The only thing fresher than Lisbon’s seafood is TAP Air Portugal´s Portugal Stopover
program.
Two destinations for the price of one, hotels with exclusive deals and a chance to
make new memories through a whole new culture, priceless. Being an avid traveler, I
have always had a knack for leaving and never being in one place. This year, being our
wedding year and the most hectic time, we looked into TAP’s Portugal Stopover
program for an easy way to do a pre-wedding trip! The thought of being able to see two
different places in one trip was almost like winning the lottery for us!
Our final destination was Madeira, but had the heart of Portugal as our stopover.
Lisbon, a breathtaking city full of culture, warmth and beauty, as a bridge and see more
along the way? Without any expectations, I didn’t know what to expect from the place,
until I took a big bite out of it. Not only was the food exquisite, but also the warmth its
people exuded, almost made me feel quite at home. 24 hours in Lisbon wasn’t enough,
but enough to capture my heart and make me want to come back for more next time.
We chose Madeira as our final destination due to our curiosity of the place. If you
hadn’t known yet, this island is known as Europe’s Hawaii. Black sand beaches, tropical
weather and beautiful greenery covering its mountains. Don’t be fooled by that
description, as Madeira is not at all a beach destination (though these black beaches
will steal your heart), but one that’s overflowing with culture, amazing hiking possibilities
and delectable gourmet food.
TAP Air Portugal´s Portugal Stopover program comes with a sweet guide to help you
cover grounds during your visit to all the stopovers, but as usual, we like to use guides
and add our little dose of our sense of adventure to it as well! Here’s a list of things I
recommend you do
for each place:
Lisbon:
Pasteis Belem
Torre de Belem
Jeronimos Monastery
Castelo de Sao JorgeChurch of Sao Roque – an old church that can’t ever prepare you for what’s inside
Arco da Rua Augusta- a popular meeting point and sight
Ramiro Restaurant – known for its fresh shrimp and seafood
Miradouro de Santa Catarina – for beautiful views of Lisbon’s rooftops
Bairro Alto -for local live bands, dinner and drinks
Madeira:
Cabo Girao for a breathtaking view of Maderia’s high point
Porto Moniz’s enchanting terraces
Levada Do Rabacal
Drink Madeira’s Poncho
Booking a Portugal Stopover is as easy as finish a Pasteis de Nata. Pick your
destination, check to see if Lisbon or Porto is a stopover option, whether your Stopover
is during the outbound or return flight and pick the number of nights. Lastly, choose a
hotel and a free experience when booking your flight, or do it later through the
website or the TAP app! The best part, there are no extra fees for a Stopover up to 5
nights! Booking a stopover was the best experience I’ve had as a traveler and I
recommend you to do the same. With an experience like this, it’s not a surprise that Portugal and I would
be rekindling soon enough!