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Answers to your questions

Important: 6 Month Passport Rule
You can't travel with a passport that expires in less than 6 months from your departure date from the US. To be safe make sure that bad boy is good for at least 7 months.

Do I need a visa to travel from the US to Portugal for the wedding?

No, U.S. citizens can visit Portugal for up to 90 days without a visa for tourism purposes.

What's the best way to get from the airport to Lagoa?

The choice depends on your arrival airport in Portugal, but the options include Ubers, taxis, or car rentals. We laid out some recommendations for transportation here.

What will the weather be like in Portugal in September?

September usually offers warm, sunny weather, with the average highs/lows being 85°/64°. We expect the the wedding weekend to be warm so keep an eye on the forecast and dress accordingly.

What currency is used in Portugal, and are credit cards widely accepted?

The Euro is the currency in Portugal. Credit cards are widely accepted, but it's advisable to have some cash for smaller transactions. We recommended having €200-€300 in cash mostly in small bills.

Will there be transportation arranged for guests from hotels to the wedding venue on the wedding day?

Yes, if you are staying at Quinta do Algarvio Village. If you are staying at another property, Uber and Taxis will be your savior!

Is there a specific hotel or area you recommend we stay in?

You should stay in or around Estombar or Lagoa. We laid out some recommendations for accommodations here.

What kind of car should I rent?

The streets in most Portuguese cities are very small so we recommend a you rent a compact car or as small as you can work with.

How do the gas stations work?

Here are all the steps to fill up your tank. Start by pre-selecting the amount of gas based on euros at the pump, fill up your tank, and then walk into the station to pay. If you don’t know exactly how much is necessary to fill up your tank, just select a high number in Euros and they will only charge you for what you used.

Are there tolls on the road?

There are tolls, so talk with your rental car company about how you’ll get charged and how you will pay.

What are some useful Portuguese phrases?

Greetings and Basic Politeness

  • Hello: "Olá" (oh-LAH)
  • Good morning: "Bom dia" (bom DEE-ah)
  • Good afternoon: "Boa tarde" (BO-ah TAR-de)
  • Good evening/night: "Boa noite" (BO-ah NOY-te)
  • Please: "Por favor" (por fa-VOR)
  • Thank you: "Obrigado" (if male) / "Obrigada" (if female) (oh-bree-GAH-doo/dah)
  • You're welcome: "De nada" (de NAH-dah)
  • Excuse me/Sorry: "Desculpe" (desh-COOL-peh)

Basic Questions and Phrases

  • Do you speak English?: "Fala inglês?" (FAH-lah een-GLESH?)
  • I don't understand: "Não entendo" (now en-TEN-doo)
  • How much is this?: "Quanto custa isto?" (KWAN-toh KOOS-tah ees-TOH?)
  • Where is the bathroom?: "Onde está a casa de banho?" (ON-deh esh-TAH ah KAH-zah de BAH-nyoo?)

Dining and Food

  • I would like...: "Eu gostaria de..." (eh-oo gohs-TAH-ree-ah de...)
  • The menu, please: "O menu, por favor" (o MEH-noo, por fa-VOR)
  • A table for two, please: "Uma mesa para dois, por favor" (OO-mah MEH-zah PAH-rah DOYSH, por fa-VOR)
  • Water: "Água" (AH-gwah)
  • Cheers!: "Saúde!" (sah-OOD)

Direction and Travel

  • Where is...?: "Onde fica...?" (ON-deh FEE-kah...?)
  • How do I get to...?: "Como chego a...?" (KO-mo SHE-goo ah...?)
  • Left: "Esquerda" (esh-KAIR-dah)
  • Right: "Direita" (dee-RAY-tah)
  • Train station: "Estação de comboio" (esh-tah-SOUNG de com-BOY-oo)
  • Bus station: "Estação de autocarro" (esh-tah-SOUNG de au-toe-CAR-roh)

Emergencies

  • Help!: "Socorro!" (so-COHR-roh)
  • I need a doctor: "Preciso de um médico" (preh-SEE-zoo de oom MEH-dee-co)
  • Call the police: "Chame a polícia" (SHA-meh ah po-LEE-see-ah)
Nine years in the making