Romantic 7-Day Spain and Portugal Tour for Couples

Zicasso’s travel company was great to work with to plan our 16-day trip for 12 people. Our travel specialist met our needs by considering the age of the group (62 to 72). We were all vegetarian and had some accessibility needs.

We requested city-center hotels with breakfast, so the ones chosen were perfect, with so much entertainment, restaurants, and shops within walking distance. The hotels chosen were well maintained, had friendly staff, and great breakfast selections.

Having a WhatsApp group created with the team and my group made communication very easy and quick for all our needs. The team replied quickly and made changes where necessary, going as far as to book several vegetarian restaurants for us and providing tuk-tuks for the narrow roads, so we didn’t have to walk so much.

The tour guides who were chosen were all very knowledgeable. This kept my group entertained and engaged with all the tours and activities. The guides made sure we were able to see the best parts of the museums, palaces, churches, gardens, and castles. We are seven couples who have been traveling together for the last 14 years. This was the most memorable trip for us.

Thank you to the entire team.

My husband and I had a wonderful week touring central and northern Portugal with this Zicasso travel company. The itinerary developed by our travel specialist was excellent, as were the hotels she selected.

Above all, we appreciated our driver. He was kind, patient, and full of knowledge. He guided us through many sites and provided a history of each place we visited. He answered all our questions. We would never have had the depth of understanding on our own. He was also flexible if we needed to make changes and had the patience of Job driving through the busy streets of Lisbon and Porto, and through winding roads of the medieval towns... again, something we could not have done on our own.

Our entire trip was very personalized to our interests. We have already recommended the travel company to our friends. We look forward to coming back because we had such a beautiful trip.

I didn't understand the relationship between Zicasso and its travel company, and it took me a while to get the triangular reporting scheme. It was easier for me to reach out to someone directly, but we managed.

The people at the travel company were very accommodating. However, I learned a lot about my own travel preferences through this trip. We spent four days in Porto, the first being arrival from the US via Lisbon, so we did not do any touring that day. We only had half a day to explore on our own given the activities that were planned for us. I would like to have had more downtime in Porto to get to know the city.

The foodie tour that we took was fabulous. Our guide took us on a very personal tour, introducing us to her favorites and including all the things we wanted to achieve. Please send her our regards and personal thanks.

We spent a day in Vinho Verde. As the harvest had been completed the day before we arrived, the experience felt contrived. We could easily have skipped this.

The Douro Valley exploration was more interesting to us. We visited two wineries, the second of which was more special, so we enjoyed the tasting more thoroughly. Again, the guide was delightful!

We took a train back to Lisbon feeling like we had missed much of Porto. As we expressed interest in Jewish history, we booked our first morning tour through a tour booking platform to supplement what the travel company provided. While they said their guides would be knowledgeable in this area, there was no guide that provided that background.

Our train ride to Lisbon ended in a surprise. We were about to descend the stairs to the Oriente platform when the doors closed suddenly and the train left. Fortunately, the next stop was not far and we were able to turn ourselves around and return to our awaiting driver.

Our day in Sintra and Cascais was disappointing. We drove to Cascais and had 25 minutes to explore. We then continued to Sintra. We were not sure what access we were provided, but another couple had full access and their admittance was for 12:00, so we had to be there by then. While it is a spectacular site, it was way too crowded to see anything, and a guided tour of the site would have been desirable.

We were able to include a visit to an estate due to a working relationship that exists with them. They have cork forests on their property, so there was no reason to visit Évora for that purpose.

All in all, the drivers and guides we were given were thoughtful, professional, helpful, and concerned… always helping us with doors, luggage, footing. Having them immediately available was extremely useful. On the other hand, we learned that we were not as interested in camp for adults, where all of our activities were planned for us, as we were in learning and feeling the culture and spirit of the country. The country is beautiful and its people quite warm and friendly.

Special thanks to our travel coordinator for picking up the pieces of our trip and finalizing the details for us.

We enjoyed the trip. The guides were good, although our guide in Lisbon provided a little bit too much history. But he was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed his tours. The communication with the Zicasso company through WhatsApp was very good and they were very accommodating to upgrading our transport vehicle because our luggage was large. The food tours were good. We enjoyed all the sites that we saw. Barcelona, especially, was great.

We stayed at four hotels. Only the hotel in Porto was a disappointment. The other hotels were good and we were very comfortable. The breakfast that was served at the various accommodations varied in quality, but the breakfast buffet in Lisbon was extremely good. The hotel in Porto was definitely not a four-star facility. The local airline definitely does not have its act together. When we left Barcelona to come home, the line for the airline was about five or six times the length of every other line. I would have definitely been willing to pay a higher amount for a business class seat in order to use the very short line in the Porto airport.

Zicasso’s tour company was quick to respond to our initial request, and was easy to work with to put together a trip around a family wedding my brother and I were attending on Portugal's west coast. Because we were traveling together, I asked for either 2 separate rooms or a 2-bedroom suite/apartment. They proposed two apartment-style accommodations.

The Lisbon apartment exceeded expectations. It seemed like a boutique hotel with apartments with full kitchens that were stocked with breakfast items and personalized daily fresh bread/pastry delivery to the door.

The only issues we had was with the apartment in Porto which seemed more like a regular short term rental. The location of the apartment in Porto was great, but it did not provide breakfast, which we were told ahead of time. However, we didn't really realize the impact that would make given our tour schedule and were lucky to have gone to a grocery store for a few staples.

The apartment was not well maintained, had a large stain on the rug in the TV room and stains on some towels. Also, I had to request service to unclog the slow/clogged drains in the bathroom sinks and showers, which was completed the following day. I provided pictures of the apartment and feedback, which the travel company seemed rather surprised by, as they had clients stay at this location previously and were very apologetic about it.

The was no comparison between the apartments in Lisbon and Porto, they were not on the same level, not even close.

The tours and drivers they set up were great, and we had a combo of private and small group. The travel company gave us a daily rundown of our itinerary and were quick to answer any questions.

Our trip to Portugal, arranged through Zicasso and expertly crafted by our travel specialist, was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. From the vibrant city of Porto to the breathtaking Douro Valley, every detail was thoughtfully planned and flawlessly executed.

Our private guide was exceptional, an expert in all things Portuguese. His deep knowledge of the country’s history, culture, customs, and traditions brought each destination to life.

Our stay in the Douro Valley was truly memorable. Our hotel was exceptional, featuring a beautiful river view room and a restaurant that showcased the region’s cuisine. We also visited several charming boutique and family-owned wineries, each offering unforgettable hospitality, remarkable wines, and unique experiences that reflected the charm of the region.

I highly recommend Zicasso and, in particular, the travel specialist to anyone considering a trip to Portugal. It truly exceeded our expectations!!