Deciding to visit Portugal is usually the easy part.
Working out what actually fits into the time you have – and how to make it all flow – is where it tends to get more complicated.
You don’t need to figure all of that out on your own.
There are a few different ways I can help, depending on how involved you want to be in the planning.
How do you want to approach planning your trip?
People approach trip planning in different ways. It usually comes down to how much time and involvement you want to have.
Most travellers fall into one of these two camps:
Guided DIY Planners
You’re happy to research and book things yourself, but want help working out what to prioritise, how to pace your trip, and what’s actually worth including.
More hands-off
You’d rather have the trip designed for you, with the key decisions and bookings handled – so you can focus on the experience rather than the logistics.
The options below match these different approaches, so you can choose what fits where you are right now.
If things feel a bit unclear, this is where I can help.
I’ve been helping independent travellers plan trips to Portugal since 2007, so I can help you make decisions that actually work on the ground – whether you want to stay hands-on or hand things over.
SELF-GUIDED PLANNING SUPPORT
If you want to plan your own trip, but with better structure and guidance.
Portugal Travel Planner
If you enjoy planning your own trip but want everything in one clear, reliable place, my Portugal Travel Planner may be the right fit for you.
The Planner brings together my favourite places and experiences across Portugal, along with a clear way to plan your route, practical guidance, and the kind of tips that help you decide what’s actually worth including.
It’s designed for independent travellers who want clarity, inspiration and help making decisions, without a fixed itinerary or done-for-you planning.
Bookable DIY Portugal Itineraries / Practical travel guides
These work well if you just want something ready to follow or adapt, without starting from scratch.
Save the time and effort of trip planning by using one of my self-guided, self-booked Portugal itineraries. Follow the day-by-day plan as is or mix and match to suit your available time and interests.
1:1 TRIP PLANNING SUPPORT
For travellers who want more direct support – whether that means help shaping a trip, sense-checking a plan, or handing the whole process over.
Portugal Trip Planning Consultation
If you’re doing your own planning but want help making the key decisions, this is usually the best place to start.
This one-to-one Zoom consultation is ideal if you’ve done some research but still need help working out what actually makes sense for your trip – before you start locking in accommodation, transport or tours.
We’ll talk through your plans together and focus on the things that shape the overall flow of your trip, such as where to go, how long to spend in each place, how to get around, and what’s realistically worth including.
You’ll come away with clearer decisions, a more workable route, and a much better sense of what to do next.
Best for independent travellers who want expert input, without handing over the whole planning process.
“Just a quick note to let you know how much my husband and I enjoyed our trip to Portugal last October. Just loved it! Your consultation was invaluable. Had I talked to you earlier, I could have saved so much research time… Thank you again for being our advisor. It made so much sense to rely on your knowledge of the areas.”
Dew
Itinerary Review
Already mapped out your trip but not sure if it all works in practice?
My Itinerary Review service gives you a second pair of expert eyes on your plans. I’ll look at your schedule, routes, and chosen stops, then highlight where things might feel rushed, what’s missing, and how you could make your trip flow more smoothly.
You’ll come away with clear suggestions to improve the flow, timing, and overall feel of your trip.
Best if you already have a day-by-day trip plan and want expert feedback before they book or finalise it.
Tailor-Made Portugal Itinerary Design
Best for travellers who want a curated, concierge-style experience and are happy to delegate bookings to a specialist travel partner.
If you don’t want to spend time researching and planning everything yourself, this takes that off your plate.
I’ll design a personalised itinerary that reflects your interests, travel style, and priorities. Once you’re happy with the plan, my trusted local partner travel agency will take care of reservations and payments, ensuring everything runs smoothly from start to finish.
This works best if you’d rather not spend time researching options or comparing bookings, and want everything handled as a joined-up plan.
“We wanted to provide feedback and thank-you for our wonderful adventure. All the arrangements were great and exceeded our expectations. I am frugal and had intended to travel for minimal costs, on our own, which was original plan for the 2020 trip that was postponed. With your help and encouragement from Anita, we accepted the 2022 itinerary and am greatly appreciative of its depth of experiences. We would not have made the same decisions on our own and we (I) have learned a valuable travel lesson. The most important are to work with a local travel company whenever possible. Thank you for creating such a wonderful and educational itinerary for us – it was a pleasure doing business with you.”
Paul K.
“Our 30 day drip to Portugal was fantastic; even the weather cooperated. We really appreciate how patient you and your staff were in answering all of our questions and providing multiple itinerary choices until we arrived at the final version. The accommodations and tours you recommended were all excellent. We particularly enjoyed the food tours and the very out of the ordinary cooking classes. The Trip Plans app was extremely helpful on a daily basis, especially with the messages feature. You provided one very much appreciated service that we have never experienced from any other Itinerary Design Service, i.e. every few days you messaged us asking how we were doing, and if you could provide any additional help. We highly recommend your services.”
Ray Kimikavi
If you’re not sure which service fits, this should help:
| Service | Best for | What you get | Investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal Trip Planning Consultation | Travellers who’ve started planning but need help making key decisions before booking. | A 60-minute one-to-one Zoom consultation to work through your itinerary ideas, questions and sticking points, plus a follow-up email with key notes and links. | €175 |
| Portugal Travel Planner | Independent travellers who want a clear way to plan their own trip and figure out what actually fits together. | A self-guided planning hub with places, practical guidance, and a step-by-step way to shape your route so you can make decisions before you start booking. | €89 |
| Portugal Itinerary Review | Travellers who’ve already planned their trip but want to check it works in practice. | A recorded video review of your itinerary with clear suggestions to improve flow, timing, and overall structure so the trip feels realistic and well-paced. | €125 |
| Portugal Itinerary Design | Travellers who don’t want to spend time researching or planning and prefer everything designed and arranged for them. | A fully personalised itinerary created around your travel style, with bookings and logistics handled by a trusted local travel partner. | From €300 |
