Two American travelers, Timothy Moore and his companion Trent, spent two weeks in Portugal and afterward compiled a list of six mistakes that shaped their trip, according to Business Insider.
The pair spent four nights in Lisbon, Portugal's capital, and Timothy said two of those nights were unnecessary. They enjoyed São Jorge Castle, which overlooks the city, and a food tour through the historic Alfama district, but found the rest of Lisbon overcrowded with tourists. They were also unsettled by people openly offering drugs on the street, often in view of families with children, and found that some museums were closed for restoration.
The travelers also said they regretted not spending more time in the Douro region, a wine-producing valley in northern Portugal. Timothy said the Douro was better than Napa Valley, Tuscany and Germany's Mosel region. They barely managed any hiking, completing only part of the Seven Hanging Valleys coastal trail in the Algarve and skipping Peneda-Gerês National Park, known for its waterfalls and mountains, entirely.
The rental car they gave up
The men had originally planned to rent a car to explore the Algarve, Portugal's southern coastal region, but canceled the reservation a day before they were due to pick it up.
The reason was the way locals drove. Timothy said Portugal has a reputation as one of the more dangerous European countries for road trips. Instead, the pair used taxis booked through a mobile app, which they found both more convenient and noticeably cheaper than a rental car.
An awkward check-in with no front desk
Their flight landed at 9:45 a.m., but the apartment they had rented in Porto had no front desk and no flexible check-in time. As a result, they said they had to carry their suitcases around the city for several hours until housekeeping staff were able to take them in for storage.
Unnecessary items in their suitcases
Timothy packed running shoes and fitness bands that went unused, since Portugal's hills and a packed schedule replaced any planned workouts. Formal clothing also proved unnecessary, as even upscale restaurants in the country had a surprisingly relaxed, casual atmosphere.
Items they forgot to pack
Another misstep was leaving American cold medicine at home, despite having made the same mistake on a previous trip. Toward the end of the journey, Timothy got sick and had to buy medicine at a local pharmacy, which he said was more expensive and, in his view, less effective than the combination drugs he was used to at home.
Despite the list of mistakes, the travelers said they loved their trip to Portugal, praising the hospitality of the people, the architecture and the food. They said that next time, they plan to use what they learned to plan their route differently.
