Castle of Guimarães (Guimarães, Braga)

Imposing medieval castle from the 10th century

The castle is regarded as the national symbol of Portugal. It was founded around the year 968, when the countess of Galicia had a castle constructed to protect people from the attacks of the Vikings and the Moors. Then in the 11th century, Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, ordered the castle to be reconstructed into a larger and more solid building. Gradually, it became an important defensive structure. In 1910, the castle was declared a national monument.

Obidos Castle (Obidos, Leiria)

12th century castle surrounded by 45 feet high walls

The castle situated in the fortified town of Obidos was founded in 1195. Today, it serves as a magnificent Pousada – a historical hotel. The castle and the city remain a well-preserved example of medieval architecture and as such they are a popular tourist destination. Each July the castle hosts a traditional Medieval Market recreating the spirit of medieval Europe.

Batalha Monastery (Batalha, Leiria)

Magnificent gothic monastery and a World Heritage monument

The Dominican monastery illustrates the history of Portugal and its rich artistic heritage. It was founded in 1385 but it took two centuries and fifteen architects to be fully completed. The monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the best and original examples of late Gothic architecture in Portugal, intermingled with the Manueline style.

Jerónimos Monastery (Santa Maria de Belém, Lisbon)

Impressive monastery and one of Lisbon’s most visited monuments

The monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, is one of the most prominent monuments of the Manueline-style architecture in Lisbon. Founded in 1502 it symbolizes the Portuguese Age of Discovery. It is one of the most beautiful monastic churches in Europe and a popular tourist attraction. Surprisingly though, 500 years ago it was only a modest chapel where departing and arriving seafarers came to pray. It was King Manuel who transformed it into this remarkable monument to the great men who spearheaded the Portuguese discoveries.

Alcobaça Monastery (Alcobaça, Leiria)

Portugal’s largest church, founded in 1178

The first and the largest Gothic building in Portugal, the monastery is yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors are amazed by the huge space of the interior that lacks any ornamentation. It was founded in the 12th century by the first Portuguese king Afonso Henriques and for a long time it was one of the most important medieval monasteries. The tomb of King Pedro I and his mistress Ines de Castro can be seen there.

Pena National Palace (Sintra, Lisbon)

Sintra’s most famous monument

One of the best examples of 19th-century Romanticism in Portugal is situated at the top of the hill Monte da Pena above the town of Sintra. The palace was built on the site of an old monastery belonging to the Order of St. Jerome and almost the entire palace stands on rock. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is used for state occasions by the president of the country. The palace represents a range of styles much in accordance with the exotic taste of the Romanticism. The mixture of eclectic styles includes the Neo-Gothic, Neo-Manueline, Islamic and Neo-Renaissance.

Belém Tower (Santa Maria de Belém, Lisbon)

The majestic symbol of Lisbon.

The fortified tower on the banks of the river Tagus in Lisbon has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983 much like the nearby Jerónimos Monastery. It was built by Francisco de Arruda between 1514 and 1521 and commissioned by King John II. The construction was meant to be part of a defense system at the mouth of the river and a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon. Thanks to its quadrangular shape the tower reminds people of medieval castles. Its polygon bulwark protected the tower against heavy bombardment from the sea.

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The island is attractive for tourists because of its wonderful landscape, flowers, delicious meals, and of course because of its famous wine.

Thanks to the Gulf Stream the island has a rather pleasant weather all year long. Temperatures are around 25°C in July and August and they rarely drop bellow 18°C in winter. Moreover, since the island is only 22 km wide and 57 km long it is easy to explore the whole place in one week.

According to server CT24.cz, the best time for visiting Madeira is around the Easter. It is not so hot for hiking and more flowers are in blossom. However, visitors might get some rainy and foggy days. Risk of rains in summer is minimal but on the other hand everything is rather dry including the beautiful flowers.

It is also possible to enjoy sea while on the island but there is only one natural sand beach at the Prainha village. However, the temperature of the water reaches a maximum of 23°C and it is also quite windy there.

Among other attractions of Madeira are Levadas – old irrigation channels. There are over two thousand of them on the island and tourists particularly enjoy walking along them.

Those who love flowers should definitely visit the botanical gardens in the city of Funchal. They are located on the peak called Monte and tourists can get there easily by a funicular. There is a beautiful view of the city from the top.

Another place worth visiting is the church Nossa Senhora where the last Austro-Hungarian emperor is buried. Charles I came to the island after the fall of the empire and stayed there until his death. A statue in front of the church also commemorates him.

Visitors should definitely explore local cuisine offering delicious meals. Grilled fish but also dishes prepared from beef are definitely worth tasting. Madeira wine is also renowned.

tourism-review.com

Hoscar winners are chosen based on their overall score in six categories – fun, cleanliness, staff, security, location and character – and were voted for by more than one million Hostelworld.com customers who booked their accommodation online and stayed in the properties in 2010. Hostelworld.com’s Hoscars are the only awards in the travel industry decided exclusively by guest appraisals, a crucial point in light of the recent news regarding the integrity of online customer reviews.

The Portuguese city of Lisbon has again proved itself to be the jewel in the crown for budget-conscious travelers around the world, securing the top three spots. ‘Travellers House’ was voted Best Hostel in the World for the third year in a row, followed closely by ‘Lisbon Lounge’ and ‘Living Lounge’ respectively.

The awards recognize the top hostels in a number of categories including the best hostels in each of the seven continents, the most improved and the top hostel chains. Several new categories were introduced this year including the top 10 Best Large and Small Hostels along with Best Seasonal Hostel, Best Hostel for Groups, New to Hostelworld and a Special Contribution and Lifetime Achievement Award.

USA Hostels San Francisco received the honor of Best Hostel in the United States, while cities along the East Coast dominated the top ten, with hostels in Boston, New York, Washington DC and Miami being recognized.

Hostelworld.com’s Chief Executive Feargal Mooney commented on this year’s awards, saying, “The Hoscar awards ceremony is now regarded as the biggest event in the budget travel calendar and the announcement of category winners is eagerly anticipated each year by hostel owners and customers alike. Hoscar reviews and ratings have become a significant factor for customers in accommodation selection and the continued growth in reviews and ratings from genuine customers on Hostelworld.com reflects the expanding appeal of hostel accommodation worldwide.”

He continued, “The travel industry now recognizes the importance of customer-based reviews. Hostelworld.com has been leading the charge for a number of years and the Hoscar awards are based only on reviews and ratings of those guests who have actually booked and stayed in the accommodation. We believe this is the only real way to ensure a true reflection of a property’s strengths and weaknesses. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners.”

*For the full list of winners please visit www.hostelworld.com/hoscars-2011.

Best Hostels Worldwide

1. Travellers House – Lisbon

2. Lisbon Lounge Hostel – Lisbon

3. Living Lounge Hostel – Lisbon

Best USA Hostels

1. USA Hostels San Francisco – San Francisco

2. USA Hostels Hollywood – Los Angeles

3. HI Chicago – Chicago

4. Miami Beach International Hostel – Miami

5. Adelaide Hostel and Hotel – San Francisco

6. HI Washington DC – Washington DC

7. HI Boston Downtown – Boston

8. The New York Loft Hostel – New York

9. India House Backpackers Hostel – New Orleans

10. HI New York – New York

Best Hostels in North America

1. Montreal Central, Montreal

2. ACBB Hostel Niagara, Niagara Falls

3. USA Hostels San Francisco, San Francisco

Best Large Hostels Worldwide

1. Travellers House – Lisbon

2. Living Lounge Hostel – Lisbon

3. Yes! Lisbon Hostel – Lisbon

4. Hostel Mostel – Sofia

5. Friendly Fun Franks Backpackers Hostel – Riga

6. Montreal Central – Montreal

7. Han Tang Inn Youth Hostel – Xi’an

8. Home – Lisbon

9. EastSeven Berlin Hostel – Berlin

10. Castle Rock Hostel – Edinburgh

Best Small Hostels Worldwide

1. Lisbon Lounge Hostel – Lisbon

2. Rossio Hostel – Lisbon

3. Greg & Tom Hostel – Krakow

4. Academy Hostel – Florence

5. Rivoli Cinema Hostel – Porto

6. Hostel of the Sun – Naples

7. Oporto Poets Hostel – Porto

8. Oasis Backpackers Hostel Granada – Granada

9. BackHome Kuala Lumpar – Kuala Lumpur

10. Sant Jordi Diagonal Hostel – Barcelona

Special Contribution Award – INOUT Hostel, Barcelona, Spain

Lifetime Achievement Award – Wombat’s City Vienna – The Base, Vienna, Austria

For additional information and user comments on the hostels mentioned above and a list of winning hostels based on geography, please visit www.hostelworld.com. Graphics of hostels are available upon request.

About Hostelworld.com

The global market leader for over 10 years, Hostelworld.com is the leading provider of online reservations to the budget, independent and youth travel market. It offers confirmed online reservations for over 25,000 hostels and budget hotels in 180 countries worldwide and is the only hostel booking site to offer a service guarantee. The site also offers budget travellers over 3.5 million user reviews, award-winning travel videos & podcasts, free customised city guides, a travel social network and more.Hostelworld.com is headquartered in Dublin and is fully owned and operated by Web Reservations International Ltd (WRI)

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that struck Madeira Island last Saturday, February 20, and have already expressed our full support, as well as our commitment to help in any way considered, to the government of Portugal and to the regional government of Madeira.

“The quick response action undertaken by the competent authorities at local and national levels, together with the support of the EU, have been instrumental in this catastrophe.

“As for the tourism sector, according to the information provided by the regional government, the hotel industry of Madeira was not affected and maintains all operating conditions safely. Hotel establishments, in general, are operational and there were not reported any difficulties or problems. The Madeira International Airport is also operational.

“I am confident that Madeira will continue to count on its solid tourism infrastructure and services, which have made it the destination of excellence it is today.”

Marcelo Risi Media Officer UN World Tourism Organization Email: mrisi@unwto.org

Notwithstanding a dip in visitor numbers this year, the Atlantic archipelago of the Azores is holding its own according to the region’s newly-appointed tourism chief, Miguel Cymbron, a man with a mission who remains remarkably upbeat despite the negative effects of one of the worst economic downturns in modern times.

Photo of Miguel Cymbron

Hoteliers across the nine-island region have, he says, maintained average room rates at a time when more glamorous destinations around the world have been drastically dumping prices in a desperate attempt to sustain some level of profitability and salvage market share.

One reason for the Azores’ resilience to the slump is an ongoing stealth campaign targeting strategic markets with specific products.
“We’re trying to make people more aware of the many things they can do in the Azores. Our philosophy is to increase business from existing markets rather than penetrate new ones, which is why we’re focusing mainly on the key markets of the United Kingdom, Germany, Holland, France, Scandinavia, Portugal, the U.S.A. and Canada,” explains Cymbron.

The latter is of particular interest due to the increase in weekly flights (from one to two) by local carrier SATA between the islands’ hub of Ponta Delgada and Toronto as from 2 December, in addition to a rise in weekly frequencies to Montreal planned between May and October next year.

SATA’s sights are also firmly set on the Scandinavian market, with a new route to Copenhagen inaugurated in October, to be followed by Stockholm in February and Oslo in April.

More activities and increased visibility
With better transport links in place, Cymbron and his team are now focused on generating more awareness of what, in effect, is one of the most stunningly beautiful yet remotest parts of the world, a mid-ocean palette of multi-floral splendour spread across 645km between Portugal and the USA.

“The mechanism is already in full swing with all the right distribution channels in place. All we need to do now is to make more people aware of what we have here,” he explains.

Every island is a standalone destination with an astonishing range of geographical and cultural features, each having risen above the sea’s surface from the earth’s core at different times, in different ways and for very different reasons.

“They all have their own unique characteristics. São Miguel is the largest and best-known of the islands, while Pico is strikingly appealing and very centrally located. Flores is the most westerly with a beautiful array of lakes and flowers and São Jorge is even more unusual for the fact that it wasn’t created by any volcanic activity.”

On the subject of local attractions and tourist activities, Cymbron is quick to point out that they are much more accessible and wide-ranging than in the past. The local waters are arguably Europe’s number one spot for whale-watching, an increasingly popular pastime that has replaced the destructive pursuit of hunting them down and killing them in former times.

The region’s scuba diving centers are modern and well organized with prices very reasonable compared with many other destinations, and some even offer the chance to dive at night.

Golfers can currently choose from three first-rate courses affording some of the finest views imaginable from the greens and fairviews, with another two in the pipeline. And with the islands so alive with geothermal activity, vulcanology is starting to capture the imagination of visitors, the most recent eruption having taken place just forty years ago on the spot where a new visitors’ center now exists.

Geocaching (a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices) is fast becoming a popular eco-friendly tourist activity in the Azores and is soon to be extended across all nine islands, with the idea being to locate hidden containers called geocaches and share the experience online.

“There’s a much broader choice of things for visitors to do nowadays. The challenge is to keep people thoroughly entertained while they are here,” he stresses.

New hotels and better facilities
Besides having more things to do, visitors also have a wider selection of accommodation available, including the region’s first-ever five-star hotel, the Príncipe do Mónaco (with casino attached), which is soon to open in a prime location overlooking the marina in Ponta Delgada.

Meanwhile, several newly-built four-star hotels have recently opened on the islands of Graciosa (the Graciosa Resort & Business Hotel), São Miguel (the Furnas Spa Hotel), Pico (the Baía da Barca Aparthotel) and Flores (the Hotel das Flores), with more at various stages of development.

But it’s not just hotels visitors are looking for these days. The islands are responding to the fact that people are increasingly seeking the more homely and traditional kind of hospitality being served up at places like Aldeia da Cuada, a typically Azorean hamlet comprising 9 lovingly-restored houses once abandoned and recently brought back to their former glory in a prime location on Europe’s most westerly coast.

“At Aldeia da Cuada, visitors can experience how Azorean people used to lived many, many years ago. It’s incredible!” he enthuses.

Indeed, there’s a certain enchantment about the Azores that remains quite unmatched by most other destinations. Perhaps it’s their remote mid-Atlantic location, or the kaleidoscopic carpet of floral landscapes emblazoning the islands. Or maybe it’s more to do with the mysterious origin of the archipelago, which many historians believe to be part of the lost continent of Atlantis.

Either way, visitors always feel the magic of being in a very special place; somewhere completely untainted by the demands of mass tourism and the eyesores of over-development.

“They’re certainly islands of a very magical nature. There’s blue and green everywhere with such a profusion of flowers and a great variety of scenery changing its complexion on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis.”

And the magic is starting to have a more profound effect as the archipelago finds itself increasingly in vogue as an eco-friendly tourism destination, having received widespread recognition in the past couple of years. Flores, the most westerly of the nine islands, was recently declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve, one of 533 in 107 countries, while the same island came second in National Geographic Traveler magazine’s study of the world’s most sustainable tourism destinations. And Pico, for its part, glowed with pride when Florida-based Islands magazine described it in a recently article as ‘one of the best places in the world to live’.

“Our marketing efforts are now streamlined towards the recent awards attributed to the Azores for environmental reason,” Cymbron concludes.

NOTE FROM PUBLISHER:
Have a look at the video clip of the Azores in the Travel Video section of this website!

In fact, the Portuguese Institute for National Statistics is claiming that the US was the only major market for Portugal to increase in the first 6 months of 2009, other than Austria. Overall, trans-Atlantic traffic was down in July. US visits to Europe for May were down 5.9 percent, according to the latest figures from the US Dept. of Commerce.

The US market to Portugal increased in May and June of 2009 by +7.7 percent and +2.7 percent in terms of hotel guests. The US became Portugal’s 8th biggest market in this category. In terms of hotel overnights, the market increased in May and June by +1.4 percent and +2.7 percent. Total guest revenue saw the U.S. become Portugal’s 6th biggest market with increases in June of +1.5 percent.

“Overall, the American market is well above average in Portugal when comparing with other markets,” said Turismo de Portugal spokesperson Jayme H. Simões. “We were surprised by the increase, and gratified that our hard work in the U.S. is resulting in this kind of growth, in this economic climate.”

Portugal had a 40 percent increase in American visitors over past three years. And in 2008, a report shows that the number of Americans arriving in Lisbon via cruise ships jumped 80 percent over 2007. American spending in Portugal between 2005 and 2007 jumped 58 percent.

Portuguese air carrier SATA (Azores Express) reported a record month in August 2009, of 8,287 passengers transported on its 14-airplane fleet, serving North America, Europe, and Portugal.

“In these uncertain times, American travelers are looking for two things–value for the dollar and the value of experience,” said Simões. “Portugal is strong on both counts. The country’s mild, year-round climate with its historical attractions, new and classic museums, and wine country make Portugal a memorable place to explore for the American traveler. Even with the exchange rate in Europe, Portugal is one of Europe’s best values.

In 2010 Portugal will open more than 35 new hotels and resorts. Another 80 are under construction or being renovated, many of them with 4- or 5-star ratings following new criteria of sustainability and environmental impact.

In 2006, Madeira changed its international marketing domination from “Madeira” to “Madeira Islands,” representing the two islands of the archipelago, Madeira and PortoSanto. This change drove MadeiraIslands.travel to adopt their .travel extension as their main domain, as well as Madeira.travel and PortoSanto.travel, to market in Portugal.

“MadeiraIslands.travel hopes to take advantage of the additional benefits of .travel, such as directory.travel and search.travel,” stated Maria Luisa Perestrello, promotion director. “.Travel tells the world what industry we are in and offers great search results.”

MadieraIslands.travel currently uses their domain name in all of its marketing materials including at expos and on business cards. With over 79 million hits to the website in 2008, MadeiraIslands.travel expects to reach as many visitors as possible to their site and to the Madeira Islands. Most of their main market is in Europe, but the Madeira Islands receive many tourists from the USA, Canada, Brazil, and Asia. MadeiraIslands.travel’s presence on the Internet is the main communication media for these markets.

The website is operated by the Madeira Official Tourism Board. The mission of the Madeira Official Tourism Board is to study, coordinate, promote, carry out, and monitor tourism. The board acts in accordance with the government policies for the tourism industry to develop sustainable, balanced tourism in the Madeira Autonomous Region – Madeira and Porto Santo Islands. The tourism board is a non-profit organization, which is operated and financed by the Regional Government.

For more information on the Madeira Islands, visit www.MadeiraIslands.travel

Just recently, Lisbon got a unique museum, a testament to the historic relations between Portugal and Asia: The Oriente Museum. Housed in a renovated building overlooking the Tagus River and near Belém, The Oriente Museum will host temporary and permanent exhibits highlighting the Portuguese presence in the far east, as well as the richness of traditional Asian artifacts, making this a unique setting among Portuguese cultural venues. It has 5 meeting rooms (cap from 20 to 150 pax) and the Macau Salon (cap for 200 pax and VIP room with 210 square meters with a magnificent view over the Tagus River).

With its 21st century facilities and venues, Lisbon can entertain the most demanding clientele and satisfy any budget, especially now.

Portugal (via Lisbon) is the closest point in Europe to the US – easy to get to and easy to navigate. Blessed with a mild climate year round, an excellent range of sports awaits the active traveler. Golf is considered world class, and more courses are being added. Every corner of the country is rich with historical attractions, mixed with the luxuries of modern travel.

37 new hotels in the Lisbon region

By 2011, there will be 37 new hotels in Lisbon, Estoril, Sintra, and Óbidos. Five hotels will be located at Nations’ Park, three on Avenida Almirante Reis, and two on Avenida 5 de Outubro. The region of greater Lisbon, that includes the municipalities of Sintra, Cascais, and the Oeste region, will benefit from an additional 20 hotels. After Lisbon, the region of Leiria/Fátima is the one that will see the greatest growth in its hotel infrastructure, with the construction of five four-star hotels to meet the demands of growing tourism. This increase in the number of the Lisbon region’s hotels is due to the increased demand, which keeps growing annually. For example, in 2007, the Portuguese capital was host to 90 international congresses and was placed 6th among the 240 cities studied in the ICCA´s report. Lisbon's reputation as one of the main destinations for international association meetings is solid.

Estoril is pushing ahead with a strategy to establish itself as a high-quality, multi-product tourist and meeting destination, the main objective being to attract more visitors and maintain their loyalty while increasing awareness of the region. By the end of 2008, the opening of five new 5-star hotels (Vila Itália, Oitavos, Miramar, Quinta do Barão, Vivamarinha, and Hotel do Casino), plus the extensive redecoration of three others (Cidadela, Atlântico, and Grande Hotel), accounted for 1,150 more beds, bringing the total number in the region to 9,000, of which 85 percent are in the four- and five-star categories.

Portugal's history

Portugal is an old country, as evidenced by the fact that it has Europe’s longest-standing border. Its nine centuries of history are filled with epic heroes, fierce battles, and romantic legends, and visitors can find remnants of all of this anywhere in the country.

A certain type of black and white mosaic sidewalk can only be seen in Portugal and other lands where Portuguese is spoken. Manueline architecture, a Portuguese innovation, celebrates the great sea-faring explorations and discoveries of the 15th century. Side by side with Manueline architecture, visitors will find bombastic baroque style or Gothic or medieval structures. The fight for Portugal’s border is evident in the medieval, walled towns dotting the plains of the Alentejo Region. Other towns in the northern reaches are built entirely of Portuguese granite.

Each generation of Portuguese seems to have produced a great poet or two, and their verses today, as in the past, resonate with love, loss, and shipwreck. These, in turn, have come to define the Portuguese. Today, Portugal’s culture is celebrated in music and art, in theater and dance, in food and wine, and in the historical monuments found throughout the country.

Portugal’s many 5-star hotels represent a real value when compared to similar properties in other European nations. A full week at a 5-star hotel in Lisbon can be about the same price as just one or two nights at a luxury hotel in other European capitals. The lodging options throughout the country are varied and expanding. Travelers may find a unique, locally-owned hotel such as the Lapa Palace and Pestana Palace in Lisbon, or high end properties like the Hotel Rei Humberto Il De Italia in Cascais and the AguaPura Resort in Lamego. Brand new international companies are now offering luxury resorts in Portugal, including the Marriott Praia D’el Rey in Obidos, the Westin Camporeal Golf Resort&Spa, and Columbo’s Resort, currently under construction on the island of Porto Santo.

You get more for your dollar – that’s the norm when travelers discover Portugal. Add to that lower car rental rates, and by comparison, affordable prices at restaurants are considerably lower.

For more details, please contact Alexandra Baltazar at Turismo De Lisboa (+351-210-312-700) or Ilan Geva at 312-861-1300.

How can spending time in Portugal make our world a better place? Portugal has made some important choices in its economic development. They include deciding not to build a dam, but rather to take a huge loss and save important cave paintings in a remote valley; Ripping down modern beach hotels to rebuild with an environmental resort that is smaller and more balanced; Visiting a place where the delicate balance of nature and humanity is vital to those who live there.

And, supporting the largest forest in southern Europe that might help stop the effects of climate change.

STOPPING THE DAM IN FOZ CÔA
A decade ago, a wild, mountainous area of northeastern Portugal, along the valley of the River Côa, was going to be turned into a man-made lake with the construction of a dam that would bring electrical power and irrigation to the remote region. However, the construction process revealed a vast amount of prehistoric cave paintings that needed to be saved, at the recommendation of archeologists. The Portuguese government then made a difficult and expensive decision. The dam project was abandoned and, in its place, a heritage park was created. The park is now a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.

Today it’s quite a drive to get to the park, but many do it to see the cave paintings of mountain goats, horses, aurochs (wild bulls) and deer. These species are all typical of the large herbivores that were part of the ecosystem in the region during the Upper Paleolithic Age. Engravings of fish are also among the collection, along with one image of a human form. The engravings were etched using quartz or flint, the images being scratched into the rock walls using straight lines or zigzags. The Quinta da Ervamoira museum stands at the center of the heritage park, offering interpretations of the region and its customs. The museum shows the art of bread-making and wine production through the ages. Throughout the area surrounding the park, new inns are opening to cater to guests. Visiting Foz Côa is a vote for preserving our shared human past and recognizing it as more important than a dam.

ALENTEJO: DRINK WINE AND SAVE THE IBERIAN LYNX
Next time you open a bottle of wine that has a cork in it, think of the Iberian lynx. The Alentejo region of Portugal is home to the largest cork forests in the world, and those cork forests have served to protect all the species of plants, birds and animals that dwell within them. In more remote parts of these protected lands, the rare Iberian lynx can still be found.

Cork forests are protected by law. Cork is a totally natural product. It is environmentally friendly, renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable. Portugal has enough cork forests to last more than 100 years and, under a reforestation program, they’re growing by four percent a year on average. The forests produce more than half the world’s total cork supply. The cork industry also sustains more than 15,000 employees in remote areas.

To produce cork, a cork oak (Quercus Suber, or Sobreiro in Portuguese) must be at least 25 years old. To harvest the cork, the outer bark is stripped from a cork oak once every nine years. The tree is protected by an inner bark, which is always left on the tree. The harvested bark is boiled and purified A cork oak tree can live as long as two centuries.

According to a recent study by The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the use of natural corks by the world’s wine industry sustains a variety of rare wildlife in the cork forests of southern Europe.

Forty-two bird species depend on the cork forests, including the endangered Spanish imperial eagle (with a global population down to 130 pairs), as well as rare species such as the black vulture and black stork. Smaller birds, such as robins, finches and song thrushes, migrate to the Iberian Peninsula’s cork forests from northern Europe, along with blackcaps from the United Kingdom. In spring and summer, the cork forests are home to a rich variety of butterflies and plants, with more than 60 plant species recorded in just one square meter.

One particular tree in these protected lands is known as the “Whistler Tree” because of the many singing birds attracted to it. It is said to be 212 years old. This tree alone may have produced 1 million corks.

So, skip that petroleum-sourced “plork” or aluminum twist top for your own bottle of wine. By choosing a wine with a cork, you’re supporting these forests, which are supporting the planet.

AUTHENTIC, UNSPOILED, AND LIKELY TO REMAIN SO
A century ago, the Azorean islands were overpopulated and desperately poor. Today, they are sparsely populated and relatively well off. Faced with economic and environmental disaster, some 400,000 residents left the Azores over the course of 100 years, all of them searching for a better life. The ones who remained behind embraced the importance of being stewards of the planet. The National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations has named the Azores islands as the world’s second most appealing islands destination in its fourth annual Destination Scorecard survey. A panel of 522 experts, aided by George Washington University, reviewed conditions on 111 islands and archipelagos. The Azores were out-scored only by Faroe Islands, and the Azores were described as “Authentic, unspoiled, and likely to remain so.”

Judges in the Destination survey noted that the Azores are not exactly a “beach destination” and therefore are not likely to attract the tourist masses. The mountainous and green islands seem “set to remain unspoiled,” they wrote. Also noted was the infrastructure, the sophistication of the locals who have often lived overseas. The main visitor type, the judges said, would be the independent traveler staying in B & Bs.

The ecosystemËœfrom the beautiful hydrangea-covered hills of Flores to the rock-bottomed bays of TerceiraËœis in great shape. Whales are still a frequent sight off shore. The local culture is strong and vibrant. They noted that it is not uncommon to be invited to a person’s house for dinner or welcomed into a communal meal during a festival.”

Natural Reserve Parks are being created on four of the Azores islands–Santa Maria, Graciosa, Faial and Corvo. These parks, along with existing ones on the islands of Miguel and Pico, will help to maintain the natural beauty of the islands. Tourism to the region will help sustain those efforts to preserve that natural beauty.

ERASING THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST
Ever see a beach lined with ugly high-rises and say “I wish they would just tear it all down and start over”?

Well, they did that on the Tróia Peninsula, in the northern tip of Portugal’s Alentejo region, 30 miles south of Lisbon. The new Tróia Resort project involved destroying several ugly 1970s and 1980s high-rises. In their place is now a new, “green” low-rise resort, built to complement the landscape of this delicate place. The peninsula is an excellent location for golf and water sports. The narrow sand-strip lies 47 km south of Lisbon and boasts 18 km of beaches and some of the cleanest water in the region.

The TróiaResort offers two five-star hotels, two four-star hotels, a 184-berth marina, a casino, a conference centre, a beach club, a country club, a tennis centre and an equestrian centre. In the planning stages, the resort was assessed by the Maritime Research Institute, which carried out environmental impact studies, which are ongoing. The Eco Resort will provide a tennis centre, an equestrian center, a roman ruins archaeological center and an environmental center. The first phase, which includes three hotels, a marina, casino, conference centre, commercial facilities, restructuring of the golf course and delivery of the Marina and Beach apartments, just opened in September 2008.

Source: Portuguese National Tourism Office

The alliance with Todd Travel Promotions will support the travel agency community and assist travel partners in promoting their products via a new online "Info Center" to be launched later in the spring. The "Info Center" on the site, will provide travel agents and consumers a one-stop resource to order product materials and travel brochures from key suppliers simultaneously. Visitors to PortugalSpainBoth.com will also have the opportunity to view the travel materials and to place and receive orders.

"This is an important project for Portugal and for our continued support of our US travel partners," said Luis Moura, recently appointed director of the Portugal National Tourist Office. "We're confident that our key partners will take full advantage of this platform to showcase their products to consumers and retail travel agents."

The PortugalSpainBoth co-op program will continue to serve and support travel suppliers throughout the year with marketing initiatives in highly-targeted media channels and the collection of highly-qualified leads to be shared amongst its partners. Opportunities for partners to integrate their products with PortugalSpainBoth will also be available, and exist at varying levels. To date, Abreu Tours, Auto Europe, Destination Oceans and 1-800-Fly-Europe have partnered with the program.

"We are keen in continuing our efforts to promote the two destinations with PortugalSpainBoth," said Javier Piñanes, director of the Tourist Office of Spain, "And, naturally, we are most eager in driving brand presence in the US leisure market through the support of our travel partners."

Travel Spike, a leader in innovative digital marketing and technology solutions for the travel industry, is the interactive agency of record for PortugalSpainBoth and will continue to manage and grow the program.