Hotel Albatroz

Rooms

The main hotel holds court on a rocky headland between two sandy beaches. The original 1873 building was constructed as the summer house of the Dukes of Loulé. It has a regal air: ascend a marble staircase, with a crystal chandelier hanging above. Bedrooms are nicely old-fashioned with crisp fabrics, antique furniture and watery views. Two newer wings to the rear, which surround the swimming pool, offer large light-filled bedrooms with delicious fabrics and big mirrors in colourful bathrooms. Many have spacious balconies overlooking the sea or beach.

Across the road, the neo-Romantic Palace was built in 20th-century Italianate style and faces Praia de Conceição beach. Expect English country-house elegance: antique mahogany furniture, trim carpets, thick fabrics, good art on the walls. You get Japanese screens, creamy marble bathrooms and those on the first floor have doors onto a Moorish-style balcony.

Rooms are divided into 3 categories according to size and views - most Collection Rooms face the town. Balconies are also a factor (most Deluxe Sea Views and Suite Sea Views have them).

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Safe box

Eating

A superb Breakfast is served in the dining room - grab the window tables for beach views. The extensive buffet includes freshly-cut fruit in rainbow formation, plates of cheese and ham, salads, salmon, a selection of cakes and patisserie, croissants and home-baked bread. There’s bacon, tomatoes and eggs if you fancy something hot.

You can order light meals in the bar and eat on the lovely terrace. It juts out to sea giving fabulous views. There's an extensive menu: salads, soups, risotto, pasta, steaks, omelettes, sandwiches and sinful puddings. The restaurant itself - wooden floors, glistening chandeliers - serves formal food at lunch and dinner. Come for stuffed crab, scallops with pancetta on pea puree, sautéed sea bass or crispy turbot, then an almond tart or ricotta with home-made ice cream.

Alternatively, pop down to Villa Cascais for seriously good modern cooking: foie gras with a mango coulis, sautéed lamb served with strawberries, then crème brûlée with pear sorbet.

Cascais has everything from simple pizza parlours to traditional restaurants and posh nosh. For great seafood, follow the road along the coast for restaurants overlooking the ocean.

Features include:

• Bar
• Kids' meals
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• The sandy beach is 50m away with loungers and parasols
  
• Watersports galore. The west coast is famous for surfing; you can also windsurf, paddle board (there’s a school on the beach), sail and waterski
  
• Cookery lessons and wine-tasting for groups of 2+; the chef takes you to the market on Wednesdays and Saturdays
  
• Cascais has a park housing a military cidadela turned cultural centre, a contemporary art collection, an active fishing port, a handsome largo (square) - and no shortage of boutiques and nightlife
  
• Cabo da Raco, the most westerly point of Europe, is 5km west. A great cycle path follows the coast, hire a bike for free from the Town Hall
  
• Head north along the coast for beach after beach - and lots of surfers
  
• Visit spectacular Sintra for the Pena Palace, a fantasy multi-coloured hilltop castle built around a 15th-century convent
  
• The wild and wonderful Sintra Mountains have fabulous walking or riding; look for wild boar
  
• Trains into Lisbon take 40 minutes. The station is on your doorstep

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cooking classes
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Golf
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Sailing
• Shopping / markets
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Windsurfing
• Wine tasting

Kids

Children are welcome and will love the close proximity to the safe and shallow beach plus the plethora of water sports. Cots and extra beds are available. On our last revisit with children, we found it was an enjoyable and easy journey from Lisbon by train (the station is a 1 minute walk).

Although the majority of guests tend to be couples, this is a very attractive option for families.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Every room can take children. Collection and Deluxe Rooms can have a cot or bed, the Suites can house a family of four, as can taking two neighbouring Collection rooms. A Suite and Deluxe Suite can interconnect with a Collection Room for larger family parties.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 30 minutes
• Hospital: 10 minutes
• Shops: 1 minute

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Hotel Albatroz is on cliffs by the sea in Cascais, next to Conceição beach and the main railway station, close to the restaurants and shops in town. Cascais is 35km west of Lisbon.

By Air:
Lisbon Portela Airport (35km) is your closest. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving here.

By Car:
See our car rental recommendations. The hotel has free valet parking.

By Train:
It is a simple (and great value) 40 minute journey from Lisbon (alight at Cais do Sodre station) along the scenic Estoril Riviera. The hotel is 1 minute from the station.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

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