Another week, another country reopening to USA based travelers. Portugal (below) is now reopened as of Tuesday. All travelers will need to show proof of a negative PCR test, taken within 72 hours of their trip or a negative rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours of their trip, according to the Portuguese government. Children under two years old are exempt.
In my own personal Top 3 European countries, Portugal still feels original, true to itself and much less touristy than many destinations. And just wait until you see some of those secret, hidden properties that I have wandered through virtually this week.
Check out this weeks Top 5 Hidden Portugal below.
Just one reminder this week...
Next week, we are going to try our very first live and in-person Open House. Kendall, our client care manager and Hawaii guru will be there along with yours truly, ready to answer anything travel related you can throw at us.
Date for the diary is June 23rd - 9am to 11am at Urban Grind Roasters in Mooresville.
No need to register, just show up! We're going to try to set up under their huge map (below) which I love.
Top 5 - Luxury Hidden Portugal
At all of the properties below we are able to add exclusive Virtuoso amenities
1. Vila Monte Farm House, Moncarapacho (above and below)
With its countryside setting, Vila Monte gives "down on the farm" a decidedly fashionable edge. Step away from the busier Algarve for a stroll through aromatic gardens and citrus orchards; when the sands call, a shuttle will carry you to nearby Fuseta Island Beach. Shades of white soothe tired souls in the 55 rooms adorned with tree-trunk coffee tables and handcarved accents. You can learn how to harvest oysters, sling traditional Algarve pottery, or help prepare locally sourced meals for sharing in the rustic À Terra restaurant. Outdoor movies are screened each evening.
Our tip: On Saturdays, guests can join the hotel chef on a tour of the local market, followed by lunch with wine by the kitchen’s central fire.
2. Bela Vista Hotel & Spa, Portimao (above and below)
Located on the cliff top of Praia da Rocha, the Bela Vista Hotel & Spa has a privileged and wide open view to the Atlantic Ocean. The hotel’s beach location offers guests private and direct access to the golden sand. This iconic mansion built in 1918, a prestigious family’s beach chalet, is a proud member of the French association Relais & Châteaux. The Bela Vista features 38 luxurious rooms and suites, the Michelin-starred restaurant Vista, and Spa by the French brand L´Occitane. The swimming pool offers guests unequalled wonderful relaxing sea views, a lounge, and a Bistro restaurant.
Our tip: The Algarve coastline is spectacular, and exploring the cliffs and rock formations that border the blue sea and the coastal towns will surely make you fall in love with the area.
3. Sublime Comporta, Grândola (above and below)
Portugal’s up-and-coming Alentejo region makes the perfect setting for Sublime Comporta. The aptly named hotel takes minimalist design to the max, with floor-to-ceiling windows that put the focus squarely on the surrounding sand dunes, wildflowers, and woodlands dense with umbrella pine. Cork walls and straw lampshades bring the outside into 45 rooms and villas (both shared and private). Some suites are set upon stilts over a biological pond; dive off your own terrace into its clear waters. Order a passionfruit mojito by the adults-only pool and then cozy up around the adjacent fire pit.
Our tip: Nature heals body and soul at the holistic spa, which uses locally sourced rice and sea salt, plants from the organic garden, and pure essential oils. Consider a massage amid the pines.
4. São Lourenço do Barrocal, Monsaraz (above and below)
More than just the food comes farm-fresh at São Lourenço do Barrocal. There is a natural elegance to the entire lifestyle at this rustic retreat, a family-run, working estate located in southeastern Portugal. Here, guests are invited to hit pause and reset amid the rural Alentejo landscape, wandering among the ancient holm oaks, olive groves, and private vineyard, or perhaps picnicking in a wildflower-filled meadow. The 40 rooms and cottages reveal artisan touches, with handmade-brick floors and an eclectic mix of homey pieces. Spa therapies utilize exclusive cosmetics from the organic Austrian brand Susanne Kaufmann.
Our tip:
The estate is located within Alqueva’s Dark Sky Reserve, the world’s first "Starlight Tourism Destination." The night skies are known to leave stargazers gasping.
5.Vidago Palace, Vidago (above and below)
Hidden in the woods of a centenary park, in a small thermal town an hour's drive from Porto, Vidago Palace utterly enchants. The 70-room hotel opened in 1910 as a luxury spa for King Carlos near Vidago’s legendary waters. In 1936, the estate added a nine-hole golf course, earning a place among Europe’s most prestigious resorts. A four-year renovation in 2010 completely revamped the palace’s spa, transforming it into a Zen-inspired, minimalist space. The golf course, rebuilt from scratch, is now championship-tournament ready, and the Grand Ballroom – once the world’s largest – has been reinvented as a captivating restaurant.
Our tip: Visit the Wine Cellar for a winetasting and try a Tapas dinner in a cozy atmosphere, or enjoy thermal Vidago water treatments that are beneficial for your health.
I love travel and I love travel planning just as much and I am proud to be building a team as passionate about exploring the world as myself. It took me a very long time to align my career with my undeniable passion for exploring, but now I and the team are here for you. Your personal travel tailors - award reservation and luxury custom itinerary experts. We provide a bespoke service, imagining and creating itineraries for independent minded families and groups.
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