Our Wellness travel consultant Artemis was fortunate enough to visit the fabulous Palacio Estoril Golf & Spa in the beautiful town of Estoril, just a hop from Lisbon and walking distance to the quaint town of Cascais. She gives us the low-down from her trip…
What were your first impressions when you arrived?
It is just a 20-minute transfer from Lisbon airport and I was warmly greeted on arrival at Palacio Estoril and felt like royalty (in fact many royal family members have stayed over the years). The hotel itself is very grand with a 'thirties glamour' feel - it really is very special. I stayed in a spacious suite which felt extremely majestic with quality wooden antique furniture throughout, a bed fit of a king and lush Molten Brown toiletries. I loved my private balcony with beautiful views across the beach and bay, watching the sun setting here was truly spectacular.
You could spend half a day just exploring the glamourous hotel interior admiring the palatial decor. I would advise to bring some elegant clothing as you will feel drawn to dress here to match the setting.
What do you think makes the hotel so special?
I personally think that it is the team who make the hotel so special. It is a private family-run hotel dating back to the 1930's and most staff have been working at the hotel for decades so there is a friendly and comfortable feeling to it. Jose Alfonso (the doorman) has been working at the hotel since 1951 and even appeared in the James Bond film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ which was filmed there.
The hotel bar is famed for Ian Flemings stay whilst he was writing his first James Bond book, after being inspired by a famous Czech spy who was residing at the hotel at the same time! To celebrate this the bar has been not been changed since and they serve the famous Bond martini.
Its buzzy location in fashionable Estoril makes for a lovely promenade stroll taking you all the way to pretty Cascais for cobbled streets, excellent seafood and intriguing architecture. Well worth the 20-minute walk. I enjoyed spending time on the beach, just across from the hotel, and watching the locals.
How did you find the wellness offering?
The Estoril Wellness Centre is divine and it's huge - spread over 4 floors located opposite the hotel. It has everything that you could wish for and The Banyan Tree Spa is the only one in Europe. Banyan Tree Spas were first established in Thailand with a focus on Asian therapies and a holistic focus on spiritual, mental and physical harmony. The service is top-notch, and you feel like you could be in Thailand from the moment you step in the spa. A bonus was that I could wander from my bedroom directly to the spa via a tunnel. No need to change and I could go in my robe and slippers without any regular guests seeing me.
In addition to the holistic spa there is a vast medical consultation offering with a plethora of services including nutritional consultations, osteopathy, dental care, ozone therapy and psychoimmunology to name a handful.
I was especially impressed with the session I had with integrative medicine consultant Margarita who used an advanced biofeedback machine (electrical impulses with specific wavelength frequencies) to detect any imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, allergies and organ weaknesses. Armed with this information Margarita was able to investigate deeper the areas of concern using an advanced cell analysis technique called darkfield microscopy. With this level of detail health concerns can be specifically and effectively addressed, using herbal, homeopathic, energy medicine and diet.
If you are on a programme you are assigned a 'Wellness Angel' who is a member of staff at the wellness centre dedicated to keep track of your progress, emotional wellbeing and any concerns so you feel fully supported throughout.
The group activity schedule here is vast with something for everyone, the classes are also attended by locals with a membership at the wellness centre which gives them a friendly community feel. Classes are often taught in both English and Portuguese to cater for the hotel guests.
The thermal waters used in the hydrotherapy pools are famed for relieving arthritic and rheumatoid ailments with the local hospitals prescribing these waters for their patients. The hydrotherapy offering here is stepped up a gear with fitness classes including spinning and aqua Pilates taking place in the healing waters for the added benefits of muscle recovery and to make exercise accessible to even those with limited mobility.
How was the food?
The food is beyond delicious and with a varied choice to suit everyone's palate! A healthy menu has been designed by the in-house nutritionist (Dr Patricia Segadaes) and the head chef (Bernard Pfister) which includes fully organic and health ingredients. If you are on a special detox or weight loss programme, a menu will be designed for you and you will receive on-going support from the wellness team so that you won't be tempted to stray.
The spa has a healthy café serving fresh food and juices and you can also dine in here in your robes between spa treatments if you prefer. It’s an ideal place for socialising with others you have met in your group classes.
The breakfast is buffet style with lots of choice and there is even an additional healthy corner with almond and soya milk too. One evening we headed out for dinner in nearby Cascais which is a coastal town famed for its fish restaurants. 'Monte Mar' did not disappoint, and I highly recommend if you fancy a change of scenery one evening.
Who would you recommend the resort to?
Those who are keen to address their health and wellbeing as the wellness centre has top-notch facilities and the in-house team are superb and there to help you every step of the way plus there are many effective programmes to choose. However, it would also appeal to those who are looking to kick-back and relax in a ‘grande dame’ setting with restorative spa treatments and plentiful fitness options. It’s good for singles and couples alike – the team are so friendly and attentive that you won’t feel ‘alone’ in any way if you’re a solo traveller.
For personalised advice, please call our expert wellness team on 020 3735 7555.
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