Take Me to
Portugal
12 days in Porto, the Douro Valley and Lisbon — September 2027
$600 deposit holds your place · Non-refundable
This isn’t a tour group. No flag to follow, no rushed museum walkthrough, no hotel that was picked by a spreadsheet.
This is 12 days in two of Europe’s most genuinely good cities, with someone who spent months doing the research so you don’t have to. You show up. I handle the rest.
— Jess Peterman, your host
This trip was built for the person who
Has had Portugal on the list for years and keeps finding reasons to push it off.
Wants to go with other people but doesn’t want to coordinate other people.
Wants the research done, the reservations made and the logistics sorted before they pack a bag.
Is done with trips that feel overpacked. Wants real free time actually built in.
Has a partner or travel companion ready to go and needs someone trustworthy running the show.
Wants to feel like a traveler in Portugal, not a tourist in a bus line.
Departure
Late September 2027
Duration
12 days / 11 nights
Arrival Airport
Porto (OPO)
Departure Airport
Lisbon (LIS)
Spots available
13 only
Passport
Required
Airfare
Not included
Trip investment
$6,000 / person
Three moments that make this trip
A full day in the Douro Valley
This is the day most people who visit Portugal wish they’d planned better. You won’t have that problem. The morning starts with a scenic train ride into the valley, the kind where you’re watching terraced vineyards drop into a river gorge out the window. From there: a riverboat cruise along the Douro, a winery visit with tastings, and a proper sit-down Portuguese lunch that doesn’t end in a hurry. The Douro Valley is genuinely stunning, and a day like this is how you actually experience it instead of just driving past it.
Azulejo tile painting workshop
Portugal’s blue and white azulejo tiles are everywhere, on churches, buildings, train stations, facades you stop and stare at. At some point on a trip to Portugal you stop just admiring them and want to understand them. This workshop does that. You’ll learn the history, the technique, and then paint your own tile from scratch. Not a kit. Actual hand-painting, the way the tiles on the buildings around you were made. You take your tile home. It’s the kind of souvenir that means something because you made it, and the kind of afternoon that’s hard to explain to people who weren’t there.
Fado farewell dinner in Belém
The last night of a trip matters. After a Belém tour in the afternoon, we close out with a Tasca dinner and live Fado Vadio. Fado is Portugal’s soul music, and hearing it in a small restaurant in Lisbon is not the same as watching a YouTube video about it. It’s a genuinely good way to spend a final evening, and it means you leave with something to remember instead of a rushed airport dinner the next morning.
The full plan
Five days in Porto to settle in and explore the north, then south through the medieval village of Óbidos to six days in Lisbon. Two free days built in. No ferry schedules. No hotel shuffling. One arrival, one departure, everything in between handled.
Your hotels
Porto · Days 1–5
The Editory House Porto
A boutique property in the heart of Porto with strong design and a genuine sense of place. Well-located for walking the city without needing a car for everything.
5 nightsLisbon · Days 6–12
Hotel Pestana Palace Lisboa
A 19th-century palace turned five-star hotel with gardens and a pool. The kind of setting you don’t forget. Lisbon at its most impressive.
6 nights* Hotels listed as confirmed or similar. Final accommodation confirmed at time of booking.
Travel logistics
You’ll fly into Porto (OPO) and home from Lisbon (LIS). No backtracking. The trip moves south the way Portugal is meant to be seen.
There are no ferry schedules to figure out, no changing hotels every two days, no complicated multi-city connections to sort. One arrival, two cities, one departure. Private transfers are included for all scheduled activities and for the Porto to Lisbon leg.
International flights are not included. Once your spot is confirmed, I’ll send you flight guidance so you’re arriving and departing at the right times. You can book your own flights or reach out and I’ll help.
- Arrival airport: Porto (OPO)
- Departure airport: Lisbon (LIS)
- Private airport transfers included on Day 1 and Day 12
- Private group transportation for all scheduled excursions
- A valid passport is required — check your expiration date now
- Travel insurance is strongly recommended and available through me at time of booking
Everything in the price
- Private airport transfers on arrival and departure
- 11 nights accommodation, double occupancy (The Editory House Porto + Pestana Palace Lisboa)
- Daily breakfast
- Welcome dinner on Day 1
- Tuk tuk tour of Porto
- Bolhão Market food tour
- Port wine blending workshop
- Full day Douro Valley: scenic train, riverboat cruise, winery tastings, lunch
- Porto to Lisbon transfer with Óbidos stop
- Azulejo tile painting workshop in Lisbon
- Full day Sintra with local lunch
- Portuguese cooking class
- Belém tour + farewell Fado dinner
- All ground transportation for included excursions
- Jess Peterman hosting in person for the full trip
Not included
- —International flights (available as an add-on, contact Jess)
- —Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- —Meals and drinks outside of included dinners, lunches and daily breakfast
- —Alcohol outside of included meals and experiences
- —Room service, minibar, hotel incidentals and personal bar tabs
- —Spa treatments, personal shopping and souvenirs
- —Optional add-on excursions (Aveiro, Alentejo)
- —Gratuities
- —Airline baggage fees, seat selection and airline-related charges
- —Single supplement (contact for pricing)
- —Anything not specifically listed above
Per person, double occupancy
$6,000
All taxes and fees included
$600 non-refundable deposit holds your place. Balance paid in installments through July 2027.
How payments work
| Milestone | Amount | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit — reserve your spot | $600 | Non-refundable · Due now |
| First installment | $1,800 | March 2027 · 6 months prior |
| Second installment | $3,000 | June 2027 · 90 days prior |
| Final balance | $600 | July 2027 · 60 days prior |
How to reserve your spot
Complete the form below
Fill out the TravelJoy booking form so I have what I need to hold your spot.
Review trip details
You’ll receive full booking information including inclusions, payment schedule, terms and cancellation policy.
Submit your deposit
Your $600 non-refundable deposit confirms your spot. Spots are not held without a completed form and deposit.
Get ready for Portugal
Pre-trip communication, flight guidance, packing notes and everything you need before departure comes from me.
Optional add-ons
A few extras worth knowing about. None of these are required, but each one is worth considering before the trip.
Day trip to Aveiro + Costa Nova
Portugal’s “Venice of the north” — colorful striped houses, canals, and fresh seafood. A strong add for your Day 5 free day in Porto. Contact Jess for current pricing.
Day trip to Alentejo wine region
One of Portugal’s best wine regions, with cork forests, whitewashed villages and seriously good red wine. A great use of your Day 10 free day in Lisbon. Contact Jess for current pricing.
Flight booking assistance
Rather not deal with flights yourself? I’ll book your international flights for a $50 per person fee. Just let me know when you reserve your spot and I’ll send you options.
Travel insurance
Strongly recommended given the non-refundable payment structure. I’ll provide insurance options at the time of booking. You pick the coverage that fits. Contact Jess to get a quote.
Questions about add-ons? jess@jesspeterman.com · 303-378-7351
Reserve your spot
Why travel with Jess
I’m Jess Peterman, a travel advisor who specializes in custom Europe trips, luxury river and ocean cruises, and hosted group travel. I’m also the person behind The Over-Researched Traveler, which tells you everything you need to know about how I approach a trip.
I built this Portugal itinerary because I wanted to do it right: two cities with real depth, a valley day that earns its place on the schedule, free time that’s actually free, and meals that weren’t picked off a tourist list.
On this trip I handle every detail before you arrive, I’m with you the whole time, and I’m the person you call if anything needs sorting. That’s what a hosted trip should be.
Questions before you commit? jess@jesspeterman.com · 303-378-7351
Important details
Deposits
The $600 per person deposit is non-refundable and required to confirm your spot. Your place is not held until the deposit is received.
Cancellation
Once final payment is made at 60 days prior to departure, the full trip cost is non-refundable. Certain supplier terms may apply from the time of booking. I’ll notify you in advance.
Travel insurance
Strongly recommended given the payment timeline and non-refundable structure. Coverage options are available through me at the time of booking.
Passport
A valid passport is required. Check your expiration date before booking. Most countries require at least 6 months of validity beyond your travel dates.
Flights
International airfare is not included. I’ll provide flight guidance after your spot is confirmed. Fly into Porto (OPO) and home from Lisbon (LIS).
Solo travelers
Solo travelers are welcome. A single supplement applies. Reach out for current pricing before you reserve.
Itinerary changes
The planned itinerary is subject to change due to weather, supplier availability, operational decisions or circumstances beyond our control. Every effort will be made to substitute comparable experiences.
Hotels
Hotels are listed as confirmed or similar. In the event a listed property becomes unavailable, a comparable alternative will be arranged. Room category and inclusions will be maintained to the best extent possible.
Minimum participation
This trip requires a minimum number of participants to operate. In the unlikely event the trip is cancelled by Jess Peterman Travel due to insufficient enrollment, all payments received will be refunded in full.
Force majeure
Jess Peterman Travel is not liable for cancellations, delays or changes resulting from circumstances beyond reasonable control, including natural disasters, political instability, airline disruptions, health emergencies or government-imposed restrictions. Travel insurance is strongly recommended for this reason.
Currency and pricing
Pricing is based on the EUR/USD exchange rate at the time of itinerary development. Jess Peterman Travel reserves the right to adjust pricing in the event of significant currency fluctuation prior to final payment. Any price changes will be communicated promptly.
Here’s what you’re saying yes to
- 12 days in Porto, the Douro Valley and Lisbon
- 11 nights at two hand-picked hotels
- Nine included experiences — from a full day in the Douro Valley to Fado farewell dinner
- Two full free days to use however you want
- All logistics handled before you board the plane
- Jess there with you the entire trip
13 spots only · Spots confirmed by deposit only · Questions? jess@jesspeterman.com
