Portugal

Booking the right car

Particularly in Portuguese villages and towns, it can often be quite crowded. It is better to book a smaller hire car. It will get you through everywhere and you can easily find a parking space.

During the summer, you should definitely book a car with air conditioning, so that you can enjoy a relaxed drive even on hot days.

Insuring the car properly

The spirited driving style of many Portuguese ensures that accidents can happen quickly.

Safeguard yourself and book a hire car with fully comprehensive insurance without excess. With the liability you should pay attention to the amount of coverage.

It should be at least one million euros, so that you have at least some protection if people are injured in an accident or multiple vehicles are involved.

If you find your rental company’s coverage amount too low, you have the option of taking out a so-called Majorca policy to provide further protection. Your insurance company will be happy to advise you.

Tank control

Some rental companies in Portugal require you to buy the first tank of fuel for a service charge. In return, you are then allowed to return the car with an empty tank. However, you will never manage to roll into the hire car company’s yard with the last drop of gas.

And you wouldn’t incur the service charge if you had filled up yourself either. So rent right away from a hire car company where you pick up the car with a full tank of gas and return it with a full tank.

Language barrier

In Portugal, you can’t automatically assume that the staff at your rental agency will speak fluent English. If you have written down the phone number of your rental company’s Portuguese head office, you may be able to find someone there who can interpret.

Bail

Before renting, ask your rental company how they handle the deposit. It is good if he only blocks the amount on your credit card. In this case, the money is immediately available again after returning the car.

But if the deposit is actually collected, it can sometimes take longer for the money to be transferred back to your account.

Suggestions for a holiday by hire car in Portugal

The sporty holidaymaker

Portugal is the European Eldorado of golf. Of course, you can also rent clubs locally. However, many airlines offer the transport of golf clubs free of charge.

If you have your “bag” with you, the hire car should also be a little larger, so that holidaymakers, luggage and golf set find enough space.

Our special tip is the Onyria Palmares Golf course. Spectacular views of the ocean paired with challenging holes make this 27-hole course a special experience. But for this you have to pay a high price. 105 euros green fee for 18 holes are to be paid in the main season.

For those who find this too expensive, hopefully they have their snorkelling equipment with them. The underwater world of the Algarve is impressive. The cliffs with spectacular rock formations and crystal clear waters make snorkelers feel like they are floating above an exotic landscape.

The epicurean

From hearty meat stews to freshly caught fish, from vino verde to port. Connoisseurs get their money’s worth in Portugal. Avoid the restaurants on the coast, which are only geared to tourism. Rather, look for a small restaurant in the interior and make sure that the guests primarily speak Portuguese.

This way, you’re sure to get to know the country’s genuine cuisine. Don’t miss an evening of fado music. The “blues of Portugal” tells of unhappy love and tragic fates. It is usually performed so passionately that you will be immediately enraptured even if you don’t know the local language.

The Beachcomber

The beaches of the Algarve in particular attract crowds of visitors year after year. Small bays, framed by red rock faces make this coast unique. In the early and late season, you have many stretches of beach to yourself.

However, you should be a little sporty. There are steep paths to overcome in order to be able to play Robinson for time on the secluded beach.

The culture enthusiast

Culture enthusiasts should start their trip in Lisbon. The charming old town invites you to stroll around. Especially the tile facades of the houses and the narrow streets exert a special charm.

However, visitors should know that most of the buildings are younger than 300 years, as Lisbon was largely destroyed in a major earthquake followed by a tsunami in 1755.

A ride on the “Electrico Carreira 28E”, the historic tram line 28, is an experience in itself. It goes through narrow alleys and along one of the steepest tram lines in the world. If you are drawn further back in time, you should visit the small town of Óbidos.

The city walls date back to 1527 and the town centre has also retained its medieval charm. The town of Alcobaça is also worth a trip. The Cistercian monastery there, the Mosteiro de Alcobaça, dates back to 1153 and was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1989.