Portugal – our Babymoon :)

This was our last further trip before the birth of our daughter. After reading all over the Internet, we found an interesting term for such a trip – Babymoon. So here we go with our coverage of the recent two-pack plane trip :)

I’ll warn you right away, this post is going to be a little pregnancy and childish, but only a little, so please don’t get discouraged and turn off your receivers ;)

This report was supposed to be written a long time ago, but somehow it was easier and faster for us to get to work after short, weekend trips. For this trip, we wanted to take more time, calmly describe everything to provide as much reliable and detailed information as possible. The country we chose is so diverse and attractive that it deserves it :)

We were fortunate that the pregnancy went almost smoothly for us, so there were no changes in our travel plans for 2016. We entered it with beans in our bellies in the Canary Islands. We also had a few days in England along the way, but it was a typical business trip, so nothing of greater rest.

We wanted to go somewhere to relax, calm down, prepare ourselves mentally and have a little peek at how other families travel, so that we already have the right attitude :)

We were looking for a direction that was reasonably warm, but not hot. We chose an off-season date to avoid the crowds, but of course took into account when it’s best to travel while pregnant – we were scheduled to return at the beginning of the 3rd trimester (it’s best to travel just in the 2nd trimester).

>>> Also see how, where and when it’s best to travel while pregnant….

We were not looking for a direction that was too exotic to avoid the possibility of poisoning or any diseases. We wanted to have a lot of alternatives on site – both beaches and any sights welcome. For climbing, trekking, rafting, skydiving or diving we thanked this time :)

The choice fell on Portugal, and only then did the stairs begin – because how to be everywhere in less than 2 weeks??? Unfortunately, there was only so much vacation we could both afford. There’s so much to see, you’d have to drive the entire length and breadth of Portugal, and unfortunately, a long car ride in a blessed state is arduous.

Babymoon in Lisbon :)

We were flying to Lisbon, so the question was whether we were going to the north or south of Portugal? We had to choose something at the expense of something, because we focused on quality rather than quantity. On the one hand, picturesque Porto, on the other, the most beautiful beaches of Europe. The choice fell on option No. 2. The plan was simple – intensive sightseeing to start, followed by intensive rest ;)

We spent the first part of the trip in Lisbon and nearby towns, which are easily accessible by public transportation. Our accommodation may not have been in the very center, but in the so-called “walking distance”. Luxuries did not knock it down, but it knocked it down instead with the width of the building. Cramped, the lobby barely accommodated a small reception desk, and one could barely squeeze a suitcase into the elevator. Fortunately, the room was decent, although it was also small, like the entire hotel. You can book it here.

Unfortunately, this part of Lisbon was not the most charming, moreover, just like the road to the center. Dirt, filth, loose plaster, stores and services locked up to the hilt…. Sometimes we felt like we were back in Cuba. We did not expect such poverty and neglect here. Reaching the old town, we enter a different world.

The charming Algarve

It was only a few days later that we rented a car to go to the Algarve and drive down the southern coast. Here we stayed in a hotel moloch, so the difference in space available to us was colossal. We had at our disposal a large apartment with a kitchen (it’s just a pity that it had no equipment :P ). The hotel was dominated by Spanish and English tourists who came for the typical all-inclusive (although we only had breakfasts purchased), only the time was still too early, as daredevils who took advantage of the cool pool were scarce. You can book this hotel on Booking, right here.

With each passing day, the number of hotel guests increased and it became more and more crowded and bustling. The surrounding area was also just waking up to life and getting ready for the seasonal influx of tourists, which guarantees a year-round revenue. Many of the pubs and hotels were still closed, and those that were open did not reek of a wide selection and fresh produce. Such are the charms of off-season travel ;)

Nevertheless, we will remember the Algarve as it would like to be remembered, i.e. the region of the most beautiful beaches in Europe :)

The ideal date?

While in the Algarve you could see and feel the season approaching, in Lisbon the season is probably always on. There, we barely fit on the streetcar, waited in long lines for tourist attractions or ticket offices at train stations (although sometimes pregnant women have priority ;-)).

Instead, the weather was perfect both in Lisbon and the Algarve. Not too hot, not too cold.

That’s it in a word of introduction, which we will write about in the near future. It will be about Lisbon, beautiful Sintra, Algarve region, high and steep cliffs, beautiful beaches and much more :)

We will talk in detail about what we managed to see, what delighted us, and what we were disappointed with soon. So here we go with our Babymoon coverage :)