One of the finest buildings in Vila Real de Santo Antonio, the former Hotel Guadiana was built in the heady days of the Roaring Twenties. Back then, it housed a handsome confection of Baroque and Art Nouveau designed to wow guests during the early days of Algarve tourism. A recent transformation has remained true to its roots: the Grand Salon dining room is all twirling ceiling fans, cane chairs, sunlight and polished wood; elsewhere maritime stripes, porcelain and Louis Vuitton fabrics pick up the sparkling blues of the River Guadiana marina, right on the doorstep. A cantilevered staircase leads up to 30 gorgeous bedrooms. The welcome is magnificent, too. Grand House is the first five-star hotel in this up-and-coming border town, and it's set a standard for impeccable service.
With no pool and little outside space other than a nifty roof terrace, the hotel has created a sybaritic sister in the Grand Beach Club: a relaxed, sand-in-the-toes sort of place with hammocks slung between palm trees, fresh seafood and cocktails by the pool. It’s only two minutes away, and a chauffeured courtesy car is at your disposal. Plus, you get access to a private stretch of beach with sunbeds among the sand dunes, with butler service for drinks and snacks. Very grand indeed.
Highs
- We love the casual Beach Club with its sundeck, pool and mini beach
- From the warm welcome to the anything-is-possible approach, the staff are exceptional
- Brilliant location right on the Portuguese border (you can wave at Spain from across the river), close to nature reserves, unspoilt villages and sandy beaches – the town’s 12km beach is a beauty
- The hotel manages to breathe luxury without being the least bit snooty
- Very elegant bedrooms with pastel interiors and lots of original features (chandeliers and all)
Lows
- The Grand Salon restaurant is a little pricey; the Beach Club is easier on the pocket
- Not all rooms have river views - request one that does if you can
- No pool at the hotel itself, but the one at the Beach Club is only a couple of minutes away
Best time to go
This is a good year-round destination (it was still warm and sunny when we visited in mid-November). The months of high summer can be uncomfortably hot, while the shoulder seasons (April to June and September/October) are warm enough for shorts and sandals. Winters are generally mild (but, note, the Beach Club is closed in the evenings from October until March). The Grand pushes the boat out at Christmas with festive and New Year’s Eve packages.
Our top tips
If you’re hiring a car, make sure you can drive it into Spain (the bridge across the border is just five minutes from the hotel). For day trips closer to home, ditch the car for a few hours, hop on one of the Grand’s courtesy bikes and spend a pleasant afternoon pedaling to the beach and back: an easy ride, mostly off-road. When open, take the time to visit the town’s working lighthouse.
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 3 independent reviews from i-escape guests
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