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On the hop: Lisbon’s exploding craft beer scene

A cold beer in Portugal has traditionally meant one of two things: Sagres or Super Bock. These two everyman lagers, created during military dictatorships, have dominated the country’s beer landscape for decades. But a hop-heavy suds revolution is brewing in Lisbon and beyond. Europe’s oldest independent capital city is finally embracing the craft beer booze-fest….

The top 6 food and drink holidays in Portugal

For more general advice on booking a holiday in Portugal, see our Portugal summer holiday guide. Our guide features expert recommendations for beach, villa, culture, food and drink and activityholidays. 1. A taste of Porto For a thorough immersion in the food and wine of Portugal, Porto is an obvious starting point, famed as it is for its eponymous fortified wine. A good base while you’re in the city is Infante De Sagres, an elegant 73-room hotel located in the heart of the Unesco-listed old town. The stunning neo-classical property is festooned with antiques, Persian carpets and crystal chandeliers, and its courtyard patio is an ideal spot for sampling some of Portugal’s aforementioned cuisine. Meanwhile, the D Filipa restaurant offers a selection of local and international fare. There’s also a cocktail bar, which is decorated with fine art. 2. Shellfish…

What is Slow Tourism?

Travelling is an activity loved by all. For it is a getaway, from your daily hustle bustle. Following that strenuous routine continuously can abrupt one’s peace. All of the responsibilities towards your work, family and other miscellaneous worries is damaging. Today, lets talk about Slow Tourism Not only does the workload affect you physically but mentally also. This may result in unwanted anxiety and takes a toll on ones behaviour too. Unnecessary frustration may cause problems in your social life. An exhausting job can disturb your body functions. May also lead you to snap quickly at even the smallest of things. Irritation destroys the will to value and appreciate. To get rid of this mental state, go one a holiday. Enjoy to your fullest. Because every one of you has deserved it. Take your family along, even they need a break…

Hidden Portugal-Unusual Things to Do in Portugal

1-Porto’s Livraria Lello When you first enter Porto’s Livraria Lello, you might think that you’ve entered a church instead of a bookstore. Its Art Nouveau façade hides a beautiful Neo-Gothic interior, with a stained glass ceiling, carved wood paneling, and a breathtaking, curvaceous staircase that stretches across the store. Designed by Xavier Esteves, over the windows can be seen figures painted by José Bielman, representing “Science” and “Art.” Along with a stained glass window bearing a monogram of “Lello and Brother” with their motto Decus in Labore (“Honor in Work”), are plant motifs and geometric shapes. Opened in 1906, Livraria Lello is an established bookstore, but it has certainly aged well over the years. It is consistently named one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. Know Before You Go There is now a ticket office to pre-buy your entry at the corner to the left of the…

Things you need to know before travelling solo

There are many reasons why you might have put off your travel dreams — maybe your friends dropped out like flies or plans never moved pasted Whatsapp. Forget having a partner-in-crime, it might be time to consider going at it alone. 1. For once in your life you get to pick exactly what you want to do Trip planning can often be a compromise when you’re having to factor in someone else’s opinion. When you get to your 30s and 40s you really know who you are and what floats your boat so it’s great to have the opportunity to pick something you truly want to do… 2. Don’t give up on your bucket list  The idea of travelling solo can be daunting but this shouldn’t be at the sacrifice of dream trips. I found myself single and in my 30s but I was determined not…

What to do in Portugal

A complete guide to one of the most laid-back and friendly destinations in Western Europe : Portugal! There is something so charming about Lisbon’s light, its creative energy and its inspiring startup scene that makes it an exciting place to be right now. Boasting some of the warmest winters in Europe (and some of the sunniest days), Portugal also makes for a perfect getaway during the colder months. It may be small, but this beautiful country has an enormous amount of magic to offer—partly due to the kindness of its people; wherever you go, there is a warmth and an eagerness that emanates from the locals who cannot wait to share the best of their country with you. 1-Take a Day Trip to Sintra Unlike some of the other hidden gems mentioned in our guide, the hilltop town of Sintra…

Sustainable Tourism – The future of travelling

Sustainable tourism is defined as “tourism that respects both local people and the traveler, cultural heritage and the environment”. It seeks to provide people with an exciting and educational holiday that is also of benefit to the people of the host country. Sustainable Tourism must, above all, seek to reconcile the wishes of the tourists with those of the receiving regions, guaranteeing not only the protection of the environment, but also stimulating the development of the activity in harmony with the local society involved. Developing tourism in a sustainable manner implies actions that are socially just, economically viable and ecologically correct, that is, that meet the economic, social and ecological needs of society. Importance of sustainable tourism in the present day. Sustainable tourism emerges as an alternative to mass tourism, as it is concerned with the number of people who…

10 Reasons to Visit Portugal

Portugal suddenly became the holiday destination for many world travelers but for those who need to be convinced, here’s a list of 10 reasons to visit Portugal. 1 – Culture I’s one of the world’s great historical countries, with characteristic and surprising sights, cultural possessions, UNESCO Heritage sites and beautiful sceneries that make it a delight for walkers and photographers. 2 – Weather The weather is fantastic! It is not too hot in summer and generally mild in winter. With perfect temperatures almost all year round and warm sun, Portugal is a wonderful destination for enjoying great beaches. 3 – Affordability It’s the cheapest country in the Western Europe. For the price of mid-range accommodations somewhere in Europe you will have a chance to upgrade your experience to luxury accommodation in Portugal. 4 – Food If you love to eat, you are…

Tourism in the Rural Area

Tourism has more value for the economy, employment, exports and investment in Portugal than in the rest of Europe and even in the world. A study by the World Travel and Tourism Council, which analyzes the economic impact of the sector in 184 countries, shows that while the contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)…

10 tourism trends for 2018

The book by Mark J. Penn and E. Kinney Get out Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow’s Big Changes  says that microtendency are those little forces that are behind the changes of tomorrow. It seems a rarity in a world that seeks global explanations for everything. 1- Bleisure micro-trend: travel for work and enjoy leisure time One of the latest trends in tourism is the bleisure and that refers to combining a work trip with a bit of leisure. “Bleisure” whose name comes from the combination of the English terms business and leisure or “business with leisure”, is a type of city tourism since work meetings are usually held in cities and however flexible it may be your itinerary, the most likely is that you stay in the city and perform tourist activities within it. This niche market is made…

Compostable and edible packaging: the companies waging war on plastic

Each year at least 8m tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean and it is predicted that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the sea. “It’s crazy, when you think how much plastic has invaded our lives,” says Taub. “It’s easy and safe, but not feasible in the long run. We need to find alternatives.” However, more sustainable alternatives have proved controversial. Earlier this year the UN’s chief scientist, Jacqueline McGlade, described biodegradable plastics as “well-intentioned but wrong” since those that end up the oceans do not have the right conditions to break down. Other plastics, including so-called oxo-degradables, break down into microplastics, which are also thought to be highly damaging if they find their way into the ocean. Now a new generation of plastic makers is working to tackle the global plastic waste crisis head on by developing home-compostable plastics….

Waste not or not to waste there is a question?

Food waste is a challenge to actors at every point in the global food chain, and as the scope of the food system increases, the scale of waste becomes even greater. To reverse this trend we must understand how food waste operates throughout the system and look at the startups and companies trying to tackle this problem in different ways. We all grew up with our mothers telling us not to waste food, usually with a reproach like, “there are starving children in the world!” when we didn’t want to finish our meatloaf. It turns out that our mothers were right (as they often are); there are almost a billion people suffering from malnutrition in the world and whether we finished our dinners or not, this is a serious and worsening problem for the planet. The problem of food waste extends further…