TAP airline from Portugal Offers some great Stopover deals
08/02/2017
Traveling to Portugal just got even more interesting
The customer choice is excellent from Portugal's national airline TAP. There is plenty of great news in the travel industry and, in a closely related article, we mentioned the new trend in Travel, Stopover Tours. Now TAP have developed that theme.
A Quick Explanation of Stopover Tours
Stopover Tours are where you can utilize a period between flight connections to see the city/place in which you are in transit. These tours can be tailor made to the amount of time you have and personalized according to your wishes. They are proving increasingly popular with the discerning traveler, looking to maximize their journey experience.
Now Portuguese Airline TAP has seen the potential and is offering an extended Stopover as part of the flight. Passengers with TAP can stay in Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, Madeira or the Azores for up to five days (previously it was three). A Stopover can also now be included in a multi-destination flight and even with a one-way ticket. The Portugal Stopover Program was launched in July 2016 with the stated aim of increasing tourism in Portugal and, by any objective standard, it has been a roaring success; attracting 70,000 new visitors to the wonders of Portugal. Initially, the idea was to encourage city breaks in Lisbon or Porto, but now there is plenty of time to see the islands too, with their addition to the offer.
Starting in February 2018, any intercontinental passenger awaiting connections with Funchal, Faro, Punto Sancho, Ponta Delgada and Terceira will be able to stopover in Lisbon or Porto, free of charge. TAP have even arranged discounted hotel and restaurant deals, and it doesn't stop there. You can watch Dolphins in the river Sado, take a tuk-tuk ride, make museum visits or go to wine and food tastings, and it's all complimentary!.
New TAP Lounge impresses Lisbon Airport
For those who wish to go absolutely nowhere on their stopover, it will be encouraging to note that the exclusive TAP Lounge, at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport, has been reopened, after extensive refurbishment. On the 6th floor of the Schengen Zone and covering 850m2 and catering for up to 260 customers it is perfect for plane enthusiasts, offering panoramic views.
Who can use the Lounge?
Star Alliance Gold, TAP Corporate Top, Victoria Gold, and TAP Platinum American Express Card holders can use the facilities, plus those who wish to pay a day rate.
Decor and Facilities
Created with a contemporary feel, with the use of cork flooring and seat coverings in TAP'S colors, the lounge has state of the art facilities for business and leisure travelers alike. There is a children's area, restaurant, bar, business facilities as well as showers and rest area's. The Lounge is innovative, bright and cutting edge, in line with TAP's corporate branding.
New U.K. Services add to the TAP brand
TAP will offer flights from the London City Airport from the 29th October, twice a day during the week, and once a day on the weekends. This is in addition to London Gatwick and Heathrow services. Passenger numbers via the U.K. have increased 20% (in the first quarter of 2017). It's a great way to see London or to do some business and then get a connection to Lisbon and beyond.
TAP is in pole position
With its extensive Latin American connections, as well as to the U.S.A, and the rest of Europe, TAP is well placed to be a major player in the global aviation market. Also, it has great connections to Mozambique and Angola, the former Portuguese colonies in Africa. TAP has already bolstered its flights into Portugal. From June, the frequency of flights from Lisbon to Faro (the Algarve) is increased to four per day, and services to Ponta Delgada (in the Azores) from two to three per day. Similarly, TAP will improve its offering to Madeira in the summer, with eight daily flights to Funchal via Lisbon and an additional two from Porto, plus five weekly flights to Porto Santo departing Lisbon.
From the U.S.A. TAP is a top choice for Portugal
TAP has some particularly cheap flights to Portugal and, with these great stopover offers, it currently provides a handy budget way of getting to Europe from the U.S.A.. Check out payless flights for some great airfare deals.