Private Hidden Treasures of Portugal Tour

Our Zicasso travel agent curated a private tour for the six of us, including the perfect mix of historical, gastronomical, wine, and cultural experiences. 

We stayed in Lisbon, Évora, the Dao Valley, the Douro Valley, and Porto. We traveled in a comfortable Mercedes van and, to break up our trips, we stopped at amazing sites along the way as we traveled from city to city. 

Some of our favorite things were a private sunset sail in Lisbon, a fado dinner, the Évora Cathedral, a cork trek and wine tasting in Alentejo, the monastery at Batalha, wine tastings in Santar (Dao Valley), a boat ride on the Douro, wine tastings and hiking in the Douro Valley, the Bom Jesus shrine in Braga, the Port tasting and dinner in Porto, and multiple pastry tastings along the way. 

Our guides were fantastic. They were attentive, on time, and very knowledgeable about the history and culture of each place we visited. 

There were very few issues on our 17-day tour, which was literally one of the smoothest and best-curated trips we have ever had. We will use our travel company and agent again as we intend to go back to Porto and the Douro Valley.

Zicasso’s travel specialist and company thought of everything. Everything was well planned and the private transportation and transfers to places and tours were excellent.

We particularly loved the food tours in Lisbon and Porto. The leaders were great and we learned so much while tasting and drinking delicious samples of Portuguese life and tradition.

We received information each day as to what to expect, with great detail. A “turnkey” operation without the crowds of large organized tour trips. The travel specialist did a great job! Thank you.

This was a fantastic trip to Porto, Lisbon, and the surrounding areas, tailored to our needs and interests. We had an extensive walking tour of Lisbon, vineyards, and historic sites with our tour guide. Zicasso's travel agent provided personalized service consistent with a good small company. There was a rail strike while we were there and they handled it.

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!!

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.

Logistics: We actually cleared customs and baggage claim very quickly in Lisbon upon arrival. We were able to get to the train station and change our ticket to a train two hours earlier. We were able to notify them such that our driver was waiting for us when we came in. In general, all our drivers and vehicles were top quality (especially our driver in Porto). Our only issue here is that sometimes the pick-up times were far too early for transport to rail stations, especially the one in Albufeira. We arrived well over an hour early in what is not one of the nicest train stations in Portugal.

Hotels: All of the hotels were well located. Some were a little unique, i.e., you opened the room door in Lagos and right in front of you was the toilet area, but all the rooms were adequate, with one exception. We found it somewhat frustrating there was no seating other than the bed in all three hotels, other than the desk chair, or in the case of Lisbon, the small hassock used at the desk. Yes, Lagos had a balcony, but it was not usable due to all the rain. This was especially true in Lisbon, where according to the pictures sent in our itinerary, there was a large sofa in the room for the class we picked, but there was nothing in the room we were assigned. One other little glitch is that when we changed our schedule to drop a night in Lagos and add one in Lisbon, the hotel told us we had our original four-night reservation and then a one-night reservation for the night we came in early. The desk clerk tried to tell us we could check in, but would have to check out in the morning and wait until check-in time the next day to get our new four-night reservation room. I did clear this up with the hotel supervisor the next morning, but if they would have held their position, it would have been very awkward.

Excursions: All the activities they put together were spectacular. They’ve really spoiled us to having travel that doesn’t include 20 to 30 people. The most amazing was the dinner at the winery, as we were the only ones there. The first tour in Porto was a little rough, as it was cold and rainy, and after an overnight flight the day before, we weren’t really expecting a food tour starting at 9am, but it all worked out. Also, the fado dinner was great, although I must say, I don’t usually finish dinner at 22:30.

We are so very thankful that we selected this travel company to be our go-to partner in Portugal. It was a pleasure working with them and they were able to put together a program with what we wanted, not some cookie-cutter program that we needed to comply with. I will be giving a strong recommendation to any of our friends who are considering Portugal as a destination and we’re hoping other Zicasso operators are of the same quality when we visit other destinations.

Thanks again for everything!

Just to clarify one thing, the dinner ending at 22:30 was not a complaint; it was an observation about having a new experience, especially since it was connected to the Fado dinner.

Bob F. and Conni A.