If you’re looking for a luxurious stay in Cascais Bay which will live up to all expectations, Intercontinental Cascais-Estoril – (an IHG Hotel) is a glamorous boutique property boasting stunning sea views from all of its rooms.
The elegant open plan lobby area filled with fresh flowers and unique artworks flows through to the restaurant, letting in an incredible amount of light through the floor to ceiling glass. Designed by Portuguese architect Joao Paciencia, he’s managed to make the Atlantic Ocean the main star of the hotel with interiors which work in harmony.
There’s a wonderful sense of calm in the rooms which are super spacious. Again letting in all of the light from the balcony, you get a gorgeous view of the perfectly manicured gardens below, the outdoor pool area, and the sea beyond (which in Cascais Bay, dubbed the ‘Portuguese riviera’ ) means a gorgeous shade of azure.
It’s rare that the bathroom gets a full paragraph in my reviews let alone three, but Intercontinental’s deserve a special mention. The bath is huge and clever partitions mean you can enjoy those endless sea views while relaxing in the tub. The toilet and shower have separate frosted glass doors for privacy and you can easily slide over the panels if you want to bathe in a more conventional bathroom style!
With special mood lighting at the flick of a switch, you can bask in pale pink and blue hues, but there’s also regular lighting and great mirrors for getting ready along with some of the best bathroom products I’ve come across – so luxurious are the Byredo Bal D’Afrique products (the fragrance is out of this world), that they have a friendly note attached reminding you not to take them with you!
Incredibly fussy when it comes to a good mattress, I couldn’t fault the super king with memory foam and enjoyed a great sleep with the curtains open so I could marvel at those dreamy views again when I woke up – it really is a hotel beautifully designed to make the very most of that incredible sea scape.
My peaceful slumber could have been partially owing to an afternoon well spent in the Intercontinental Cascais-Estoril’s spa though. With a shimmering green gold tiled pool, along with sauna, steam and treatment rooms, this area of the hotel is also glass, and swimming here was a tranquil experience – even more so because visiting in February means the hotel is at lower occupancy, but you still get to enjoy a balmy 15 degrees in the afternoon.
One of the best breakfasts of our Portuguese adventure happened to be at the Intercontinental. No doubt the restaurant’s tables perfectly positioned by the glass and those ocean views might have something to do with it, but the quality of all breakfast items was extremely high. From the flaky buttery croissants to the freshest bread rolls, colourful fruits, meats, cheeses and a full cooked selection (sausages, bacon, eggs etc), there were juices and smoothies, sweet treats and even an extra menu if you preferred an Eggs Benedict or Florentine. The service was impeccable and enjoying a morning coffee here at the hotel while planning the day ahead was one of those standout moments from our trip with a great sense of contentment at a faultless hotel experience.
Cascais town is a pleasant (and highly scenic) stroll about 15 minutes away, and if you’re heading to Lisbon, the hotel also benefits from excellent connections with the Estoril train station on its doorstep. If you prefer to take a taxi, it’s around 30 minutes to Lisbon centre.
Cascais should definitely be at the top of your list for a seaside stay if you’re visiting Portugal and the Intercontinental Cascais-Estoril Hotel is guaranteed to enhance your experience of this magical place.
