Portugal
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Portugal |
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Good information you can use for your visit to Portugal. Just click on the topic below to find information you will need for your visit to Portugal.
Click on Travel Books to find your favorite travel book, search for the perfect book to help with your travel plans, or find the maps you need! And, if you cannot find the book or map you need -- Contact Jim!
Puerta del Sol is a bi-monthly Spanish audio magazine published in conjunction with Champs-Elysees for the intermediate to advanced speaker of Spanish. It is designed to take their speaking and listening comprehension to the next level. Every issue takes the form of an hour long radio broadcast featuring interviews with Spanish celebrities as well as up to date news from the worlds of art, business, literature, politics etc. Previous guests on the programs include Felipe Gonzalas, Carlos Fuentes, Julio Iglesias and Salvador Dali. Each magazine comes with a complete transcript and a comprehensive glossary together with optional linguistic exercises. Available on both CD and cassette. I know from experience that it is always easier and more enjoyable to travel in a foreign country when you can speak some of the language. Check out Puerta del Sol and see what you think. Jim
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Unwind
and relax on Portugal’s southern coast where a range of resorts offer
everything from sandy beaches, lively bars and marinas lined with yachts,
to peaceful cobbled streets, gypsy markets and cozy seafood restaurants.
The |
General Information
On Portugal
The Portuguese National
Tourist Office, 1-800-767-8842, can provide you with travel and tourism
information on Portugal.
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Passport Visa Express specializes in obtaining Passports for United States Citizens who wish to travel internationally within the next 30 days. We work directly with the U.S. Passport Agency assisting you in expediting your passport application in as fast as the same day! Our passport consultants have many years of direct experience working with the Passport Agency. |
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The currency for the Portugal is the euro. At the time of conversion to the euro, the exchange rate was as follows: 200.482 Portuguese escudos = 1 euro. You should check for the current exchange rate at Onada.com and get a cheat sheet.
The euro is the single currency of the European Monetary Union, which was adopted by 11 Member States from 1 January 1999. The 11 Member States are Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland. Greece became the 12th Member State to adopt the Euro on 1 January 2001. The name "euro" was chosen by the European Heads of State or Government at the European Council meeting in Madrid in December 1995.
There will be 7 euro notes and 8 euro coins. The notes are in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5 euro. The denominations of coins are 2 euro, 1 euro, 50 euro cent, 20 euro cent, 10 euro cent, 5 euro cent, 2 euro cent, and 1 euro cent.
If you have used "foreign" currency in the past in your travels, you will find that, just like using than old national currency, it is pretty much the same. The real difference you will see is when you travel to other countries in the euro area. There will be no more currency exchange - which means no more exchange commission to be paid - no more time spent calculating price comparisons, and no more time wasted shopping around for the best exchange rate.
Click on Quest for just about all the information you will need for the euro.
| Commission free foreign currency delivered to your door. Transfer money to over 150 countries with Direct FX. Simple, secure and cost-effective money transfer service provided to you from Getting Away and Direct FX. Click here to order commission free foreign currency and travelers' checks. |
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Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.
Travel
Etiquette
Behavior and customs vary greatly from country to country. We
discuss the correct travel etiquette so that you won't be caught out.
TravelEtiquette was formed to offer a unique reference
point on essential etiquette advice and information for worldwide
travel. Our features and articles are written by professional
journalists and experts - who have a particular interest, or a
background in this area. So – know before you go. Visit
TravelEtiquette so you will know how to, as the old adage states, “When in Rome,
do as the Romans do.”
Getting To
Portugal
Air Portugal (TAP), the national airline of Portugal, has direct
flights to Portugal from several destinations including England, France, Spain,
the United States and Canada. There are also international flights to Porto and
Faro.
British Airways
(ba.com) flies
between Faro and Lisbon and London.
Transportation from the Lisbon airport to the city center is 7 kms. There is a bus about every 20 minutes. From the city center, the buses leave from Praça de Restauradores stopping at many pick-up points on route. At Porto, the local bus number 56 will get you from the city center to the airport. At the Faro Airport, a bus can be boarded outside the Terminal that will take you to the city center. Local buses, numbers 17 and 18 will also take you to and from the airport. And, of course, there are always taxis which might be recommended if you have a lot of luggage.
Train connections into Portugal are available from France and Spain. Taking the train is a wonderful way to arrive as it gives you the opportunity to visit a number of scenic stops along the way. The Portuguese railway system (Caminhos de Ferro Portuguese or CP) is State owned and provides a very reasonably priced transport within the country. Major lines are fast, efficient and comfortable. There are daily international connections including Lisbon - Porto - Paris (Twice daily), Lisbon - Madrid, Porto - Vigo (Spain), and Lisbon - Badajoz (Spain).
Regular bus services operate from France, Spain and England. And, if you are driving, you will find the roads from the rest of Europe easy to drive into Portugal with major border posts open around the clock. If you're driving from England, the quickest route is via the Plymouth-Santander or Portsmouth-Bilbao ferries to northern Spain and then on to Portugal.
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Want to get around on your own while you are in Europe? IdeaMerge offers auto and RV rentals, along with short-term auto and RV leases throughout Europe. Click on RV Rentals Worldwide, and Tax-free Auto Leases in Europe for additional information, or to rent or lease a vehicle of your choice in Europe. |
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Elegant and simple! Touch the screen and hear turn-by-turn directions with
street names as you enjoy your driving experience throughout Europe. Customize
your navigation method or route, to travel safely and stress-free. The Garmin
Nuvii 370 contains premium detailed maps for all of Europe, including highways,
regional freeways and local roads with attributes such as turn restrictions, one
way streets and other navigation features. It contains general map detail for
most cities and towns throughout Europe. Metro areas listed are covered in the
greatest detail. The Nuvii 370 also displays points of interest such as: food
and drink, lodging, golf courses, theatres and cinemas, gas stations, hospitals
and more. Full Coverage available for: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain and Switzerland. Full detailed coverage in major cities of: Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Norway and Sweden. Coverage in Eastern Europe includes: Estonia (Tallinn), Latvia (Riga), Lithuania (Vilnius), Slovakia (Bratislava and Kosice), Hungary (Budapest, Balaton, Debrecen, Miskolc, Eger and Tokaj), Slovenia (Ljubljana and Maribor), Croatia (Zagreb, Rijeka and Pula, Split, Selin, Zadar, Dubrovnik and the Island of Krk), Bulgaria (Sofija), Romania (Buburesti (Bucharest) and Timisoara). |
Getting Around
In Portugal
Because of the high expense, and the relatively short distances
involved when traveling within Portugal, I would not recommend flying.
Unless, of course, you really need to get there in a hurry.
Trains are much cheaper, more relaxing, and give you a chance to see the countryside. The Portuguese railway system (Caminhos de Ferro Portuguese or CP) is State owned and provides a very reasonably priced transport within the country. Major lines are fast, efficient and comfortable. There are express trains (Alfa) between Lisbon and Porto, and in the tourist season also from Lisbon and Porto to the Algarve. A regional train system operates throughout the country joining most of the major towns. This system (IC) is less comfortable than (Alfa) and is slower. There are two classes, 1st and 2nd with the exception for local trains where there is only one class. Whenever possible, travel 1st class. Special tourist tickets may be purchased valid for 7, 14 or 21 days. There is also the Cartão de Familia, that gives special terms for families.
(Alfa) and (IC) tickets can be purchased up to 20 days in advance. Other train tickets are bought on the day of travel.
Because Portugal is so small, it's almost always quicker to go by bus - especially as a number of private companies operate express services between major cities and the Algarve. There is the national network of Rodoviária Nacional (RN), and private operators who run non-stop services on the more popular routes and to destinations not covered by train. The RN tends to be slower but its prices is right! Private operators offer more facilities on longer runs such as toilet, video, air-conditioning and snacks, but you will pay more. Prior to a long trip it is best to check what the coach facilities are before purchasing your ticket. You will find that in major tourist areas or cities there are excellent local excursions. In almost all cases, tickets are purchased in advance
Portugal is also a good place to drive and do it yourself. There are dozens of car-rental agencies in Portugal, though you should bear in mind that gasoline is pretty expensive.
Bicycles can also be rented in some tourist areas and makes a nice way to leisurely see the scenery.
In the larger cities you will find that local transport includes trams, buses and plentiful and cheap taxis. Lisbon has an underground metro (which is being expanded) and some stately funiculars.
Taxis are colored cream. However, you may still find some of the older black and green taxis. In urban areas they charge according to the meter. Outside these areas the charge is per kilometer and includes the cost of the return trip. It is sometimes best to be sure of what you will be expected to pay in an un-metered taxi. Luggage over 30 kilos is charged at a fixed rate.
| Need to rent a car in Portugal and drop it off in another country? Getting Away and Auto Europe have joined together to allow you to rent a car in Austria and drop it in dozens of countries throughout Europe and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the UK and even some places in Africa. Click on Auto Europe more information. |
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Want a car, but don't want to rent. If you need a car for at least 17 days, and you are at least 18 years old, Getting Away and Auto Europe can hook you up with a new Peugeot through the exclusive Peugeot Buy Back Program. Or, if you want to leave the driving to a professional while you sit back and enjoy the scenery, check out the Chauffeur Service offered by Getting Away and Auto Europe. You can also find sports cars, vans and even luxury vehicles at Auto Europe. In Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand and Spain, you can even rent a motor home. |
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Want to get around on your own while you are in Europe? IdeaMerge offers auto and RV rentals, along with short-term auto and RV leases throughout Europe. Click on RV Rentals Worldwide, and Tax-free Auto Leases in Europe for additional information, or to rent or lease a vehicle of your choice in Europe. |
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Click here for a great deal at easyCar.com |
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Elegant and simple! Touch the screen and hear turn-by-turn directions with
street names as you enjoy your driving experience throughout Europe. Customize
your navigation method or route, to travel safely and stress-free. The Garmin
Nuvii 370 contains premium detailed maps for all of Europe, including highways,
regional freeways and local roads with attributes such as turn restrictions, one
way streets and other navigation features. It contains general map detail for
most cities and towns throughout Europe. Metro areas listed are covered in the
greatest detail. The Nuvii 370 also displays points of interest such as: food
and drink, lodging, golf courses, theatres and cinemas, gas stations, hospitals
and more. Full Coverage available for: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain and Switzerland. Full detailed coverage in major cities of: Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Norway and Sweden. Coverage in Eastern Europe includes: Estonia (Tallinn), Latvia (Riga), Lithuania (Vilnius), Slovakia (Bratislava and Kosice), Hungary (Budapest, Balaton, Debrecen, Miskolc, Eger and Tokaj), Slovenia (Ljubljana and Maribor), Croatia (Zagreb, Rijeka and Pula, Split, Selin, Zadar, Dubrovnik and the Island of Krk), Bulgaria (Sofija), Romania (Buburesti (Bucharest) and Timisoara). |
Suggestions For Accommodations In Portugal
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The Club Med Balaia Resort is perched on a red
cliff top in southern Portugal overlooking a magnificent white sand beach. The Club Med Balaia Resort welcomes families for an experience of sheer well-being. The restaurant's vast windows flood the dining areas with light (diverse ambiences for dining with family or friends, design by Didier Gomez). Emphasis on relaxation and fun, with a brand new lounge round the swimming pool. A perfect decor for delightful evenings. Gardens of pine, cork oak, carob, palm and olive trees with vast lawns. The Resort has 372 rooms divided between 3 hotels connected by glass walkways. Delicious, creative cuisine and impeccable table art. Our chefs pull out all the stops to ensure you have a fabulous and entertaining meal. The storey Hotel La Tour faces the pool. The Hotel Pyramide is a 4-storey building with 2/3 storey wings, near the tennis courts. The comfortable 6-storey Hotel Golf is some distance from the centre of the Resort, near the golf clubhouse. All buildings have lifts. For additional information, click on Europe Balaia |
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| Lisbon - My preferred hotel chain is
Marriott |
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| Stay in a privately owned house instead of just another hotel. Manor Houses offers a great selection of guest accommodations in everything from detached Quintas to Castles. Find the perfect place for your next holiday in Spain or Portugal with everything from little cottages to estate homes and manors. Of course, we also offer a great selection of modern hotels along with traditional hotels in historic buildings located in areas of outstanding beauty. |
For a fine selection of detached quintas, houses and villas you can rent direct from the owner, Click Here. Many have private pools. |
| Click on Portugal for suggestions for accommodations in Portugal prepared for Getting Away by the Hotel Club Hotel Club Discount Hotel Reservation System. |
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| We
specialize in hotels in Portugal |
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| A universe of culture and literature. A
melting pot of languages and alphabets. A space specially thought out
for people who enjoy reading. A hotel that lives and breathes
literature. This is the Eurostars Das Letras, possibly the most literary
hotel on the whole continent.
The Eurostars Das Letras Hotel is one of the most rewarding and
breakaway novelties that has happened in the last few years by the Tagus
estuary. It is a luxury establishment where the secret ingredients of
our recipe are blended in perfect proportions: design, top quality
comfort, the latest in technological advances and, of course, literature
and more literature. Each one of the 107 rooms of he Eurostars Das
Letras is dedicated to a celebrated writer: our guests will find on
their bed headrest a large frame with a fragment of a particular author
in its original version from Shakespeare to Calderón de la Barca, from
Virgil to Saramago, the essence of universal literature from every era.
This is an ideal establishment for business travel and for enjoying
tourism with one's partner or family. The hotel provides a business centre, Wi-Fi connections throughout the premises, a gym, sauna, private parking, a restaurant and four completely equipped meeting rooms adaptable for all kinds of corporate events of any size: from 10 persons in the Camoes Lounge to 120 in the Pessoa Lounge. The Das Letras Restaurant, with its décor in contemporary design and its outdoor terrace, serves the finest traditional, Portuguese cuisine and international dishes. Flanked by two large, emblematic Lisbon spaces, the Botanical Gardens and the Avenida da Liberdade, the Eurostars Das Letras enjoys a privileged location in the Portuguese capital, exactly at the point where the business city and the tourist and shopping areas meet. An endless assortment of Lisbon attractions are available within walking distance from the main door of the hotel: Praça Marques de Pombal, Santa Justa, Bairro Alto and its cultural and night-time offers, the Chiado and its book stores, the Castle of Sao Jorge, Alfama, Rossío Square, Praça do Comércio, Praça do Municipio, Rua da Prata, Graça, Lapa and even the streets close to the Benfica area. The hotel is surrounded by excellent restaurants and boutiques, such as Hugo Boss, Louis Vuiton or Cartier. By public transport, the hotel is easily accessible from the Airport, Santa Apolonia Station and other emblematic places in the city, like the Belem district or the Parque das Naçoes, with the Estaçao de Oriente designed by Santiago Calatrava or the impressive Oceanarium. |
 For additional information, or to make reservations, click on Best Hotel Rates In Eurostarshotels. |
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Hotel Guide features hotels in over 200 countries. Their site steers the user to the best deals by scanning multiple websites within seconds. hoteguide.com then pulls out, leaving the booking service provider offering the best deal to close the transaction with the user. The idea is to guide users through the bazaar of online hotel booking websites allowing users to see the best deals at once and to make a wise choice. hotelguide.com - check it out before you check in! |
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| Book Hostels in Portugal Online You can also find a hostel almost anywhere in the world through Experience Paradise, a partner of Getting Away. |
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The
Cities, Towns, and Villages of Portugal
Lisbon (Lisboa), the country's capital, stands breezily on the banks of the
Rio Tejo. The city's low skyline, unpretentious atmosphere and pleasant blend of
architectural styles conspire to make it a favorite with many visitors.
But Lisbon is only one of the cities of Portugal you should visit. Click on Cities, Towns, and Villages of Portugal for descriptions and information on other areas of this vacation destination. And, if you have a favorite you do not see listed on Getting Away, or a favorite restaurant or hotel or thing to see and do in one that is, be sure to send me the information. mailto:ahsjabj@aol.com
Suggestions For
Things To See And Do In Portugal
Portugal is a wonderful place for the water enthusiasts.
Water sports such as swimming, snorkeling, windsurfing and big-game fishing are
popular along the Algarve Coast while surfing is big along the west coast.
Golf is also quite popular with Southern Portugal famous
for its championship golf courses. Other activities include hiking and pony
trekking in the Serra da Estrela and Peneda-Gerês regions and (with advance
notice), you can also make arrangements for a weekend of canyoning or hydro speed
near Porto.
Click on Things to See and Do in
Portugal for additional suggestions and information.
Suggestions For
Dining in Portugal
Coming Soon
Language
Information For Portugal
Click here for language
helps, dictionaries,
electronic translators,
language software and other helps for learning
a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the
country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip
more. Jim.
Favorite Places And
Things To Do In Portugal
Coming Soon
Portugal
Links
Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.
Home Exchanges in Portugal - Why stay in a hotel when you can live just like you would at home? Browse the most popular home exchange searches on the Digsville Home Exchange Club. Affordable holidays don’t need to be a risk - Join the Digsville Home Exchange Network. Click Here for more information.
Currency Exchange - Get your currency needs managed in advance! Many airports, railroad stations, bus depots, and other points of entry have no currency exchange. When currency exchange is available in airports, lines can be long and rates can be "sky high". These long waits and usurious fees can be a nightmare. Order in advance from All Foreign Currency right online. It's fast, easy, and you save time and money! The can also provide you with Travelers' checks, bank drafts, and transfers. U.S. dollars are not accepted everywhere and rates can be atrocious!
| Book Hostels in Portugal Online You can also find a hostel almost anywhere in the world through Experience Paradise, a partner of Getting Away. |
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Lisbon Hotels - Make your reservations in a great hotel in Lisbon today and, even better, get great discounts by reserving through Getting Away! Click here for hotels in selected other worldwide locations.
Holiday Rentals Portugal - Portugal holiday villas, townhouses and apartments in the beautiful Praia D'El Rey area of Portugal that are perfect for your holiday in Portugal.
| Worldwide Riding Vacations : A Global Guide - Not just a guide to dude ranches, this handsome updated edition lists more strenuous and interesting equestrian trips by continent and then by country. Printed on heavy coated stock and illustrated with many color photographs, it includes over 100 entries. Each lists the company, address, phone number, E-mail, FAX, closest airports, price, and when available. There are descriptions of accommodations, meals, activities, and the horses and riding equipment, as well as a list of equestrian travel agencies and associations. British equestrian writer Ruler writes frequently on riding vacations and is an amateur horseman. Sacks, a former college professor, now owns a horse farm. Includes several riding vacation ideas in Portugal. |
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Puerta del Sol is a bi-monthly Spanish audio magazine published in conjunction with Champs-Elysees for the intermediate to advanced speaker of Spanish. It is designed to take their speaking and listening comprehension to the next level. Every issue takes the form of an hour long radio broadcast featuring interviews with Spanish celebrities as well as up to date news from the worlds of art, business, literature, politics etc. Previous guests on the programs include Felipe Gonzalas, Carlos Fuentes, Julio Iglesias and Salvador Dali. Each magazine comes with a complete transcript and a comprehensive glossary together with optional linguistic exercises. Available on both CD and cassette. I know from experience that it is always easier and more enjoyable to travel in a foreign country when you can speak some of the language. Check out Puerta del Sol and see what you think. Jim
| Affiliate Car Rental in Portugal - Our vehicles are provided by major global suppliers, Alamo, Dollar, National, Eurocar, Budget and Hertz to name a few. We belong to a large buying group, so we can offer our customers the substantial car rental discounts you'd expect from a large multi-national organization. You can rent your vehicle from Affiliate Car Rental with the minimum of fuss, just choose a destination from the drop down box above, fill in the times and dates to receive a comprehensive fully inclusive rental quote. Click on Affiliate Car Rental or the banner for all of the details. |
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Portugal Business Etiquette and Culture - An excellent
guide to business culture and etiquette in Portugal.
Executive Planet™
provides valuable tips on business etiquette, customs and protocol for doing
business worldwide. Our guides are co-authored by experts in international
business etiquette, who are available to answer your questions on the discussion
board.
This guide to Portugal business etiquette and culture covers many aspects of doing business in Portugal. It is our goal to provide practical, accurate, and up-to-date tips on Portugal business culture and etiquette, written by experts in business consulting in Portugal. We encourage visitors to leave questions or comments on our discussion boards, moderated by experts in intercultural training and business. Click On: Executive Planet - Portugal
This guide contains the following articles:
Let's Make a Deal - negotiating tactics, the value of connections, recommended
business card style and content, business card protocol, sitting and presenting
yourself in meetings, language for brochures and promotional material, pace of
business, preferred presentation styles, final agreements, thinking styles,
adherence to company policy, and more on Portugal business culture . . .
Prosperous Entertaining - typical mealtimes throughout the day, best venues for
business entertaining, punctuality for social events, dinner table seating
etiquette, mealtime etiquette, importance of alcohol, toasting, guidelines for
hosting a banquet/social event, what foods should be served/avoided, accepting
and declining invitations, and more on Portugal business etiquette. . .
Appointment Alert! - typical vacation times, recommended appointment times,
length of the lunch hour, signals that indicate beginning or end of an
appointment, best arrival time (early, late, right on time), and more on
Portugal business culture. . . Gift Giving - recommended gifts, gifts to avoid,
good and bad colors for wrapping paper, how to present a gift to individuals and
groups, guidelines for receiving gifts, and more on Portugal business culture. .
. First Name or Title? - using titles such as 'Doctor', naming conventions to
avoid, when to use first names, and more. . . Public Behavior - how to greet
strangers and introduce yourself, the rules for men shaking hands with women,
acceptable demeanor, rules for eye contact, gestures/sayings to avoid, and more
on Portugal business culture. . . Business Dress - is dress modest,
conservative, etc., specific dress requirements for men and women, what visitors
should wear to social functions, and more on Portugal business culture. .
Conversation - welcome and unwelcome topics of conversation, the role of
compliments, the tone of voice to be used, whether your hosts are physical or
more reserved, and more on Portugal business etiquette. For additional
information, click on
http://www.executiveplanet.com/index.php?title=Portugal
