RMC presents

PORTUGAL

Lisbon, the Surrounding Countryside
and the Island of Madeira

October 8 to 19, 2016

Portugal is a vacationer’s dream holiday for so many reasons. From its capital Lisbon with its rich treasured history, to quaint fishing villages and medieval walled towns. All this set amongst some of the most beautiful and dramatic landscapes you can imagine.

We will spend four nights in Lisbon and use this as our base to visit nearby sites along with some time to relax, shop and explore on our own. Lisbon offers us a wealth of monuments, museums and shops along its tree-lined avenues. Beautiful gardens, squares with decorated pavements and patterned tiled walls, colorful markets, numerous restaurants and cafes make this the perfect start of our tour.

Then we’ll have three nights in the countryside staying in Portugal’s Pousadas, which are incredible ancient and restored medieval castles or old convents located in small towns while we explore the unique history and cuisine only a few hour’s drive away in the region southeast of Lisbon.

We end our Portuguese holiday by flying to the Island of Madeira, a lush semi-tropical island in constant bloom with spectacular scenery, lush vegetation, moderate climate, great food and wonderful wines. There will also be two special Optional Tours: a pilgrimage to Fatima and the Sanctuary of Basilica and a sailboat Regatta challenge race on Lisbon’s Tagus river.

All this packaged into the romance and warmth of this wonderful country and seeing it at a slower pace.

 

TOUR INCLUDES

• Roundtrip transportation from Montauk to Newark
• Roundtrip air to Portugal
• Roundtrip air from Lisbon to the Island of Maderia
• 10 night’s accommodations at hotels & Pousada
• Hotel/Pousada service charges and taxes
• Breakfast every day
• 4 lunches
• 5 dinners
• Transportation in Portugal by coach
• Sightseeing as per itinerary
• Sightseeing entrance fees
• Optional tours

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Optional Pilgrimage to Fatima and Sanctuary of Basilica
• Welcome Portuguese wine reception in Cascais
• Welcome dinner in Cascais including a casino visit
• Jeep sightseeing tour of the romantic town of Sintra
• Optional Regatta race on Lisbon’s Tagus river (especially for those who lost the Spree River “race” in Berlin)
• Dinner at the Pousada Convento Do Espinheiro
• Whale and Dolphin Catamaran tour in Madeira
• Welcome and Farewell special dinners in Funchal

1st day: Saturday, October 8 – To Lisbon
Depart for Newark Airport where we board our non-stop flight to Lisbon

2nd day: Sunday, October 9th – Arrive Lisbon (D)
Upon arrival, we transfer to our reserved accommodations in the heart of Lisbon and time to rest. In the late afternoon, we leave for nearby Cascais for a quick panoramic tour of this seaside resort. Then to the hotel Palacio Estoril for a short pre-dinner welcome glass of wine (or 2) followed by our Welcome to Portugal dinner. After a short visit to the hotel’s Casino we return to Lisbon. For those who want to stay at the Casino, they can do so and return on their own to Lisbon.

3rd day: Monday, October 10 – In Lisbon – Afternoon Optional Tour to Fatima (B)
Lisbon dates back some 3000 years… in its fascinating lifetime it’s been a battlefield for Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians before the Romans here in 205 BC. In 714, the Moors arrived and stayed till the 12th century. In the 13th century, Lisbon became the capital of Portugal. Today, Lisbon, still maintaining the marks of its early history, is one of the most beautiful capitals of Europe. After breakfast, our morning tour will start with Belem, where many Portuguese explorers embarked on their voyages of discovery.  The Belém Tower, built in 1514 to commemorate Vasco da Gama’s famous sea voyage to India is dedicated to all Portuguese explorers Then to the Hieronymites Monastery, classified by UNESCO, along with the Belém Tower, as a World Heritage Site in 1983.  No visit to Belem would be complete without trying some of its legendary pastries. The recipe for Belém Pastries is one of the best kept secrets in Portuguese gastronomy. The pastries have become an attraction in themselves. Everyday around thousands such cakes are sold from this café which dates back to 1837. Afterwards our coach returns to city center where you can depart the tour and have the afternoon on your own, or return to the hotel if you are taking the Optional afternoon tour to Fatima and the Sanctuary Basilica, and learn how this agrarian village evolved into an influential Catholic Pilgrimage site in 1917 (see details in the Optional Tours section).

4th day: Tuesday, October 11 – In Lisbon – Day Tour to Sintra (B/L)
Today we have a full day tour to Sintra. Few places in the world can evoke a sense of magic and mystery as does Sintra, which is dominated by steep mountains, lush forests which create a microclimate atmosphere and Disneyland-like palaces with neo-gothic towers, On this tour we visit Quinta da Regaleira, an estate classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO within the “Cultural Landscape of Sintra”. It’s considered one of the principal tourist attractions of Sintra. The property consists of a romantic palace and chapel, and a luxurious park that features lakes, grottoes, wells, benches, fountains, and a vast array of exquisite constructions – a perfect setting for an unusual guided tour!   After lunch in town at the Café Central-Paris, a 150- year establishment frequented by artists and writers. We continue the tour with a visit of Cabo de Roca – the westernmost point of continental Europe. The cliff rises out of the Atlantic Ocean to approximately 500 feet above sea level and. Return to our hotel in the late afternoon for the balance of the day and evening at leisure.

5th day: Wednesday, October 12 – In Lisbon – Full day at leisure – Optional Montauk Regatta Race (B)
This morning we have an Optional morning Montauk Regatta Race, where we will pair off in groups 5 to 7 for a sailboat race on the Tagus River returning to the hotel for a free afternoon. (see details in the Optional Tours section) For those not racing, the day is at leisure and Lisbon is a great city for independent exploration.  Start at the Praca do Comercio,  one of the few extravagant areas of the city with stately pink arcades that line the 3 sides of the plaza (the 4th is open to the harbor). Maybe go to the Baixa with its shops and small restaurants. Or Roissio, Lisbon’s main Square.  Visit the Castelo de Sao Jorge, the old citadel of the Moors, or the 13th century Igreja de Santo Estevao. Stroll Old Lisbon or one of the many museums. Dinner on our own tonight.

6th day: Thursday, October 13 – To Evora (B/D)
We leave Lisbon this morning and depart for Evora the capital of the Upper Alentejo, and a World Heritage site and which is a walled since the Roman times, Évora is characterised by its Moresque streets, white houses with flowered balconies, and paved patios. From its rich past, Évora has kept many Medieval and Renaissance palaces that make it a museum of Portuguese architecture.  As our accommodations will not be ready until about 2pm, we can have lunch on our own. Then in the afternoon, we depart for a visit of Évora that will take us to the old quarter.  Starting at the Giraldo Square, with its 18th century marble fountain, the Roman-Gothic Cathedral, built in the late 12th c. early 13th c, to the Roman Temple built in the 2nd century. and dedicated to Diana; the Convent of Lóios., the Palace of the Duques of Cadaval and the very beautiful Church of São Francisco (16th c.) containing the gruesome Capela dos Ossos (chapel of bones).  Return to our accommodations and our dinner at the Convento Do Espinheiro.

A note about our accommodations: The origins of the Convento do Espinheiro are connected to a legend that tells of an apparition of the Virgin Mary above a thorn-bush (espinheiro) around the year 1400. In 1412, an oratory was built in honor of Our Lady and finally in 1458, during the reign of King Afonso V, and due to increasing pilgrimage, a church and convent were built and settled by monks of the Order of St.Jerónimo, who stayed here until 1835.During the 15th and 16th century, this convent was frequently visited by the Portuguese monarchs such as King John II (who held court here in 1481), King Manuel I, King Afonso V and King Sebastião, who, when in Évora, stayed at the convent by invitation of the Monks.

7th day: Friday, October 14 – In Evora – A visit to the wine region of the Alentejo (B/L)
In the Alentejo, time here passes slowly, as the Alentejo follows the rhythm of the land itself and perhaps this is why the region’s culture has its own particular character closely linked to the production of wine and olive oil. Today we will be visiting one of the most famous wine estates in the region:  HERDADE DO ESPRORÃO founded in 1267, and has remained virtually unchanged, despite being the stage of bloody battles and heroic deeds over almost nine centuries.  In the center of Herdade do Esporão, three historic monuments stand: the Esporão Tower, the Esporão Arch and the Nossa Senhora dos Remédios Chapel, the latter related to intense and devout popular worship in the region that involves local people to form processions when the rains are late. The Esporão Tower, an assertive symbol in society and a demonstration of military strength, is one of the most important towers in the region, illustrating the transition from the Medieval to the Modern Age in Portugal.  At the Estate, we will have a wine tasting plus a tasting of 3 regional Herdade Esporao olive oils. This is followed by lunch at a local restaurant before returning to Evora and the rest of the day and evening at leisure.

8th day, Saturday, October 15 – To Sesimbra and onto Pamela (B/L/D)
Depart for Arrabida Natural Park known for the beauty of its landscapes, the wealth of its farms and fertile land due to proximity of the mountain and the great Atlantic Ocean.

The region is also very famous for its regional cheese, and table wine such as “Periquita” and the sweet Moscatel wine. We will visit the José Maria da Fonseca wine cellars, one of the oldest and most prestigious wine companies in Portugal. That was founded in 1834 and known for its Moscatel and the Periquita wines. Then continue to small seaside village of Setubal for lunch. After lunch we head into the mountains, an unforgettable experience  with dazzling views of the coast. Our accommodations and dinner this evening are at the Pousada de Palmela, The Pousada Palmela is set in a charming hilltop town centered around the castle which was built by the Moors following their conquest in the 12th century.  Formerly a Convent of the Order of Santiago, it has been converted to a luxury hotel.

9th day, Sunday, October 16 – To Funchal, Madeira (B/D)
Transfer to the Lisbon Airport for our flight to Madeira’s capital, Funchal. Upon arrival, transfer to our reserved accommodations and time to relax and have lunch on our own. In the afternoon, we will have a panoramic city and Island sightseeing tour in 4 x 4 jeeps. Our jeeps will meet us at the hotel and then traverse through the city as we head for the Southern coast and Boca da Corrida with its fantastic view over the Curral das Freiras. We continue through Jardim da Serra, for a visit to Ribeira Brava before returning to our hotel. In the evening we will have dinner at the Restaurante do Forte Flavors located by the sea in the old part of Funchal.

10th day, Monday, October 17 – In Madeira – Catamaran Tour (B/L)
After breakfast we depart for our Catamaran Tour. We transfer from the hotel to the harbor and board our Catamaran as we sail seeing the Southern coast again, but from a different view. On our return trip we will pass by the 2,000-foot high cliffs of Cabo Girdo and the idyllic fishing village of Camara de Lobos. As we cruise we hope to see Dolphins and turtles that frequent the area. Upon disembarkation, we will have lunch at a local seafood restaurant before returning to our hotel. The afternoon and evening are free. Spend it at the hotel pool, go shopping or why not take an eagle’s-view cable car ride for a 15-minute climb starting from Old Funchal.

11th day, Tuesday, October 18 – In Madeira – Day at Leisure (B/D)
Today is a free day to relax at the pool or visit Funchal. For those spending the day in town, Funchal is great for exploration or shopping. The streets of the capital offer you charming historical areas and picturesque squares that highlight beautiful churches and convents that date back to the 15th century.  Or why not do some “Flower-Power” at  the Botantical Gardens on a hillside at Quinta do Bom Successo? The Island also boasts a renowned orchid collection Tonight’s farewell dinner will be at the Restaurante Adega da Quinta, located at the Gardens of Quinta do Estreito, with stunning views of the Bay below…where we will start our farewell dinner with a sip of the restaurant’s famous Madeira wine.

12th day, Wednesday, October 19 – To Montauk (B)
After breakfast, we transfer to the Funchal Airport for our flight back to Lisbon and connect to our flight back to Newark. On arrival, Jitney back to Montauk.

OPTIONAL TOUR DETAILS

Tour #1 October 10 – In Lisbon: Fatima and the Sanctuary Basilica (afternoon tour)
In the afternoon, we board our coach for Fatima and during our drive we will learn how this former village evolved into an influential Catholic Pilgrimage site in 1917 after three children claimed to have witness and apparition of the Virgin Mary. Our guide will explain the details of this lady that later became known as “Our Lady of Fatima”. We will visit the Shrine that over 4 million worshipers travel to every year to pay homage. We continue the visit and explore the Chapel of Apparitions, where gravestones of two of the three children rest and where the Virgin Mary emerged in front of them nearly a century ago. There will be some free time for you to continue our visit to this historic shrine before returning to Lisbon.

Tour #2 October 12- In Lisbon: The Montauk Regatta Sailing Challenge (morning tour)
For those who did not experience the canoe face-off on Berlin’s Spree River (or lost the race), here is a chance to enjoy the challenge again on Lisbon’s Tagus River.  We will learn from a professional sailing escort how to navigate the river along the coastline as we prepare for the race. We will be divided into groups of 5 to 7 (depending on how many participate) and then leave the harbor dock for the first buoy. That will take about 20 minutes. Then as the teams reach this first buoy, the race begins. The goal will be to reach the second buoy about 1 ½ miles away and then return to the start line in the shortest time possible. We will be racing against time as well as another sail boat. At the end of the competition, a non-bias decision will be made announcing the winner.  Afterwards return to our hotel.

HOTELS (or similar)

Lisbon The Hotel Barrro Alto 4 nights	Evora Pousada Convento Da Espinheiro 4 nights
Palmela Pousada de Palmela 1 night	Funchal, Madeira Pestana Grand Hotel 3 nights

Please Read the Terms and Conditions for this Tour

** Bonus! SAVE! You will receive a 5% discount if ALL payments are made by check or money order. This discounted price is noted below in red.

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PRICE PER PERSON

Per Person in Double Occupancy room:
$3,599 payments via check or money order
$3,789 payments via credit card

Per Person in Single Occupancy Room:
$4,499 payments via check or money order
$4,739  payments via credit card

Add to above costs:
U.S. airline facility security and tax charges   $488 ($514 via credit card)
Prepaid Gratuities $115 ($199 via credit card)

Land Only Prices:

For those providing their own air to/from Lisbon price (includes flight Lisbon/Madeira/Lisbon)
Per Person in Double Occupancy Room  $3,199 ($3,369 via credit card)
Per Person in Single Occupancy Room  $4,098 ($4,299 via credit card)

Optional Tours

Lisbon: Fatima and the Sanctuary Basilica
Per Person (Based on a minimum of 10) = $79 ($89 via credit card)

Madeira: The Montauk Regatta
Per Person (Based on a minimum of 15) = $149 ($159 via credit card)

INITIAL DEPOSIT
$350 ($365 by credit card) Non-Refundable deposit due on or before April 9, 2016 to guarantee space

FINAL PAYMENTS: Due on or before August 3, 2016

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Travel Insurance

RMC Travel highly recommends the purchase of Trip Cancellation/Interruption Travel Insurance, and we therefore provide you with an easy way to contact RMC’s preferred insurance provider, Allianz Global Assistance. If you need additional information or have questions, please call Allianz directly at 800-284-8300, and refer to code F025323.