My love for the Algarve made me start Wow Guide Portugal. I have been living here for some years, and the diversity of the nature, climate, and lifestyles amazes me every day! Nowadays, I have also explored and lived in Alentejo. My passion is to let more people experience “the real” Portugal. I’m going to tell you why:
Luxury for free
It really doesn’t matter how much money you have; it’s a true luxury to have the opportunity to live in this paradise, full-time or only for a holiday. All the views, the never-ending beaches, the landscape, and the sun – it’s all for free. You can pick oranges, lemons, almonds, figs, pomegranates, and herbs in many places, if you know where and how, also for free.
Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world. Unfortunately, there are many people who haven’t been able to feel safe in their daily lives in their home countries. For me, it’s a true luxury to feel safe every day.
The “official” Portugal and the hidden places.
Over the years, I have noticed that many people know only the southern coastline and the towns by the sea, often filled with immigrants like me and bars and restaurants catering to tourists.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the sea, the famous beaches, and many of the great, famous towns, but to really get a sense of what the Algarve is and where the Portuguese people are coming from, I believe we need to look up and gain a better overview. Alentejo is still a “hidden gem” for most tourists and immigrants. Maybe you have heard about Evora? Alentejo covers more or less the whole area from Lisbon and down to the Algarve and offers a diverse nature and many opportunities for a high-quality life.
The authentic Algarve is not far away. Also, in the high season, you can find an almost empty beach if you know where to look.
Only 15 minutes inland from the south coast, you find a completely different world. 30 minutes away, you will definitely say, “Wow!” It’s so different, beautiful and amazing, I promise you! And…. you can get a high-class dinner, a coffee….or a house (!) for half the price, compared to the seafront area.
What’s the difference between me and other tour guides in Portugal?
Let me first say this: there are plenty of fantastic tour companies in Portugal! In the same way, there are hundreds of hotels offering comfortable beds and good service across different price ranges. Portugal is for everyone!
With Wow Guide Portugal, I have taken the private, guided tours to a higher level. My services and the experiences I provide are for those who want more, better, and more personal, with full consierge service. Each tour takes hours to plan and prepare.
In the same way, people who choose to stay in a luxury 5-star hotel want more than a comfortable bed and good service. And they are willing to pay for it because they know the difference.
Quality is not an action or a fancy surface; it’s a mindset.
The luxury picnic is homemade and filled with the best quality coffee, wine, and local delicacies. Most of the fresh fruit I serve has I picked myself. This is the kind of luxury I want to give people – an authentic experience beyond the average. As always, the only ones who know the truth are my clients. You can read their testimonies here.
About me
After 45 years in Sweden, I had had enough of snow, rain, and cold wind. I sold more or less everything I had, packed my car with my belongings, set the GPS to “Faro” to avoid highways, and drove down. That was, without doubt, the most amazing road trip I’ve ever done. As soon as you turn away from the big roads, you see a new Europe.
I love to drive, so choosing road trips was easy. I’ve been working on many things. Before I decided to be a guide with extra wow, I worked as a professional speaker in motivational leadership and organizational development. It might seem like a big step between those jobs, but in reality, it’s very much the same. It’s about people, how we create good energy for both ourselves and each other.
Elise Slotte, owner and guide