Sharing the Living Traditions of Portugal with Paula Alves - Portugal by TRAVELTAILORS DMC

Portugal is rightly celebrated for its sunlit cities, wine valleys and golden coasts. But ask ​Paula Alves of Portugal by TRAVELTAILORS​ where her homeland truly reveals itself and she’ll encourage you to look beyond the familiar; experiencing the country through its tastes, traditions and the people who carry them forward.

Our latest ​Voices of Kinship episode​ is an invitation to see Portugal’s icons with more attentive eyes, and to roam further - into the rugged green river-cut landscapes of the North, the olive-dusted plains of the Alentejo, the Moorish-influenced South and the offshore islands where the rhythm of life is slow and soft.

For Paula, these places are more than simple destinations, they’re the backdrop to a childhood that shaped everything that followed.

Born in Portugal but raised in the United States, she returned to spend summers with her family in the North, where long, dreamy days unfolded at a gentler pace: picnics in the forest, cattle in the streets, fresh cornbread in the ovens and afternoons in village cafes watching her grandfather sip his coffee with aguardente, the delectable local brandy.

In 2009, these early lessons in what makes a place feel true crystallised into ​Portugal by TRAVELTAILORS​, the brilliant, boutique DMC she co-founded with a university friend.

Their intention was simple and clear from the start - to share the Portugal they know and love as a living culture, a country defined as much by its beauty and beaches as by its artisans, flavours, festivals and hospitality.

Today, ​Portugal by TRAVELTAILORS​ is renowned for designing thoughtful, handcrafted, luxurious itineraries that honour intimacy and authenticity while revealing the very best of contemporary Portugal.

Their journeys trace the whole of the country; each stop brought to life through carefully curated relationships. And their partners range from countesses to chefs; winemakers and craftspeople to small family-run ventures - all forged on the same shared commitment to preserving Portugal at its most genuine.

Join us as Travel Kinship’s Kelly Tolliday sits down with Paula to uncover what elevates a trip to Portugal from memorable to truly meaningful, and how ​Portugal by TRAVELTAILORS​ help advisors design experiences rooted in depth, connection and a real sense of place.

What We Cover:

• We unpack the essence of Portuguese culture; a modern, cosmopolitan country in its cities, but whose true character is still found around the table and in the countryside. Paula explains why she encourages travellers to look deeper, and how to experience the best of the land with care and intention.

• We explore the stories behind ​Portugal by TRAVELTAILORS​ - how Paula’s childhood memories inform her philosophy, and how their unique curation of experiences has been shaped through years of trust and friendship.

• The conversation is rich with inspiration for your clients’ next trip; from artisans’ workshops and colourful festivals to up-and-coming wine regions like Dao, slow days in Minho’s magical, forested landscapes and intimate stays in the emerging interior and Alentejo.

• We also delve into true sustainability, as Paula and Kelly discuss the importance of fair pricing, why intimacy is the new luxury and how supporting small-scale businesses is one of the most powerful ways to travel responsibly.

• And we look ahead at the future of travel in Portugal: the rising appetite for rural immersion, the rediscovery of its islands and the growing desire for private stays that feel both intimate and deeply rooted in local life.

Sharing the Living Traditions of Portugal

One theme is crystal clear: Portugal is a place that reveals itself most rewardingly to those willing to pause and discover.

That’s exactly what your clients will experience with ​Portugal by TRAVELTAILORS​ - through itineraries that feel effortless on the surface, but hide the quiet orchestration of a team who know the country intimately, pairing impeccable planning with slow travel that feels genuinely personal.

And advisors gain not just a DMC, but a cultural guide; one who can open doors that don’t appear online, introduce clients to encounters they’d never otherwise experience and shape trips that feel truly special.

​Press play​ to hear how Portugal by TRAVELTAILORS is shaping how authentic Portuguese culture is being shared with travelers around the world and how your clients can experience this too!

Ready for an introduction to ​Portugal by TRAVELTAILORS​?

​Get in touch today​ for a connection to Paula and the team.