Additonal travel and general information
Flights ¦ Car hire ¦ Taxis ¦ Eating out ¦ Shopping ¦ Touring ¦ Other
Eating out:
There are probably more restaurants in Portugal per head of population than anywhere else in Europe and all of them, whether humble café or fashionable restaurant, provide excellent food in generous quantities at very reasonable prices. For the price of an ordinary bottle of restaurant wine in the UK, a full meal for two people including wine can be obtained at any decent restaurant in north Portugal. It is normal, in the north, for a single portion to be far more than most appetites can manage, so the great majority of restaurants offer a half (meia) portion for most dishes; effectively, two can eat for the price of one. Wines are marked up only slightly higher than in wine stores, so drinks do not grossly inflate the cost of a meal such as is the case in the UK.
Within a few minutes by car from the Quinta, there is a good choice of restaurants and there are one or two within walking distance. Some of these are well known to us and look after our guests exceptionally well.
Shopping:
There are supermarkets in Portugal on a par with our own but the fish and delicatessen counters are a revelation. In spite of the fact that most food is subject to IVA (VAT) you will find the price of meat in particular to be lower than in the UK. Local wines, usually verdes (green) wines are available from about £0.80 per 75cl bottles. Spirits and excellent locally brewed beers are about half the price compared with the UK.
There are supermarkets and minimarkets close to the Quinta and there are towns nearby, such as Paredes, Penafiel and Barcelos which also have their own weekly street markets. Porto has much to offer the shopper and sightseer, with a major shopping centre near the São Bento main railway station in Porto and the Port wine industry's showcase there is worthy of a visit.
Touring:
The Quinta is ideally located for getting about either by road or by train with quick and easy access to either the major main road (autostrada) network or the railway running west to Porto or east up country to the head of the Douro River. If you want to see something of Portugal, it would be difficult to find a more convenient location from which to set out.
Luxury boat trips up the Douro River start at Porto and the return journey is made by train where the track runs close to the river bank. Meals, train fares etc are provided as part of the package and make for a spectacular day out.
A good supply of tourist information and leaflets about local towns, districts and places of interest is kept at the Quinta.
Other:
There is a resident housekeeper at the Quinta who will attend to your room. She will also handle any laundry you may need; preferring to wash almost entirely in cold water, she will return your garments as new. There is an extra charge for this service.
Fresh bread and pastries are delivered to the Quinta twice daily, seven days per week.
Before departure for Portugal, every guest is provided with a route map of how to find the Quinta and an additional one, located in your room, illustrates where the local railway and petrol stations, restaurants, supermarkets and so on can be found.
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