Porto City Add-On

Another fantastic trip with Inntravel. Walks were longish but easy and the excellent weather certainly helped. It was nice to get off the main Camino and on some tracks on the Variante Espiritual. We didn't need the short cuts but useful to know if the weather was bad and we did all the walks, including the mill walk on the rest day in Meano, which I would recommend, it was lovely (and then did the wine tasting in the early evening). As Chivas was wonderful, I really loved this place, sitting on the terrace eating a fantastic meal. Quinta de San Amaro was lovely, great room, great view and excellent food. Hotel Bradomin was also unexpectedly good and felt really authentic. The room was simple but spotless, it was agreat location and the staff were wonderful. We stayed and had a simple 'pilgrim's meal' in the hotel and it was great, lovely atmosphere. In Pontevedra, La Estafeta was a fanstatic place to eat (and were pretty tolerant of a couple of sweaty pilgrims straight off the Camino for a late lunch). Pulperia Real for pulpo was great too and staff were lovely (ignore TripAdvisor, they were fab). In Santiago we ate at the recommended Ocurro da Parra and this was probably the best meal of the trip, really recommend, delicious! We also ate at O Sendeiro which is just out of the old town but an easy 10 minute walk from Hotel Virxe and it was also really excellent, in an old pousada, wonderful food and service. This was quite a different experience for us as we are more used to walking alone (we have completed a lot of Inntravel trips in Spain) but it felt really special to be part of something. Definitely recommend this trip, it was fantastic.

We loved the Inntravel suggested first day's walking trip in Porto especially as the city was so busy. It greatly helped us find our bearings. We also greatly enjoyed exploring the markets in Ponte de Lima - bric a brac and antiques on Sunday and food and clothing on Monday - they gave us a real glimpse of the local community.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: This customer did our city add-on in Porto followed by our walking holiday 'Manor Houses of the Minho'.

Completing the walk was a personal highlight as I had been apprehensive about the distances. The hotel in Meano was an unexpected highlight. Loved Porto and had lovely day at the beach. Port tasting at Graham's was good and preceded by excellent tapas away from the crowds. Too many highlights to mention them all.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our walk Camino de Santiago, The Old Way with our Porto City add-on

For us, meeting and interacting with the proprietors of four very different establishments -- a farm, a small hotel, a family-run guesthouse, and a manor with a titled owner -- made this trip more than special. It was a real opportunity to learn a great deal about a part of Portugal we'd never visited before. Post-Covid Europe can be crowded and even difficult at times, but our expedition, including the walks between the overnight accommodations, proved to be a welcome exception to that pattern. General comments about the Porto extension: Hotel Ribiera Porto was satisfactory, but we wish we had stayed at the Hotel Pestana Vintage Porto. For the Port Wine tour we highly recommend the one offered by Viatour, "Port Wine Lodges Tour Including Seven Tastings." Two restaurants we enjoyed were Fish Fixe and Ode Porto Wine House.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our city add-on in Porto with our walking holiday 'Manor Houses of the Minho'

Highlights were Sobreiro and Paco. Latter really quite amazing. Suggested excursions in Porto vg. Lunched twice in Rua Clerigos in Formo de Clerigos. Also vg.

Upgrade at Hotel Infante de Sagres was excellent and well worth the extra. Inntravel customers might appreciate knowing in advance when local Fiestas are on, which could influence choice of dates. Taxis are good and reasonably priced, and open up the opportunity to visit other places, like Braga and Viana de Castelo on wet days.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers added on a stay in Porto to our Manor Houses of the Minho walking holiday

Another enjoyable holiday. High Paths was strenous in the heat, particularly the tarmac ascents. Our favorite walk was into Geres, especially reaching the plateau with just stunning rock formations. But beware of the horseflies! If you don't like crowds stay at the Infante Sangres in Porto - lovely room,wonderful elevator and staircase, and best breakfast of the holiday--real yogurt, figs, Serra da Estrada cheese, meat pastries, as well the usual spread. If you have time, do walk the ecovia in Arco de Valdeves. Just lovely and a nice easy start before the tough level 3s over the next three days.

The cafe bar at the foot of the Indiana Jones staircase in Peneda is very welcoming. Refresh yourself before climbing those stairs!  And take a look at the contents of the small red chapels lining the staircase.

Douro Valley - magnificent scenery. More trash on the hikes than we expected. We fell in love with Braga and enjoyed it much more than Porto.  Beautiful, clean, welcoming.  And great fun!

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined High Paths of Northern Portugal, Valley of Gold, Porto city add on and Braga city add on.