PORTO

The cheapest flight: £30pp from Stan-stedwith Ryanair.

The cheapest hotel: the Internacional ( www.hotelinter nacionalporto.com) is actually mid-price, and rooms 209 and 309 have rather fetching balconies, but they’re knocking 30% off room ratesif you book online, which means doubles can be had for just £48, B&B. Cheaper still are the 1930s-decor Hotel Peninsular  £29 and the Residencial dos Aliados ( £26), which has decent views across a square.

What’s free? Port, of course. So visit one (or all) of the lodges on the Douro’s south bank – take your pick from the names emblazoned in white on their roofs. Many offer free tours (Ferreira, Croft, Offley and Sandeman charge £2, but this is redeemable against a bottle) and include a tasting. Just stick to one full tour (there’s only so much a man needs to know about port before he risks becoming the ultimate dinner-party bore) and turn up to the tastings at the rest.

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