The pousadas are a network of inns housed in historic buildings, castles, palaces and convents, or sometimes built especially for the purpose. They have often been geographically sited in regions not on the usual tourist itinerary to give people the opportunity to visit the whole country. The architecture and design of the pousadas has been carefully studied in order to give visitors a better knowledge of the cultural traditions of the various regions of the country, with particular attention paid to handicrafts, cooking and wines.

There is a wide range of accommodation available all over the country, ranging from luxury hotels, pensions, boarding houses and inns to simple guest houses, manor houses, campsites and youth hostels. Pousadas offer very good value and are often situated in places of scenic beauty in converted castles, palaces or old inns.

Most hotels have a private swimming pool and serve international cuisine as well as some typically Portuguese dishes. During the low season, hotels normally grant substantial reductions. There should be an officially authorised list of prices displayed in every bedroom, and children under eight years of age are entitled to a reduction of 50 per cent on the price of full meals and 50 per cent on the price of an extra bed, if sharing parents’ room or apartment. Classification of hotels is according to the international 1- to 5-star system and their prices are officially approved. Apartment hotels are classified from 2- to 4-star, motels from 2- to 3-star and boarding houses from 1- to 3-star (with 1-star being the best); there are also 4-star albergarias.

Rooms are available in private houses and on farms all over Portugal. Some of the old manor houses are now open to visitors and provide good opportunities for tourists to make contact with Portuguese customs and people.

There is self-catering tourist accommodation in deluxe, first- and second-class tourist villages and tourist apartments, particularly on the Algarve. Tour operators can arrange a wide variety of villas for self-catering parties.

Youth hostels are located to give young people the opportunity of visiting towns, countryside, mountains and coastal areas. Tourists can obtain accommodation and meals.

Portugal provides camping and caravan parks near beaches and in thickly wooded areas. Some have model installations including swimming pools, games fields, supermarkets and restaurants. For further information, check online (websites: www.roteiro-campista.pt or www.orbitur.pt).

Associação Hotéis de Portugal
Avenida Duque d’Ávila 75, 1000 Lisbon, Portugal
Tel: 2135 12360.
Website: www.hoteis-portugal.pt

Pousadas de Portugal
Rua Soares de Passos, 3 Alto de Santo Amaro, 1300-314, Lisbon, Portugal
Tel: 2184 4200.
Website: www.pousadas.pt

MOVIJOVEM (Youth Hostels)
Rua Lucio de Azevedo 27, 1600 Lisbon, Portugal
Tel: 2172 32100.
Website: www.pousadasjuventude.pt

Federação Portuguesa de Campismo
Avenida Coronel Eduardo Galhardo 24D, 1199-007 Lisbon, Portugal
Tel: 2181 26890.
E-mail: campasino@fpcampismo.pt