Olá todos!

What a few months it’s been! The last time I sent one of these out, it was the beginning of December, and we were all buzzing with excitement for the Christmas season.

Then January arrived and mostly kept us indoors (aside from a brief jaunt to London to celebrate Katelyn’s graduation). Since then, we’ve been slowly emerging from our little cave. The weather has been… not great, to put it mildly. We’re holding out hope for more sunshine in February...or maybe March?

That said, staying put has had its silver linings. Being inside and not traveling as much has given us more time to focus on the blog and create some fun (and helpful!) things for you. We’ve been working on new itineraries, guides to renting cars, travel trends for 2026, and we’ve even partnered with a great travel app we’re excited to share.

Quick Tips and Guides

Renting cars in Portugal Thinking about renting a car while in Portugal? Here is our comprehensive guide on what to expect, the cost, traffic rules, and hidden issues with driving in a foreign country. Read article

New Itinerary for Lisboa We are working on our itineraries for our travels so that you can help plan your own. Here is the beginning: Lisboa in 3 Days! Read article

Looking to rent a car? We use Booking.com and Expedia.com. Discovercars.com is also a great place to compare prices.

Product we are Using and Loving!

So, if you have been following us on Facebook or Instagram, you may know that it has been raining in Portugal since...Christmas?? There may have been a day of sun in there, but for the life of me, I can't remember!

Because of that, one thing we’ve been using constantly (and genuinely loving) is the Royal Walk Windproof Umbrella. It’s compact, sturdy, and easy to open—three things that really matter when you’re dealing with wind, sideways rain, and wet streets.

I usually carry mine in the water bottle compartment of my bag when it’s not in use… which, to be fair, hasn’t been very often this month. It’s held up incredibly well and has officially earned its spot as one of our rainy-day travel essentials.

Click here to buy the umbrella

Life in Portugal

As some of you may know, Portugal was hit hard by Storm Kristin. She barreled in Tuesday night with winds over 140 km/h, causing widespread damage, especially in Leiria, our district.

We were without power for two days, followed by a few more days of very sporadic electricity. Thankfully, we were lucky. Our apartment wasn’t damaged, we had running water, and our gas stove meant we could still cook. And, importantly, we had wine. So we managed just fine.

Unfortunately, not everyone has been as fortunate. Some areas are still without electricity and could really use support. If you’re interested in helping, the Associação MVC is an independent organization currently collecting donations, supplies, and volunteers to assist those affected.

Resources and Helpful Links

Travel Predictions for 2026 Travel is growing in Portugal and not just in Lisbon and Porto! Find out what travelers are focused on in 2026. Read article

We've Partnered with GPSmyCity We’ve partnered with GPSmyCity, a travel app platform that turns blog posts into downloadable guides and maps! Read article

Travel Tools We Recommend

Airalo ESim

Of course, you use your phone when you travel—but unless you have an amazing deal with your carrier, international fees can add up fast. When we were on Verizon in the U.S., we were paying up to $10 a day just to use our phones abroad.

That's why we recommend using Airalo Esim instead. That’s why we recommend using an Airalo eSIM instead. It’s affordable, easy to set up, and lets you stay connected without the daily sticker shock.

Plans can be as low as $4 for 1 GB over 3 days, or $10 for 10 GB over 7 days. They also offer unlimited options for those trips where Google Maps, ride shares, and finding that five-star restaurant are non-negotiable.

Download Airalo app on your phone and use this code when purchasing-->

Airalo ESim

This Month's travel question

In light of the wonderful weather we all are having (we know that the eastern US got some snow!), where is the rainiest place you have ever traveled?

Up until now, I would say the Hilo side of Hawaii, Big Island. But it was a rain forest...

Thanks for your support!

That's all for this issue. But don't worry, next month we will have more to talk about as we have a special guest on our podcast coming soon!

Thank you for all of your support, and make sure you are following us on Facebook and Instagram to get all the news first! Feel free to share our newsletter with your friends!!

Shelley and Beth

PS--booking a trip soon? Here are some resources we use.

• ​Get your Guide​
• ​Viator​
• ​Trip Advisor​
• ​Booking.com​
• ​VRBO​

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Wandering Works for Us contains affiliate links as part of Viator, Get Your Guide, Booking.com, TripAdvisor, and Expedia.com. and Amazon Services Associates Program LLC, and other businesses. If you make a purchase using one of the links, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.