Martinhal Cascais

Situated just outside Cascais -- the favorite sleepy summertime escape for Lisbonites and internationals -- the upscale Onyria Marinha Edition Hotel & Thalasso is perched in a secluded corner of Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, surrounded by ponds and green gardens. While the boutique hotel has been around for over 13 years, its clean, minimalist design and elegant furnishings make it feel utterly fresh. The glass-enclosed lobby naturally reflects bright light against the mostly white and wooden interior spaces. The decor is deliberately simple, which helps eye-catching details stand out even more -- like the squiggly ceiling lights in the lobby lounge, where guests are often found cozying up with welcome cocktails from the nearby bar. The overall effect is an earthy-yet-modern vibe that seems harmoniously integrated with the beauty of the park where it resides. With its own 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones, the chic hotel is a popular choice for golf lovers from all over, while the full-service spa, pool, and kids' club keep the rest of the family entertained. There are a number of things to do on-site, but the main point here is definitely relaxation. The clientele is largely families these days, though golfers and mature couples also make up a portion of guests staying here.

There’s little within walking distance of the hotel beyond other golf courses and some residential neighborhoods. Most dining options are centered in nearby Cascais (a 10-minute drive away), though a few restaurants are within walking distance, including Restaurante Verbasco --  12 minutes away on foot. The popular Restaurante Furnas do Guincho offers great sea views and is a 15-minute walk away. A few other golf courses are close enough to walk -- like Oitavos Dunes, about 12 minutes from the resort. For most other excursions around here, a cab or rental car is a must. While you can walk just ten minutes to get to the coast, the closest proper beach -- Praia da Crisimini -- is an eight-minute drive away. Surfer-friendly Guincho Beach takes just a little longer to reach -- about ten minutes. Oitavos Fort is just a three-minute drive, and the gorgeous Boca do Inferno takes about 10 minutes. The games at Casino Estoril are a 20-minute drive away. Getting to Lisbon and the Portela International Airport takes approximately 45 minutes, and the hotel also provides airport transfers. 

The 84 rooms and suites here are spacious, with an open design that lets in plenty of sun and grants space for extra cots or a crib -- an important design feature for the many families that stay at the hotel. The warm brown tones, beige all-over carpeting and wood paneling seem straight out of a chic 1970s home interiors catalogue, and the look is a stylish take on Scandinavian minimalism. Thoughtful details add a special touch -- like black-out blinds, bathrobes and slippers, and individual reading lights. All are spacious, with entry-level rooms offering 40 square meters of floor space (431 square feet). Otherwise rooms are equipped with safes, phones, electric kettles or high-end coffeemakers, minibars, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs. There’s a window that looks right into the bathroom behind the bed, just where the tub is placed. Perhaps this is another nod to the bold aesthetic of the era, or just a sexy (if somewhat strange) way to create more light and space in the rooms -- at least the vertical wooden blinds add privacy when needed. Flat-screen LCD TVs are also built into the mirrors in the bathroom. There's a handsome marble vanity as well as separate showers and soaking tubs. Each room also has a narrow balcony or terrace outside, which is lined with white couches and faces the garden or golf course. Upgraded suites have extra space and some feature rooftop hot tubs with ocean views. 

The hotel is certainly popular for its beautifully designed 18-hole golf course, which spans at least 250 acres and grants views of the Sintra Mountains and Atlantic Ocean. It also has a club house and pro shop. There are more activities on offer here as well, including a lovely indoor-outdoor pool surrounded by gorgeous landscaping. A gym has a small selection of cardio equipment and the hotel offers tennis and bike rentals. For winding down, the hotel’s full-service spa provides a slew of pampering beauty treatments and massages -- it gets busy here fast, so it's best to book early. Even more relaxing for young parents might be the attentive child-care services. The kids' pool and supervised kid's club keep children entertained, and there's also a playground and babysitting services on offer. Gourmet dinners are available at one of the hotel’s two restaurants, while the other dining venue is a more casual family-friendly Italian spot. The hotel's bar also serves simple pizza and pasta dishes with a great selection of wines. The free breakfast buffet here is a notch above the usual spread, with a varied array of pastries, fruits, and hot foods. The hotel has a large business center with printing services, as well as a handful of rooms for meetings along with free Wi-Fi throughout the resort. A spacious garage makes parking both secure and convenient for guests.