Best of the Best 2018 - 526
TIVOLI PALACIO DE SETEAIS SIN TR A , POR TU GA L N E I G H B O R H O O D Colares, Cascais & Lisbon Be prepared to swoon, because Tivoli Palacio de Seteais is straight out of an 18th-century romance novel. Here on a scenic hillside mere minutes from UNESCO-designated Sintra, acres of beautifully tended gardens and mazes inspire passionate pursuits. Plenty of eyes have locked over live piano music and herb-crusted lamb fillets in the white-gloved Seteais restaurant. Frescoed walls, wooden furnishings with rich inlays, and gilded accents add to the timeless ambience of the 30 spacious rooms and suites. The spa uses Algarve-sourced ingredients in its wine body wrap and other treatments. VIRTUOSO AMENITY HOTEL TIP Welcome port wine and local pastries; and choice of $100 hotel credit per stay or Cold Cuts & Colares Wine Experience for two, once per stay. For added charm, arrange a horse-drawn carriage ride in the mountains followed by a private dinner under a poolside pergola, complete with harpist and waitperson in period costume. Distance from Lisbon Airport (LIS): 12 miles/19 km Size: 30 rooms Room Style: Classic Vibe: Zen SECLUSION LANDMARKS ECOTOURISM VIDAGO PALACE VIDA GO, POR TU GA L N E I G H B O R H O O D Douro Valley Hidden in the woods, about an hour outside Porto, Vidago Palace is utterly enchanting. The 70-room hotel first opened in 1910, when King Carlos I wanted a luxury spa near Vidago's legendary waters. In 1936, the estate added a nine-hole golf course and earned a place among Europe's most prestigious resorts. A four-year renovation in the late 2000s completely revamped the Palace's spa, transforming it into a Zen-inspired, minimalist space. The golf course, rebuilt from scratch, is now tournament-ready, and the Grand Ballroom - once the world's largest - has been reinvented as a captivating restaurant. VIRTUOSO AMENITY HOTEL TIP $100 value hotel credit per stay. Wrought iron and checkered marble floors add charm to the Winter Garden. Bathed in natural light, it's a great place to start the day. Distance from Porto Airport (OPO): 84 miles/135 km 526 Size: 70 rooms Room Style: Contemporary Vibe: Sophisticated GOLF LANDMARKS WELLNESS THE YEATMAN VILA N OVA DE GA IA , POR TU GA L N E I G H B O R H O O D One of Europe's Wine Capitals Those seeking insight into Portuguese wines need do little more than visit the cellars of The Yeatman. The 83-room hotel, which holds a prime spot amidst Porto's historic wine lodges, houses one of the world's most extensive port collections and partners with top local wineries for weekly themed dinners. Wine's the word for anti-aging treatments at the Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa; indulge in a signature Barrel Bath Experience before exploring the UNESCO-designated Duoro Valley. Then again, you might just kick back with a bottle and enjoy the unobstructed views from your private balcony. VIRTUOSO AMENITY HOTEL TIP $100 value spa services credit per stay; signature cocktail at Dick's Bar; and VIP inroom welcome amenity. Wine dreams come true in Master Suite 008, which features a dramatic four-posted barrel bed made out of a giant wooden vat. Distance from Porto Airport (OPO): 8 miles/12 km Size: 83 rooms Room Style: Classic Vibe: Sophisticated CITY LIFE LANDMARKS WELLNESS