Paradise in Portugal

Looking for a relaxing holiday where everything you could want is located within the grounds of your hotel? A resort hotel in Portugal could be just the ticket, and there’s always plenty to do if you do decide to venture beyond the hotel or the beach!

First off is Porto in the northwest of the country, known as the ‘city of bridges’ with a medieval city centre. But in and around the city are resort style options such the Mercure Porto Gaia, which offers a swimming pool, restaurant and children’s playground, and is located close to Porto wine cellars, beaches and exhibitions. Or close to the beachfront and fifteen minutes away from the Oporto world heritage site is the Hotel Solverde Spa and Wellness centre, which boasts a spa, tennis courts, volleyball, mini golf, and swimming pools. So a trip to Porto can combine the best of a resort holiday with all that a major cultural and historical location has to offer. To book flights to Porto visit ebookers.com.

The city of Porto itself has a rich history and boasts some wonderful architecture in a variety of styles such as Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque. You can experience these buildings for yourself on a tour of the city which lasts between 3 and 4 hours, where you can see the major sights such as the Real Companhia Velha Port Wine Cellars, Cathedral and Clerigos, as well as taking a walking tour through the oldest quarter of Ribeira. If you fancy going further afield, you can take a day trip to Duoro – the Duoro River Valley is an Unesco world heritage site, famous for its vineyards and farms on its steep inclines. On this tour you will visit the Monastery of S. Gonçalo at the edge of the river Aramante, and in Lamego, the Shine of Our Lady of Remedíos. You will also enjoy lunch with views over the famous river Duoro itself, and have the opportunity to partake in some tasting of Porto wine, which originates from this region. 

There are also a number of resorts around the capital city of Lisbon, such as the recently refurbished Vila Gale Cascais, with a restaurant, health club, swimming pool, overlooking the sea and near to the Marina de Cascais. A little closer to Lisbon is the Riveria Hotel on the Estoril coast, which boasts the amenities of a restaurant, indoor and outdoor pools and tennis, and is near the beach of Carcavelos, next to the cities of Cascais and Sintra. For flights to Lisbon visit ebookers.com.

The beauty of staying at a resort within driving distance of a city is that you can leave the comforts of the resort for a day and go on a day trip, and in this case Lisbon has so much to offer. You could take a sightseeing day tour of Lisbon and Sintra, a jam packed tour where you’ll witness many sights such as Rossio in the heart of the city, as well as wine tasting in the oldest area of the city, Alfama. You will also pay a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Jeronimos Monastery, and on to the Estoril coast and the mountain of Sintra. If you’d like to experience the food and wine of the area you can go on a small group gourmet Portuguese food and wine tour. On this tour you’ll explore the streets of Lisbon with your guide, visiting cheese, pastry and wine shops, sampling what’s on the offer along the way of course. You’ll also visit cafes, bars and restaurants, as well as the Cevejaria deTrinidade, a former convent which is now a seafood and steak restaurant, and finish up the tour with a light meal at a 17^th century Neo-Moorish palace!