora, and Lisbon. We worked specifically with Nuno and Gabriela, and their attention to detail was excellent. We loved every day of our itinerary; each day was worry-free because we knew every detail had been attended to. The accommodations at each stop on our tour were first class. The experiences we signed up for were fantastic. Drivers, guides, food, and wine were all wonderful and memorable. Obrigado Nuno and Gabriela.

Our experience with the local guides for walking/hiking was excellent. They listened carefully to what our skill level and interests were and led us on walks that met and exceeded our hopes. In the planning of the trip, Patricia used her expertise to help us design an excursion that included hiking/walking and was more focused on natural sights. While traveling, Gabrielle responded to all her inquiries when we were not sure of next steps.

We enjoyed a first class experience with Splendid Portugal. Every hotel, transport and tour was taken care of for us and was of highest quality. Splendid staff understood our interests and preferences and planned an itinerary for us that allowed us to get to know Portugal in the few days we had there. We were well taken care of, top notch experience!

The time spent before the trip planning our itinerary was evident once we arrived. Our destinations and guides were all informative and interesting. They brought out things that we would not have appreciated without their insight and knowledge. The hotels were all beautiful and perfect for our needs. The lunch choices and dinner events were all amazing. And the recommendations for dinners and things to do not included in the trip were spot on. Overall a great trip!!!

The attention to each detail was phenomenal. From the drivers being on time to the knowledgeable guides, everything was perfect. The company was in touch daily to see how everything went during the day.

Everything was well planned out and super easy.

We have been to Europe many times and this was the best planned trip we’ve ever experienced. From the time we got off the plane until we left we felt that we were taken care of as if we were members of Nuno and Diogo’s family. The job done by everyone at Splendid Portugal was fantastic.