Tripologist: Where are the best places to stay in Portugal?

My husband and I plan to visit southern Spain in September/October 2025 for three to four weeks, keen to include a small group tour. We would like to include Barcelona and Madrid, with our other “must sees” of Seville, Granada and Cordoba. M. Armstrong, Concord West, NSW

You have a generous amount of time and what you might do is take a tour in Andalucia, then spend time by yourselves in Madrid and Barcelona, taking the occasional half-day tour and exploring those cities using the public transport systems. Adelaide based Bunnik Tours is a family operated tour agency and they have an eight-day tour of Southern Spain. Alternatively, you could take a more comprehensive tour such as Bunnik’s 22-day Spain in Depth tour, which includes Barcelona, Madrid and the highlights of the country’s north and south. This tour also includes airfares. Also take a look at the Spanish tours offered by Intrepid Travel, APT Touring and G Adventures.

After visiting Tonga we have a five-week gap before visiting Fiji’s Yasawa Islands. Can you suggest any itinerary perhaps including Samoa and/or the Cook Islands to fill this gap? S. Aves, Sydney, NSW

That five-week gap is tricky. From Tonga, the first stop on your itinerary, the only international flights are to Auckland or Fiji’s Nadi. If you want to visit either Samoa or the Cook Islands you would need to fly first to Auckland, and the same route on your return journey to Nadi for the Yasawas chapter of your holiday. Five weeks is a long time to fill in but if your budget would stretch to it, you could fly non-stop from Auckland to French Polynesia or Hawaii and spend a couple of weeks in either. Both these island groups offer something other than the more languid version of Polynesian life found in the Cook Islands and Samoa. You could then spend whatever remains of your five-week gap to travel to Fiji and explore more widely before your trip to the Yasawas. The Fijian islands of Taveuni and Vanua Levu bring to mind the castaway paradise that we associate with the islands of the South Pacific.

We would like to visit Portugal this year. Would you recommend a tour company and places to stay, please? What are the best places to see in Lisbon and Oporto? D. Waterfall, Wollongong NSW

For tours of Portugal I’ve used Sam Lister of Tailor Made Andalucia. Sam and his crew are based in Seville, Portugal is one of their specialties and they’re a great choice if you want some of the ‘insider’ experiences that most tourists don’t get to see and do. In Lisbon, take in the narrow streets of the Alfama district, the waterfront Belem area and take a cruise on the Tagus River. Highlights include Belem Tower which has stunning views of the Tagus River, Jeronimos Monastery, a World Heritage Site that houses the tomb of Vasco da Gama, the Moorish-style St George’s Castle perched on a hill overlooking the city, the lively neighbourhoods of Chiado and Bairro Alto, known for their cafes, boutique shops and vibrant nightlife, and don’t miss the ride aboard Tram 28, the iconic yellow tram that winds through Lisbon’s historic districts. For accommodation take a look at Santiago de Alfama, Palacete Chafariz del Rei and Solar do Castelo. In Porto, base yourselves in the historic Rebeira district along the waterfront. Explore the amazing Palacio da Bolsa, the city’s former stock exchange, the church of St Francis and the riverfront promenade of the Vila Nova de Gaia neighbourhood, and perhaps sample some of the port wines for which the city is famous. Sao Bento railway station is plated with stunning azulejo ceramic tiles depicting Portuguese historical scenes and Livraria Lello is one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores, its intricate wooden staircase is an Instagram icon. From Porto, the cruise Along the Douro River, beneath the steeply terraced hillsides that are the source of port wines, is an absolute must. The Exmo Hotel and Maison Cabral are two great choices.

My husband and I would like to find central towns or cities in England where we could use trains to visit other areas on daily visits over about three weeks, staying in Airbnbs. After England we plan to fly to Spain and do the same for about a week in the San Sebastian area. B. Hansen, Mona Vale NSW

Towns have great character but they’re problematic since they have fewer transport options and that makes exploring the local region difficult. There are several English cities with extensive transport links including York, Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton and Bath. Devon and Cornwall are more difficult since the railway and bus networks around the coast do not make for easy travel, but Torquay would be a good choice. Any of these would have plenty of the kind of self-catering accommodation you’re looking for. In Spain, you’d be better off spending your week in San Sebastian, which has plenty to keep you occupied as well as ready access to Bilbao, and Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Bayonne across the French border.

Travel advice is general; readers should consider their personal circumstances.