After Lisbon...

Some thoughts on how we want to leave Lisbon and where we want to go.

Lisbon Hotels: Baixa

Lisboa Tejo Hotel gets decent reviews. It's located downtown. Breakfast included. No fitness center (I don't think many of them do, unless you go to an American chain further from downtown, like the Holiday Inn). No in room wifi, but they have wifi in the common areas $130/night.

We could stay at Albergaria Insulana for about $80/night. Reviews basically say it's no frills, but the rooms are clean, the beds are comfy, it's a great location, and it's cheap. Wifi available in the 24-hour bar. No fitness center.

Lisbon Hotels: Financial District

The Novotel Lisboa is located in the financial district, so about 2 km north of city centre.  I think we stayed at a Novotel in Scandinavia. It's got wifi, fitness center, and tennis courts (in case we feel like playing for the first time in 4 years). If we pre-pay, we can get a room for as low as $80/night (no breakfast). $100/night if we want breakfast (still pre-pay). I don't see a lot of bars/restaurants in the immediate vicinity, but we are a 5 minute walk from the Metro to city center, or 2 km is about a 15 minute walk to city centre. I picture this being similarly located to our hotel in Budapest. A little out of the way, but easy to get to stuff.

The Hotel Florida is north of city centre, but not as far as the Novotel, so it's closer to downtown. It's got restaurant, bar, wifi, few blocks from the Metro, fitness center. Looks pretty nice, but is $123/night, breakfast included.

The one Priscilla recommend. Maybe a little over $100 a night.

Porto

We won't have time, but my coworker has been to Portugal. She recommended Porto, said it's a cool city in wine country.

Thought I'd at least share.

Lisbon Hotels: Location

Trying to start a list of possible places to stay in Lisbon. First, I'm trying to get the lay of the Lisbon land.

Where to go in Spain

Early research leads me to:

Seville with side trip to Jerez
Madrid with side trips to Toledo and Segovia
Grenada
Valencia
Barcelona

We obviously can't do all, but that's a start for me.

I definitely want to eat these wherever we go.

Interesting Article on How to Experience Lisbon Like a Local

http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/13-04/what-not-to-do-in-lisbon.html

BOOKED!

We did it. We're going to Spain, we booked our flights last night.

We leave Friday, October 18 at 4 PM. Arrive London at 5:55 AM. Leave London at 8:15 AM, arrive Lisbon at 10:55 AM on Saturday, October 19.

We leave Barcelona at 7:20 AM on Sunday, November 3. Arrive Frankfort at 9:25 AM. Leave Frankfort at 12:45 PM, and arrive back home at 3:15 PM.

Tuesday Flight Update

I know Tuesday afternoon is supposedly the best time to buy. Maybe I'm a little ahead of myself. Quick flight update:

Specific Spain Travel Options

Ok, so I'm assuming we are doing the into Lisbon, out of Barcelona thing. I looked at 2 options, first, we fly from Lisbon to Seville. Second, we take the night train from Lisbon to Madrid. As always, dates/destinations are flexible.