Kristen
Getting There: Air France Business Class
Because TSA wait times have been so unpredictable lately, we arrived at Dulles (IAD) well ahead of our departure — and I’m glad we did. The extra time gave us a chance to settle into the Air France lounge before the flight.
I’d read mixed reviews online, but we actually enjoyed ourselves. One tip worth noting: the main level was crowded and running warm, so we took the elevator downstairs and found a nearly empty, quiet space. No windows, but perfect for decompressing before a long flight.
Once we were in the air, the experience was more of a mixed bag. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Aircraft & Seat: Older model plane; seats were less comfortable than expected and felt cramped with a pillow, blanket, and backpack all competing for space
- Amenity Kit: Unimpressive overall, though the zippered bag itself was cute
- Food & Drink: Opted for the lighter express meal due to turbulence warnings — smart call, as it was a very bumpy ride. Disappointing to find only Chardonnay for white wine, which isn’t my preference. With three options, it would have been nice for one to be another variety.
- Crew: Lovely throughout
- Wi-Fi: Did not work at all
- Overall: Not a restful flight — turbulence, limited distractions, and a tight setup made for a long night
We were very happy to touch down in Paris.
After a quick layover, we boarded our connecting flight to Lisbon — and what a difference. Newer aircraft, front-row seats with an empty seat between us, smooth air, working Wi-Fi, a light meal, and exceptional crew. The 2.5-hour leg almost made up for the overnight crossing.
Lisbon
We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Lisboa, which is located a bit outside the city center. Getting around was easy though — Ubers in Lisbon are plentiful, reliable, and very affordable, and we used them for almost everything.
That said, I made a rookie mistake on arrival. I booked an airport transfer through Viator for $55, lured in by a big Capital One Offers point multiplier that earned me 1,382 points. The points were worth it — the transfer was not. A regular Uber would have cost a fraction of the price. Lesson learned: always check Uber rates before booking airport transportation in an unfamiliar city.
On our first day we took a TukTuk tour around Lisbon, which was an absolute highlight. This is a really fun mode of transportation and obviously very popular as we saw them everywhere. I would highly suggest booking in advance with a real tour operator to make sure your tour meets expectations. (Full details in this post!)
The Algarve
Getting to the Algarve
We traveled from Lisbon to the Algarve by train — approximately 2.5 hours at around €35 per ticket. The ride was unexpectedly rough, and we noticed several fellow passengers visibly struggling with motion sickness. It was unlike any train experience we’ve had elsewhere in Europe. If you’ve taken this route, we’d be curious whether this is the norm or whether we simply had an off day. On a return trip, we would likely fly or rent a car instead.
Getting Around the Algarve
Uber worked just as well in the Algarve as it did in Lisbon. Wait times were short, drivers were friendly, and we felt comfortable throughout. It’s a convenient, low-hassle way to get around the region.
Getting Home: A Two-Day Journey
We prioritized points and positioning for the return trip to ensure a comfortable transatlantic crossing. In hindsight, the routing added significant travel time, and next time we would likely prioritize a more direct option home.
Our journey started in Faro with a short TAP Portugal flight to Lisbon, where we had a very tight connection to catch our onward flight to London. Because we were leaving the Schengen Zone for the UK, we had to clear passport control — and with my daughter being under 18, the electronic gates weren’t an option. The lines were long and only one window was open. Fortunately, I was able to get the attention of an agent, explained our situation, and he helped us through. We made it to the gate with moments to spare. Just another example of how genuinely kind the Portuguese people are.
We arrived in London around 9pm and made our way to our Hyatt — a 1.2-mile trip that cost €45. A bit of a shock after weeks of affordable Ubers in Portugal.
Since checkout wasn’t until noon and our flight wasn’t until 4pm, we had time to relax in a Priority Pass lounge. It was perfectly comfortable, though after completing my lounge access post research I realized there were a few other options we could have explored. Make sure you read that post so you are aware of all your lounge options.
Then it was time for the main event — our Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy flight home. Here’s how it went:
- Aircraft & Seat: Older plane with tighter Premium Economy seats than we’ve experienced on Virgin before
- Food & Drink: Great food and a solid wine selection — including white options beyond Chardonnay, which was a welcome difference over our Air France flight.
- Wi-Fi: Exceptionally strong and consistent the entire flight — I was able to nearly clear my email inbox on the flight
- Crew: Outstanding. When the reclined seat in front of me made it impossible to open my laptop, the flight attendant found me an open business class seat so I could work. That kind of service is exactly why Virgin Atlantic is my favorite airline
- Flight: Smooth transatlantic crossing
- Overall: A genuinely enjoyable flight, though the two-day journey to get there gave us pause
Next time, we would likely trade some comfort for a more direct routing out of Faro or Lisbon to get home faster.
The Numbers
