The Real Portugal
Monday 07 June 2010
With a flight time of only 3 hours from London to Lisbon and with a multitude of low cost airlines streaming in, there really is no excuse not to visit Portugal.
Lisbon, being my favourite European capital, has so many charms to captivate the visitor. But I’d like to talk about a little secret just north of Lisbon – within an hour’s drive in fact. Let’s explore the dramatic Silver Coast.
Facing the mighty Atlantic, the Silver Coast sits proud, stretching north from Lisbon to Porto: some 320km of coastline bordered with golden sand and rugged cliffs. It’s not your ‘stereotypical’ Portugal – instead it’s quite possibly the ‘real’ Portugal, a place where tourists merge with locals and immerse themselves in local culture and tradition.
What makes this the new place to visit in Portugal? The historic towns of Obidos and Torres Vedras; the wine tours; the stretches of golden sand beaches, often lying dormant under the crashing Atlantic waves; the professional standard golf courses; the rolling inland countryside? Or perhaps it’s the traditional villages or the laid back rural life of the locals that give the area such charm.
I was lucky enough to pop over for a long (er) weekend and sample the delights of 3 of the area’s top 5* resorts. Now, having 3 hotels in such close proximity could be a recipe for real rivalry, but actually they work in perfect harmony with each other: there is no obvious competition and each resort attracts a different clientele. The biggest advantage for me though is that each resort works with the local tourist office to ensure guests are encouraged to sample the amenities on the doorstep. Local restaurants are recommended and guests are even given a discount card to save some money when dining out.
Award-Winning CampoReal
CampoReal, set inland, is true tradition at its best. The grounds were once the royal lands of the King of Portugal. The stunning resort and the apartments set in its 350 acres of territory complement the Portuguese landscapes perfectly. The tricky little golf course that winds its way around the rental and residential apartments provides entertainment for the golfer over and over: I was assured no 2 games on that course are ever the same. The concept behind Campo was to follow the lay of the land, so nothing was cut away and no views were ever lost. What was the result? A stunning 151 room hotel with 135 residences that include apartments, townhouses and villas.
I stayed in one of their superior rooms. The bed provided enough room for myself and the entire Portuguese football team (although not on this occasion!), the bathroom had a bathtub fit for a Greek god and the power shower provided the perfect morning massage. Although please, don’t stop at the shower – the spa experience literally transports you to another world. Upon arriving at reception for a back, neck and shoulders session I was shown to the changing rooms and provided with a robe and slippers before finding myself surrounded by pure serenity. Faced with a huge Turkish bath, a steam room with different settings such as lavender or tea tree, a sauna, and relaxation area I was spoilt for choice. The Caribbean Storm needs little explaining – it is exactly that – a blasting with cold then warm waters to the sounds of the jungle. After this truly invigorating experience, the massage sent me soundly to sleep. Bliss.
CampoReal is child friendly too with a kids pool, kids club, interlocking rooms and so many sports activities. A football pitch, horse riding, cycling and tennis courts will keep the most energetic child, or adult, amused for hours.
Let’s talk about the food. The chef has earned the title of Best Female Chef in Portugal, and the food was simply amazing. The recommended wine, from a local winery, was among the best whites I have ever tasted.
CampoReal has been recently nominated for ‘2010 Portugal’s Leading Conference Hotel’ and ‘2010 Portugal’s Leading Family Resort’ by the World Travel Awards organisation. This year, the European Gala Ceremony will be held in Antalya, Turkey, on October 1. Last year, CampoReal was awarded ‘Portugal’s Leading Conference Hotel’.
Sleek, Styled Bom Sucesso
After Campo I travelled 20 minutes east to Bom Sucesso. Situated on the banks of the Lagoon and in very close proximity to the medieval town of Óbidos, Bom Sucesso – Design Resort, Leisure, Golf and Spa – forms one of the most ambitious projects planned for a luxury tourist resort. It truly is a remarkable achievement set in a vast area of untouched natural beauty. The outstanding properties, designed by a team of leading architects, are positioned perfectly around a fantastic championship golf course – and all in a privileged location overlooking Obidos lagoon.
As yet there is no hotel, but the rental apartments more than make up for it. Not a thing has been forgotten, and their kitchens are better equipped than my own. The different styles are amazing, with gardens placed on every roof. In fact biodiversity has been a huge factor in the design the resort: there are in excess of 15,000 trees to be found, of which more than 2,000 are olive trees, some over a thousand years old.
The resort is a miniature county and a car is a necessity. The facilities onsite will be very good upon completion, and already include fantastic tennis courts. The philosophy though is to encourage guests to explore the area. Working in partnership with the tourist board, Bom Sucesso has formed relationships with local restaurants, bars etc to provide discounts on food – just look out for the Bom Sucesso sign in restaurant windows and show your card when ordering.
This is definitely the one to watch. The resort is growing at such a phenomenal rate, and as a holiday with all the luxury of a 5* star resort mixed with true encouragement to go out and explore the area, it will always be a big winner with me.
My suggestion is to grab a few friends, rent one of the villas or townhouses and enjoy a weekend of sport, sun and sightseeing. Spend the evenings BBQing or simply watching the sun set over the golf course or lagoon.
The Original
The last resort on offer is the fully established Praia D’el Rey. Again a powerhouse in terms of location and facilities, it is the longest standing hotel and resort of the three. Branded Marriott, you know the service will be top notch.
Positioned right on the beach, complete with swimming pools, tennis courts, an amazing golf course (ranked 13 in Europe), kids club, spa and so much more this is a great complex. It’s everything you’d expect from a beachside resort.
You can choose from the 5* hotel or one of the many rental apartments. The onsite beach boasts miles upon miles of golden sand bordered by cliffs and the mighty Atlantic Ocean.
To purchase any apartment in the featured resorts or elsewhere in Portugal visit www.vivainportugal.com
For a similar travel article - about Spain - click here
