Updated 17 July 2026 | iPhone/iPad diary

Portugal Family Diary

One public family diary for maps, calls, routes, food, beaches, golf, fishing, votes and voice notes. Built to open fast on phones, not to read like a brochure.

21 Jul-27 AugPorto, Budens/Salema, Lisbon
Index firsttap the section, no hunting
Map + callfor promoted options
Live boardfamily votes update for everyone

Index

Tap, then act

Final Checks

do before bookings
Baggage

Golf clubs and checked luggage

KLM treats golf gear as a checked baggage item, but the ticket allowance is booking-specific. Confirm before clubs leave Dubai.

Car

Car currently ends 11 Aug

Drive on Holidays booking ends at Porto Airport on 11 Aug 16:00. Algarve/Lisbon movement still needs a separate plan or amendment.

Budens

Exact Airbnb pin

The Algarve logic is Budens/Salema. Exact drive times to beaches, restaurants and golf need the exact property pin.

Lisbon

Junior Suite occupancy

Verify Sid, Alice, Amara and Avaan are all reflected on booking 5002786785.

Golf

Call before clubs decision

If the plan reaches 4-5 rounds, take clubs. If it stays 2-3 rounds, rent. Confirm rental clubs and tee times first.

Family

Vote before paid plans

Fishing, private boats, golf and serious dinners should follow Must/Maybe/Skip from the family board.

Route Order

swipe cards

Bases

where each place earns its keep
21 Jul-2 Aug

Miramar / Arcozelo

Recovery and coast: beach walks, Senhor da Pedra, Aguda, easy train to Porto, nearby Miramar golf.

2-11 Aug

Porto city / Campanha-Heroismo

City rhythm: Bonfim, Bolhao, Sao Bento, Ribeira/Gaia, Matosinhos, one Douro or north day.

11-18 Aug

Budens / Salema

Beach and outdoor week: Salema first, Boca do Rio for quiet, Burgau for lunch, Lagos/Sagres for bigger days.

18-27 Aug

Lisbon / PortoBay Marques

Final chapter: easy Marques base, Belem/Cascais when useful, good meals, no forced museum slog.

Beaches

ranked by usefulness
Open beach cards

Food

base-relative, reviewed, useful
Open food cards

Golf

clubs/no clubs decision
Open golf cards
Decision rule

Take clubs only if you are realistically playing 4-5 rounds.

The credible set is Miramar/Estela/Oporto in the north, then Santo Antonio, Espiche and Palmares near Budens/Lagos. No Lisbon golf. If tee times and club hire line up for only 2-3 rounds, rent.

Boats & Fishing

James + kids
Open boat cards

Routes & Drives

order matters
Open route cards

Groceries & Shopping

3 per base, plus browse options
Open grocery/shopping cards

Kids & Family Activities

not amusement-led
Open family activity cards

History & Must-Sees

visual, short, not museum-heavy
Open must-see cards

Transit & Weather

practical layer
Open travel facts

Family Board

votes sync for everyone

Choose your name, tap Must/Maybe/Skip/Question, and save. It updates on everyone’s diary. Kids can record instead of typing.

Record

Say it instead

Choose your name, press record, say one short thought, then save. Recording again replaces your last voice note.

Sources

audit trail

Used for this rebuild: official airport/rail/airline pages, official hotel/car/golf pages, local Portuguese and Algarve guides, Portoalities, Simply Salema, Algarve Tips, SeaBookings, restaurant review sources and current travel press.

Private Notes

this device only