Treat the name as a starting point
Peniche and Baleal are established names in Portugal’s surf geography. That does not make every nearby break suitable for a first lesson. Tell the school your experience and ask how it selects a location for the group and conditions.
Plan a learning sequence
If staying several days, discuss how sessions build on each other rather than booking disconnected lessons only by price. Keep a short record of what you worked on. Ask for the next manageable goal instead of moving immediately to a more demanding spot.
Protect the rest of the day
Allow time for food, dry clothing and a break after the water session. Check how boards and wetsuits are stored if you have another activity planned. Avoid arranging a tight return journey around a session whose meeting point may move.
Know what you can decide yourself
Before the final lesson, ask the instructor which decisions you are ready to make independently and which still need support. A few successful waves do not answer every question about currents, crowds or changing weather. Use the trip to build judgement as well as technique.