Lisboa Region

Survey says: Affordable Lisbon

Monday, 08 March 2010 00:00

The survey says that Lisbon is popular for being more affordable than other major cities. A tourist-satisfaction survey by the Lisbon Tourism Observatory (TL) has found that international visitors to the city are attracted to it more because of the price. Carried out during April, June, August and October 2009, the study was based on answers from more than 5,000 tourists in and around Lisbon. This year it was ‘price’ that was the main motive of choice, making Lisbon a more economic alternative to other tourist destinations. From 2007 to 2009 the price went from being a least relevant factor to the most important in making the decision to visit Lisbon. Last year almost half (46.6 %) of visitors chose Lisbon for being cost-worthy, while in 2008 that figure was 27 %, and in 2007, 16 %.Today, the decision to visit the Portuguese capital is made based more on recommendations from family and friends, and the city’s cool image. Two thirds of the survey’s participants claimed their return to Lisbon was ‘probable’ or even ‘highly likely’, down from around 90 percent.

New Oitavos luxury Lisbon-area resort set to open

Sunday, 07 March 2010 00:00

A new luxury hotel is set to open by the end of the summer 10. Situated 20 minutes form Lisbon, the Oitavos, will open on 1st September, 2010, with 142 guest rooms, a golf course built around sand dunes, and salt water swimming pools. The nature inspired property is located within the family owned Quinta da Marinha estate, within the Sintra-Cascais National Park. The new hotel will have a conference centre which can accommodate up to 300 people, plus five additional meeting and board rooms catering for up to 150.

Restaurant Week returns to Lisbon and the Algarve

Thursday, 04 March 2010 00:00

Starting March 6th you can enjoy Lisbon’s best food at more affordable prices. This is the city’s “Restaurant Week,” allowing you to taste some of the Portuguese capital’s most sophisticated (and expensive) menus for only 20 euros per person. It’s a way of attracting people who don’t usually want to spend dozens (or even hundreds) of euros at the most expensive restaurants and give them a chance to sample the city’s best food. Not all restaurants are part of the event, as the idea is to highlight the best of the top-quality choices. So there are 25 of them in total, with Casa da Comida, Conventual, Cop’3, Eleven, Mezzaluna, Olivier, and XL among others. No, you won’t be able to just choose anything if you want to only pay 20 euros. Each restaurant will have special menus at that price. Those menus include appetizer, entrée, and dessert but no drinks. One euro from each meal will then be given to charity. It is advised that you reserve your table in advance, and be sure to ask about availability, since some restaurants only offer the special menu at lunch time and others limit the number of people per table. And in April, it moves to the Algarve, from April 22 to May 3, with 22 restaurants.

Lisboa Zoo: More than 125 years of education and wonder

Wednesday, 03 March 2010 00:00

Lisboa Zoo, Portugal’s prime animal educational facility offers a glimpse at dolphins, reptiles, birds monkeys. With more than 300 species and 2000 animals in-house, the zoo has been classified as a Public Interest Institution since 1913. Located in the center of Lisbon, guests can see the animals on foot, by train or from a bird’s eye view in the zoo’s cable car. For more information about the Lisboa Zoo and other activities for children, go to www.visitportugal.com and www.zoo.pt.

Sana Hotels plans two new Lisbon hotels

Monday, 01 March 2010 00:00

The Sana Hotels chain is expanding their already extensive Lisbon list with two new high-end hotels. The Sana Amoreiras Royal Hotel will be just outside the city center, and the Sana Torre Vasco da Gamma Royal Hotel will be in the Nations Park area. This will bring the Sana collection in Lisbon to nine hotels.