Terms and Conditions
Last updated: 9 November 2026
These terms apply to booking requests, bookings and services arranged through this website, by email, by phone or on WhatsApp. Please read them before you confirm a booking. When you confirm a booking, you accept these terms and the conditions in your confirmation or quote.
1. Who we are
Alexandre Lopes, sole trader, NIF PT212632655, trading as The Porter Tours, Porto, Portugal. The Porter Tours is registered in the Portuguese National Register of Tourism Activity Operators (Registo Nacional dos Agentes de Animação Turística, RNAAT) under no. 1095/2026, in accordance with Decree-Law 108/2009 of 15 May, as amended.
- Email: info@theportertours.com
- Phone and WhatsApp: +351 927 432 299
2. Booking requests and bookings
A request sent through the form or the booking assistant on this website, by email or on WhatsApp is a booking request. It is not a booking and not a contract, and it does not reserve a date, time or vehicle, until we confirm it in writing as set out below.
Fixed prices. Some services, such as airport transfers, have a fixed price in the price table on this website. You request the service at that price, and that is the price you pay. Where the table says "from", we confirm the final price in writing before you accept it. The booking assistant also shows a price for other routes: that price applies once we confirm your request in writing.
Quotes. For a service without a fixed price, we exchange messages with you and send you a written quote with a specific price. That price is the one you pay, no more and no less.
If you change your request, for example the route, the date or time, the number of passengers or the extras, we tell you the new price before you accept it.
A booking exists only when:
- for a quote, you accept it in writing (email or WhatsApp), and
- we send you a written confirmation that sets out the service, date, times, number of passengers, vehicle, what is included, the price, the payment terms and the cancellation terms, and
- any deposit stated in the confirmation has been paid.
If there is a difference between the confirmation or quote and these terms, the confirmation or quote prevails for that booking.
Private rides. A private ride is a one-way drive from your pick-up to your drop-off. The service lasts only the time needed for the drive: it does not include waiting time or stops along the way, except the 60 minutes after landing that are included in airport arrivals (see section 5). A private ride is one way. If you want to go and come back, ask for a "Round trip" in the booking assistant: it is two trips with you on board, each with its own price, and we confirm both in writing.
3. Prices
The confirmed price is the total you pay. It includes taxes, fees, tolls and any extras you chose. We do not add anything to it at the end of the service, apart from extras you ask for and agree with us during the service, and the costs mentioned in section 10. If something changes the price, such as more luggage or a longer wait, we tell you before you accept.
Prices are in euros. The confirmation or quote says what is included, for example vehicle, fuel, tolls, parking, driver and guide. Entrance tickets, tastings, meals and personal expenses are not included unless the confirmation or quote says so.
A quote is valid for the period stated in it. Prices may change for requests confirmed after that period.
4. Payment
The payment terms for each booking are stated in our confirmation or quote. As a general rule:
- Transfers: you pay at the end of the service, or in advance when our confirmation asks for it.
- Tours: a deposit of 50% to confirm the booking, paid by card link or bank transfer. You pay the balance at the end of the tour, or before it starts if you prefer.
- Tours and transfers operated by partners: the quote or confirmation says who provides the service, who invoices it and how you pay.
You can pay in one of these ways:
- by card, through a secure payment link that we send you by email or WhatsApp;
- by bank transfer;
- to the driver, in the vehicle, by card (POS terminal) or in euro cash.
Any payment that our confirmation asks for in advance is paid by card link or bank transfer. The amount to pay is the price in our written confirmation or quote. The price is the same for every payment method. The website does not take payments. We accept cash up to the limit set by Portuguese law: above it, please pay by card or bank transfer. If the card terminal does not work, we agree another way to pay with you, for example a payment link. We issue an invoice for every payment. If you want a tax number on it, please tell us before the end of the service.
5. Cancellation by you
The cancellation terms for each booking are stated in the confirmation or quote. As a general rule:
Transfers
- More than 48 hours before pick-up: free cancellation.
- Less than 48 hours before pick-up, or no show: 100% of the price.
Tours
- More than 7 days before the tour: full refund of any deposit.
- Between 7 days and 48 hours before: 50% of the price.
- Less than 48 hours before, or no show: 100% of the price.
Please cancel in writing, by email or WhatsApp. The time of your message counts. Refunds are made to the original payment method within 14 days.
If your flight or train is delayed, tell us as soon as possible. For airport arrivals we monitor the flight and wait for 60 minutes after landing at no extra cost. Longer waiting times may be charged as stated in the confirmation or quote.
6. Changes and cancellation by us
Weather, traffic and road conditions. Routes, stops and timings are a plan, not a guarantee. We may change the order of visits, shorten a stop or choose an alternative route because of weather, traffic, road closures, opening hours, events or safety concerns. We will explain the change and try to offer something of similar interest.
Safety comes first. If weather or road conditions make a tour unsafe, we may postpone or cancel it. You can then choose another date or a full refund of what you paid for that service.
Other reasons. If we cannot provide a confirmed service because of illness, vehicle breakdown or another serious reason, we will offer a replacement vehicle or driver of an equivalent standard, another date, or a full refund. We are not responsible for costs you have booked with other companies, such as flights, hotels or restaurant reservations, except where the law says otherwise.
7. Our responsibility and insurance
We carry out the services we sell with care and in line with Portuguese law. As required by Portuguese law for tourism activity operators, we hold:
- civil liability insurance, covering damage caused to clients and third parties in the course of our activity, and
- personal accident insurance, covering clients during the activities we carry out.
These policies do not replace travel insurance. We recommend that you have your own travel insurance covering cancellation, medical expenses and personal belongings.
We are not responsible for losses caused by your own actions or omissions, by third parties not involved in our service, or by events outside our reasonable control, such as extreme weather, strikes, road closures or decisions of public authorities. Nothing in these terms limits our responsibility where the law does not allow it, including for death or personal injury caused by our negligence.
8. Tours and transfers operated by partners
Some tours or transfers may be operated by partners and not by The Porter Tours.
When a tour or transfer is operated by a partner:
- we tell you, before you book, the name of the partner, its registration number and its own booking conditions;
- the quote or confirmation says who provides the service, who confirms and invoices it, and how you pay;
- the partner is responsible for the service, including its insurance, vehicles, guides and any complaint about it.
If a partner changes or cancels a service, their conditions apply. We will help you contact them if you need to.
9. Children and child seats
Portuguese law requires children under 12 years old and shorter than 135 cm to travel in an approved child restraint suitable for their weight and height. Please tell us the number, ages and approximate weight of any children when you request a quote, so we can provide the right seats. We cannot carry a child without a suitable seat.
Children must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult at all times.
10. Passenger conduct
To keep every trip safe and pleasant:
- seat belts must be worn at all times;
- smoking and vaping are not allowed in our vehicles;
- food and open drinks are not allowed without our agreement (water is always fine);
- please respect the driver, other passengers, the places we visit and local rules.
We may refuse or end a service, without refund, if a passenger's behaviour puts safety at risk, is abusive, or if a passenger is clearly under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the point of being a risk. Costs of cleaning or repairing damage caused by passengers may be charged.
Wine tours include alcoholic drinks only for adults. We may decline to serve or include tastings for anyone under 18.
11. Luggage
Please tell us the number and size of your bags when you request a quote, including oversized items such as bicycles, golf bags, surfboards or pushchairs. The vehicle is chosen based on that information. If you arrive with much more luggage than stated, we may not be able to carry it all, or we may need to arrange an additional vehicle at extra cost.
Keep valuables, documents, medication and fragile items with you. Our responsibility for luggage is limited to damage caused by our negligence. Please check the vehicle before you leave. Items left behind are kept for 30 days and can be returned at your cost.
12. Accessibility
Please tell us about any mobility or accessibility needs when you request a quote. We will say honestly what we can offer. Our standard vehicles are not adapted for wheelchairs, but folded wheelchairs can usually be carried.
13. Website content and images
The texts and images on this website were produced or prepared with the support of artificial intelligence tools and/or obtained from image libraries with free licences, with credits shown where they apply. They are intended to describe our services and the places we visit, and they may contain inaccuracies. Descriptions of routes, places, opening hours and durations are indicative; the details that apply to your booking are the ones in your quote.
If you notice an error, or if you believe any content on this website should be corrected or removed, including content in which you hold rights, please write to info@theportertours.com. We will review the request and correct or remove the content as soon as possible.
14. Complaints
If something is not right, please tell us straight away, during the service if possible, so we can try to fix it. You can also write to info@theportertours.com. We reply within 15 working days.
Complaints Book. You can submit a complaint in the Electronic Complaints Book (Livro de Reclamações Eletrónico) at www.livroreclamacoes.pt. A physical complaints book is also available on request.
15. Alternative dispute resolution
If we cannot resolve a dispute with a consumer, the consumer may use the following alternative dispute resolution entity, in accordance with Law 144/2015 of 8 September:
CICAP, Centro de Informação de Consumo e Arbitragem do Porto
Rua Damião de Góis, 31, Loja 6, 4050-225 Porto, Portugal
Phone: +351 225 508 349
Email: cicap@cicap.pt
www.cicap.pt
More information about alternative dispute resolution entities in Portugal is available on the Consumer Portal at www.consumidor.gov.pt.
16. Personal data
We handle personal data as described in our Privacy Policy.
17. Applicable law and jurisdiction
These terms are governed by Portuguese law. Any dispute is decided by the competent Portuguese courts, without prejudice to the mandatory consumer protection rules of your country of residence and to the alternative dispute resolution described above.
18. Language
These terms are written in English. A Portuguese version is available on request. If the two versions differ, the version in the language in which you booked prevails.
19. Contact
The Porter Tours
info@theportertours.com
+351 927 432 299