Our slower June, new guides from Buçaco to Oxford, and a peek at what's coming next...

What We've Been Up To

Olá a todos!

June had us doing something a little unusual for us: slowing down. We soaked up the gorgeous weather, caught up with friends, and finally gave our blog some overdue love. But you know us; the travel bug never stays dormant for long, and soon enough we were plotting day trips again.

We headed out to Porto de Mós and Alenquer, wandering through ruins and parks and soaking up more of the layered history that makes this country endlessly fascinating.

We dug into the story of the Battle of Aljubarrota and the long shadow the Inquisition cast over Portugal-- heavy history, but the kind that makes you see a place differently. Lighter days were spent dipping our toes into the river at Olhos d'Água River Beach, which might be one of our favourite ways to cool off so far.

And yes, we've been glued to the World Cup. Neither of our teams made it to the semi-finals, but that's not stopping us — as we keep telling anyone who'll listen, football is life.

Here's what we've been putting together for you this month…

Quick Tips and Guides

We've got a mix of new guides and refreshed favourites for you this month.

Grutas de Miras de Aire Portugal's largest caves! We walk you through what to expect, from the dramatic rock formations to practical visiting tips. If you love a good underground adventure, this one's for you Read article

Best Things to Do in Oxford: Beyond the Day Trip Covers everything from dreaming spires to hidden bookshops. Read article

On the updates side, we gave some love to three reader favourites: our Batalha Monastery guide, our Barcelos post, and our deep dive into the Convent of Christ in Tomar — all refreshed with new details, better photos, and the latest visiting info to make sure they're as useful as possible.

Product we are using and loving!

Our Selfie Stick Tripod

If you've watched any of our recent reels or TikToks, you've probably seen this little gadget in action without even realising it. Our Liphisy phone tripod with remote has become one of those pieces of kit we genuinely don't travel without anymore.

It's sturdy — the aluminum alloy build means it actually stays put, even when we're balancing it on uneven castle ruins or riverside rocks. The height adjusts from 9" all the way up to 50", so whether we're setting it low for a steady shot of the two of us or extending it up high to catch a wider view of a plaza or ruin, it flexes to whatever the scene needs.

The 300-degree rotation head and 360-degree holder mean we can angle it just right without fiddling for ages, and the wireless remote is honestly the best part — no more awkward timer-and-run situations to get both of us in frame.

It's compatible with pretty much any phone or camera, which makes it easy for either of us to grab and use. Simple, reliable, and genuinely useful for both travel and everyday content days.

Click here to buy the selfie stick

New Podcasts Out

Day Trips Beyond Lisbon, Part 2 We take you along to Palácio do Buçaco, the Grutas de Mira de Aire caves, Quinta das Cerejeiras, and the wonderfully unexpected Buddha Eden Gardens — proof that there's always another incredible day trip waiting just outside the city. Listen Here

What we did in Oxford (and what we'd do differently next time) We share our favourite spots, a few surprises, and honest thoughts on whether it lives up to the hype (spoiler: it does). Listen Here

We did try something new this month and put our faces on our podcast! The Oxford post is the first one, and we think it went pretty well. You can check it out on YouTube!

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Travel Tools We Recommend

The Bolt App

If you're heading to Lisbon or Porto, do yourself a favour and download Bolt before you go. It works just like Uber — request a ride, watch your driver arrive on the map, pay right through the app — but we've found it's often noticeably cheaper for the same routes.

We use it constantly when we're in either city, especially late at night or when we've simply walked enough for one day and want to get back to our accommodation without the hassle of flagging a taxi. It's reliable, easy to use even if you don't speak Portuguese, and one less thing to think about while you're out exploring.

If you're planning a trip to Portugal's bigger cities, it's well worth having on your phone.

A Little Sneak Peek

We've also been quietly working on something new behind the scenes: custom itinerary planning. If you've ever wished someone who actually lives here could map out your perfect Portugal trip — the right pace, the right detours, the stuff that doesn't make it into guidebooks — that's exactly what we're building.

It's not quite ready to launch, but if you're already dreaming about a trip and want to be first in line, just hit reply and let us know. We'd love to hear from you.

A Thought to Leave You With

This month reminded us that you don't need to go far to be amazed — sometimes it's a cave system an hour from home, or a river beach you'd never heard of until a friend mentioned it. Slow travel isn't about how far you go; it's about how closely you look at where you already are.

As the writer Marcel Proust put it, "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." Wherever you're headed next, whether it's across an ocean or just down the road, we hope you find something new to see.

Until next month,

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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