Portugal Tours 4 Two — Attraction in Cascais

We took Iain's "Big Sights Tour" and the sights were even bigger than he promised! As American expats living in Lisbon for almost 3 years, we thought we knew the area, but from the comfy seats of a lovely French convertible car we found the experience to be really remarkable. From the moment we were picked up in central Lisbon and whisked along the coast road, we knew we were in for a treat.

We passed through beach town after beach town, just yards away from the gleaming blue waters of the Rio Tejo as it became the Atlantic Ocean. After passing through the famous resort town of Cascais, we stopped to check out the "Mouth of the Inferno," various wild chasms that the Atlantic waves have cut into the coastline. After that, the luxury villas and condos disappeared and we were in the truly wild coastline of Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.

The park is truly wild with little evidence of human activity. One of the highlights was stopping at the Cresmina Dunes proper sand dunes overlooking the windy Atlantic waves.

The highlight of the day was lunch at a "secret" hilltop restaurant that, I think, is best kept secret from the tourist hordes (you'll have to take the tour to find out the name). Amazing food and views. Be sure to order the Brazilian cheese bread.

One of the things that makes these "4 Two" tours special is that Iain seems to be able to customize them, sometimes on the fly. The subject of the Convento dos Capuchos came up in conversation, and Iain was able to fit in a visit just for us.

We thought the price list was very fair for what is offered. For just a little more than a group tour in a large bus, we got to see twice as much and have photos and memories that will last for a lifetime. Renting a car would have cost more and we would have seen much less.

On a practical note, Iain is an excellent driver and knows these roads like the back of his hand. The Renault convertible is comfy and fun. We felt in good hands...

If you are a couple, a solo traveler, or a small group of three, looking for a truly personal and private tour of the outskirts of Lisbon—Sintra, medieval and seaside towns, palaces, castles, and sunsets—taking a tour with Iain is the way to go. We visited Queluz Palace, Monserrate Palace, drove around Sintra, and stopped at several coastal towns, from Azenhas do Mar to Cabo da Roca and Cascais, plus a beautiful restaurant overlooking the ocean for late lunch, to reenergize after a busy morning.

Iain will drive you around in his convertible that is clean and spacious enough. He is a very responsible driver. Iain can come up with a one-of-a-kind tour that caters to the specific places you want to visit and see. He is kind and respectful of your time and interests.

He communicated with me even before I arrived in Lisbon and suggested various options we could do for the tour, making sure there were no glitches or surprises on the day of the tour. However, he was still flexible enough to make tweaks and changes if need be on the day of the tour. You never know if you want to linger longer, until you are at the place itself. Iain understood this and would make adjustments.

Even days after the tour, Iain was a resource I could ask advice from, like places to have lunch or dinner in Sintra or Lisbon, or when we were deciding on other places to visit during our bigger group/van tours with other couples, even if these tours were not with him anymore. He truly cares, like a friend, that you have a good time in Portugal from the time you arrive, to the time you leave.

Especially for couples and those who want to make their Portugal trip a more memorable even romantic experience, I recommend a tour with Iain at the helm. It’s the...

Perfect Way to see a more diverse side of Portugal. Having been in Lisbon and Porto on business, and not having the time to plan my own tour to explore a little more of Portugal, I contacted Iain to see if he could accommodate my schedule on the 1 open day that I had available. Iain was amazing, once we confirmed the date, he worked with me in the days leading up to it, checking on my timing, as well as confirming what I was interested in seeing and experiencing. The day of the trip, I met up with Iain at the specific time and place we agreed on, so there was no stress or worry leading into the day. The trip was fantastic, as other reviews pointed out, the locations that Iain took me to were the out of the way views, the rustic spots where you have your own space and time to let it all sink in. In terms of company, Iain is the perfect guide. He's talks when you want to, and leaves you to your own as well. Very comfortable, as was more of a travel companion than a tour guide. It's a long review, and I don't think I have done the experience justice. Portugal Tours for Two (or One in my case) is a highly...