Before touching down in Portugal, my perception of this place was at a bare minimum. I even used to pronounce Lisbon incorrectly which from that alone, I shouldn’t have been let into the country. My trip to Spain just weeks prior to my Portugal trip had influenced me to believe that its smaller neighbor would be vastly similar. However, spending a mere week in Portugal prevailed to prove itself to be like no other place I’ve traveled to thus far. From the welcoming locals to its beautiful cliffs and landscapes to the pasteis de nata, I would absolutely recommend a visit at some point in your life – at any age, you’ll be able to find something here that will grab your attention. As I write this post, revisiting the memories that Portugal has presented me is going to send me into a spiral of wanderlust, the kind of wanderlust that’s filled with the realities of travel. Read on for my unfiltered ups and downs (like literally almost falling off a cliff type of down) of exploring Portugal.
On the Road with Siesta Campers
Working with Siesta Campers, a recreational vehicle rental agency in Portugal, was one of the most eye-opening experiences that I’ve had, not just in Portugal but in my life. The concept of “van life” and “RV life” had always intrigued me, but despite how enticing it came across on social media, I personally never saw myself thriving on the road like that. So, when Jesse came to me saying he secured this company for a couple of days during our Portugal trip, I was rendered speechless with a mix of emotions. That sounds dramatic, but it might help to mention that at the time, Jesse had only driven a manual car once or twice in his life; the van that we were going to be provided (the Siesta Beach Van) happened to be manual. In other words, picture two Americans with little to no experience driving stick whipping a whole manual camper van on the steep cliffs of Portugal… I was seemingly writing my own death wish. But, like always, Jesse and I figured it out and with a dash of practice beforehand (we rented a manual car on our first day in Portugal), we were able to safely and successfully explore a foreign country in a van for three days and nights.
Upon arriving to pick up our Siesta Beach Van at Siesta Camper’s Lisbon location, we were welcomed by Bruno who was one of the friendliest Portuguese locals we came across all trip. He explained to us the workings of the van and everything we needed to know to utilize the van to its potential. Full transparency, I wasn’t expecting a quarter of what this van had to offer. From a pull-out bed to running water for the shower and sink to stored blankets and pillows to a gas stove, this van really had it all. With the ability to raise the top for additional sleeping space, it felt so incredibly spacious and homey. Siesta Campers really made it loud and clear that they thought of every detail that their customers may need to have the best “van life” experience.
By the time we started on the road, the sun had set, and the night sky was blended with Lisbon’s city lights. With music blasting via Bluetooth and the windows down, I vividly remember crossing the Vasco da Gama Bridge (the second longest bridge in Europe!) and feeling so free. We headed straight toward Algarve and the sky slowly filled with twinkling stars as we drove through the quieter parts of Portugal. Thankfully, Jesse’s a quick learner and it didn't take him long to get used to driving the van, despite it feeling slightly heavier than he was used to. I felt comfortable, safe, and knowing that Siesta Campers had really hooked us up, I was so grateful.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this van experience like nothing else. Without Siesta Campers, my Portugal trip would have been much different than what it turned out to be, not in a good or bad way, just different. However, that of course doesn’t mean that everything went picture perfect. Having the van for the limited amount of time that we did, Jesse and I wished that we better organized our route ahead of time. We had destinations in mind, such as Porto Covo and Ponta da Piedade, but I believe we could’ve tackled more sights if we planned better. We also had to make frequent stops along the way to grab footage and had to take one full day to film which didn’t help the overall time crunch. As I previously mentioned, the functionalities of the Siesta Beach Van were beyond impressive and looking back, we should have taken advantage of what it had to offer a lot more. Also, gas prices in Portugal make New Jersey’s prices seem like nothing but a pretty penny – it definitely wasn’t cheap to fill up the van’s tank (around $120 USD for a full tank!). The mileage of the van, however, was super efficient so we did not need to stop for gas often. Portugal seems tiny on the map, but its roads extend for what seemed like an eternity at times. When the nights of our miniature journey on wheels became tired, we had to find [legal] places to park and sleep, but that wasn’t much of a hassle at all. It’s safe to say that these downs were mostly on our part and we see these aspects as nothing but lessons to grow from!
Despite literal and figurative bumps in the road, I finally understand why “van life” is so attractive to travelers alike. This experience with a camper van truly fueled my desire to try new things and to keep an open mind, especially regarding ways to explore and see the world. Jesse and I are endlessly appreciative of Siesta Campers for having us and for giving us memories and experiences that we will cherish forever. They made it so easy for us to call our van home for the time that we had it. We hope others look forward to exploring Portugal on the road through your company.
Obrigada Siesta Campers!
- Alyssa Tanchoco, Marketing Manager
Our Stay at Hotel Fontecruz Lisboa
Hotel Fontecruz Lisboa truly helped me live this fantasy pampered life, at least for two days and one night. Upon entering this beautiful hotel lobby located in Lisbon’s city center, we were welcomed by friendly staff who attended to us immediately with open arms and big smiles. This was one of those hotels that made you feel expensive just by being in its vicinity. Their dining area was detailed with intricate and carefully placed ornaments that created such a sophisticated ambiance. The attached outdoor patio was decorated with arrangements of plants, resulting in a comforting place to lounge and enjoy fresh air. Hotel Fontecruz Lisboa is situated in a very nice area surrounded by upscale stores and establishments and more importantly was close in proximity to public transportation which made it easy for us to get right to exploring Lisbon once leaving the hotel. Special shoutout to Delta the Coffee House which was right next door for its amazing coffee, food, and some of the best pasteis de nata that we’ve had all trip!
Knowing that we were grabbing content for them, we were greeted with wine and cheese when we entered our room at Hotel Fontecruz Lisboa. Safe to say, the aesthetics of the room and lobby made our job so easy! In the morning, the staff went out of their way to assort our breakfast on a platter in such a visually pleasing manner; they did this for us so that we were able to take it to our room and take more photos, which turned out to be my personal favorites from the collection. I’ve stayed at so many hotels around the world and Hotel Fontecruz Lisboa is definitely up there by the top of the list, not just for the beauty of the hotel but for the hospitality and comfort that was naturally given.
Obrigada Hotel Fontecruz Lisboa!
- Alyssa Tanchoco, Marketing Manager
