Sunshine, spas, seafood and stylish surroundings … just a three hour flight from Ireland, Portugal is unique in that it offers a truly delightful year-round destination. Here’s where to stay …
Four Seasons Fairways, Quinto do Lago
Best for: A self-catering villa or apartment getaway.
The vibe: A discreet private villa resort home to 132 villas and apartments, all of which have recently been renovated. Each villa features its own pool or jacuzzi, terrace or garden area and outdoor barbecue.
The facilities: Four Seasons Fairways is surrounded by some of Quinta do Lago’s numerous championship golf courses, however, it’s not all about golf. The resort is just a stone’s throw from the stunning Ria Formosa nature reserve, a swirl of seawater lagoons, sandy islands, salt marshlands and diverse bird life, making it the perfect setting for walking, running and cycling. The resort runs a popular “Active Living Package” throughout the autumn and winter months and in November, Amy Williams MBE, former skeleton racer and Olympic gold medallist, will host a special week of classes for guests. There’s also the popular “Upside Down’ Kids Club with classes and activities galore.
The restaurants: The resort is open year-round and guests converge at the Clubhouse area, where a spacious inside outside bar area sits alongside cosy areas for dining. Long lazy lunches can be enjoyed al fresco at Vivo, where local dishes (such as chicken piri-piri, or Ria Formosa clams) delicious salads and wood-fired pizzas are a forte. There’s also a clever “Drop & Scoff” food delivery service available straight to your villa!
Seven nights in a two- or three-bed villa or apartment with swimming pool or jacuzzi is from €1,250 to €1,700 on self-catering basis depending on travel dates; www.fourseasonsfairways.com.
Six Senses Douro Valley
Best for: A short-haul spa escape.
The vibe: Blending the romance of 19th-century architecture and ultra-slick contemporary interiors, this is Six Senses first European resort, and is located in the UNESCO World Heritage area of the Douro Valley. The resort offers spectacular views of the Douro River and surrounding vineyards.
The facilities: For those who love water activities there is canoeing, water-skiing and boat trips along the Douro River, while cycling, forest hikes and picnics in the woods can also be arranged. The expansive Six Senses Spa is a highlight of the resort, where treatments are inspired by the location, such as the Grape Rejuvenation Treatment – an antioxidant body treatment using the powerful health benefits of grapes. Dry skin brushing is followed by a gentle and re-mineralising body exfoliation with grape pulp and grape seed oil. The body is then wrapped in a “vineyard soak” to stimulate the renewal of cells and collagen, leaving the skin more refined.
The restaurants: The Wine Library features a menu of tapas, cheese and local meats paired with the best Douro wine by the glass. Guests can also enjoy a chef’s table experience paired with wines from the surrounding library.
Rates at Six Senses Douro Valley start from €325 based on two sharing a Quinta Superior Room on a bed an breakfast basis; www.sixsenses.com.
Tivoli Palácio de Seteais, Sintra
Best for: An elegant gourmet escape.
The vibe: Set on the mountainside overlooking Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tivoli Palácio de Seteais is a regal retreat 45 minutes from Lisbon. The 30-room hotel is set in an 18th-century palace steeped in history having been home to Portuguese noble families. Elegant ballrooms and tapestry-lined corridors combine with hand-fresco painted walls.
The facilities: Guests can enjoy the manicured gardens with views of the whimsical Pena Palace and medieval Castelo dos Mouros, including tennis court, historic box maze and large outdoor pool with terrace. There is also a stylish Anantara Seteais Spa located within the grounds.
The restaurants: The hotel can arrange experiences including picnics in the gardens, cooking lessons and tours of local sites and nature reserves. Ideal for couples, the “Dining Delight” dinner is a tasting menu for two served in a private dining room. Under the guidance of one of Portugal’s best-known chefs, Joachim Koerper, the hotel’s Seteais Restaurant serves delicious Portuguese and European cuisine. The decadent afternoon “Queen’s Tea” is also a must! The daily ritual is inspired by the little-known fact that it was Catherine of Bragança, daughter of the King of Portugal who inspired tea’s popularity in England when she married King Charles II in 1662.
Prices for a double room start from €250, with breakfast; www.tivolihotels.com/tivoli-palacio-de-seteais.
Pine Cliffs, Algarve
Best for: Sports enthusiasts.
The vibe: This integrated resort overlooks cliffs and beaches of the Algarve coastline and is home to Pine Cliffs Hotel, Pine Cliffs Residence, Pine Cliffs Gardens and Pine Cliffs Ocean Suites. That means there are different accommodation options from luxury multi-bedroomed suites and private villas, to self-catering options available, all in a landscaped village setting.
The facilities: Catering for families and sports enthusiasts, there’s a huge variety on offer. There’s a nine-hole golf course, eight swimming pools and the biggest kids club in the region, with Porto Pirata and the Junior Club. For tennis fans, the Annabel Croft Tennis Academy offers coaching for adults and juniors via private and shared lessons as well as weekly tennis tournaments. There are two clay courts, three hard courts and a padel tennis court. Prices start from €295 for the Junior Tennis Camp and €350 for the Adult Tennis Holiday. There is also a huge Serenity – The Art of Well Being destination spa.
The restaurants: There are twelve different restaurants and bars, from the more casual Corda Café or Jardim Colonial to the formal Mirador Champagne Bar overlooking the Atlantic Coast or O Pescador, considered one of the finest seafood restaurants on the Algarve. Not forgetting Mimo Algarve, a cookery school, where a range of family classes are offered.
In October there is a “stay four nights, pay for three” offer in a deluxe room with an ocean view and breakfast from €292 per night for two people sharing. Long term rental guests can enjoy a host of benefits including free access to the resort pools and gym, a 25 per cent discount on food and beverages plus discounts in the spa and for golf. Rates start from €3,500 per month for a one-bedroom apartment; www.pinecliffs.com.
The Lumiares Hotel & Spa, Lisbon
Best for: A stylish city break.
The vibe: A five star boutique hotel (member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World), The Lumiares offers 47 apartment-style rooms in the trendy bohemian Bairro Alto area of Lisbon. Previously a derelict 17th-century palace, the hotel’s design pays homage to Lisbon’s colours, patterns and light.
The facilities: Soak up the city’s sunshine on the newly refurbished Lumi Rooftop Restaurant and Bar – one of the best rooftops in the city with a magnificent view. Housed on the fifth floor, the relaunched restaurant and bar area is defined by its modernist aesthetic, with a mix of bespoke ceramic lamps created by Portuguese ceramist Marta Raimundo and objects from interior design company Quiet Studios. The small, perfectly formed spa has a sauna and steam room and offers a range of holistic massages, aromatherapy and ayurvedic treatments and rituals. There is also a gym, with personal training offered too.
Rates start from €169 per night, including breakfast; www.thelumiares.com.