We just returned from a whirlwind trip to Portugal, our first in several years. This was an action-packed voyage, ranging from the Algarve Coast in the south to the Douro Valley in the North, along with time in Lisbon and Porto. Over the course of ten days, we visited a large number of hotels and resorts, and visited some of the country’s iconic tourist destinations.
The verdict? Incredible!
Let’s start with our immediate overall impressions: Portugal represents an incredible value for American visitors. We were repeatedly surprised by the extremely reasonable cost for accommodations in fine hotels and resorts, and astounded by the affordability of excellent food and wine. Our clientele is not one that would be considered budget-driven, but everyone appreciates good value, and Portugal delivers it at every turn.
Now, a few details…
Throughout this trip we were driven in luxurious Mercedes vehicles supplied by Tempo-VIP, a Destination Management Company owned and operated by Danilo Cerqueira. Danilo, who accompanied us through much of our time in Portugal, is an energetic and creative ambassador for Portugal. The itinerary he created in conjunction with TL Portfolio (owned by our good friend Tina Lyra) was chock full of incredible properties and experiences. And, more importantly, it demonstrated that Tempo-VIP is a reliable and professional partner to whom we can turn for our clients’ needs for their Portugal visits. While our personal knowledge base is considerable, we rely on our network of experts throughout the world to help us build world class itineraries for our clients. Partners like Danilo and Tina are an indispensable part of our worldwide team.
We travel often, but seldom take vacations…this trip was aimed at evaluating for our clients the hottest destination of 2022. We hit the ground running. We had barely checked in to the Four Seasons Ritz when Danilo took us on a whirlwind tour of Lisbon hotels. The Four Seasons merits special mention for its beautifully renovated rooms and public spaces, the latter featuring important artwork by Portuguese artists. In addition, Danilo accompanied us to a number of Lisbon’s hotels over the next two days, meeting with the general managers and evaluating their room offerings, restaurants, and guest amenities
The collection we visited was impressive. We noted a number of favorites and throughout our tour we were frankly astonished at the incredible value, with room rates for exceptional suites substantially below the prices elsewhere in Europe. A sampling is included in the slideshow below. We visited dozens of properties, and while we don’t have the space here to review each of them, we came away with a good sense of the value and individual sense of place offered by each.
Our tour of Lisbon included a sailboat ride on the Tagus River, providing a unique perspective on this historic city, a point from which many of history’s most famous adventurers embarked on seafaring expeditions. From this perspective, one gets a better understanding of Portugal’s place in history and the vibrant nature of the city. It is an exciting place!
The following day we visited two of Portugal’s national treasures, Quinta da Regaleir, an elaborate and fanciful estate located near the historic center of Sintra, and then Pena National Palace, which dates back to 1839, when the King Consort D. Fernando II of Saxe Coburgo-Gotha acquired the ruins of the Jerónimo Monastery of Nossa Senhora da Pena and started its adaptation to the fanciful structure modeled on Bavarian palaces of the era.
Bidding farewell to Lisbon, we journeyed on to the Alantejo region, which provided one of the great surprises…and delights…of our trip to Portugal: Herdade da Malhandinha Nova (HDMA) (https://www.malhadinhanova.pt/en/). This sprawling property, comprised of a winery and unique accommodations scattered throughout 450 hectares (a little over 1,100 acres) is astounding in every way. The brainchild of the Soares family, the estate exudes creativity, style and passion in every detail, from the exquisitely decorated homes to the picture perfect stables to the carefully curated vineyards.
We were greeted by Rita Soares, the CEO, who ushered us into the tasting room for an introduction to the estate’s award-winning wines, and brief introduction to its history and the family’s vision. From there we were taken to our stunning accommodations, beautifully appointed rooms centered around a large, modern living space with an open kitchen, sumptuous furniture and a bar that sits opposite a vintage Steinway piano. Pure magic.
Throughout our stay, Rita and her husband João lavished us with time and attention. We’ve never known more gracious hosts…they joined us at dinner each night and arranged for Portugal’s most renowned chef, Joachim Koerper, to oversee a lunch that could only be described as spectacular. We met other members of the family, gawked at João‘s motorcycle collection, visited the stables, and toured the estate by ATVs and Land Rovers.
If we seem effusive, it’s because this is one of the most astounding properties we’ve experienced in more than 40 years in the travel profession. You simply have to put it on your dream list. We will be back.
From that point we ventured south to the Algarve, Portugal’s southern coast, a place of expansive beaches and endless sunshine. En route we visited a Roman temple, a Chapel of Bones, and a delightful hilltop town where we were treated to an authentic local tavern meal. Delicious!
Arriving on the coast, we were met on a hillside high above the ocean by the manager of the Grand House, who plied us with fresh local oysters and Champagne, before we went on to the Grand Beach Club, a seaside restaurant owned by the hotel and available exclusively to hotel guests, where we met with a good friend from the hotel industry. Amazing food. Great conversation. Then, on to the nearby hotel…an intimate, beautifully appointed property across the street from the waters of the port. All of this within eyesight of Spain, which lies just across the Guadiana River (note for those interested in visiting Spain: Barcelona is only an hour away!).
Another amazing meal, followed by a round of exquisite Port (and cigars!). This was a fairly quick visit, but offered valuable insight into a beautiful property in a location favored by those who lean toward abundant sunshine and salty breezes.
As with any great journey, this was about the point that we started looking at the remaining itinerary with the wistful sorrow that the trip’s end was just days away. But, there was no time to bemoan the sifting sands of time…we were about to jet off to northern Portugal. Upon arrival in Porto we began an exploration of yet another of Portugal’s distinct regions. We were welcomed at the airport and ushered to beautiful yacht for a cruise on the Douro River. It was truly a unique way to enjoy the sights of the city, but the Douro Valley was calling. Our rather gorgeous accommodations were at the Six Senses, which sits high above the valley with a commanding view of the terraced landscape. The Valley is a place where the land’s native beauty has been enhanced by the hands of vintners and artisans who have tended to the Valley over centuries. The Six Senses embodies all the grace one expects from the brand, and offers an all-encompassing sense of oneness with the place in which it is situated…carefully prepared and locally sourced food, local wines, expansive gardens, and an impressive spa all curated to offer guests an immersive sense of comfort and well-being.
Not all of our time was spent on the property. During our time in the Douro Valley we enjoyed a vintage car ride (in a Cadillac Eldorado!), a boat journey on the Douro, and an other-worldly cooking experience with a Countess. Another astounding experience offered by Tempo-VIP.
Following all of this we returned to Lisbon, where we spent our final evening in Portugal at one of the loveliest small hotels imaginable, Bairro Alto, ending it all with a dinner with Danilo and his beautiful girlfriend.
Portugal is emerging as a favored destination for travelers, and our whirlwind visit provided us clear insight into why it should be on your travel wish list. With possibilities ranging from urbane Lisbon and Porto to the serenity of the Alentejo to the beaches of the Algarve and on to the vertiginous vineyards of the Douro Valley, Portugal provides an amazing array of opportunities for the aficionado of art, history, cuisine, wine, and elegant relaxation. And, while budget concerns are not an issue for many, it offers all of this at price points that comprise great value.
Now is the time to travel to Portugal. In concert with our partners who assisted us in putting together our journey of discovery, we can craft an incomparable experience for you and your family. It’s truly a must-visit destination.
The verdict? Incredible!
Let’s start with our immediate overall impressions: Portugal represents an incredible value for American visitors. We were repeatedly surprised by the extremely reasonable cost for accommodations in fine hotels and resorts, and astounded by the affordability of excellent food and wine. Our clientele is not one that would be considered budget-driven, but everyone appreciates good value, and Portugal delivers it at every turn.
Now, a few details…
Throughout this trip we were driven in luxurious Mercedes vehicles supplied by Tempo-VIP, a Destination Management Company owned and operated by Danilo Cerqueira. Danilo, who accompanied us through much of our time in Portugal, is an energetic and creative ambassador for Portugal. The itinerary he created in conjunction with TL Portfolio (owned by our good friend Tina Lyra) was chock full of incredible properties and experiences. And, more importantly, it demonstrated that Tempo-VIP is a reliable and professional partner to whom we can turn for our clients’ needs for their Portugal visits. While our personal knowledge base is considerable, we rely on our network of experts throughout the world to help us build world class itineraries for our clients. Partners like Danilo and Tina are an indispensable part of our worldwide team.
We travel often, but seldom take vacations…this trip was aimed at evaluating for our clients the hottest destination of 2022. We hit the ground running. We had barely checked in to the Four Seasons Ritz when Danilo took us on a whirlwind tour of Lisbon hotels. The Four Seasons merits special mention for its beautifully renovated rooms and public spaces, the latter featuring important artwork by Portuguese artists. In addition, Danilo accompanied us to a number of Lisbon’s hotels over the next two days, meeting with the general managers and evaluating their room offerings, restaurants, and guest amenities
The collection we visited was impressive. We noted a number of favorites and throughout our tour we were frankly astonished at the incredible value, with room rates for exceptional suites substantially below the prices elsewhere in Europe. A sampling is included in the slideshow below. We visited dozens of properties, and while we don’t have the space here to review each of them, we came away with a good sense of the value and individual sense of place offered by each.
Our tour of Lisbon included a sailboat ride on the Tagus River, providing a unique perspective on this historic city, a point from which many of history’s most famous adventurers embarked on seafaring expeditions. From this perspective, one gets a better understanding of Portugal’s place in history and the vibrant nature of the city. It is an exciting place!
The following day we visited two of Portugal’s national treasures, Quinta da Regaleir, an elaborate and fanciful estate located near the historic center of Sintra, and then Pena National Palace, which dates back to 1839, when the King Consort D. Fernando II of Saxe Coburgo-Gotha acquired the ruins of the Jerónimo Monastery of Nossa Senhora da Pena and started its adaptation to the fanciful structure modeled on Bavarian palaces of the era.
Bidding farewell to Lisbon, we journeyed on to the Alantejo region, which provided one of the great surprises…and delights…of our trip to Portugal: Herdade da Malhandinha Nova (HDMA) (https://www.malhadinhanova.pt/en/). This sprawling property, comprised of a winery and unique accommodations scattered throughout 450 hectares (a little over 1,100 acres) is astounding in every way. The brainchild of the Soares family, the estate exudes creativity, style and passion in every detail, from the exquisitely decorated homes to the picture perfect stables to the carefully curated vineyards.
We were greeted by Rita Soares, the CEO, who ushered us into the tasting room for an introduction to the estate’s award-winning wines, and brief introduction to its history and the family’s vision. From there we were taken to our stunning accommodations, beautifully appointed rooms centered around a large, modern living space with an open kitchen, sumptuous furniture and a bar that sits opposite a vintage Steinway piano. Pure magic.
Throughout our stay, Rita and her husband João lavished us with time and attention. We’ve never known more gracious hosts…they joined us at dinner each night and arranged for Portugal’s most renowned chef, Joachim Koerper, to oversee a lunch that could only be described as spectacular. We met other members of the family, gawked at João‘s motorcycle collection, visited the stables, and toured the estate by ATVs and Land Rovers.
If we seem effusive, it’s because this is one of the most astounding properties we’ve experienced in more than 40 years in the travel profession. You simply have to put it on your dream list. We will be back.
From that point we ventured south to the Algarve, Portugal’s southern coast, a place of expansive beaches and endless sunshine. En route we visited a Roman temple, a Chapel of Bones, and a delightful hilltop town where we were treated to an authentic local tavern meal. Delicious!
Arriving on the coast, we were met on a hillside high above the ocean by the manager of the Grand House, who plied us with fresh local oysters and Champagne, before we went on to the Grand Beach Club, a seaside restaurant owned by the hotel and available exclusively to hotel guests, where we met with a good friend from the hotel industry. Amazing food. Great conversation. Then, on to the nearby hotel…an intimate, beautifully appointed property across the street from the waters of the port. All of this within eyesight of Spain, which lies just across the Guadiana River (note for those interested in visiting Spain: Barcelona is only an hour away!).
Another amazing meal, followed by a round of exquisite Port (and cigars!). This was a fairly quick visit, but offered valuable insight into a beautiful property in a location favored by those who lean toward abundant sunshine and salty breezes.
As with any great journey, this was about the point that we started looking at the remaining itinerary with the wistful sorrow that the trip’s end was just days away. But, there was no time to bemoan the sifting sands of time…we were about to jet off to northern Portugal. Upon arrival in Porto we began an exploration of yet another of Portugal’s distinct regions. We were welcomed at the airport and ushered to beautiful yacht for a cruise on the Douro River. It was truly a unique way to enjoy the sights of the city, but the Douro Valley was calling. Our rather gorgeous accommodations were at the Six Senses, which sits high above the valley with a commanding view of the terraced landscape. The Valley is a place where the land’s native beauty has been enhanced by the hands of vintners and artisans who have tended to the Valley over centuries. The Six Senses embodies all the grace one expects from the brand, and offers an all-encompassing sense of oneness with the place in which it is situated…carefully prepared and locally sourced food, local wines, expansive gardens, and an impressive spa all curated to offer guests an immersive sense of comfort and well-being.
Not all of our time was spent on the property. During our time in the Douro Valley we enjoyed a vintage car ride (in a Cadillac Eldorado!), a boat journey on the Douro, and an other-worldly cooking experience with a Countess. Another astounding experience offered by Tempo-VIP.
Following all of this we returned to Lisbon, where we spent our final evening in Portugal at one of the loveliest small hotels imaginable, Bairro Alto, ending it all with a dinner with Danilo and his beautiful girlfriend.
Portugal is emerging as a favored destination for travelers, and our whirlwind visit provided us clear insight into why it should be on your travel wish list. With possibilities ranging from urbane Lisbon and Porto to the serenity of the Alentejo to the beaches of the Algarve and on to the vertiginous vineyards of the Douro Valley, Portugal provides an amazing array of opportunities for the aficionado of art, history, cuisine, wine, and elegant relaxation. And, while budget concerns are not an issue for many, it offers all of this at price points that comprise great value.
Now is the time to travel to Portugal. In concert with our partners who assisted us in putting together our journey of discovery, we can craft an incomparable experience for you and your family. It’s truly a must-visit destination.