Travel Agent Support

Via PG Travel is again helping us and giving you the benefits and safeguards of working through a licensed travel agent. Patricia Guerreiro can receive your payments by bank transfer or by credit card over the phone. She can also help you organise flights, or book extra hotel accomodation if you wish.

Travel

Book your flight to LISBON. We will meet up at 16.30 at the Lisbon airport meeting place and transfer to the coach,leaving at 17.00, to take us to Tomar. It is possible to leave your bags at the left luggage centre at the airports, so, if you have a couple of hours available youcould consider getting a taxi into Lisbon (about 6 / 7 euros).If you cannot get flights at a suitable time to arrive and meet up at 16.30 then perhaps consider arriving the day beforeand enjoying Lisbon.

*For your return flight try to get one from after 12.00 (noon) because of the time needed to drive from Tomar to the airport and have enough check in time.*

Useful Flight information Easyjet from Liverpool 13/9 arrive Lisbon 15:55 Approx. £95 return

Please make sure you take out travel insurance. Bring your European Health Card to cover you in case of any medical mishap.

Include on booking form the name of the policy and number and details of who we should advise in case of an accident.

Bank Transfers

Please send monies to Patricia Guerreiro at Banif Bank IBAN PT50 0038 00003889089577169BIC: BNIF PT PL Make sure your transfer says it is from you!Alternatively you can phone Patricia and give her your card details over the phone.

Extension of your stay

If you wish to arrive before Monday 13^th September and need help finding accomodation on Lisbon or wish to add extra days after, and would like help to use the same hotel, please do let Patricia know. She can also help you organise your itinerary if necessary. It is possible to make excursions to Fátima (of big interest to Catholics). Alcobaça, Batalha, Ourém, the castle of Almoural and Leiria are all interesting if you like history and old buildings. There are places where you could do some training. You could either hire a car and return it to the airport or take the excursions available through the hotel. You could also consider rural tourism with horses – perhaps try www.sanguinheira.com

Tomar

Tomar is a charming old town with great historical connections. It is only a short walk ( flat) from the hotel to the centre of town where you can browse through the shops, sit at a café and people watch or visit the park or old buildings. The imposing Knights Templars castle towers above the town on a hill and many of the hotel rooms have a view of this magnificent building.

Hotel dos Templários ****

I feel that this lovely hotel gives great conditions for an ABRS trip. It is well situated for our purpose and is spacious but comfortable with ample lounge and bar space for socialising. I have checked over the hotel and found the staff very professional, helpful and friendly.

The decor is attractive and well maintained. There are good facilities: indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, spa and wellness centre with lots of different treatments to pamper yourself with, internet connection, TV satellite. Take a look at the hotel www.hoteldostemplarios.com and click on the English version.

The programme ( could be subject to slight changes)

Day 1 -Monday 13th Sept.2010

Meet at 16.30 at the meeting point in Lisbon airport. Our coach transfer departs at 17.00 to Tomar arriving around one hour later. Time to check in and settle before walking a short distance next door, on flat ground, to the Mouchão park, set beside the river Nabão. We will have drinks on the terrace of a restaurant overlooking the extensive lawns, and tall deciduous trees, and then have dinner.

Day 2 -Tuesday 14^th Sept

Travel by tractor train at 10.30 through the town, accompanied by Bev and an English speaking guide, with explanation of the main places of interest, and up to the Knights Templars castle and the Convent of Christ ( Unesco recognised building). The cost of entering the convent is 6 euros but a reduction for those over 65! There is a small cost for the train and for an English speaking guide. Return around lunchtime.

Time free to relax and use the pool or spa, before, in the late afternoon, a visit to Quinta de Azinhais, a riding facility 2km from Tomar. This will give us the opportunity to meet Major Rui Escudeiro and his team and see this attractive centre and find out what they do. He also has an interesting collection of carriages. Here we will try out some local wine, take a short carriage drive around the farm and have our evening meal and they will give us a short display in the indoor arena. There may be an opportunity for a couple of members to try out the display horses. There is a gallery where we can sit overlooking the indoor arena and good access for bathrooms. The aim is to return to the hotel by

10.00

Day 3 -Wednesday 15^th Sept

Travel by coach for half an hour to the town of Golegã. This town is linked with Waregem in Belgium and Pardubicci in Slovakia. These towns use the horse as their main marketing tool and we will see how this is done in Golegã. First we visit the horse museum and see a 3D presentation on Golegã.

We will take the coach out to visit one of the most important and ancient breeding farms for Lusitano horses and travel through the nature reserve.

On return to the town you can choose how you would like to lunch. After, a horse and carriage will take us in groups to the National Association of Equestrian Tourism headquarters. Their riding school will give us a little presentation by some pupils and a demonstration and explanation on “working equitation” - the use of traditional equestrian skills to form a competitive discipline which makes usage of the national breed.

Two nearby shops are worth a viewing ; the 3 Pereiras for tiles and pottery and the traditional hat shop.

In the evening we have our Gala dinner in the hotel.

Day 4 –Thursday 16th

Time for breakfast and then the coach departs for Lisbon, arriving at 10.00 at the airport

Costs

Conscious that the exchange rate for Sterling to Euros is not favourable for continental trips, I have tried to budget carefully to keep costs down but with a view on quality and value for money.

Lunch has not been included so that you can choose whether you wish to visit a local café and have, for example, a “tosta mista” (toasted ham and cheese sandwich) or try a local restaurant where a complete “workers” meal of dish of the day will cost between €6 and €10.

A minimum deposit of 50% is required to secure the room to be received by 8^th July Final payments need to be received by Patricia by 15^th August.

At this stage, the cost to you of some of the entertainment, are not known since it depends on how many passengers we have. You will be advised of this after the 2nd July when it is clear how many of you can come, and if there are any other small items to budget for. All in all, it will not be much.

For 260 euros per person (sharing a room) you have 3 nights B&B plus transfers and 3 dinner with drinks included.

Non ABRS members

Being a member brings its benefits. Non members are welcome to join the trip but there is a supplement of 50 euros per person.

Mobility

Care has been taken in the choice of hotel and restaurants and in getting from A to B for those of us who are less mobile than we were. Please mark on the booking form if you use a wheelchair, or have difficulty with stairs or cannot walk far. Also there may be a possibility of ride in a horse drawn carriage ... can you climb the step to get in? I will bring my mounting block.

Also some rooms have bath tubs with a shower within it. Others have a separate bath and separate shower, others have only a shower. Please indicate your preference.

Riding

There may be an opportunity to “sit on” a well trained horse at one of the places we visit. If you wish to try this please fill in the respective section on the booking form. You will have to bring riding gear but I will advise you before travel if you will have this opportunity. This will be at your own risk and it is possible that the horse owners will have no insurance. However, the horses in question should be well trained Lusitano stallions.

Meals

The meals included in the package have been selected to give a choice of fish, meat or vegetarian options. Please indicate on the booking form if there is anything you particularly do not like and if you have any dietary requirements. This is important that this information is known at the booking stage so that arrangements can be made. The menus will be sent to you after the 8th July.

Weather and clothing

September is generally a lovely month for weather, being neither too hot nor too cold. Bring summer or mid season clothes and be prepared to put on more layers if it should turn chilly in the evenings ... something like a cardy or lightweight jacket. The hotel has an indoor and outdoor pool (both heated) so remember your swimming costume. Bring comfortable shoes for walking, sun cream and perhaps a sun hat.

Passports

Check your passport will still be valid for the dates of travel! UK passports do not require visas for Portugal. Non-UK passport holders should check with their travel agent or consult/embassy since visas have to be applied for well in advance.

Currency

In Portugal the euro is used. Many places will accept visa cards. There are banks very near the hotel. Hours 09.00 – 15.00.
The euro/sterling rate fluctuates but as a rough guide it is at present (June 2010)

1 euro = 0.83p

1 pound sterling= 1.20 euros

Avenida José Dos Santos Faria 137 B, 8135-167 Almancil, Algarve, Portugal E-Mail Patrícia@via-pg.com Tel. 00 351 289 398412 : Fax 00 351 289 394728