Want to go to Portugal for Boom, but have never really traveled...

My mate and I want to travel to Portugal in 2014 to attend the Boom Festival. He has been in the USA his whole life and I traveled to Mexico once as a teen, but my Mom arranged all of that. I want a simple step-by-step guide on how I may go about arranging my trip to Portugal, to the festie, and back home and do it without being stranded thousands of miles from home
This will *hopefully* be our honeymoon!

 

Hello, Psyowa-Girl!

If you do not have much experience in travel, I think Portugal is good choice to you. For example, I would be afraid if you wish to travel to Russia )), but this is okay.

Okay, first, please can I ask if you have valid international passport? Much of my friends do not travel, so only have internal Russian passport. If you have your passport, check when date will expire before travel!

Second, please check always if you need visas to enter the country you wish to travel. I have done this for you. Best news is you do not require the tourist visa for up to 90 days time in Portugal. You can see here: http://portugal.visahq.com/ However, you will have 90 day valid stamp put into your passport when you arrive. Some people believe this is visa, but it is not!

Understand, you have very much time to organize this. I read Boom Festival is at 4-11 August 2014, however, always it is best to book tickets (festival and flight ticket), as soon as possible! When you know passport is good, and booked your festival ticket, you do need to book the flight. I use http://www.skyscanner.ru/ for good prices. Book return flight, and choose the best flight to you. You can fly direct to Lisbon airport, or choose flight with transfers (stops), which is lower cost, but some of time, exhausting. Almost all booking now is E-Ticket, so you will receive your flight ticket in your E-Mail account, after small security checks.

I read that Boom Festival is 250km from Lisbon Airport! Maybe, you can search for closer airport to location of Boom Festival, but I think prices be bigger out of Lisbon. Information of festival location is here: http://www.boomfestival.org/boom2012/boom-guide/location/ However, this information of 2012 festival, but I do not think location, or transport to festival will change for 2014. If this changes, you must read of updates and news before traveling!

If you do not have experience at airport, I think you must travel to airport close to your home (1-2 days before your flight!), learn the way around it. Do this, and checking-in is easy and fast for you when you fly to Portugal! If you wish to know more about airport, checking-in, booking flight, you can ask me any more questions. )))

Information how to travel to festival, and return to airport (round trip) also is on Location Guide page above, with prices. It is important to read. I think bus is the best option to you, also booking bus ticket online is the best option! If you do not wish to book bus ticket online, tickets sell 9am-12:00 noon at Lisbon Airport, but you must remember this when booking the flight. You will need terrible luck to have problems in Portugal, but always make plans!

Before travel, it is very good idea to have travel insurance! Find location of USA embassy, and save the telephone number. It also is good idea to buy protect cover for your passport, (I have very expensive, scary and visa problems from my damaged passport!), from spilling vodka on to my photograph. You can make scans of passport also, and keep other identification for emergency. Last, please read laws of drug use, alcohol in Portugal before travel, if you wish to take these risks.

I hope I can help, please ask if you have more questions! Good Luck!