Palácio Estoril, Lisbon, Portugal

Elegant, great value seaside hotel in easy striking distance of magnificent beaches, Lisbon and Cascais

Rooms from around £140 per night, including breakfast and daily health & fitness classes. Flights and transfers available at an additional cost.

This grand hotel opened in the 1930s on the Portuguese Riviera. Still swathed in the glamour of those days, it has hosted royalty, movie stars and statesmen, and was the setting for the James Bond 'On Her Majesty’s Secret Service' film. A lovely swimming pool in the gardens adds to its charm. An easy 30 minute train ride along the coast to central Lisbon, and just 2 miles in the other direction to charming Cascais.

Accommodation

The 161 rooms are all essays in elegance with size and view defining the prices. Some rooms have balconies. They are classical in décor with working desks, comfortable arm chairs and marble bathrooms, some with both tub and shower.

Activities & Experiences

Palácio Estoril is perfectly placed for combining poolside relaxation with exploring Lisbon, neighbouring Cascais, and the many spectacular beaches along the coast. The hotel has an excellent Banyan Tree Spa and there's a Mackenzie Ross designed 18-hole golf course, which overlooks Estoril and the sea, attractively fringed by mimosa and pine trees.

Guests at the hotel also benefit from a great selection of daily health and fitness classes (8 to 10 per day Monday to Friday) such as yoga, pilates, hydrobike, hydrogym, ABS and Zumba.

Facilities & Services

Pretty much everything you could wish for can be found here. There is an excellent Banyan Tree Spa, with a holistic approach to both physical and spiritual wellbeing and massages which draw on Asian traditions that date back centuries. There is also the Estoril Wellness Centre with an indoor swimming pool and studios for Pilates, yoga and more and treatment rooms which offer various hydrotherapy treatments.

There are two restaurants and a bar, all of which offer a good selection of dishes. In the Bouganvillea Terrace Restaurant which overlooks the pool, try the Salmon Teriaki with lemon-scented vegetables. The Grill Four Seasons Restaurant is more Portuguese in approach with dishes such as Braised codfish, clam ragout, sautéed fennel and parsley olive oil. There's also a Healthy Menu, calorie counted, available in both restaurants. The Bar, where famously Ian Fleming wrote Casino Royale, is the perfect place to explore the local wines.