Three nights at the all-new Andaz Lisbon, for a woman who has watched the sun rise over the Klaserie and the Greek islands drift by from a cruise deck, but somehow never made it to Portugal.
My mother turned 78 at the end of last year. For her birthday, I offered a trip with me to any city in Europe, anywhere she wanted to go. She chose Lisbon.
She has never been, which surprised me. She is not someone who lacks travel experience. Since my father passed away in 2019, she has channeled her grief the way strong women often do: by going places.
Over the years since, she has been on safari in South Africa on a multi-generational trip, staying at the villa my brother and his wife built near Kruger Park, going on countless game drives, and even a bush dinner. She has sailed the Norwegian fjords, cruised past Santorini and Mykonos, and made it to New York, often alongside her sister, eighty-something and equally unwilling to stay put.
And yet, Lisbon had never happened. So this birthday, we fixed that.
Where We Stayed: Andaz Lisbon
Choosing the right hotel for this trip was not an afterthought. My mother is not a complainer, but hills and long stretches on foot aren’t easy for her either. And Lisbon, famously, is a city of hills. Add temperatures well above 30°C and the logic becomes simple: find somewhere central, find somewhere flat, and make sure everything worth doing is within easy reach. The Andaz Lisbon ticked all of those boxes.
What also made the difference was the concierge. Without prompting, they understood what we needed: not a walking tour itinerary, but experiences that would actually work for us. They arranged a sailing yacht cruise on the Tagus and a guided tuk-tuk tour through the city’s oldest streets (and highest parts). Both were perfect for my mother.
What Made This Trip Work
Three nights is not a long time, but in Lisbon it is enough to find your footing, eat well twice, and find one thing that will stay with you. For my mother, that thing came on our second afternoon, sailing the Tagus with a glass of sparkling wine in hand. For me, it was watching her enjoy it and take it all in.
She has seen a great deal of the world since 2019, and she will see more of it. But there’s something about traveling with your mother at 78, still leaning into a new city with real curiosity, that stays with you.
Lisbon was the right choice. It won’t be the last trip we take together.
Three Highlights Worth Planning Around
The Rooftop Bar at Andaz Lisbon
Cocoon-style balcony seating, a cold drink in hand, and a direct view over the Rua Augusta Arch.
Sailing the Tagus River
Arranged by the concierge, a private sailing yacht on the Tagus. The river is enormous here, almost sea-like, and seeing Lisbon from the water gives you a completely different sense of the city.
A Tuk-Tuk Tour Through the Higher Neighborhoods
The hills of Alfama, Bairro Alto, Mouraria, and Graça are not walkable in 30°C heat, at least not for us. The tuk-tuk solved that entirely. A guided tour through Lisbon’s oldest and most characterful streets, without a single steep cobblestone underfoot. The perfect way to see the city my mother and I had no intention of climbing on foot.
Bookings
Whether you are looking at Lisbon specifically or planning a trip around a similar idea- a city that works for mixed abilities, a meaningful birthday, a mother-daughter escape- I am happy to help with the full picture. Reach out through the inquiry form and let’s talk.
Ilonka Molijn – van Ginkel
Creator & Founder of Sophibee · Luxury Travel Advisor & Travel Editor
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