Hidden Portugal

Title:
Firstname:		* required
Lastname:		* required
Email Address:		* required
Phone Number:
Address Line 1:		* required
Address Line 2:
Town:		* required
County:		* required
Postcode:		* required

To book or for more information please call: 0330 341 1117 and quote RTA

Newmarket Holidays are offering 15% off a selection of 2023 European holidays. Save and fly from regional airports until Friday, 31 March 2023.

Discover a delightful corner of Portugal, filled with fascination, offering the warmest of welcomes and home to famous wines. Stay at a choice of excellent hotels close to the historic Costa Verde fishing town of Póvoa de Varzim, beautifully set on the glorious Atlantic coast, and explore this little-known but lovely region on three fascinating included guided excursions: one to Porto, one along the Costa Verde and one into the Minho region just north of Póvoa. Hugely popular with our customers, this holiday also offers opportunities to explore the vineyards of the Douro Valley, Portugal's historic former capital, Braga, and Spain's stunning pilgrimage shrine at Santiago de Compostela on optional tours.

Holiday Highlights

Discover Portugal's second city, Porto, in its splendid setting above the River Douro
Visit a port wine lodge
Journey along the scenic Costa Verde
Explore the Vinho Verde's vineyards
A leisurely walking tour of Póvoa de Varzim on an optional excursion
Experience guided visits to Viana do Castelo and Ponte de Lima in the northern Minho region on an optional excursion
Travel on an optional tour to Barcelos, home to Europe’s largest open-air market and Braga
Seek out historic Santiago de Compostela, one of Spain’s most beautiful cities on an optional tour

Why we love this holiday ...

"Portugal’s “green coast” is a picture-book seaside destination, awash with white sandy beaches, vibrant forests and pretty fishing towns. And if, like us, you like nothing more than to sip a glass of fine wine in the sunshine, you’ll be delighted to hear that the region is home to many vineyards and wine lodges – meaning a tasty tipple is never far away! Newmarket also offers a range of optional excursions on this break, meaning you can do as little or as much as you like – it is your holiday after all!"

What's Included

Seven nights' dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation at your chosen hotel
A full-day tour of Porto
Tour of the Minho region
A visit to one of the city’s many famous port wine lodges
A trip to Vinho Verde vineyards and Ponte de Lima
Return flights to Porto
Coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Oporto, meet your tour manager and board the coach for the short transfer to your chosen hotel.

Day 2

Our first included excursion, taken in the company of your tour manager, is a full-day visit to Portugal’s second city, Porto. The city that gave its name to the country is ancient, time-weathered, and clings haphazardly to the hillside above the beautiful River Douro. During the day, you'll also visit one of the city’s many famous port wine lodges, and have the chance to enjoy lunch in a riverside restaurant. An optional boat trip on the Douro will also be available (payable locally). You’ll return to Póvoa for dinner.

Day 3

Rest and relax in Póvoa and its surroundings, or join the optional excursion - a guided introduction to the beautiful, wine-producing Douro Valley. Travel through the romantic Amarante area and wonderfully scenic Mesao Frio en route to the small port of Régua, the home of port wine. Here, you'll visit a working quinta, and have the opportunity to stroll through the estate’s vineyards as the history of port production is explained.

Day 4

Spend another relaxed day in the hotel and its surroundings, with the chance to join your tour manager for a leisurely guided stroll along the seafront promenade and delightful Póvoa de Varzim. Take in the beautiful beach and the sweeping Atlantic views, and discover the tiny port, where the local fishermen land their catch in a traditional fashion. A selection of shops, bars, cafés and restaurants – most serving freshly caught seafood – as well as the well-known Monumental Casino ensure Póvoa's reputation as a pleasant holiday resort. Guests staying at the Estalagem Santo André may consider taking the public bus (payable locally) back to the hotel, or enjoying a gentle walk along the promenade, perhaps stopping off at a café or a bar.

Day 5

Today’s full-day optional tour takes in Barcelos, home to Europe’s largest open-air market – a colourful, bustling hive of activity offering a huge range of locally produced goods. From here you’ll continue to Braga, the former Catholic capital of Portugal. Set in the heart of the verdant Minho region, this ancient university seat is one of the country’s oldest settlements. See its great cathedral, and explore the verdant acres of Bom Jesus park and the Escadaria (Baroque staircases) which climbs through it, past chapels, fountains and statues, to the hill-top church.

Day 6

The last of our optional excursions crosses the Spanish border and heads to historic Santiago de Compostela, one of Spain’s most beautiful cities. Famous as the end of the 1000-year-old Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail, the city's heart is the (marvellously preserved) Romanesque cathedral - possibly one of the world's earliest tourist destinations - to which medieval pilgrims once flocked in their thousands.

Day 7

Your final included tour takes in the beautiful coastal region of the Minho. Your first stop will be the typical seaside town of Viana do Castelo, on the northern bank of the estuary of the River Lima. One of the town's highlights is the Basilica de Santa Lucia, which has wonderful views over the surrounding area. You'll also head further inland, through the Vinho Verde vineyards, to the historic market town of Ponte de Lima, famous for its 18th-century fountain and Roman bridge.

Day 8

Bid “Adeus” to this delightful region of Portugal, and head back to the airport to check in for your flight home, at the end of a hugely enjoyable holiday.

Axis Ofir Beach Resort Hotel, Esposende

Positioned on a beach facing the Atlantic Ocean, this sleek resort is enclosed by pine groves and offers a range of facilities....

Axis Vermar Beach Hotel, Povoa de Varzim

Boasting a fantastic location next to the beach and close to the centre of Povoa de Varzim, the four-star Axis Vermar Beach Hotel provides a relaxing home-from-home for guests wishing to soak up the...

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 30 minutes.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Room tax

Some hotel have introduced a room tax of between 1 € and 3 € per person per night, payable directly by the guest to the hotel on check-out. You will be advised by your tour manager at your destination if a particular hotel is implementing this charge.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Airport development fees

An Airport Development Fee has been introduced at a few UK Airports. You will be required to pay this charge at the following airports prior to checking in for your flight: Blackpool, Newquay and Norwich. The amount varies from airport to airport, but it is generally between £5 and £10 per person. Please visit the airport's website for further information.

Travelling to Europe

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. Note that these new rules do NOT apply when travelling within the United Kingdom or to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland. You do require government issued ID when travelling by air though.

Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names.

Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you return home (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date").

These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland where you can continue to use your passport as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay.

Visa - If you’re a tourist, you do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. Different rules will apply to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania; if you visit these countries, visits to other EU countries will not count towards the 90-day total. Travel to Ireland will not change and stays there will not count towards the 90-day total.

European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Commencing in 2023, all citizens of the United Kingdom will require a ETIAS electronic form completed prior to their arrival into the EU and Schengen member countries. The cost for this travel authorisation will be €7.00 per person with exceptions for under 18’s and over 70’s. The latest information and further details can be found at www.etias.com.

Border Control - At border control, you may need to show proof of your return journey - your travel documentation issued by us will be sufficient for this. You will also need to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens if manual checks are required.

Healthcare Cover - You should always get appropriate travel insurance with healthcare cover before you go abroad which covers pre-existing conditions. You should understand the terms and conditions of your travel insurance and be happy with its cover for healthcare and travel disruption. Newmarket sell a comprehensive travel insurance policy. Ask our travel consultants for more information.

You should also apply for a UK Global Heath Insurance Card (GHIC) which lets you get urgent state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Note GHIC is only valid in EU countries and not in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Terms and conditions

TRAVEL15 save 15% offer applies to a selection of products in the 'Fly Local' category and is valid on bookings made between 17 March and 31 March 2023 at 23:59. This Offer is valid on all 2023 departure dates only and excludes all other products. 15% off 2023 departures must be redeemed through the use of the promo code TRAVEL15. The discount applies to the tour price (excluding extras and holiday insurance) at the time of booking. The offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time

Holiday provided by

Read further information about our partner and full Terms and Conditions by clicking here