Portugal & Its Islands From $3,299 $3,099 pp* Featuring the Estoril Coast, Azores & Madeira Islands

I thought the overall design of the trip was poor. Way too much airport and bus time. I wish I had arranged my own flights. I would have preferred a direct flight from SFO to Lisbon. I loved the Azores portion, and I loved Maria as the main guide, especially in Azores. I found the mainland person and the Madeira person to be disappointing.I do not appreciate riding for hours on a big bus, and then learning that the places we were promised in itinerary to explore often turned out to be quick stops. Extremely frustrating. They totally skipped the Alfama! Instead that guide chose to take us to the monastery just as Mass was starting, and then to the area where the gypsies accost us trying to sell junk. In Sintra, for instance, I would have preferred a shorter trip through the palace, rather then having to walk en masse, with the guide talking into our earpieces, and more time to walk the trails up to the castle and explore the town on our own. I would have liked to swim and walk around Cascais, instead of an irritating 20 minute bus stop. How ludicrous! My preference would have been Less short stops in so many places, less "Guidance", more free time with choices. Also, It was terrible to have to fly back to LIsbon,from Madeira, then fly home the next day, through Wash DC, with a 6 hour layover there. Gruelling, much waste of time. If I ever go to Portugal again, I will fly to Azores, directly. I will not join a guided tour.

The Azores days were by far the highlights of the trip, thanks to Maria, for doing such a wonderful job taking us to Furnas, and the hotsprings and the wonderful earth cooked lunch in the beautiful cottage. Touring her home island was very special. I appreciated having a little walking tour at the beginning, to get our bearings, and then having some free time the next day to explore on our own. If only, the whole trip could have been this way........

Very well organized trip with wonderful stops. I would rate Ledean Hamilton six stars for her great service and help. The only two negative factors were the size of the group (38 is too many) and the hotel in Lisbon (location and bus access).

As mentioned previously, the trip was great except there were too many travelers and the hotel location in in Lisbon was less than satisfactory. Again, Ledean Hamilton was especially helpful and accommodating (six stars)

Loved my trip to Portugal, the Islands of St Micheal and Madeira were beautiful. Loved the pace of the trip but more time in Lisboa and an extra day in Madeira would have made it perfect! Hotel Turim Saldana was fine, but location more in the heart of the city near squares and the waterfront would have been sooo much better.

A bit too much shopping opportunities for my taste. Most memorable was the scenery on the islands, riding the street tobaggan in Funchal. The wine and fruit flavored liquors were delish, even brought some home.

The tour programs, guides and drivers were excellent. As retired educators, my wife and I haves enjoyed traveling the world seeing new cultures and people. Collette employees went well above expectations in presenting Portugal to us. They did a great job in dealing with other travelers in our group that presented challenges that affected the whole group and we appreciated their efforts.

Our tour guide and the local tour guides did a great job in arranging culturally accurate dining adventures that included Fado singers, dancers and Poncha!!!!!! Beautiful scenery, great shopping opportunities.

They met my expectations and answered all of my questions.

I thought the tour of all the sites was thoroughly enjoyabel. I enjoyed the Azores most of all. However, Hotel Atlas was terrible-extremely poor lighting in room. Couldn't read or put on makeup properly. On last night, we were put in a room with a sagging mattress. I was told housekeeping would "take care of it". HA! I ended up sleeping on the floor due to back pain. We had panned to stay there several extra days to explore Lisbon further, but moved to another hotel the next day. There was way too many people on the tour. As a result, being crammed into small restaurants created long, long waits for cold, tepid food,and a waste of time when we could have been enjoying the sights. The optional tour to eat at the palace in Lisbon was highly promoted both before and during the tour. It was terrible-terrible service, terrible food, and highly overpriced. I will be requesting a refund for the optional tour as it was a total rip off.

this was our 3rd tour so obviously we like you guys!!!! Great hotels, food and tour directors.

hard to say, liked azores and madeira and Portugal itself.

I didn’t have a lot of direct interaction with Collette as I signed up through a local organization. All questions were always answered. The tour itself was fun but WAY too big. I was under the impression that it’d be about 30-35 people, not 45.

Tobagan ride in Monte on Madeira. Madeira was the Island I liked best overall. It just had a nice vibe.

Well organized. Excellent tour guides and drivers. Good value.

Lisbon, Azores, Madeira. Highlight was seeing the beauty of the entire country.

worked well with us on several issues

very good, but pricey. excellent accomodations

The group dinners were combined with other groups and that made for an overwhelmed restaurant, which, as a result, made for very long nights. It should not take 3 hours to have a dinner in a restaurant that knows we are coming.

The tour showed some parts of Portugal that I did not expect to see and was pleasantly surprised.

Maria, our guide, was awesome. Very personable, knowledgeable and humorous. I’m partial to coastlines, so the tours of the Azores and Madeiras were great. I would’ve liked to have seen more of the coast of mainland Portugal, but what we saw, Fatima, etc was great as well. The winding roads on the island were an issue for several folks who were susceptible to motion sickness, but there’s really mother to be done about that. The mountains and views were worth all the switchbacks.

See my previous comments.

Our tour guide, Angela, was great. Well organized, patient, flexible and good humored. Included meals, with wine were excellent ( except the last two nights). My one big criticism was the trip was over-scheduled day to day. Some of the stops were unnecessary and seemed it was just. A way to kill time. There should be more free time in the islands to enjoy the resorts and the amenities there. Many of the s sights on the islands were just not worth it: pineapple farm, ceramics, trout farm. I would recommend this trip but tell people to take a day or two “off” and d what they want as a free day.

Overall trip was good except for the last two included meals, tired hotel on Madeira and over-scheduled wasting time on meaningless “sights”.

Service was superb from beginning to end. Hotels were wonderful, comfortable, well located with excellent breakfast

Well planned . Good highlights of each place visited. Tour was complete and obviously vocised on clients. Excellent customer service in every hotel. Wonderful guides

Services were top notch. There was provided information and guidance throughout the whole tour.

The Azores main island was spectacular. From the time we landed until we left it ceased to amaze. The views and stops along the tour were amazing. It was a great itinerary.

Very good

Very nice well worth the time

As we have come to expect from Collette everything was well organised and the Tour Manager, ***** ******* was excellent. Luckily for us, as it was a Classic tour, there were only 14 of us. Had it been the full number, up to 44, I am not sure our experience would have been as good. It would definitely be better as an Explorations trip. Considering 5 separate flights were involved, it could not have gone better.

Difficult to answer which was our favourite experience, as it was such a varied and interesting trip. Probably the basket ride on Madeira, which was quite exhilarating! Due to the swell following the hurricane which passed close to San Miguel and the Azores, the two open sea trips had to be cancelled. The sea water pool at Moniz was also affected by this. Lisbon was a lovely city, but so hot (not complaining!)

I really liked that we stayed in the same hotel for several days in a row and didn't have to pack and move every day. The hotels were very nice and the breakfasts were amazing.

The tour was excellent. My favourite experience was the traditional dinner we went to in Madeira. It was called "espetada" and was a great experience.

Of the three Hotels that we stayed in, The Altis Grand in Lisbon was the best, updated eco minded, had all the bells and whistles

I enjoyed hearing the Fado Music in Lisbon!

Too much time in the bus; not enough time walking around exploring. Also group size was TOO large. 37 folks was cumbersome.

See previous statement that I wrote.

Our tour guide was excellent. *personal details removed by Feefo* was helpful with all situations that came up. Her recommendations for restaurants and places to see were wonderful. We celebrated birthdays and learned many things about Portuguese history, food and wines.

One of my favorites was the gardens in Madeira. They were stunning. Everything was in bloom and the island was so green. The distillery was fun too, even though I don't like Madeira wines. It was interesting to learn about Portuguese cultures.

Folks, I will say that *Personal Details removed by Feefo*, our Collette Tour Guide, IS spectacular! Give her a raise. *Personal Details removed by Feefo* is professional, knowledgeable, fair, a superb listener, conscientious, able to think ahead thus handle the “What ifs?” with class, intelligence, a dry wit and good humor. She knows people. She knows Lisboa (Our second trip to Lisboa; my sister’s and my first Iberian Peninsula Collette Tour was five-years ago. *Personal Details removed by Feefo* was our fabulous Tour Guide for ‘Portugal and Espana’. Love her! ), The Açores, and Madeira. Kudos to *Personal Details removed by Feefo*. As for the length and the segments: Length—perfect. Segments--- One more day in Lisboa, which we ironically achieved due to the Portuguese airline strike. The Açores, San Miguel, shorten by one-day. *personal details removed by Feefo* Collette’s local liaison, who lives on Sao Miguel, was wonderful in that she is relaxed, has a deep knowledge, works well with *personal details removed by feefo* i.e. the mutual respect they demonstrated was palpable. Keep *Personal details removed by Feefo*. We had *Personal details removed by Feefo for one-day on Sao Miguel; the one *personal details removed by Feefo* was not available. *Personal Details removed by Feefo* also solid; keep her, too. Give *Personal details removed by Feefo* a raise. We then flew to Madeira from Sao Miguel. My sister, *Personal details removed by Feefo* and I are lovingly prejudice in that our Mom’s parents and three older siblings where born on Madeira before “VoVo” and “VaVa” (Respectively Grandfather and Grandmother.) immigrated to Massachusetts in the early part of the 20th Century, where Mom and the rest of her siblings were born. (Specifically, our Gonçalves clan is from Campanario on Madeira, which is about seven-miles N.W. above Funchal.) We had told *Personal Details removed by Feefo* about our Gonçalves clan. She worked with our highly-skilled Driver, *personal details removed by Feefo*, on Madeira to make a safe and quick coach stop so one of our Traveling Gal Pals, *Personal details removed by Feefo*, could hop out of the bus, safely run to the Campanario town/area sign with *Personal details removed by Feefo* and I in order to get photos of us at the sign for our wonderful ninety-six year old Mom, our older Gonçalves clan back in the U.S., *Personal details removed by Feefo* family, and we two, as well. I sobbed during all of this with humble gratitude. Ok, here is the important concern. The EuroTour Madeira (Correct name of coach tour bus company on Madeira?) assigned Tour Guide, *Personal Details removed by Feefo* was horrible. How so? Pandering. Very, very disrespectful to *Personal details removed by Feefo* as soon as she warmly introduced herself to him he took on a very autocratic tone and posture. (I know this because from the Madeira Airport I chose to sit in the front seat behind our Driver, *Personal details removed by Feefo*.) Being a person who has done many a tour with Collette, managed many people over the life of my career, and a person who knows that to respect is to earn it by demonstrating respect to others; *Personal details removed by Feefo* is a complete failure. I will take in to consideration his socialization and the Portuguese culture for to not to would be me being blind. Yet *Personal details removed by Feefo* is very pandering to everyone; female or male. As we closed in on the last day he became more and more pandering in a condescending way to everyone but thought he had disguised this icky trait by going overboard with the warm and fuzzy thing. (Note: He did help we Traveling Gal Pals find the lovely Portuguese Dancing Charms for which I thanked him sincerely.). Yes, I don’t know the basis of Collette’s agreements with the company that supplied *Personal details removed by Feefo* and we (your Guests) on Madeira, yet if at all possible *personal details removed by Feefo* needs a major sensitivity and cultural training series of sessions. The age old and very wise tenet “Do unto others as they would do unto you” is what *Personal details removed by Feefo* completely misses. For example: On the first day on Madeira as we got on the bus because, as is customary, we couldn’t yet check in to our lovely and well-placed hotel, Pestano, well *Personal details removed by Feefo* set out to take us to the Botanico Garden above Madeira. Not once did *Personal details removed by Feefo* think to consider, though I did state out-loud because I am not a shy one, “We have many folks who are tired, hungry (*Personal details removed by Feefo* did not ‘allow’ a stop or access to food break.), or have trouble walking, *Personal details removed by Feefo* This is not working.” Wellllll, the brilliant *Personal details removed by Feefo* saved that first afternoon with savor faire. *Personal details removed by Feefo* worked it out with our Driver, to take us to the incredibly exciting and historical Madeira Toboggan ride. She made the offer to everyone. I think out of the twenty-nine of us only two wanted to visit a nearby church. The rest of us with huge joy and gratitude for *personal details removed by Feefo* jumped on the toboggans and zipped down to the small pub at the end of the toboggan ride to have at least a snack and either beer, vino or water before we hit the Pestano Hotel. What fun! Our spirits were all so high. THE WAY to start a stay on Madeira; indeed! Brilliant and forethinking move, *Personal details removed by Feefo* Madeira deserves the extra day minused from Sao Miguel. To reiterate, I do not speak for my dear sister, *personal details removed by Feefo* our amazing Traveling Gal Pals: *Personal details removed by Feefo* who couldn’t join us this year. They all approved this document. Note: *personal details removed by Feefo* asked either *personal details removed by Feefo* to take a group photo of us when we made a stop high above one of the amazing calderas on Sao Miguel on her IPad. *personal details removed by Feefo* graciously did. Alas, *personal details removed by Feefo* is not in the shot. I have adjusted the group shots, and sent to the “Lisboa Ladies” (our name for our group this year) the best one of the lot; in my determination. They all loved the photo. Furthermore, *personal details removed by Feefo* has given permission for Collette to use the shot if you so choose. IT IS UP TO COLLETTE TO CONTACT * personal details removed by Feefo* FOR SAID PERMISSON. Here is her email: *personal details removed by Feefo* In turn, *personal details removed by Feefo* would email that photo to you after she and you/Collette worked out any legal terms, thus conditions of usage, et al. Finally, with bragging rights, *personal details removed by Feefo* is first and foremost our beloved Traveling Gal Pal by way of Philadelphia. *personal details removed by Feefo* is a Doctor. There has not been one time in our last three-trips with Collette that *personal details removed by Feefo* hasn’t stepped up with her clear-headed medical skills, calmness for not only a person on the tours we all participated in but for strangers, as well. My logic, though I do not work within the structure of nor know the corporate standards and procedures of Collette, gives me pause to ask “Why wouldn’t a doctor get an extra discount for any trip she/he takes with Collette? She/he would be a key element of support thus…? ” *personal details removed by Feefo* firmly stands by the Hippocratic Oath she took when she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania upon receiving her medical degree. In turn, our Collette Tour Guide in France *Personal details removed by Feefo* *Personal details removed by Feefo* in Greece, and *personal details removed by Feefo* in Portugal all have sung their praises to *personal details removed by Feefo*, as have our respective fellow Tour Group Members for *personal details removed by Feefo* stepped up to the plate on each trip to attend to a medical issue. Brava! *personal details removed by Feefo*

Everything except *personal details removed by Feefo* the local Madeira person who assisted the amazing Collette Tour Guide, *personal details removed by Feefo*.

I enjoyed the trip, the tour guide was excellent. I wouldn't take six flight in twelve day again though. I was annoyed that the travel documentation catered for Americans only and gave me information about dollars to euros and other stuff not relevant to travellers from other places,

Excellent tour guide, great hotels. I especially love San Miguel in the Azores, it was beautiful

Always pleasant on the phone. Nice to have a nationally recognized company located in-state

Everything was very good but I thought that the tour manager could have been a bit more organized and self confident. More specific information regarding site locations in cities would have been appreciated.

Please see item 1 above regarding tour. Memorable experience was trip to Pico do Areeiro in Madeira

Just not the right group for me. Too many long bus trips full of short photo ops. I prefer to see fewer things in more depth. Too much free booze at al group meals.

San Miguel Island in the Azores was Fabulous! Loved wandering around town on our own.

Awsome

Had a wonderful holiday and everything was excellent. Have traveled with Collette on numerous occasions and always enjoyed their holidays. Unfortunately there is a "but" which is that we were not picked up at the airport as arranged as well as the other British people on our tour who were on a different flight. We got a taxi to the hotel and so far have not been reimbursed. Tour Manager did not seem in the least concerned and obviously had no intention of meeting us at the airport. This is not good enough and this has never happened before on Collette. We have arrived at our destination at various times in the night and have always been met before. Remember everyone has a first time travelling abroad and if this had been our first time, it would have probably put us off for good.

Whale watching and have to include the wicker basket experience in Madeira

We have now used Collette and CIE as tours in Europe. I have to say I enjoyed the pace of the tour through CIE much better. The tour guide at CIE also served as our bus driver. He was a local and provided a much more personal tour through his eyes. The tour guide through Collette brought on locals but somehow the tour wasn't as smooth.

We enjoyed the tour however we thought it was a bit overwhelming. We were on the go most days from early in the morning to late in the evening. Many stops we only had 20 minutes to get off the bus, use a bathroom, get something to eat or drink and then reboard. This is just not enough time to do any of that much less get a feel for the town in which you stopped. By mid tour couples were dropping out for the day or days and went sightseeing on their own to shop and get a better feel for the islands at a much less rushed pace.

Beautiful destinations..Lisbon, the Azores and Madiera...very organized. The tour director was a delight...gave us great information on local eateries and attractions for our free time...