Pictured left to right outside the new store are: Paul Hardwick, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents Director of Retail; Emma Bailey, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents; Tutti Taylor, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents; Councillor Candy Vaughan, Mayor of Eastbourne; Trevor Ridler, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents Business Development Manager; and Shirley Waters, Fred. Olsen Travel Agents..
Kerry Sabberton, a senior sales consultant at our Thorpe Travel store in Norwich, spent a brief three nights in the Portuguese region of Cascais. Here is what her eventful trip included…
Destination: Portugal
Operator/Host: Jetset
Accommodation (Hotel names/Ship name): Pestana Cascais
Airline: TAP
Duration: 3 nights
Flights
TAP are a good airline. The journey was very comfortable with great service.
Accommodation
Pestana Cascais is a nice hotel. The rooms are very spacious and clean and the bathrooms are in keeping with the size of the rooms and are well decorated. The lovely rain forest showers are really nice.
The balconies are a very good size and we had amazing views over the sea and the pool. The beds are the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in and if the pillows had fitted into our suitcases the hotel may have been down a few by the time we left! The pool area was huge and there were lots of places to sit both in and out of the sun and around the gardens. There were plenty of sun loungers although quite a few were broken.
Breakfast was basic without a massive amount of choice and, after a few days, I would imagine it would get very repetitive. This hotel would suit couples and older travellers looking to get away from it all for a few days.
Excursions
We had an amazing boat trip included, but this was no ordinary boat trip!
After a 40 minute wander down to the marina in blistering heat, stopping for a bit of history on the way, we couldn’t wait to get on our boat for a couple of hours on the water. We had enjoyed the lovely views and a look at the markets, but now it was time to take to the waves. Imagine two banana boats side by side and inside a speed boat! We just about had time to put our life jackets on and we were off!
The main objective for our Captain was to see how fast we could go, how high we could bounce, and how quick he could turn without someone going overboard. It was by far one of the funniest and enjoyable things I’ve done on the water. After bouncing around for a good hour, we went around the bay to see the caves and had the tide been right we could have swam in the bay. However, we did get to have a dip in the sea. Although you couldn’t be in there for long. Even with the outside temperature at a lovely 39 degrees, after 10 minutes we started to get blue lips.
We also had a trip to the largest casino in Europe; Casino Estoril. It was an additional surprise when Jetset gave us 10 Euros each to gamble away. I’ve never been to a casino before and it was an eye opener. There were some very serious poker games going on with a lot of money at stake and even more security around them. I opted for roulette as choosing red or black didn’t seem that difficult.
Finally, we were treated to an amazing lunch at the Hotel Baia right in front of the bay at Cascais. This hotel is where I would choose to stay if I’m lucky enough to get to Cascais again. It is only a 3-star, but the views alone are worth a higher rating. It was very modern with light colours and clean lines, however, there is no outside area apart from a pool on the roof and some amazing views of the sea. The food at this hotel was some of the nicest I’ve had; fresh seafood which was amazing and the desserts – wow. The hotel is in a prime location for all the restaurants, bars and shops as well as the views over the ocean and beach.
Trip Highlights
Not including all the wonderful food we were treated too, my favourite part by far was the boat trip. It was something I would recommend to everyone as the guys who take you out take into consideration the people in the group and adapt the experience accordingly. They obviously thought travel agents are always up good for a laugh. It was great fun, something different to a ‘booze cruise’ and I won’t forget in a hurry.
Possible Improvements
Not a thing. The whole trip was perfect from start to finish with no hiccups and I came back in one piece.
Recommendations
I would and have recommended this trip to holidaymakers who want the weather but not necessarily the beach as the sea is very cold. Cascais is lovely to wander around; there are lots of nice bars, shops and restaurants, and it is not over crowded. In the evening, Cascais town is buzzing with songs, laughter, street performers and an amazing atmosphere.
It is not a destination for families who are looking for activities for children, though. Whilst there is plenty to do, there are not the water parks etc. that younger travellers may be looking for.
Additional Comments
I would like to say a massive ‘Thank you’ to Paul and Steve for giving me the opportunity to sample the best of Cascais. I have fallen in love with Portugal and will definitely be going back. Jetset were great hosts and made our trip an enjoyable one which is never to be forgotten.
Must see? Downtown Cascais at night
Must do? Boat trip
Must try? Seafood at the Hotel Baia
A trip to this part of Portugal is the perfect way to soak up the summer sun. If you are looking for a couple’s break or somewhere to relax with your older family; we can help arrange a break similar to Kerry’s. Simply drop by one of our East Anglia travel agents and speak to a member of the team.
