What an incredible experience! Built in the 1940s (I…read morebelieve) on a 17th century fort on a windblown beach in a national park? Yes, please! The natural beauty alone is worth staying here. But the use of stone and wood and natural elements was superb. I saw some reviews complain about the age of the place. Well, my room and the whole wing appears quite new. Decor is simple and comfortable and more than spacious enough for Americans. My room (#50) had a huge patio with views of both the dunes and the beach! Housekeeping works hard here! Keeping the sand out when it blows in the air and folks track it in must be impossible, but I walked barefoot in my room with no grit. The best part was the service. They let me put my luggage in early and after I checked out so I could walk the beach. They even walked me to my room. Very helpful despite language barriers- MINE, my Portugese is non-existent. Hands signals and smiles and patience fixed that. If you need a day or two of quiet after a busy city like Lisbon, I highly recommend this local beach off the beaten track

A view from the hotel room out into the open Atlantic Ocean was fantastic. This place used to be a…read morecoastal military fort that was re-purposed as a hotel. The food at the restaurant was excellent. I stayed for three days. On my first day, I reported that the TV in room was not working. I was told that a tech would be sent to fix the problem. The problem was never fixed. I reported stains on the rug and wall in the room and they were never cleaned. The washroom needed a very good cleaning. That didn't happen while I was there. Also, I did not realize just how freezing cold the ocean water at this beach front hotel was gong to be. Okay, I decided to go to the hotel pool and that was just a tad warmer than the freezing ocean water?!? No wonder, the pool was nearly empty! By the way, the hotel was totally booked during my stay. The whole place has a sort of outdated, old, sad feel to it. Had I known about the freezing beach and hotel pool water condition then I would have gone to the southern side of the country, the Algarve, where the Mediterranean water is warm.

I stayed here for a week for a business trip and was astounded by the grounds, the rooms, the food…read moreand the service. Located just a brief 10 min walk from the adorable Marina, it is centrally located with a gorgeous view of the water. There is always someone to open the door for you on your arrival and you're greeted with a gorgeous spacious entrance into the hotel. Service is great -- especially the cleaners for the room. They would visit my room twice a day to endure I had water, that my slippers with ready for me beside my bed, a little chocolate each night before bed... their attention to detail made me think they should train other teams in the world. The grounds are beautiful complete with a pool with a gorgeous water view, a highly rated fancy restaurant that won't break the bank, a good breakfast buffet, a state of the art gym, a spa, and very spacious rooms and bathrooms. This hotel was great for a work conference and they handled hundreds of people with ease. This is a great example of how a top tier hotel should be ran. Outstanding!

Just as advertised, this hotel was truly a five star experience and worth its high price tag. The…read morelobby itself was impressive and the customer service was fabulous. Not long after we checked in, we received little desserts waiting for us in our room. The bedding, the bathroom, the balcony views were absolutely spectacular. We truly loved the complimentary indoor spa, it was very relaxing. The restaurants also serve some amazing food and cocktails. For an extra charge, the hotel was able to provide us transportation from the airport; they even arranged private transportation to drop us off at our airbnb when we had to check out the next day. The transportation service was great and very informative, we wound up using them to take us to the Sintra one day during our trip. We unfortunately only stayed one night and I wish we stayed longer, my husband constantly talk about coming back here. Cascais is an absolute gem of a town and I highly suggest spending a night here if you are ever in the area.

This beautiful hotel did not have any other children there when we were in Cascais for a wedding…read more We had five rooms--all stunning. Other adults went to the final formal wedding in afternoon and evening in Sintra, and I stayed to watch the children. They were on their best behavior and enjoyed pool, pool deck, beach, and room service for dinner. The breakfast each morning in the beautiful restaurant was fantastic. While this is definitely an "adult" hotel and not so geared to children, we made it work--and they behaved with good manners. The service is A-plus. Stunning views everywhere!

The reviews below noting the arrogant and unfriendly attitude of the front desk and reservation…read morestaff are spot-on. I engaged in a colossal waste of time simply trying to change my reservation at this hotel, only to learn its partner "Luxury Escapes" is somehow connected to third-party booking agent Expedia. This is not disclosed on "Luxury Escapes" website. Deceptive? The Albatroz staff throw their hands in the air and claim they cannot help you change a reservation. I decided not to re-book a future stay at this hotel based on this interaction. Beware-- if you book thru "Luxury Escapes" you may actually be dealing with a restrictive third-party agent, and this hotel will not help you unwind that.

Great experience! I'm glad we got the room with breakfast included (minor additional cost). Room…read morehad a nice view out the back. The breakfast spread had many delicious goodies. Our room was super clean and the bed was comfy. And everyone who works here are super nice too. Thank you!!

Room We were given the handicapped room, so the bathroom was…read morebigger than usual, or so we were told. The windows opened out to the main street but with the double pane windows we could hear a little bit of the street sounds but it wasn't loud enough to keep us up at night. The beds were decently comfortable and the room was spacious. Basic toiletries were provided but there were no slippers or tissue. The shower and toilet pressure were decent. My one biggest complaint was that there was no counter space in the bathroom at all. Also, there were no extra outlets to plug in chargers, so we had to unplug the bedside lamps. Service What sets this hotel apart is the outstanding service. I would've given this hotel four stars max, but I'm giving an entire star just for the hotel staff. In particular, Andres and Elena were amazing. On our last day after we checked out, we asked Elena about Ginja liquor in chocolate cups. She told us to go on with our planned tour and she would find out for us. When we got back, we found out she had walked to the shop herself and I got us a sample to try and also a list of the prices for different sizes of the alcohol. We loved it and she actually walked us back to the shop to make the purchase. I am so glad she pointed us in the right direction because the ones we had tried at other shops were not nearly as good. I was really impressed by how far she went out of her way to help us, especially considering we had already checked out of the hotel. Location This hotel is in the perfect location. It is within a few minutes walking distance of the historical center and is across the street from the bus stop for the 434 and 435 buses to all of the main sites. There are small shops and restaurants nearby and the tourism center is just down the street. Right next-door is a small travel agency. The Quinta da Regaleira is about a 12 minute walk from the hotel. If you need a tuk tuk or taxi, staff at the hotel are more than happy to call one for you. Restaurant After reading the reviews we decided to try the hotel restaurant on our first night. We got the shrimp appetizer, apple and walnut salad, and shrimp and scallop risotto. The food was unbelievably delicious and the seafood was cooked perfectly. We liked the food so much that we came back on our third night. The food was still good but unfortunately not as good as the first night. It was a different cook in the kitchen that night. Breakfast was good but there were two issues. The first was that it was exactly the same and by the third day we were bored of the same food. This wouldn't be an issue if there was a greater variety. However, with only eggs, sausage and mushrooms to choose from, you're left eating the same food every day. The other problem was they kept running out of food. Breakfast is supposed to go until 10:30 but they would be out of some items by 9:45 or 10 o'clock.

A small but really nice hotell in the heart of Cascais. Opened spring 2015 but already very popular…read morewhich is easy to understand after our first stay. The renovation of the fantastic old house is made with the help of local architects and the building really gives you the feeling of the maritime Cascais. A friendly atmosphere together with nice rooms, perfect balanced breakfast, poolarea and the perfect location makes Villa Vasco da Gama the perfect choice for the independent traveller who do not need the extended facilities a big hotel offers. Yet a group of up to 24 can hold a conference meeting and a nice stay. Very private! This hotel is one of my absolute favorites

Went during off season since we were in Europe for a wedding anyway. This was our vacay thereafter…read moreand I'm so glad we made it just in time to go and get out before the catastrophe that is Portugal right now (in terms of airport at least- LIS was nightmare fuel then, and from IG, looks like it's only gotten mega tons worse). I'd consider the resort a depiction of dystopian surrealism. First we get to the resort and the lobby is under construction. There's barely anyone staying at the resort which already made it feel like a scene straight out of The Shining. We were first given a mediocre room but was upgraded - we didn't complain but they must've known how absolutely destructive the construction noise was. Awful. Why they didn't put us in the nicer room from the get is beyond me, since such a small portion of the resort was filled. We heard zero construction after this move while in the room. The room itself is amazing. Roomy, lovely bathroom and a spacious outdoor patio looking over the pool area. There were two Michelin star restaurants here but we only visited Midori. It was a great experience but eerie in that, again, it felt like we were in some dream where we were one of the last people on earth. Strange. We had most of our fun outside in sintra and cascais. The resort needs a serious facelift - the entrance from the outside and all the common areas really look so aged out. I'm sure it's nice during the summer but I still wouldn't pick here to come back to unless there's been some heavy face lifting done.

Why I won't stay here again: The state of the resort has deteriorated significantly (see…read morepictures), and management doesn't seem to be doing anything about it. Tony's Tip: there's an "overflow" room for the daily breakfast buffet to the left of the stairs. It's adults-only and will keep you away from the chaos of the main room. This is the first 1-star Yelp review of mine in more than one hundred I've written. I see that the large majority of glowing reviews are from a number of years ago. Whatever its condition then, this ain't the same resort those people were staying at. We attended a wedding in the town of Sintra this past Summer. In choosing a hotel, my wife opted for this Ritz-Carlton property that was viewed as the highest end hotel in the "area." I put area in quotes because in reality, it was a 15-20 minute drive into and out of the center of Sintra, and it could take at least a half hour if you hit daytime tourist bus traffic. After our first day of commuting during a 4-night stay, we immediately regretted our decision. But it would get worse. While the vista is nice, I don't think I'd call it stunning. Perhaps we've been to too many other great places in various settings over the years. For us, the grounds and views fell short of the "wow" factor. Check-in was prompt, and the front desk people were nice, particularly one woman who made a couple of restaurant recommendations, including calling on our behalf. That was probably the high point of the stay. Once in our room, it presented more like a Marriott than a Ritz. Dated (circa 2005), with many imperfections. Beyond that, however, as we explored the hotel, we were taken aback by how much the resort was in disrepair. For starters, our own balcony had four vertical railings that had rotted out, leaving sharp dangerous edges (especially risky if you had children staying with you). Outside stairs leading to a common seating area had countless stained and broken tiles, leaving you to question the safety of using the stairs at all. The handle to a main door leading outside near the spa was completely gone, forcing you to put your finger into a sharp opening to pull that door open to reenter. Plus, windows in a lounge area near the front entrance had been compromised, leaving the panes cloudy. I could go on, but I stopped documenting this disaster once it was clear that management was content to leave things in deteriorating condition. I mentioned the breakfast buffet. It was okay - certainly fell short of the better European buffets we've experienced at resorts of this supposed caliber. We had trouble one morning getting someone to bring us a simple pot of coffee and cream as we watched them deliver to other tables. Took three requests. Beyond that, the main dining room is far from relaxing. This is a destination resort for many families, and you know what that's like in the morning. We discovered the "escape" room on our second morning and ate there during the rest of our stay. In sum, the Penta Longa Resort was a big disappointment. It's not cheap, and when a place is carrying the Ritz-Carlton brand, that has historically come with a broadly understood high standard of luxury. My wife will be the first to say that Marriott has blurred the lines between R-C properties and the rest of its brands, and not for the better. My suggestion to those planning to visit Sintra is to stay in the town itself. There are one or two properties that should deliver at a higher level than this place, and it will be much more convenient for you as well.

Stopped by Farol Hotel mostly for lunch. The setting is beautiful, right on the cliffs overlooking…read morethe Atlantic, with a stylish, modern design that feels upscale without being stuffy. It feels like a great place for a casual afternoon drink or a more polished evening cocktail, whether you're staying at the hotel or just visiting, even on a gloomy day.

Beautiful Hotel minutes walk from downtown, Farol Hotel overlooking the beautiful Atlantic Ocean…read more The hotel built in the 19th. century , it is a combination beautiful old architecture combined with modern art (sculptures, paintings and furniture). It has an air of sophistication. The views are stunning while you eat breakfast or dine in one of the two restaurants. But what makes this place amazing is the staff. They are very attentive, helpful and lovely. Barbara the receptionist is a gem with her recommendations and her demeanor you really feel like you are being treated like royalty. Everyone who we have encountered are fabulous!! The breakfast chef and crew are vibrant and helpful the food was delicious!! Cascais appears to be extremely windy in May but it is a wonderful place to visit.

Stayed here at the end of a week in Portugal. We just had a single night but it was in the suite…read more It is a fantastic room with a very good view of the waves hitting the coast. The room has a good bathtub and a nice shower. The room also has a nice couch, from which you can sit and watch the ocean through a floor to ceiling window. The corridors are dark and it almost feels like you are underground. We went to the main restaurant for lunch and had beef and grilled octopus. We enjoyed it with a glass of red-wine and rose, respectively. The food was good and so was the wine. The service was minimal. Later we had snacks in the cafe, next to the restaurant. The food was good and it was not very busy.

Stayed at the hotel for two nights. It had a spectacular view of the ocean. The room was big and it…read morewas clean. The shower leaked water under the shower glass but we put a towel there so the water wouldn't come out all over the floor (forgot to mention to the front desk when we checked out). The halls are dark so it would be nice to have more light. The lights would only turn on by the room doors that was on a sensor. They charge to play on their pool table and to swim in their pool. We had luggage so had to Uber to the hotel but the next day we were able to take the public bus which had a bus stop a couple feet away from the hotel. Took the bus to Sintra train station to catch the hop on/off bus to visit the Pena Palace, Moorish Castle and Monserrate Palace. The breakfast was good with a nice selection of food. Not much else to do near the hotel but if you want to stay at the ocean then you should stay here. I would recommend this hotel.

Wow. Just wow. I stayed here as part of an organized hiking tour so I can't attest to how their…read morepre-trip communications or booking process is but this was a great experience. This hotel-palace is so rich in history. At one point, the Manager (?), Diego, happened upon me and my wife wandering around "oohing and aahing" at things and he proceeded to adopt us for the next half hour and take us on the most informative, charming mini-tour of this meandering hotel. (We must have spent ten minutes just discussing an 1896 German piano that was in one of the larger rooms.) The list could go on, many of the things on the list not all that impressive on their own... When landed at our room there was a plate of pastries next to a decanter of port. The water pressure and bathtub were a thing to behold (though maybe not for really large people.) The view of the grounds from this corner room were amazing. Good lighting which was greatly missed in other hotels in this trip. I know many people poo-poo extravagant digs, saying that the point of traveling is not to stay in your hotel room but, rather, to experience the culture and country and see the sights... well, if austerity and simplicity is your thing, don't stay here. (But this is not a fully "modern" hotel with jacuzzi tub and electric drapes and recessed LED lighting everywhere... definitely not their thing.) For two days, the place was heavy with police/security as they were apparently preparing to host some potentiaries/VIPs. Between the languages being spoken, the police cars, the secret service ear wigs and exotic uniforms, I have to say it felt like you were walking out of a scene from a Mission Impossible movie. We went down to breakfast early one day and were nicely asked to wait a few minutes while dogs sniffed around and a couple of bg-wigs finished their meal. (OK, it would have been slightly irritating were it not for the fact that we were down there so early.)

As palaces go, pretty, pretty good…read more Great views, friendly staff, fantastic breakfasts- all within walking distance of town and some of the main sites in Sintra. A little faded here and there, but so are we.