Riding Lisbon’s Famous Tram 28

No trip to Lisbon is complete without a ride on iconic Tram 28, an old-fashioned tram that takes you through the city’s most famous neighborhoods in a vehicle so narrow it almost brushes the historic buildings.

The classic yellow trams retain original 1930s features like brass dials and polished wood interiors. It squeezes in and out of unimaginably narrow alleys.

It’s a great introduction to the city, and a unique experience no one should miss!

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The Rain Stopped. Time to Explore Lisbon!

Bob bops around Lisbon, noticing lots of tiled architecture, inviting plazas, historic statues, interesting shops (including sardines, an apparent Lisbon delicacy!), colorful pottery, the obligatory cathedral or two, hilltop vistas with strolling musicians, an art museum, and more.

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Lisbon Tourism

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Taking a Tour to Sintra, Portugal

Bob took a bus tour to Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site north of Lisbon, Portugal, that hosts the National Palace and many other magnificent 19th and 20th century royal residences in the Romantic style. Come along and find out what is special about this charming coastal town.

Sintra is a pioneer work of European romanticism, bringing together incredible botanical richness and a diversity of monuments and buildings from a long period of history. Bob’s favorite was a deep, winding stone well called the Quinta de Regaleira.

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An Independent Guide to Sintra
Sites and Attractions in Sintra
UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sintra
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Lisbon: Boat Tour on the Tagus River

Lisbon’s lovely Tagus River beckoned, so of course Bob hopped on a boat! He was a little underwhelmed.

It was a fine tour, nothing spectacular. Bob enjoyed a relaxing couple of hours seeing Lisbon's main monuments, such as the 25th of April Bridge, Praça do Comércio, and the Tower of Belém, among many others. The one-and-a-half-hour round-trip tour cost 26 euros, or about $28 US. You can also choose to go just one way for less.

We don’t recommend it if your time in Lisbon is short.

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Portugal
Lisbon
Tagus River Boat Tour

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A Mexican Mega-Resort Experience, Part 3: Even More Vidanta

Want to feel like you’re rich and famous? Come with us on Part 3 of our tour of a Mexican mega-resort, the luxurious Vidanta Nayarit on the west coast of Mexico.

We’ll tour more of enormous Vidanta, including La Cantina, Gong, and other restaurants; the Grand Bliss; the Mayan Palace; walking on the boardwalk pathways that connect the resort; the Plaza marketplace that carries everything you need (groceries, bakery, froyo, flip flops, sunglasses), and everything you don't ( gourmet chocolate, jewelry); the Sanctuario entertainment hub; and many other parts of this breathtaking resort.

Want to see what you missed? Part 1 took us from arrival at Puerto Vallarta Airport, through transit to the resort, and the check-in experience. 

In Part 2, we took an early morning tour of Vidanta’s Grand Mayan Hotel and beyond, including breakfast, restaurants, beach, pools, fitness center, a lazy river, and the sky dream gondola. Soak up the lifestyle of the rich and famous! 

Thanks for joining us on this three-part tour of this Mexican mega-resort!

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Vidanta Resort
Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta

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A Mexican Mega-Resort Experience, Part 2: More Vidanta

When we bought a fractional ownership at Vidanta Resort in Mexico, we had no idea the world of luxury we would soon encounter. We’re a middle-class family, not accustomed to the perks of the super-rich that we find at Vidanta. If you’re like us, you’ll enjoy taking me take a three-part tour of this Mexican mega-resort, and spend a few minutes feeling like one of the rich and famous.

In this Part 2 of our Mexican Mega-Resort Experience series on the Messy Suitcase travel channel, we’ll take an early morning tour of Vidanta’s Grand Mayan Hotel and beyond, including breakfast, restaurants, beach, pools, fitness center, a lazy river, and the sky dream gondola. Soak up the lifestyle of the rich and famous!

Part 1 took us from arrival at Puerto Vallarta Airport, through transit to the resort, and the check-in experience. 

Part 3 – coming soon! – will feature a tour of more of the enormous Vidanta, including La Cantina, Gong, and other restaurants; the Grand Bliss; the Mayan Palace; walking on the boardwalk pathways that connect the resort; the Plaza marketplace that carries everything you need (groceries, bakery, froyo, flip flops, sunglasses), and everything you don't ( gourmet chocolate, jewelry); the Sanctuario entertainment hub; and many other parts of this breathtaking resort.

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Vidanta Resort
Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta

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Arriving in Lisbon

It’s Messy Suitcase’s first visit to Portugal, and Bob is traveling alone! He plans to spend a few days in Lisbon courtesy of a layover opportunity through TAP Air Portugal.

Because his flight landed at 530 AM, Bob stowed his luggage in Lisbon through an app called Bounce so he could explore the city before he checked into his Airbnb. He discovered amazing tilework in the cobblestones, plazas, parks, the Marques de Pombal statue, Avenida Libertad, and a lot of truly brilliant architecture.

Of course, he hopped onto the Hop On Hop Off Bus and gave us his impressions from the top of the HOHO. He got on the first one of the day, and found it to be a great way to get oriented to the city despite jetlag.

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Bounce app

Lisbon Tourism

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