Inside Portugal (2009!)

Portugal: Europe's West Coast

A monthly newsletter for U.S. travel writers and editors from the Portuguese National Tourism Office

Dezembro/December 2008

MUCH OF PORTUGAL WILL BE NEW IN 2009

Happy Independence Day! Well, for us on this day in 1640 a bunch of young noblemen started a revolt that would end 60 years of Spanish occupation, and insure that Portugal would continue as an independent nation.

In these uncertain times, travelers are looking for two things--value for the dollar and the value of experience. Visiting Portugal is perfect on both counts. The country's mild, year-round climate makes it a haven for active travelers and the sports-minded.  Meanwhile, every region is rich with historical attractions, new and classic museums, and wine. For travelers, Portugal is one of Europe's best values, with prices that compare very favorably with other European destinations.

As 2009 awaits us, we are tracking more than 50 new hotels and resorts that will open across Portugal next year. Another 200 are under construction or being renovated, many of them with 4- or 5-star ratings.

Lisbon and its surrounding region are slated for numerous new hotels opening in either 2009 or under construction and planning to open in the next year or so.  In the city itself we count 17 and another 29 are in the planning or construction stages in the Lisbon tourism region.

Why is a nation the size of Indiana seeing such unprecedented growth at a time of financial uncertainty?

Portugal has always won travelers over with its charm. Its seaside villages, fortified mountain towns and diverse landscapes are as enchanting today as ever. What is new is a national dedication to quality tourism. We learned that quantity was not the right path back in the 1980s. In fact, the Portuguese government recently imploded a 1980s-style strip of hotels on the Troia Peninsula to make way for smaller, greener, more "Portuguese" hotels.

The country's infrastructure has also been improved. In 1986, Portugal had a few dozen miles of highway. Today, hundreds of miles of modern highway make getting across Portugal a quicker journey. This year, ground was broken on a new, high-speed rail system that will be ready within a decade. That is not to say that our charming secondary network of twisty roads and mountain passes is not still fun to explore. Travelers can still find a steam locomotive for travel, alongside fast trains that run from Lisbon to the Algarve or Porto.

A new airport is planned for Beja and will be ready in early 2009. Low-cost airlines from countries such as England, Ireland, France and Germany are expected to be chief carriers at this airport.

New restaurants have also sprouted across the land, with a new generation of chefs showing off their skills, mixing the traditional with the unconventional.

There is no way that we could fit this all into one newsletter, so be sure to log on to www.indoeportugaltravel.com <http://www.indoeportugaltravel.com/>  for more news.

The following is our short list of what is really a very long list of the newest hotels, events and attractions coming to Portugal. For even more up-to-the-minute happenings, see our travel blog: insideportugaltravel.com

NEW HOTELS FOR 2009--REGION BY REGION

PORTO AND NORTH REGION

Project Aquanattur opens Spring 2009

The Vidago Thermal Park in Chaves will reopen in April 2009 after a total renovation of the famous Vidago Palace Hotel that dates from 1908.  The renovations will transform the Palace from a 4-star to a 5-star hotel and will include a spa.

http://www.aquanattur.com <http://www.aquanattur.com/>

The Yeatman Hotel, Gaia

Scheduled to open in December 2009 in the heart of historic Gaia, across the river from Porto, the 5-star Yeatman Hotel will offer 83 rooms and a spa with a wine theme. Fladgate Partnership, which includes wine brands such as Porto Taylor's, Fonseca, Croft and Delaforce, are backing this project, which creates a hotel from an ancient wine lodge.

http://www.fladgatepartnership.com <http://www.fladgatepartnership.com/>

Hotel Palácio das Cardosas, Porto

The city of Porto will be the site for a new hotel from the InterContinental group of resorts and hotels. The Porto Palace of the Cardosas is set to open at the end of 2009 for the business and leisure traveler, located in a 250-year-old building bordering the city's main square. The luxury Porto Palace will feature 109 rooms, a spa, and a new version of Café Astoria, which occupied the ground floor of the building in the early 20th century. www.visitportoenorte.com/index.php?lingua=en <http://www.visitportoenorte.com/index.php?lingua=en>  

Pousada Palácio do Freixo, Porto

Opening in early 2010, this grand Palácio do Freixo will be another in Portugal's many Pousadas--lodgings that are created from historic buildings such as castles and manor homes.  This one will be a
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